Not my post .... Got this from the Hull Truth

Tom



Alright guys, I learned a lesson the hard way Sunday night and want to share it with everyone so that we can all learn.

Recently the NCDMV and NC Highway Patrol merged and since then have been on a serious crackdown with people towing trailers, ESPECIALLY BOATS! On your vehicle registration, there is a weight limit listed which is determined by your tags. THIS LISTED WEIGHT IS FOR YOUR TRUCK AND TRAILER COMBINED!

For example: My tags are weighted (the blue tag) for 10,000 lbs. My truck (GMC 2500HD Duramax) alone, empty weighs 6,725 lbs. This means that if I tow anything over 2,275 lbs. I am considered overweight.

"Regular" NC tags are rated for (I think) 5,000 lbs. With this being the case, I'm sure there are a TON of y'all that are overweight when you tow your boat and don't know it.

Sunday night, the trooper pulled me over after "seeing" that the rear lights were out on the trailer (the ground wire had come loose and caused the problem on the way home) and says "since I have you here, I'm going to weigh you because I know you're overweight." The truth of the story was that he never saw the lights out until after he pulled me---he was pulling me for one reason and that was to weigh me and cite me for being too heavy. (He was a COMPLETE A$$***E by the way!!!) He then has me pull to the next intersection and get the scales out to weigh me on the spot.

My truck alone weighed 7800 lbs and the boat (a 32' Seacraft with twin 225 Merc's) weighed 10,400 lbs for a total of 18,200 lbs. All of this equaled out to a $430 overweight ticket!

So here is a word to the wise: Check your registration and do a little math. Then go to the DMV and either A--buy a weighted tag to cover your weight or B--up your weighted tag rating to cover you.

The law has gotten VERY strict on this lately, pulling people from Morehead down to the NC/SC line especially boaters and farmers.

I'm going to up my tags to 20,000 or more in order to cover any of this.

NOW FOR THE OTHER KICKERS!!

If you tow a trailer/load that weighs more than 10,000 lbs, MUST HAVE A CLASS A DRIVER'S LICENSE! (I didn't get ticketed for this but found out today that I could have.)

ALSO, IF YOUR BOAT/TRAILER IS WIDER THAN 8'6" WIDE, YOU MUST HAVE AN OVERSIZE PERMIT IN ORDER TO TOW IT!! (The officer mentioned this to me last night however didn't cite me on it and decided to "be nice". ) With this permit, you CANNOT tow your oversize load between SUNSET and SUNRISE, ANYTIME ON SUNDAY, ANYTIME ON A HOLIDAY AND 12 HOURS BEFORE OR AFTER A HOLIDAY! Be sure to read that closely! You can ONLY tow during the day from Monday-Saturday on non-holidays!
This permit is available from the Permit Office and is $98/year. It goes to the vehicle and covers any load that you tow with the vehicle. Without this permit, if your trailer is over 8'6" wide, you are subject to a $500 ticket ON THE SPOT!

Again, this is VERY IMPORTANT! Things are getting VERY SERIOUS about this issue with reports of numerous people getting tickets in Snead's Ferry, Morehead City (after one of the King Mackerel Tournaments), and all across the state!

If you ask me, we need to try and fight some of this issue----I know for a fact, there are a LOT of people who do not live on the coast but travel to the area most weekends out of the year. For nearly 100% of these people, it is IMPOSSIBLE to NOT trailer a boat after sunset (see the oversized permit law). This would mean taking a half day off work on Friday and Monday in order to get the boat to and from the beach in order to simply go fishing or just enjoy the water!

This is complete BULL$@&# and we have to try and do something about it if you ask me. I am fortunate enough to live in Wilmington, NC and don't yet have a boat but I do tow a number of boats for friends due to my truck. So eventhough I don't have much of a "dog in the fight" (no Michael Vick pun intended ), I realize how STUPID this whole ordeal is.

Ok...I think I've covered all of the material on the subject. If you have any questions or comments please post up. I'm still learning on all of this since it's the first time I've been involved with such an issue but I know that more and more cases just like mine are happening with some fines being in the THOUSANDS of dollars.

good information to know Tom, thanks....

Ouch!!! That could hinder a lot of trips to OI!!!

I hate too say it, but North Carolina has opted to enforce a number of regulations that seem to target "recreational boaters" and produce revenue through fines. The "individual" fishing license issue, trailer weights, wide-loads, etc.. It would make a great topic section on the Board to have the latest information for Fishing Trip Planning for Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and then other places.
What Licenses are required.
Possession Limits.
Towing Rules.
Fees and Permits.
Bait/Tackle/Ice
Lodging
Trailer Parking
Best Deals
etc.

Thanks for the update Tom!
Tight lines.
Dave

Sorry for your ticket but this didn’t just start they have been cracking down for a few years now I used to be in Truck and Tractor pulling and they or hard on them also.
A lot of this crack down is coming from the F-350 and the 2500HD pulling flat bed trailers up and down the roads. You also have to be careful not to weigh more than your GVW I think that’s right it tells what you can haul with your truck just because you have the tag to cover it don’t mean your truck will. If they pushed it most trucks or over weight with a riding mower in it

Not something you think about until you get a ticket! I was familiar with the 8' 6" width restriction but the combined weight I had'nt thought about.

North Carolina sucks!

Very interesting. I just got a trailerable boat -- guess I'm gonna have to check this out.

Thanks

Tom

Dont get caught trailering that Trojan

its the same way in VA

It's the same way in every state. You can't exceed the GVW of any vehicle, which is the weight of the vehicle, cargo, trailer and trailer contents. Your hitch may be rated at 10,000 lbs towing capacity, but that doesn't mean the rest of your truck is!

What thier doing is cutting thier throat!

It going from a fishing community to a tourist area all the way to Hatteras. I see more surfers now than fisherman

thanks thats what I was trying to say

Yeah, right!!! I'd be asking for it, wouldn't I?!!!! Actually talking about the 22' Mako I just picked up.

That's right, but them not having saltwater boat license like Virginia does, that really blows. Ill need to look into the registration type thing.

Great. Another way to have a run-in with the man.

VA has the same, just that they would rather drive around the parking lot and hand out tickets for expired inspection stickers on trailers rather then carry around a truck scale. Makes for a nice gift when you return from fishing!!

I've never seen a local cop or sheriff with the portable scale. It's always been a state trooper. There is talk of a general uprising down here in Carolina, as they are ticketing everyone, not just you out of state boys. And they are targeting horse trailers and farm equipment as well. We screw everyone equally here on tobacco Road! Tight lines!

damn, I'm gonna have to change my board name if this keeps up....

Damn, I guess I need to go get new plates. I guess it is cheaper to do things right from the beginning.
How many of us would have been ticketed for open containers....etc after being pulled over after a long day of fishing.

I checked my vehicle registgration today and I'm illegal. My guess is most everyone is in the same boat (no pun intended).

My first reaction was we should boycott North Carolina, but where else would we fish in early spring?

Below are the specs for my truck.

Let me see if I understand everyone, you are saying if the GVW rating is 6400lbs as listed below ( currently Boat+Trailer+vehicle is over this weight), but the max trailer weight and max gross combination weight rating which are within limits I would still get a ticket?

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 6,400 lbs.
Curb Weight 4,958 lbs.
Front Gross Axle Weight Rating 3,200 lbs.
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating 3,400 lbs.
Payload 1,442 lbs.
Max Trailer Weight 4,800 lbs.
Max Gross Combination Weight Rating 10,000 lbs.

Current Weights:
Vehicle: 4958lbs
Trailer/boat: 4400lbs (includes 500lbs Gas)
Total: 9358lbs

I made an error in my previous post. The weight of the trailer and contents is not figured in to the gross vehicle weight, only the tongue weight is. Typically the tongue weight is 10% of the trailer weight, although it can vary. Sorry about that.

Uh...I was told there would be no math.

It's a lot like trying to understand the striper regulations.

George - I'm glad you clarified your post - it's all perfectly clear now.

Legislation of revenue!

It makes me sick when they do it purely for money and not public safety.

Like the new VA fines. Its not driven due to safety, but for paying for roads.

I live almost next door (right across the field) (the one south of EC) to the weighing scales. I will see what I can find out tomorrow I do know like what was said earlier your tags have to be enough to cover truck and trailer all weighed at the same time say if truck with you in it and everyone else that may be with you weighs 5000 lbs boat 5000lbs you need at least 10000 tags 12 to be save. I pay over $200 a year for tags

Don't foget about the load weight, to include

Coolers- Ice- beer-food-rod's-tackle and a couple of fat guys in the cab.

All adds up to gross weight.

thank about this if it is a winnebago (motorhome) style towing it do's not matter what u pull behind it if it will pull it you canwith no high dollar tags
go figer that

OK, Here is the advantage of having to stay up all night answering the radios and waiting for a Helo to land. this is what I research on Line at NC.gov
NC 20 is the Statute on Motor Vehicles


NC G.S. 20-88
License fee determined by gross weight, which is the empty weight and maximum load to be transported (including the empty weight and maximum load of any trailer or semi-trailer that is to be pulled.) The weight of trailers is not included when operated with a truck that is licensed for 6000 pounds or less and the combined gross weight does not exceed 9000 pounds.
.

NC GS 20 118.1.
A law enforcement officer may stop and weigh a vehicle to determine if the vehicle's weight is in compliance with the vehicle's declared gross weight and the weight limits set in this Part. The officer may require the driver of the vehicle to drive to a scale located within five miles of where the officer stopped the vehicle.
Any person operating a vehicle or a combination of vehicles having a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more or any vehicle transporting hazardous materials that is required to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. § 171 180 must enter a permanent weigh station or temporary inspection or weigh site as directed by duly erected signs or an electronic transponder for the purpose of being electronically screened for compliance, or weighed, or inspected.
If the vehicle's weight exceeds the amount allowable, the officer may detain the vehicle until the overload has been removed. Any property removed from a vehicle because the vehicle was overloaded is the responsibility of the owner or operator of the vehicle. The State is not liable for damage to or loss of the removed property.
Failure to permit a vehicle to be weighed or to remove an overload is a misdemeanor of the Class set in G.S. 20 176. An officer must weigh a vehicle with a scale that has been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

NC TITLE MANUAL 1.16 LICENSE PLATE RULES
1. Automobile plates are issued for cars, vans, multipurpose vehicles, buses privately owned and trucks with 4,000/5,000/6000-lbs. weight.
2. Vehicles with GVWR weight of 5,000/6,000 lbs. may request additional weight


So from the statute I've got in writting that with regular tags( in, NC Blue First flight Tags, 4K, 5K, 6K) we are good to up to 9000LBS combined without special permit.
I also called the State HWY Patrol in Kitty Hawk and talked to the On Duty Trooper.
He said that you can pull a combined load up to 10000 LBs, on your standard tags (regardless of state). Past that weight, you have to ensure that your vehicle tags from your state cover your total weight including trailer, and everything at the time you get stopped. (IN NC This means a Commercial weighted tag.)

This all assumes you stay with in the trucks and trailers limitations for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and the trucks towing capacity.

So I guess with standard tags regardless of state good to 9000lbs combined truck and trailer, FOR SURE, and 1000lbs probably, but I'd like to see it in writting.

I know you think you understand what you thought you heard me say, however I'm not sure that you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Richard Nixon.
It was the combined load statement that tripped me up before. The combined load is your truck, your fuel load, your cargo load, your trailer, your boat and your hindparts. Thus if your truck has a gross weight of 6,500 lbs (fully loaded), your trailer and boat can't exceed 3,500 lbs if you have standard tags. You can upgrade your tags for a price. I had confused combined gross weight with vehicle gross weight. Shame on me!

Chesapeake has a motor carrier unit with portable scale, its a big Dodge Sprinter decked out with about 10 sets of lights, he only targets the commercial guys though!

If I have say a ½ ton truck that weighs 5500 my trailer can not weigh over 3500 so you get a 4000,5000,or6000 lbs tag you are allowed up to 9000 lbs at the scale with a tailer. This does not mean if your truck weighs say 4500 you can put 4500 in the bed it has to be on a tailer. If your truck and boat weigh more than 9000 lbs you have to get a tag that covers the total weight of everything. And yes all weight in clued your truck, your fuel load, your cargo load, your trailer, your boat and your hindparts . this is what I was told at the weighing scals. Now I got to make sure all my stuff is right because they can see when I go fishing hope this helps
Under 9000 lbs you should be all right
Over 9000 get tags to cover everything (mo money mo mo money)
and if you are over 26,000 lbs everything or your boat weighs over 10,000 lbs you have to have a CDL driver linces

OK, that makes sense. I bought a new Diesel in 2004 and the tag they put on the truck was for 6000lbs. The truck with me in it weighed 7200lbs! I didn't know about the weights and various tags at the time. I've got a weighted tagnow, but I may be pushing it pulling my boat.

Not to add fuel to this fire but i have been trying to get the Virginia DMV to telll me what i have to to to get an oversized load annual permit for over 5 month now. I call or follow up email once every week. The problem that i have no filings nor a commerical truck, I have a 3/4 ton pickup.

Basically if it was titled and used primarily as a commerical truck i would have no problem and i beleive that the permit would be for oversized overwight under 200 dollars but they say they cant sell it to me because i am not under there guidelings becaues i dont have the filings

they fine you for not following the rules and then wont let you buy the permits that you need


george

Time to check availablilty in the dry stack....

WOULD'NT YA KNOW IT!

I got off early today, and hooked up my boat trailer and pulled it to my local COOP. All together I'm at 10500LBS Now this is with the truck and boat fully fueled and me, but no fishing gear, coolers, or Passengers.

This surprised me because I did'nt think my set up ( Dodge 1500 King cab (5600LBS) and a 23 foot Seafox CC with a 225 Yamy 2 stroke (4900lbs)) would be over 10K total. I'ts not like I'm pulling a 32 ft Fountain with Triple Verados, But I guess I thought Wrong. Word to the wise if you have a Mid sized set up like Mine you might want pull down the grain scales for a check. Anything bigger than my set up, and you're over, Dude, NO QUESTION!

I guess I'll be a sucker in line at the DMV on Monday

Tom from Reelax, Thanks man, You probably saved me some dough and anguish. Hit me up for those reports we PMailed about any time.

Andy

I pulled a 10,000 LB Boat with a 10'6 beam all the way from Wilmington North Carolina to Virginia Beach VA today. I passed 4 high way patrols and had several pass me. I had no problem, obeyed speed limits and made sure my trailer was in working conditions (lights all worked). ....Just though I would let everybody know....Bob

Man I would be screwed if I got pulled. I don't even have the correct plates I usually just take them off of one of our other trailers.

It's to the point I don't bother with it anymore. Boat and slip are outrageous,$3 gas, permits, fees, tickets. Just too many headaches.

Plus the overfishing makes good days fewer and farther between.

VBSF members, just to clarify there are two weight ratings that get thrown around pretty losely and get confused quite a bit. GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating.)

GVWR is the weight of the truck and it's contents/payload. This does NOT include the weight of trailered weight. GCWR does include the weight of the truck and payload PLUS the weight of the trailer.

If your GVWR is 10000 lbs then that means your truck plus fuel, coolers, friends, dogs, etc SHOULD not exceed 10000 lbs. The GCWR is the the remaining amount of weight that you can legally/safely tow. So if your GCWR is 23000 lbs and you're truck weights 8000 lbs then the max you can legally tow is 15000 lbs (as long as the towing equipment is up to the task.)

The weight ratings of the hitch, draw bar, and ball have nothing to do with the GVWR and GCWR other than letting the operator know the limits of that equipment in relation to what is being towed.

Now here's the kicker, if you're driving a 3/4 T or heavier truck then you need to make sure the DMV puts the correct weight limits on your registration. On the same line as your vehicle's info there are titles "EW", "GVWR", and "GCWR". Be sure that these numbers exceed what you plan on loading your truck up with. When I registered my truck for weighted tags I told the clerk what I wanted in those columns and she put them in. I think the GCWR limit was 26000 lbs.

Hope this helps.

Po

There has also been some discussion here:

http://www.theburningreel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512

and here:

http://www.theburningreel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=323

I am a NC resident. I have my truck tagged for 17k. I also pull a off-road truck or two on a big flatbed trailer so I am a bigger target.

I have been put on the scales when towing the flatbed but never when towing my boat. My boat is about 4500.

The laws are very confusing.