Open car trailers and the MTO

[vinnie mack]

So me and dad got an open car trailer to haul... whatever we need to haul.

I haven't towed anything with it yet but a few guys have been telling me that even if your vehicle is non-commercial you MUST have it registered for the total weight: truck, trailer and car + extra weight to be safe.

Also the truck AND trailer must have an annual DOT inspection and a yellow sticker on the trailer signifying this.

If you get pulled into the scales and your truck and trailer combo (+car) are over your weight you can get a hefty fine.

Has anyone heard of this info? we had no idea till recently talking to people.

maybe someone out there can confirm these details. I know the guys here with big trailers probably do this but even 16ft trailers?

[gearhead]

It is all right here in the MTO regs

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/regulations/trailers.shtml

and for your PMCVI (yellow stickers)if your GCW is over 4500kgs

http://www.otra.ca/MTO.pdf

[vinnie mack]

thanks man!

[MazdaMatt]

where a trailer transmits to the highway a total weight of 2,800 kilograms (6,173 lb.) or less, that weight shall not be included in determining registered gross weight".

You scared me there... this clears it up.

[nrg3k_civic]

after reading both links and a few others, it seems that personal-use (only) rigs are exempt from daily/trip inspections, log books and stickers.

Anyone have experience dealing with this in the case of MTO pulling you over ?

DJM:>

[MazdaMatt]

I have never been pulled over, but I did a LOT of reading when I got my big truck (Large F350 cube van with 20ft box, follows the same rules as a heavy truck/trailer).

There is a distinction in the wording between "A commercial vehicle" and "A vehicle used for commercial purposes". Keep that in mind when reading.

A vehicle used for commercial purposes needs log books, etc. You have a vehicle used for commercial purposes if it is owned by a business or is doing anything FOR a business or is doing anything that is making money - a sponsored race team COULD be construed as a business.
A commercial vehicle requires yellow stickers. You have a commercial vehicle if you are over the weight threshold.

A vehicle not used for commercial purposes does not need a log book (my huge truck)
A non-commercial vehicle does not need stickers (your personal F150 with total weight under the commercial vehicle limit).

I am also PRETTY SURE that open scales can be ignored if you are not in a vehicle used for commercial purposes. I have passed 1 or 2 and never been chased.

I am not a lawyer or an MTO rep - good luck!

[Cap'n Pete]

^ ^ Matt, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. We had an MTO rep come to one of our club meetings a couple years ago and explain it all. There is no concern as long as you are under the total weight rating/limit.

[vinnie mack]

the only concern i have is the weight limit. if you think about it.. it isn't THAT much.

my 16ft open, tandem axle trailer is around 2200lbs. The average small car is low to mid 2k lbs. That is fine.

Add a small import truck on it. Mazda B2200 for example is around 3,000lbs average weight (yes i did research this first)

Dad has a 1940 Plymouth Coupe, I don't even dare look up the weight of it because there is too many factors, considering nothing is original except the metal.

i think i am being paranoid though...

[ScotcH]

the only concern i have is the weight limit. if you think about it.. it isn't THAT much.

my 16ft open, tandem axle trailer is around 2200lbs. The average small car is low to mid 2k lbs. That is fine.

Add a small import truck on it. Mazda B2200 for example is around 3,000lbs average weight (yes i did research this first)

Dad has a 1940 Plymouth Coupe, I don't even dare look up the weight of it because there is too many factors, considering nothing is original except the metal.

i think i am being paranoid though...

Certainly possible to get your trailer and car and tires and stuff up to 6100lbs, but it would be pretty hard to do, so I think you'll be ok with just about thing you tow on an open trailer. Also remember that the tongue weight gets tranfered to the tow vehicle.

[DaveCotie]

the only concern i have is the weight limit. if you think about it.. it isn't THAT much.

my 16ft open, tandem axle trailer is around 2200lbs. The average small car is low to mid 2k lbs. That is fine.

Add a small import truck on it. Mazda B2200 for example is around 3,000lbs average weight (yes i did research this first)

Dad has a 1940 Plymouth Coupe, I don't even dare look up the weight of it because there is too many factors, considering nothing is original except the metal.

i think i am being paranoid though...

I think you would find that your dad's 40 Plymouth Coupe would weigh nothing compared to today's cars. My dad has a 38 Chev Coupe and it can be pushed around by one person. No door bars, very little safety improvements etc. They weigh very little.

[Maddog]

Another example;

My towing log is a 1991 Chevy K1500 4x4 that tops the scales at 5200 lbs. Trailer is 1700 lbs, and the car is 3100 lbs + 200 lbs worth of fuel cans/other race day junk, equals 10,200 lbs.

The trailer, car & junk is 5000 lbs. That means to avoid being hassled by MTO, I should carry on my junk in the truck to minimize the trailer weight. Good to know.

[abrracing]

If your total rig is under 4500KG (10,000lbs) total gross vehicle weight (truck and trailer etc) you will have no issues, I actually stopped an MTO officer with my truck and trailer and asked him at the side of the road. We tow with a Mazda B4000 that weights 3600lbs and my car and trailer combined is only 3200lbs. He said "your fine have a great day" lol
________
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[jonweir]

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/regulations/annual.shtml

We got yellow stickers for our trucks and trailers because of this line:

the gross vehicle weight rating of the truck, when added to the gross vehicle weight rating of the towed trailer or trailers exceeds 4,500 kilograms.

Our GVWR for the trailers is quite high.
However, you can register your truck with a weight lower than the GVWR, as long as you don't exceed that load. We were unable to do so because of the way the trucks are registered (to Honda), so it wasn't an option.

Plus, its a good idea to check the items on the safety inspection anyway....

[vinnie mack]

good info in this thread, thanks guys.