Trailering your boat **Alert***
07-23-2009, 10:45 PM
#52
Registered
I talked with my local DMV, The Sectretary of State police, and Springfield. All said I didn't need to do anything to my tow vehicle. Just had to get the trailer inspected. I tow with a Yukon Denali. Finally got this answer from the IL State Police.
Thank you for visiting the Illinois State Police (ISP) Web site. The TC
license plates on your boat trailer are good for 8,000 pounds. Since your
boat and trailer weigh 6,400 pounds, you are good as far as the weight of
the boat and trailer are concerned. However, since you are using your SUV
as a second division vehicle (using it to tow the trailer), the passenger
license plates would be considered invalid. Passenger license plates are
not valid for any weight.
Consider the following example: Your SUV weighs more than 5,000 pounds.
The weight of both the SUV and boat and trailer together would be over
11,400 pounds. You only have registration for 8,000 pounds, since the
passenger license plates do not cover any weight. The large fines you are
talking about comes from this. Your vehicle would be considered 3,400
pounds overweight on registration, which would carry about a $500 fine.
The simple solution to this issue would be to change your license plates to
B truck license plates. The B truck license plates are the same price as
passenger plates, however, give you an 8,000 pound limit. Together, the B
truck license plates and the TC trailer license plates would allow you to
have a combined weight limit of 16,000 pounds, well within the weight limit
of your vehicles.
As far as having the vehicle inspected, 625 ILCS 5/13-101 states each
second division motor vehicle which pulls or draws a trailer with a gross
weight of more than 8,000 pounds, or is registered for a gross weight of
more than 8,000 pounds, is required to be safety inspected. This would
exempt your SUV. However, any trailer having a gross weight of 5,000 lbs
or more (this includes the vehicle and load) is required to be inspected.
Therefore, your boat trailer would have to be inspected since the trailer
with the boat weigh 6,400 pounds.
Hopefully, you will find this information of value. Again, thank you for
taking the time to use ASKISP.
Thank you for visiting the Illinois State Police (ISP) Web site. The TC
license plates on your boat trailer are good for 8,000 pounds. Since your
boat and trailer weigh 6,400 pounds, you are good as far as the weight of
the boat and trailer are concerned. However, since you are using your SUV
as a second division vehicle (using it to tow the trailer), the passenger
license plates would be considered invalid. Passenger license plates are
not valid for any weight.
Consider the following example: Your SUV weighs more than 5,000 pounds.
The weight of both the SUV and boat and trailer together would be over
11,400 pounds. You only have registration for 8,000 pounds, since the
passenger license plates do not cover any weight. The large fines you are
talking about comes from this. Your vehicle would be considered 3,400
pounds overweight on registration, which would carry about a $500 fine.
The simple solution to this issue would be to change your license plates to
B truck license plates. The B truck license plates are the same price as
passenger plates, however, give you an 8,000 pound limit. Together, the B
truck license plates and the TC trailer license plates would allow you to
have a combined weight limit of 16,000 pounds, well within the weight limit
of your vehicles.
As far as having the vehicle inspected, 625 ILCS 5/13-101 states each
second division motor vehicle which pulls or draws a trailer with a gross
weight of more than 8,000 pounds, or is registered for a gross weight of
more than 8,000 pounds, is required to be safety inspected. This would
exempt your SUV. However, any trailer having a gross weight of 5,000 lbs
or more (this includes the vehicle and load) is required to be inspected.
Therefore, your boat trailer would have to be inspected since the trailer
with the boat weigh 6,400 pounds.
Hopefully, you will find this information of value. Again, thank you for
taking the time to use ASKISP.
Nice money generator you guys have there in IL!
07-25-2009, 04:33 PM
#55
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 9
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Some real great info here!! I'll be close with a B & TC plate. Never used to care about this stuff when it was in in the spring & out in the fall at Hammond.
Also- Don't forget to add the weight of fuel while trailering if your close to limit. 100 gallons of fuel is about 650 lbs.
Thanks Guys
Also- Don't forget to add the weight of fuel while trailering if your close to limit. 100 gallons of fuel is about 650 lbs.
Thanks Guys
05-01-2010, 01:05 PM
#56
Registered
I weighed mine full of fuel (80 gal) and gear. I keep the receipt from a certified scale in the boat glove box. The more documentation you have the better. Especially with most of the cops not really knowing what the law really is. ( I asked several). I also printed out a copy of the response from the Ill State police. I hate being hassled !
05-02-2010, 11:18 PM
#57
Registered
Buy one, it'll help more than you think 
05-03-2010, 07:32 PM
#60
Registered
You can buy those online. They're ISP supporter plate frames. I have ISP fraternal plate frames on all my vehicles (including my boat trailer) that my aunt that is a mater sargeant gets me. Can't count the number of times they got me out of a ticket. City cops that've pulled me over for speeding always ask "are you a state trooper?" My answer "No but very very closely related to one" lol
