So I go up to Allentown this past Saturday night for Octane‘s performance at Crocodile Rock … I get off at the Allentown NE Extension exit, and I am billed for a Class 2 toll … I think it was $6.25 … Do the show … fun fun … and then on the way back, I get off at the Route 1 exit and it says Class 3 and the toll is $7.50 or something … This has happened a couple times in the past, so I ask the toll guy why he charged me as a Class 3 when on the way up I was charged a Class 2? … He told me it’s done by weight … there’s scales that weigh you when you come into the toll booth to take a ticket … He asked if I carried the same load all the time, and I told him I sure did … He said I was probably on the borderline of 19000 and that if I came into the toll booth fast and braked hard that it took me over the Class 2 into a Class 3 … I should come in slower so as not to shift the weight hard by braking and that I would probably always get a Class 2 … He also said that for me, the difference wasn’t that big a deal … I mean, $1.25 isn’t much more for a heavier weight, but he said when the guys come in and the difference is between a Class 7 and a Class 8, the difference can be $25.00 … They aren’t too happy and aren’t as conversant as I was about the difference …
This told me a couple things … #1, there’s scales at the toll booths under the cement … Neat! I never knew that … and #2, I used to carry way too much stuff in the 14′ Isuzu … That swaying I felt while I was driving it loaded makes perfect sense now, and I guess I am lucky I never had any problems besides going awfully slow up hills … I didn’t have any blow-outs or tips … I am also very happy I didn’t go with another truck solution I was contemplating before arriving at the used GMC … I was thinking about buying a new Mitsubishi Fuso that would have had a 16′ box … The more I thought of another $600 or so payment a month plus insurance (full coverage) for a measly 2′ more of a box didn’t make any sense to me … Turns out now I know that would have been over loaded as well … The 20′ GMC has been the perfect choice for this situation … It’s not as big as the 25’ which would have been difficult to park when not in use and manueverability getting into clubs, etc would have been even worse …
nice tip. The same thing happend to me and a sound guy. We put the lights in his van and went north. On the way up we were class 1. on the way home we were class 2. The toll people said we could pay, then u-turn back in the tolls and if it came up class 1 they would refund us. For the extra buck, we just went home. I always wonder if the scales are calabrated. If they are in the ground, what about rain and snow adding weight. Also, looks important to remove all snow from the truck. Yep, even on the roof. Some how that needs to be done. It is adding weight. good to keep the truck clean free of dirt, and if your on the edge, don’t fill up till your out of the told road. Only buy what you need.
nice.