Frost laws

[Tikvah]

Anybody know anything about how the frost laws work?

My front axle has 11,800 lbs on 315/12r 22.5 tires
Rear axle including the tag is 22,380

[luvrbus]

Don't most just restrict the GVW by 35% to 50% during the thawing it doesn't really apply to axle weight I was told only the GVW applies never made any sense to me the way the laws are written most places  

[Ed Hackenbruch]

My frost law is when we see frost we leave. Saw it this morning and we left! 

[Tikvah]

It's a very confusing per axle weight - per tire - tire size footprint - number of tires - formula

[luvrbus]

That is why I live in AZ

[Seayfam]

In Alaska when they put the road limits on, they only restrict you by the percentage of the maximum axle rating. If you are not commercial, than you have nothing to worry about. I would defiantly check your state law to see what you have to abide by.

[lostagain]

I don't know about your jurisdiction, but in BC and Alberta, the road weight limits do not apply to RVs or any private vehicles.

JC

[luvrbus]

One state we were visiting the trooper didn't ticket me but I was told nothing over 10,000 lbs and the posted 60 mph speed limit during the frost law was 35 mph that is what he stopped me for.Beautiful sun shiny day in 70's and this guy stopped me then told me about the frost law was in affect

[trucktramp]

Unless the laws have changed you can carry 70% of maximum axle weight.  Therefore, on your steer axle without the super single tires is 8400 lbs...12000-(12000*0.7).  Single axle drive with duals would be 20000-(20000*0.7)=14000.  I don't know what the max weight for a drive and tag axle on a bus is but the formula would be the same.  The speed limit is usually 35 or 45 mph.  Frost laws only apply to secondary roads.  Primary and interstate roads are exempt.  You can check with Michigan DOT or http://www.micountyroads.org/weights.php.  I don't know how much it is enforced on private vehicles.

[opus]

Here it's 300# per square inch.  I'd be sitting on the side of the road with a measuring stick and a calculator for half the day.

[luvrbus]

Here in AZ we don't worry about frost but the heat will buckle some concrete roads it is frightening to see a car launch into the air at 75 mph I saw that in Tucson one time

[belfert]

The spring road restrictions in Minnesota are by axle weight.  Most city roads tend to be 5 tons per axle with a very few roads at 4 tons per axle.

I am not aware of any exemption for private vehicles, but I have never really checked.  I worry about damaging my driveway if I drive my bus on it during spring road restrictions.

[Tikvah]

Here is what I found, but it's confusing.
I think it's true that this may not be enforceable for RVs, but I don't want to be responsible for buckling a road.

Sec. 722.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the maximum axle load shall not exceed the number of pounds designated in the following provisions that prescribe the distance between axles:

(a) If the axle spacing is 9 feet or more between axles, the maximum axle load shall not exceed 18,000 pounds for vehicles equipped with high pressure pneumatic or balloon tires.

(b) If the axle spacing is less than 9 feet between 2 axles but more than 3-1/2 feet, the maximum axle load shall not exceed 13,000 pounds for high pressure pneumatic or balloon tires.

(c) If the axles are spaced less than 3-1/2 feet apart, the maximum axle load shall not exceed 9,000 pounds per axle.

(d) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall be known as the normal loading maximum.

(2) When normal loading is in effect, the state transportation department, or a local authority with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, may designate certain highways, or sections of those highways, where bridges and road surfaces are adequate for heavier loading, and revise a designation as needed, on which the maximum tandem axle assembly loading shall not exceed 16,000 pounds for any axle of the assembly, if there is no other axle within 9 feet of any axle of the assembly.

(3) On a legal combination of vehicles, only 1 tandem axle assembly is permitted on the designated highways at the gross permissible weight of 16,000 pounds per axle, if there is no other axle within 9 feet of any axle of the assembly, and if no other tandem axle assembly in the combination of vehicles exceeds a gross weight of 13,000 pounds per axle. On a combination of truck tractor and semitrailer having not more than 5 axles, 2 consecutive tandem axle assemblies are permitted on the designated highways at a gross permissible weight of 16,000 pounds per axle, if there is no other axle within 9 feet of any axle of the assembly.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), on a combination of truck tractor and semitrailer having not more than 5 axles, 2 consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross permissible weight of not to exceed 17,000 pounds on any axle of the tandem axles if there is no other axle within 9 feet of any axle of the tandem axles and if the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles are not less than 36 feet apart and the gross vehicle weight does not exceed 80,000 pounds to pick up and deliver agricultural commodities between the national truck network or special designated highways and any other highway. This subsection is not subject to the maximum axle loads of subsections (1), (2), and (3). For purposes of this subsection, a "tandem axle" means 2 axles spaced more than 40 inches but not more than 96 inches apart or 2 axles spaced more than 3-1/2 feet but less than 9 feet apart. This subsection does not apply during that period when reduced maximum loads are in effect under subsection (.