Ohio & PA Turnpikes

[pattypape]

We have crossed the Ohio TP many times in our two axle, FC 35', about
33,000#, plus toad, with no problems. As you exit there are scales
in the pavement that puts your rig into a weight class, such as I,
II, III, IV, price increases, as listed on the toll ticket and
miles traveled.
Since, (I was paying) I wanted to know the exact weight, The toll
collector does not know the weight just the weight class.
Ohio has done a great job with the TP rest areas, Very RV friendly.
Parking is spacious. there are also several RV electrical hook-ups
and Dump stations , overnight for about $15.00,, But all the spaces
we have seen are too small for any Bird.

Bill 88 FC Michigan




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, brad barton <bbartonwx@...>
wrote:
>
> I remember hearing from a BB owner a few years ago that he was
forced off a turnpike at the gate because of his weight, but I'm not
sure it was Ohio..might've been. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...
>
>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@...: jehdds@...: Tue, 27 May 2008 13:20:20
+0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Ohio & PA Turnpikes
>
>
>
>
> Living in central Pa and traveling on the Pa TP pretty frequently I
can tell you that to the best of my knowledge private coaches are
never checked for weight. I came thru Ohio from Michigan when I
purchased my BB and I was not checked. So I don't know what the facts
are related to Ohio. The issue for motor home use in Pa is the
secondary roads, old bridges and clearance issues. There are lots of
places in Pa you will not be able to get to (at least legally) with a
40ft Pt. In my community I know of several bridges that are rated no
more then 10 tons. But on the interstates and the TP I see lots of
big stuff so if you are passing thru it should be no problem. Lots of
construction which will slow you down and some narrow cattle shoots
which make me nervous but there is room. They run the 18 wheelers
thru them so where they can go a MH can follow. John Heckman central
Pa1973 FC>> 34K is the california limit on a set. even a set of three
is 34K. > thats why you hardly see a three axle set driving the
highways in > Ca. I had a three axle set but the benifit was mostly
for offroad > floatation. turned out to be a bad idea because it
would loose > drive when on uneven ground, and the CHP loved to point
out the > weight limit issue. > > to be out of the set an axle must
be X distance from the center of > the set of the first derived pair
in that set for which it of > challange too.... 'work this one out
roadside with a CHP'> > > GregoryO'Connor> 94pt> 3 axle dump truck>
RomolandCa> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> wrote:> >> > For a PT there is only one single axle,
and that's the front one. > I have never heard of a Bird exceeding
20K on that axle?> > > > Anyway, the Ohio turnpike rules for a single
axle are actually > 21K, and the limit for a tandem as you would find
on a PT rear is > 34K.> > > > Rates are weight/miles based, and can
be calculated here: >
http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/fa...alculator/> > > >
The turnpike is also the only road in Ohio where all vehicles can >
travel 65MPH. Otherwise, Ohio is like California, with a >
Truck/towing rule of 55.> > > > > > > > On 5/27/2008 at 2:26 AM
ronmarabito2002 wrote:> > > > >The point Bob was making is: Maximum
single axle load is 20,000 > lbs.> > > You will probably find that
when loaded, you could be up around> > >22,000 lbs.. If you could run
on an almost empty tank of fuel or> > >empty holding and water tanks,
you might make it, but they will > weigh> > >you at the gates of the
Ohio Turnpike, as I have been told.> > >> > >R.E. (Ron) Marabito,
Dallas, TX 92WB40> > >> > >--- In
WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joepat50" > wrote:> >
>>> > >> > > >> Hi Bob,> > >> > > >> Kind of curious what you mean by
that. I havent driven a coach > cross> > >> country before but plan
to in July, (CA to OH and back) we'll > take the> > >> OH turnpike
part of the way so Im interested in this.> > >> > > >> Will they
require the coach to get weighted before getting on > the TP> > >> or
is there any other way they check for over weight axles or > total> >
>> weight? > > >> > > >> Is there a special rate for motorhomes or
are we charged the > same rate> > >> as trucks?> > >> > > >> Thanks,
Joe> >>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Give to a good cause with every e-mail. Join the i'm Initiative
from Microsoft.
> http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Def...ce=EML_WL_
GoodCause
>

[ronmarabito2002]

O.K. Don. Let's get our definitions working together. I thought a
single axle was just that. Are you saying the drive axle is not
considered a single axle? My drive currently runs about 21775 lbs..

Ron

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> For a PT there is only one single axle, and that's the front one. I
have never heard of a Bird exceeding 20K on that axle?
>
> Anyway, the Ohio turnpike rules for a single axle are actually 21K,
and the limit for a tandem as you would find on a PT rear is 34K.
>
> Rates are weight/miles based, and can be calculated here:
http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/fa...alculator/
>
> The turnpike is also the only road in Ohio where all vehicles can
travel 65MPH. Otherwise, Ohio is like California, with a Truck/towing
rule of 55.
>
>
>
> On 5/27/2008 at 2:26 AM ronmarabito2002 wrote:
>
> >The point Bob was making is: Maximum single axle load is 20,000 lbs.
> > You will probably find that when loaded, you could be up around
> >22,000 lbs.. If you could run on an almost empty tank of fuel or
> >empty holding and water tanks, you might make it, but they will weigh
> >you at the gates of the Ohio Turnpike, as I have been told.
> >
> >R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> >
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joepat50" wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Hi Bob,
> >>
> >> Kind of curious what you mean by that. I havent driven a coach cross
> >> country before but plan to in July, (CA to OH and back) we'll
take the
> >> OH turnpike part of the way so Im interested in this.
> >>
> >> Will they require the coach to get weighted before getting on the TP
> >> or is there any other way they check for over weight axles or total
> >> weight?
> >>
> >> Is there a special rate for motorhomes or are we charged the same
rate
> >> as trucks?
> >>
> >> Thanks, Joe
>

[ronmarabito2002]

John: You are driving a FC and do you know what your weight is on
your drive axle? Probably below the limit, so they would not have any
reason to check you.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, tX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> Living in central Pa and traveling on the Pa TP pretty frequently I
> can tell you that to the best of my knowledge private coaches are
> never checked for weight. I came thru Ohio from Michigan when I
> purchased my BB and I was not checked. So I don't know what the facts
> are related to Ohio. The issue for motor home use in Pa is the
> secondary roads, old bridges and clearance issues. There are lots of
> places in Pa you will not be able to get to (at least legally) with a
> 40ft Pt. In my community I know of several bridges that are rated no
> more then 10 tons. But on the interstates and the TP I see lots of
> big stuff so if you are passing thru it should be no problem. Lots
> of construction which will slow you down and some narrow cattle
> shoots which make me nervous but there is room. They run the 18
> wheelers thru them so where they can go a MH can follow.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > 34K is the california limit on a set. even a set of three is 34K.
> > thats why you hardly see a three axle set driving the highways in
> > Ca. I had a three axle set but the benifit was mostly for offroad
> > floatation. turned out to be a bad idea because it would loose
> > drive when on uneven ground, and the CHP loved to point out the
> > weight limit issue.
> >
> > to be out of the set an axle must be X distance from the center of
> > the set of the first derived pair in that set for which it of
> > challange too.... 'work this one out roadside with a CHP'
> >
> >
> > GregoryO'Connor
> > 94pt
> > 3 axle dump truck
> > RomolandCa
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > For a PT there is only one single axle, and that's the front one.
> > I have never heard of a Bird exceeding 20K on that axle?
> > >
> > > Anyway, the Ohio turnpike rules for a single axle are actually
> > 21K, and the limit for a tandem as you would find on a PT rear is
> > 34K.
> > >
> > > Rates are weight/miles based, and can be calculated here:
> > http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/fa...alculator/
> > >
> > > The turnpike is also the only road in Ohio where all vehicles can
> > travel 65MPH. Otherwise, Ohio is like California, with a
> > Truck/towing rule of 55.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 5/27/2008 at 2:26 AM ronmarabito2002 wrote:
> > >
> > > >The point Bob was making is: Maximum single axle load is 20,000
> > lbs.
> > > > You will probably find that when loaded, you could be up around
> > > >22,000 lbs.. If you could run on an almost empty tank of fuel
> or
> > > >empty holding and water tanks, you might make it, but they will
> > weigh
> > > >you at the gates of the Ohio Turnpike, as I have been told.
> > > >
> > > >R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> > > >
> > > >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joepat50"
> > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Hi Bob,
> > > >>
> > > >> Kind of curious what you mean by that. I havent driven a
> coach
> > cross
> > > >> country before but plan to in July, (CA to OH and back) we'll
> > take the
> > > >> OH turnpike part of the way so Im interested in this.
> > > >>
> > > >> Will they require the coach to get weighted before getting on
> > the TP
> > > >> or is there any other way they check for over weight axles or
> > total
> > > >> weight?
> > > >>
> > > >> Is there a special rate for motorhomes or are we charged the
> > same rate
> > > >> as trucks?
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks, Joe
> > >
> >
>

[ronmarabito2002]

John: You are driving a FC and do you know what your weight is on
your drive axle? Probably below the limit, so they would not have any
reason to check you.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, tX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> Living in central Pa and traveling on the Pa TP pretty frequently I
> can tell you that to the best of my knowledge private coaches are
> never checked for weight. I came thru Ohio from Michigan when I
> purchased my BB and I was not checked. So I don't know what the facts
> are related to Ohio. The issue for motor home use in Pa is the
> secondary roads, old bridges and clearance issues. There are lots of
> places in Pa you will not be able to get to (at least legally) with a
> 40ft Pt. In my community I know of several bridges that are rated no
> more then 10 tons. But on the interstates and the TP I see lots of
> big stuff so if you are passing thru it should be no problem. Lots
> of construction which will slow you down and some narrow cattle
> shoots which make me nervous but there is room. They run the 18
> wheelers thru them so where they can go a MH can follow.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > 34K is the california limit on a set. even a set of three is 34K.
> > thats why you hardly see a three axle set driving the highways in
> > Ca. I had a three axle set but the benifit was mostly for offroad
> > floatation. turned out to be a bad idea because it would loose
> > drive when on uneven ground, and the CHP loved to point out the
> > weight limit issue.
> >
> > to be out of the set an axle must be X distance from the center of
> > the set of the first derived pair in that set for which it of
> > challange too.... 'work this one out roadside with a CHP'
> >
> >
> > GregoryO'Connor
> > 94pt
> > 3 axle dump truck
> > RomolandCa
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > For a PT there is only one single axle, and that's the front one.
> > I have never heard of a Bird exceeding 20K on that axle?
> > >
> > > Anyway, the Ohio turnpike rules for a single axle are actually
> > 21K, and the limit for a tandem as you would find on a PT rear is
> > 34K.
> > >
> > > Rates are weight/miles based, and can be calculated here:
> > http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/fa...alculator/
> > >
> > > The turnpike is also the only road in Ohio where all vehicles can
> > travel 65MPH. Otherwise, Ohio is like California, with a
> > Truck/towing rule of 55.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 5/27/2008 at 2:26 AM ronmarabito2002 wrote:
> > >
> > > >The point Bob was making is: Maximum single axle load is 20,000
> > lbs.
> > > > You will probably find that when loaded, you could be up around
> > > >22,000 lbs.. If you could run on an almost empty tank of fuel
> or
> > > >empty holding and water tanks, you might make it, but they will
> > weigh
> > > >you at the gates of the Ohio Turnpike, as I have been told.
> > > >
> > > >R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> > > >
> > > >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joepat50"
> > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Hi Bob,
> > > >>
> > > >> Kind of curious what you mean by that. I havent driven a
> coach
> > cross
> > > >> country before but plan to in July, (CA to OH and back) we'll
> > take the
> > > >> OH turnpike part of the way so Im interested in this.
> > > >>
> > > >> Will they require the coach to get weighted before getting on
> > the TP
> > > >> or is there any other way they check for over weight axles or
> > total
> > > >> weight?
> > > >>
> > > >> Is there a special rate for motorhomes or are we charged the
> > same rate
> > > >> as trucks?
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks, Joe
> > >
> >
>

[ronmarabito2002]

Shane: That's good to know, but from what I understand, the axle
limit is 21000 # on the Turnpike and I am at 21775. Actually, I only
have a short distance to go on the Ohio Turnpike and I can skirt the
issue O.K., but not the PA Turnpike. I believe that I went across
there several years back without problems.

I am going to go across IH80, so it won't matter and I guess I'll
miss you. I will consider the Hubbard Flying J however.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "sfedeli3" <sfedeli3@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Ron,
>
> On our way back from OshKosh last summer, we took the Indiana, Ohio
> and PA Turnpikes all the way back to Hershey. There were no problems
> with overweights on the Ohio turnpike and our PT is a little over 20K
> on the drive axle. Where are you heading up in the Northeast? Let me
> know when you're coming through- we're only 6 miles off the PA
> turnpike and you're welcome to park here for the night.
>
> If you are headed up to NYC area, take I-80 from Ohio and get fuel
> at the Flying J in Hubbard OH. That's the cheapest that you'll get in
> this area. PA, NJ, NY and all of the New England states are far more
> expensive. Only VA is cheaper.
>
> Shane Fedeli
> 85PT40
> Hershey, PA
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
> wrote:
> >
> > Anyone know first hand if a PT-40 is O.K. across these two turnpikes?
> > Specifically want to know about the weights and enforcement.
> >
> > Thanks
> > R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> >
>

[Joe Garner]

Thanks Shane,

We'll keep that in mind for the trip...


/Joe
'87 PT40
San Francisco



sfedeli3 wrote:
>
>
> Joe,
>
> There is no special class- just the same as a semi or bus
> (depending on ## of axles). I was not weighed when I crossed from
> Indiana into OH (at least not that I could see- there were no slots in
> the concrete like you see on the CAT scales). Coming from the east or
> west I try and use I-70. No tolls and less traffic that I-90, I-80
> through Chi-town and Gary, IN. The road is better too.
>
> Shane Fedeli
> 85PT40
> Hershey, PA
>

[Dan Carr]

You are correct in that the Ohio turnpike weight limit per axle is
21,000. Each entrance onto the turnpike has a scale built into the
approach to the tollbooth so they do check it. I got rejected once
when I had forgotten to air up my tag axle.

I-80 is turnpike (fees) with weight limits from Indiana to Youngstown,
OH where it crosses I-76. I-76 becomes the turnpike(fees) into
Pennsylvania and remains turnpike the rest of the way across to
Philadelphia. PA uses scales for trucks only so no weight problems there.
At Youngstown, OH, I-80 becomes a freeway across PA and all the way
into New York City. It is wider than a lot of I-76 in PA which was
originally built before the Interstate road system was established.
They are working on widening I-76 which also causes lots of
construction areas.

Coming west we usually run on I-70 across Indiana into Ohio, take I-71
at Columbus up to I-76 and continue across eastern OH on I-76 to I-80.
With my underpowered PT40, these are flat enough that we can run with
traffic most everywhere. There is a little congestion where I-76 runs
through Akron OH, but not bad unless you hit it from 7:30-8:30 in the
AM or 3:30-5:30 in the PM. Then it takes an extra 20 minutes to get
through.

We live in the Youngstown area so use these roads a lot. Hope this
helps although if you are coming from the northern Indiana area, there
aren't a lot of options to I-80.

Dan Carr
82PT40 6V92


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
wrote:
>
> Shane: That's good to know, but from what I understand, the axle
> limit is 21000 # on the Turnpike and I am at 21775. Actually, I only

[erniecarpet@...]

This all sounds toooo complicated for me. Guess I'll stay away from those roads.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Montana

---

Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

[Don Bradner]

Yes, I am saying that the drive axle on a PT is not considered a single axle,
but rather a short tandem group.

Ohio's rules, which are similar everywhere:
SINGLE axle. Every adjacent axle to this axle is greater than 16 feet (center
to center)
SHORT TANDEM group. Two adjacent axles are within 4 feet (<= 4 ft) of each
other.

There are also other types of tandems, but that is all that concerns us. Our PT
rear does not meet the definition of single, but does meet the definition of
short tandem.

One apparent gotcha: Equalization Within Group (Tandem / Tri / Quad groups).
Within each group, the weight on each axle must not differ by more than 2000
pounds.

However, an exception nullifies the gotcha:
Auxiliary axles, airlift axles and air ride suspensions.
For the determination of legal axle, axle group and gross weights:
There is no requirement regarding load equalization or suspension type so long
as it is a load bearing axle and does not exceed the tire or axle load limit.

In other words, the tag does not have to be within 2000 lbs of the drivers

It should, however, be carrying weight, which was the problem that Dan Carr
mentions when he forgot to air up his tag.

On 5/27/2008 at 8:59 PM ronmarabito2002 wrote:

>O.K. Don. Let's get our definitions working together. I thought a
>single axle was just that. Are you saying the drive axle is not
>considered a single axle? My drive currently runs about 21775 lbs..
>
>Ron
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
> wrote:
>>
>> For a PT there is only one single axle, and that's the front one. I
>have never heard of a Bird exceeding 20K on that axle?
>>
>> Anyway, the Ohio turnpike rules for a single axle are actually 21K,
>and the limit for a tandem as you would find on a PT rear is 34K.
>>
>> Rates are weight/miles based, and can be calculated here:
>http://www.ohioturnpike.org/travelers/fa...alculator/
>>
>> The turnpike is also the only road in Ohio where all vehicles can
>travel 65MPH. Otherwise, Ohio is like California, with a Truck/towing
>rule of 55.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5/27/2008 at 2:26 AM ronmarabito2002 wrote:
>>
>> >The point Bob was making is: Maximum single axle load is 20,000 lbs.
>> > You will probably find that when loaded, you could be up around
>> >22,000 lbs.. If you could run on an almost empty tank of fuel or
>> >empty holding and water tanks, you might make it, but they will weigh
>> >you at the gates of the Ohio Turnpike, as I have been told.
>> >
>> >R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
>> >
>> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joepat50" wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Hi Bob,
>> >>
>> >> Kind of curious what you mean by that. I havent driven a coach cross
>> >> country before but plan to in July, (CA to OH and back) we'll
>take the
>> >> OH turnpike part of the way so Im interested in this.
>> >>
>> >> Will they require the coach to get weighted before getting on the TP
>> >> or is there any other way they check for over weight axles or total
>> >> weight?
>> >>
>> >> Is there a special rate for motorhomes or are we charged the same
>rate
>> >> as trucks?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks, Joe
>>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[ronmarabito2002]

Thanks for the info Dan.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Carr"
wrote:
>
> You are correct in that the Ohio turnpike weight limit per axle is
> 21,000. Each entrance onto the turnpike has a scale built into the
> approach to the tollbooth so they do check it. I got rejected once
> when I had forgotten to air up my tag axle.
>
> I-80 is turnpike (fees) with weight limits from Indiana to Youngstown,
> OH where it crosses I-76. I-76 becomes the turnpike(fees) into
> Pennsylvania and remains turnpike the rest of the way across to
> Philadelphia. PA uses scales for trucks only so no weight problems
there.
> At Youngstown, OH, I-80 becomes a freeway across PA and all the way
> into New York City. It is wider than a lot of I-76 in PA which was
> originally built before the Interstate road system was established.
> They are working on widening I-76 which also causes lots of
> construction areas.
>
> Coming west we usually run on I-70 across Indiana into Ohio, take I-71
> at Columbus up to I-76 and continue across eastern OH on I-76 to I-80.
> With my underpowered PT40, these are flat enough that we can run with
> traffic most everywhere. There is a little congestion where I-76 runs
> through Akron OH, but not bad unless you hit it from 7:30-8:30 in the
> AM or 3:30-5:30 in the PM. Then it takes an extra 20 minutes to get
> through.
>
> We live in the Youngstown area so use these roads a lot. Hope this
> helps although if you are coming from the northern Indiana area, there
> aren't a lot of options to I-80.
>
> Dan Carr
> 82PT40 6V92
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
> wrote:
> >
> > Shane: That's good to know, but from what I understand, the axle
> > limit is 21000 # on the Turnpike and I am at 21775. Actually, I only
>