Can you go over 12k pounds on steer tires?

I wouldn't, but if you ever do, I wouldn't worry about it. Not sure about the KWs, but our Junkliner Crapcadias have the 5th wheel blocked so you can't move it (I work for them too) so, there isn't really much you can do about is. Besides, most scales really don't nit-pick about being a few dozen pounds over the equipment weight limit. Decades ago, when we had the Century Class Freightliners, any time I pulled over 44-45000 lbs, my steers would be 12,300+, and those were spec'd with 12k front axles and I never had a DOT cop check my equipment weight limits. With the wheelbase of our Crapcadias, this is my weight with almost 46k of pet food and 1/4 tank of fuel with the trailer axles at 41'

 

correct, 12,350 is your allowable axle weight limit, assuming your tires are rated that high or higher. It a,so doesn’t increase your max gross (assuming 80,000),

 

With modern electronic scales, I wouldn't chance it. Years ago with just the old platform scales, you could just roll the steer over the scale and stop with the tandems. It's all they were really interested in anyway. With setback axle trucks, it's very easy to be "over" on the steer,whatever that is, and with my large car Pete, I'd actually take weight OFF the steer with a load. I was lucky to get 10K on the steer, but as long as my axle weights were okay, I wasn't worried. Most of the time, I went around the scale if in doubt anyway,, BTW, overall length laws were abolished in the 80s, and you can have a tractor 50 feet long, I think.

 

yes.

if a state knew what they were looking at when I was crossing their scale I needed an empty permit for length as well. But that’s a topic for another day.

 

Look on the sidewall of your steer tire for the max weight rating. That X 2 is your max steer axle allowance.

 

Well, in California, a 5 axle semi(tractor trailer) they allow you 12,500 on the front, anything more you need a permit AND the tires have to be rated for the excess weight. A set of doubles(2 half set trailers)you are allowed 12,000.

 

OP, just look at it as the drive and trailer axels carry the load. Steer axel steers which also loads up to some degree when breaking. So maxing the front axel for load is possible but compromises steering and braking effectiveness when needed the most. It's a bit middle bear type stuff, you don't want too light, but nor too heavy either. And there is also a comfort factor in there somewhere, to much or too little weight and the springs aren't doing their best work. Its why most trucks ride like a cart empty.

 

Yes, depending on 4 things:

1) State law.
2) Axle rating.
3) Tire rating.
4) Tire width.

A lot of dump trucks carry 20K on the steers......