Pennsylvania - Questions About Registered GVWR and Class A Licensing

Howdy folks, thanks for having me! Just stopping by to ask a question regarding a truck I am looking to purchase. This is in Pennsylvania.

I am looking at a Ford C600 Cabover with a GVWR of 23,000LBS on the door tag. According to PA law, this means I do not need a Class A to operate the truck. HOWEVER, the truck was fitted with a shop body and boom and titled in PA with 30,000LBS GVWR on the title.

How does this work? Since the truck's title says 30,000LBS, do I need a Class A? Or can I register the truck with the state as 23,000 LBS and drive it with a Class C since the door tag also says 23,000LBS? Will the state even allow me to register it that low considering the weight on the title is 30,000LBS?

Curious how the law applies here, and how the police determine if I need a Class A to operate the vehicle if I were to be pulled over.

The truck will not be used for commercial purposes. I will be removing the shop body and boom and restoring this truck and using it in truck shows. I don't want to register it as an Antique though because my intention is to mount something like a Deuce and a Half bed on it so that it could be used for work (like hauling mulch for the wife) if necessary.

Thanks in advance folks!

 

Incorrect. It's class B until he tows more than 10k.

 

PA will let you register by stated weight if I remember correctly and you won't need a class A until you tow over 10k. If you won't be using it for commercial purposes and it's GVWR/GCVWR is less than 26k you wont need a CDL at all. Contact PENNDOT they'll fill you in on the rest.

 

If it has air brakes, you need a CDL.

 

Thinking you can title for a higher weiight than the GVWR plate. In NJ any new truck came in with something like 58,000# on the MSO/MCO and we had to pay more to raise the title to 80,000# to register in IFTA at 80,000# on the cab card.

Yet they had hundreds of 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks registered at 6,500# cause the owner was coming up the GSP from the shore sneakin past the commercial truck cutoff...something like 7000# max.