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Traveling through Ontario Canada


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I think the rules are different in Canada for stopping at weigh stations.  I was told (no experience yet) that all vehicles over 26K must stop.

Perhaps someone can verify.

 

 

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34 minutes ago, NeverEasy said:

I think the rules are different in Canada for stopping at weigh stations.  I was told (no experience yet) that all vehicles over 26K must stop.

Perhaps someone can verify.

I am from Alberta and I never stop at scales. I have traveled Alberta and BC. The only time I stop at scales either in Canada or the USA  is if I have horses on and only if they say "all livestock".

 

 

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59 minutes ago, NeverEasy said:

I think the rules are different in Canada for stopping at weigh stations.  I was told (no experience yet) that all vehicles over 26K must stop.

Perhaps someone can verify.

 

 

Truck is 16,000 and trailer is close to the same ,we never stop at scales or inspection (MTO) stations.

we are based in ontario

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I know that someone on this forum got chased down by their LEO and was told all vehicles over 26K had to stop.  I am planning a trip to Alaska and the point really set in.   I am most happy not to stop. 

Chet & Deb
'01 Volvo 660 w/ Smart
'19 Forest River Columbus 320RS 5th wheel
2022 Chev 2500HD Long Bed
Retired CWO4, USN and federal service
Electronics Tech/Network Engineer/Welder/Machinist

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Traveled from Florida to Fairbanks AK this past summer.  Never stopped at any scales.  Was called in to the border station in British Columbia to check what he assumed was my "commercial" papers.  When he realized I was RV/non commercial he covered his a?? with other questions and sent us on our way.

Todd

“…nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people.” – Mark Twain

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Canadian provinces get to make their own rules. The western provinces have a much different attitude than Ontario and Quebec.  I have found that Quebec regulations include personal use language, which is a change from several years ago.

Thanks to the Ontario residents who responded.

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We are reg in Ontario as MH  no scales at all   Only for commercial traffic   

If reg in Ontario as a truck they go by weight  if towing your personal RV then your exempt from Commercial regs and scales   If reg as truck without a personal RV you are to follow commercial regs log books pretrips CVOR reg with numbers  Same  as DOT   

If you are not reg in Ontario it is reciprocal to where you are reg   Unless of course you are in commerce  Same as most everywhere  

Hope it helps a bit. 

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1 hour ago, billr said:

We are reg in Ontario as MH  no scales at all   Only for commercial traffic   

If reg in Ontario as a truck they go by weight  if towing your personal RV then your exempt from Commercial regs and scales   If reg as truck without a personal RV you are to follow commercial regs log books pretrips CVOR reg with numbers  Same  as DOT   

If you are not reg in Ontario it is reciprocal to where you are reg   Unless of course you are in commerce  Same as most everywhere  

Hope it helps a bit. 

Thanks, that is exactly what I wanted to know.  Will always have RV with us. Primarily just passing through, Ontario is between here and Mom's place.

If we do decide to stop and explore, the whole point of going the HDT route is to have another vehicle with us. Just unload and go.

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5 hours ago, redcrzr said:

Traveled from Florida to Fairbanks AK this past summer.  Never stopped at any scales.  Was called in to the border station in British Columbia to check what he assumed was my "commercial" papers.  When he realized I was RV/non commercial he covered his a?? with other questions and sent us on our way.

Todd

Todd, having to cover ones ass indicates he is trying to cover up some wrong. Presuming an HDT RV is commercial is a understandable and natural mistake. Exactly why would this person need to cover his ass for asking for papers? He asked the questions needed to verify(?) that you were not commercial and sent you on your way. Where does the ass covering come in? He performed his job. I guess you never had to ask a question before making a decision before, eh? What happened to those "kindly instincts" your signature mentions? 

BTW: Whats up with the "??" ? You thing anyone here will be less offended if you misspell and imply the word "ass" rather than just spelling it? 

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Big5er & anyone else who may have misinterpreted my post

I don't come on here to ruffle feathers or destroy anybody's ego.  I was just stating how I interpreted what took place at the Canadian border.  I observed another "border officer" rolling her eyes while I was being questioned about my rig.

Only an observation & opinion of how my border crossing went in answer to the original post.  

Have a good day, everybody.

Todd

“…nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people.” – Mark Twain

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13 minutes ago, redcrzr said:

Big5er & anyone else who may have misinterpreted my post

I don't come on here to ruffle feathers or destroy anybody's ego.  I was just stating how I interpreted what took place at the Canadian border.  I observed another "border officer" rolling her eyes while I was being questioned about my rig.

Only an observation & opinion of how my border crossing went in answer to the original post.  

Have a good day, everybody.

Todd

Customs/border agents is a whole other story than DOT/MTO/HP whatever the local truck enforcement officers are called.

I have never had a problem with the RV crossing the border, buy my wife has.

I have been hassled at Canadian customs about working in Canada, (I work for a Canadian company), they deflate pretty fast once the agent realizes that I have work rights for Canada, but live in the US.

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We crossed into Ontario from Michigan in August and exited in Quebec into Maine.  It was our first trip across the border in the HDT.  We never stopped at a scale anywhere along our route.  We are over 26,000 lbs.

You did not ask, but:  Go through the RV/Car lanes, NOT the commercial truck lanes.  If the agent says you should have used the truck lanes just apologize and emphasize you are an RV'er, not commercial.  Entering the truck lanes increases your odds of being detained and searched.  DO NOT set your air service brakes unless told to do so.

Another a piece of advice:  DO NOT take a gun, ammunition, pepper spray, Mace or a radar detector with you.  Do not try to hide any such item or lie to an agent about them.  If you have a concealed carry permit for a gun in the US make sure it is buried deep in your truck's manuals and not in your wallet.   If asked if you own a gun (anywhere - even in the US) it may be best to tell them no and respond that you are well aware of Canada's firearm laws and restrictions and totally respect them.  Other than that - proof of insurance, and registration on both truck and trailer, matching locality tags on camper and truck so as not to cause them to think you are transporting, DL, passports for both you and passenger, if you have a pet vaccination proof, no unmarked containers of pet food or prohibited plants or foods.  If you are missing any of the above you have just given them a reason (not that they need one) to detain you and enter and search your vehicles.  Also, if you have a cell phone, set it so you can record the questions asked by and any conversation between you and the agent - they do not need to know this is intentionally happening.  The agent I got when I crossed lied about what I told her - the conversation recorded on my dash cam came in handy when I submitted a complaint.

Enjoy your trip.  I hope this was not too much info.

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Oh, one other thing..... if asked if anyone is riding in the trailer it is best NOT to tell them, "Yes, grandmaw is but she is probably asleep and doesn't like to be disturbed."   The agents I encountered do not like jokes and will take all your answers literally.  Just answer questions simply with YES or NO and give no other explaination unless asked to do so.  Then,  be brief and concise.   BTW - we had a really BAD border crossing and were detained 4-1/2 hours, everything was searched, items were broken in the process and not put back where they belonged.  Rude comments were made to me about Americans.  I believe my biggest mistake was going into the truck lane.  If I had stayed in the RV lanes I do not believe any of my bad experiences would have happened.

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Randy, Nancy and Oscar

"The Great White" - 2004 Volvo VNL670, D12, 10-speed, converted to single axle pulling a Keystone Cambridge 5th wheel, 40', 4 slides and about 19,000# with empty tanks.

ARS - WB4BZX, Electrical Engineer, Master Electrician, D.Ed., Professor Emeritus - Happily Retired!

 

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RandyA...  A number of years ago, I was still working on moving my stuff west from my Mom's place, we had traveled through Canada and were crossing back to the US.  I had brought a couple of soft gun cases with me, I was going to take back the last of my fathers rifles (return trip through the US).  Had a cargo trailer, the customs agent wanted to look inside.  I had totally forgotten that I had left those gun cases on top of the stuff we had in there.  I think the agent about came 2 feet off the ground when he saw the cases, had already asked about weapons, but hard to tell if a case is empty or not just looking at it!

If you are travelling across the border and feel the need to have a self defense weapon, starting fluid (aka ether) is perfectly legal.  Back when I drove commercially, I kept a can next to the seat.  Some of the neighborhoods I would get to visit were not the best.

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2 hours ago, RandyA said:

If you have a concealed carry permit for a gun in the US make sure it is buried deep in your truck's manuals and not in your wallet.  

Why would it matter if my permit is in my wallet?  I sure as HELL am not going to surrender my wallet to some border bureaucrat.  I will pull and DISPLAY an additional photo ID they ask for it, but definitely won't give it to them.  They already have my passport in hand which is a legal photo ID.

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I was told by the border agent to empty the contents of my wallet on a table so that she could see what I had inside.  When you are in their custody you go by their laws and rules.  You can't say no and leave.  It is best not to get into an argument or refuse their requests unless you want a longer detainment or seizure of your vehicle.  She could have been looking for kiddie porn pictures or other illegal stuff.  When she saw the CC permit she freaked out.  I agree, what I have in the US is none of her business.  That is why I said if you have a CC permit bury it in other printed material, which is not hiding it, just keeping it out of sight.  I put that in my formal complaint letter - arguing at the border crossing with her would have been pointless.  Absolutely nothing was found in the search that was illegal, which really pissed her off.  I believe my advice to be valid to avoid possible crossing issues.

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Randy, Nancy and Oscar

"The Great White" - 2004 Volvo VNL670, D12, 10-speed, converted to single axle pulling a Keystone Cambridge 5th wheel, 40', 4 slides and about 19,000# with empty tanks.

ARS - WB4BZX, Electrical Engineer, Master Electrician, D.Ed., Professor Emeritus - Happily Retired!

 

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12 minutes ago, RandyA said:

Absolutely nothing was found in the search that was illegal, which really pissed her off. 

I had an unpleasant experience going into Canada, though not Ontario.  We were crossing above the west side of Glacier NP.  The CA inspection site was a couple of miles into Canada.  The female officer asked me if I own guns.  I relied truthfully.  Then she grilled me on if I had any with me, why not, did I feel safe without them, were they stored under lock and key back home, etc.  Seemed like forever, even after I offered for her to look for herself.

All the other crossings on that trip were short and sweet.  Just one person exercising her authority.

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