Trailer Buying Advice

[KarlP]

I agree with you on the excess capacity thing, but stay under 10,000 lbs MGW or you will need a CDL to tow it legally.

....And Federal DOT # on door of pull vehicle.

Huh? You really don't know the non-commercial regs do you?

 

[Flatbedford]

I agree with you on the excess capacity thing, but stay under 10,000 lbs MGW or you will need a CDL to tow it legally.

....And Federal DOT # on door of pull vehicle.

Huh? You really don't know the non-commercial regs do you?

Oops. I just checked myself. It seems that the over 10K rule applies when the tow vehicle is over 26,000 MGW.

From The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/


"The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:

Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. "

I am not afraid to be wrong. Thanks for the correction.

 

[KarlP]

I agree with you on the excess capacity thing, but stay under 10,000 lbs MGW or you will need a CDL to tow it legally.

....And Federal DOT # on door of pull vehicle.

Huh? You really don't know the non-commercial regs do you?

Oops. I just checked myself. It seems that the over 10K rule applies when the tow vehicle is over 26,000 MGW.

From The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

"The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:

Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. "

I am not afraid to be wrong. Thanks for the correction.

Actually you were sort of correct. In some states you do need a non-commercial class A for that much weight which has very similar requirements as a CDL. For example - (broken link removed to http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/lic_chart.htm).

However, you do NOT need a commercial truck with a DOT number to tow a non-commercial trailer over 10,000lbs. People tow 15,000lb fifth wheel toy hauler/campers with full size tractor trailer trucks (aka HDT / Class 8 truck) all the time and most of them aren't registered as commercial trucks.

 

[JustWood]

I agree with you on the excess capacity thing, but stay under 10,000 lbs MGW or you will need a CDL to tow it legally.

....And Federal DOT # on door of pull vehicle.

Huh? You really don't know the non-commercial regs do you?

Oops. I just checked myself. It seems that the over 10K rule applies when the tow vehicle is over 26,000 MGW.

From The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

"The Federal standard requires States to issue a CDL to drivers according to the following license classifications:

Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR. "

I am not afraid to be wrong. Thanks for the correction.

Actually you were sort of correct. In some states you do need a non-commercial class A for that much weight which has very similar requirements as a CDL. For example - (broken link removed to http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/lic_chart.htm).

However, you do NOT need a commercial truck with a DOT number to tow a non-commercial trailer over 10,000lbs. People tow 15,000lb fifth wheel toy hauler/campers with full size tractor trailer trucks (aka HDT / Class 8 truck) all the time and most of them aren't registered as commercial trucks.

http://www.automotive-fleet.com/Cha...T-Mandates-May-Apply-When-Using-Trailers.aspx

Karl please read carefully where it says this,,,,,,,
"As soon as you tow anything, even a small trailer, if the GCWR is greater than 10,000 pounds, it becomes a commercial vehicle because of its combination weight rating."

 

[KarlP]

http://www.automotive-fleet.com/Cha...T-Mandates-May-Apply-When-Using-Trailers.aspx

Karl please read carefully where it says this,,,,,,,
"As soon as you tow anything, even a small trailer, if the GCWR is greater than 10,000 pounds, it becomes a commercial vehicle because of its combination weight rating."

"At that point, companies are required to obtain a DOT number and follow guidelines as set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)."

Lets see ... company ... hauling goods ... sounds commercial to me. Hauling an RV, personal vehicle, or personal firewood... not so much.

 

[JustWood]

http://www.automotive-fleet.com/Cha...T-Mandates-May-Apply-When-Using-Trailers.aspx

Karl please read carefully where it says this,,,,,,,
"As soon as you tow anything, even a small trailer, if the GCWR is greater than 10,000 pounds, it becomes a commercial vehicle because of its combination weight rating."

"At that point, companies are required to obtain a DOT number and follow guidelines as set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)."

Lets see ... company ... hauling goods ... sounds commercial to me. Hauling an RV, personal vehicle, or personal firewood... not so much.

"On days that any of its vehicles meet the definition of a commercial motor vehicle, "

 

[KarlP]

I give up. I'm now ignoring my first user on this forum. I hope others are smart enough to research on their own.

 

[Spikem]

$800 is a steal for that yellow trailer posted! I paid $850 for mine out of Mass. I built the side for it myself, if you look back in the history of this forum you'll find more pictures. I bought with the same exact intentions you have.

That is one amazing looking trailer. Good job.