New Utility Trailer + Wimpy Truck

[aczlan]

Looks like VA considers 10k# towed CDL territory. Not OP's immediate target, but FYI....

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/dmv109.pdf

Rgds, D.

Unless it's for personal use, or the GCWR is less than 26,001...

Operators of vehicles
having a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more

or a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle(s) being towed has a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds

are required to hold a valid CDL permit.
The following situations exempt operators of certain vehicles from the CDL requirements.
1. Operation of a vehicle for personal use only, such as a recreational vehicle or truck to move your personal
belongings.
2. Operation of a fire truck or other emergency vehicle.
3. Operation of a farm vehicle that meets all of the
following conditions:
-Controlled and operated by a farmer.
-Used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies to and from a farm.
-Strictly for farm use and not used in the
operation of a common or contract motor carrier.
-Used within 150 miles of the vehicle owner’s farm.
4. Operation of a vehicle for military purposes while the
operator is on active duty.

Aaron Z

 

[Tractorable]

Thanks for all the advice fellas. I’m going to focus on getting a single axle 12-14ft trailer in the 1000-1200lb range with a 3000lb GVWR that can be legally and safely towed with my Ridgeline.

The laws in Virginia state that any trailer over 3000lbs requires brakes. And secondly, if a trailer has brakes it requires an annual state inspection. Going to keep it simple for now....low cost and free of state inspections.

I’ll forget hauling the Ford 8N and the FJ40 until I can afford to buy a suitable truck and dual axle trailer. My primary focus right now is to first get a new tractor, then truck, and dual axle trailer. Going smaller now will help me achieve the more important priorities sooner.

 

[robertsa]

Thanks for all the advice fellas. I知 going to focus on getting a single axle 12-14ft trailer in the 1000-1200lb range with a 3000lb GVWR that can be legally and safely towed with my Ridgeline.

The laws in Virginia state that any trailer over 3000lbs requires brakes. And secondly, if a trailer has brakes it requires an annual state inspection. Going to keep it simple for now....low cost and free of state inspections.

I値l forget hauling the Ford 8N and the FJ40 until I can afford to buy a suitable truck and dual axle trailer. My primary focus right now is to first get a new tractor, then truck, and dual axle trailer. Going smaller now will help me achieve the more important priorities sooner.

I would recommend the 14' tandem with brakes on one of the axles and a 7k gvwr. It'd be easier to resell later if you want to move up. If inspections are anything like here, all they can really check for are lights, the frame isn't rusting out, tires are good, and that the brakes work. There's not much to a trailer. Finding time in the day to get annual inspections done is a pain, sure, but at least someone looked over the thing as a second set of eyes for safety. Driving around where my parents live in NW Arkansas is sometimes terrifying when you see what no annual inspection puts on the road.

At the end of the day, it's your trailer and no one understands your situation better than you. I'm thinking about it from my point of view that could be drastically different than yours.

 

[ning]

California doesn't allow towing trailers with GVWR over 10k with the typical Class C license (up to 15k 5th wheel travel trailer not for hire).

 

[robertsa]

California doesn't allow towing trailers with GVWR over 10k with the typical Class C license (up to 15k 5th wheel travel trailer not for hire).

Most people are good to go with <10,000 gvwr, like a standard tandem with 3500lb axles w/brakes. It doesn't look that bad if you want to go greater than that; it appears a non-commercial class 'A' isn't too hard to get. Looks like just another written and driving exam, then you're good to go. I'd complain more if the cost were higher but the application is the same price with a slightly higher priced driving test. To be honest, I probably wouldn't vote against a proposition to require additional licensing requirements at higher gvwr. I try to make sure I'm doing all the right things, but it wouldn't be a bad thing for me to prove that I know the laws, like with my CC licensing. I would also feel safer knowing the people on the road around me with several tons in their control know how to properly secure their load and pilot it safely.

 

[4570Man]

Trailers of any size sell for like new prices here. I paid like $400 less for my big trailer than new price.

 

[ning]

Most people are good to go with <10,000 gvwr, like a standard tandem with 3500lb axles w/brakes. It doesn't look that bad if you want to go greater than that; it appears a non-commercial class 'A' isn't too hard to get. Looks like just another written and driving exam, then you're good to go. I'd complain more if the cost were higher but the application is the same price with a slightly higher priced driving test. To be honest, I probably wouldn't vote against a proposition to require additional licensing requirements at higher gvwr. I try to make sure I'm doing all the right things, but it wouldn't be a bad thing for me to prove that I know the laws, like with my CC licensing. I would also feel safer knowing the people on the road around me with several tons in their control know how to properly secure their load and pilot it safely.

From my reading of the California DMV's chart, the only thing a non-commercial class 'A' gives the trailer hauler is the ability to tow >10k travel trailer and fifth-wheel travel trailers > 15k. To tow a trailer which is not a travel trailer over 10k GVWR requires a commercial class A. (Farmer livestock trailers excepted.)

 

[robertsa]

From my reading of the California DMV's chart, the only thing a non-commercial class 'A' gives the trailer hauler is the ability to tow >10k travel trailer and fifth-wheel travel trailers > 15k. To tow a trailer which is not a travel trailer over 10k GVWR requires a commercial class A. (Farmer livestock trailers excepted.)

That's the same chart I had looked up. You are correct; I misread it.

Well, toss it on the mountain of other reasons not to live in California!

 

[ddbackhoe]

Isn't any loaded tandem with brakes heavier than the truck, even a one ton dually? I see the statement you made repeated a lot and unless I'm misunderstanding it, it doesn't make sense. A half ton isn't all that much lighter than a one ton.

For the OP, the Ridgeline with its unibody construction and IRS is meant for hailing stuff like camping gear and maybe a small 5x10 utility trailer. A 18-20' trailer with a 10k gross rating is going to weigh ~2500lbs. Your gcwr is only ~10k, tow rating ~5k, and payload ~1500. Considering the trailer weight alone, you can't haul a couple medium duty implements, much less the tractor they're attached to.

Even knocking off half a ton of weight by going aluminum, you'll still be exceeding your tow rating.

Your comments don't add up either. How are you deciding that Honda's 5000 lb. trailer capacity only means it's good for a 5 x10 trailer?

2017 Honda Ridgeline Highway Towing MPG Review: How Fuel Efficient? - YouTube

 

[robertsa]

Your comments don't add up either. How are you deciding that Honda's 5000 lb. trailer capacity only means it's good for a 5 x10 trailer?

You're being pedantic. The 5x10 was obviously an example; I am not going to sit and write out every single trailer configuration that could possibly be hooked up to his car.

As the trailer gets larger and heavier, the OP is going to be able to put less and less on the trailer. If the trailer weights 2,000lbs, he can put 3,000lbs on it accounting for tongue weight and payload. That should go without saying but don't want you getting your britches in a bunch again. If he had a 5,000lb trailer, he'd be able to put 0lbs on it, once again accounting for tongue weight and payload. See how ridiculous this can get when you knew that I wasn't saying that he could only ever pull a 5x10 trailer and nothing else?

I don't know what point you're trying to make with the photo of an illegally overloaded car. A quick Google search puts a Cherokee ~4500lbs so unless the combined weight of the trailer and quads is <500lbs, which it obviously isn't, I need to drop that photo over in the 'Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong' thread.