Trailers - Oregon vs California

ning · Feb 2, 2021

So in California, you can't legally tow a non-rv trailer with GVWR>10k, regardless of GCWR, on a normal class C license.

Since I'm kinda a dual CA&OR resident, I've considered getting an OR drivers license and register my F350 in OR and get a trailer - I'd like a dual axle dump trailer probably about 7x14, which are usually over 10k.

I'd be using the trailer primarily in California for now, though there would be occasional Oregon use; I'm aware that the police "prefer" that your domicile and license and registration all match up, but it's explainable and I don't intend to be a target...

Does anyone have an idea of how much trailers like this cost to register in Oregon, and pickup trucks as well (no work for hire)?

I did some searching but it looked like if you're towing over 8k, your truck registration goes through the roof, though that may have been commercial - I couldn't pin it down.

When my wife bought a Toyota Highlander a couple years ago, she bought it in Oregon and it's registered with our Oregon address (wayyyy cheaper registration on that there).

user.69169 · Feb 2, 2021

Look into Maine NonResident trailer registration.

Little thing called Full Faith & Credit clause of de US Constitution.

Some States go stupid, some states profit from de stupid.

rademamj1 · Feb 2, 2021

The California rules for Class C licenses are very similar to most states, including my state of Texas.

You are towing limited to under 10,000 lbs if the tow vehicle weighs more than 4000lbs. You are towing limited to 15,000lbs if your trailer is a 5th wheel. However, if you classify yourself a farmer, you can tow up to 26,000lbs with your class C license. You can also drive up to a 40' bus with class C license.

ning · Feb 2, 2021

rademamj1 said:
The California rules

Yeah; I knows the CA rules well. One difference in particular from some other states is that even if you're under 26k combined, towing a trailer rated over 10k requires a CDL (if not an rv).

It's the Oregon ones that I don't, and their fee structure. From what I can tell, if a truck's going to tow a trailer over 8k#, it's got to be registered to tow it (and you pay by weight, a lot), or you need a temporary/trip permit.

Hoping a trailer-towing Oregonite can provide some wisdom here.

rangerfredbob · Feb 3, 2021

I don't tow regularly, but have never had problems... I believe the trailer (18' deck over with 6k axles) is just standard trailer license probably under the 10k value (haven't looked in a while) and I think it was $55/2 years last time... Unless you are obviously doing something sketchy or obviously commercial in Oregon I don't think they really care... The F350 is just standard registration and since it's old it's considered the lowest fuel mileage so has the cheapest registration (Oregon apparently isn't making enough in gas taxes, so the better mileage the more you pay every 2 years unless it's over 10 years old or something)