Advice on Trailer Purchase

[Chillimau]

Check your tire ratings too. Some dealers like to to sell a 12,000 lb trailer with tires only rated for 7,000lb. If you can pull a gooseneck, get it. You won't go back to a bumper pull.

Maybe I'm missing something but it looks like some are taking the max payload and the max trailer weight to get a GCVWR. If you have the max trailer weight you can't add the max payload, the trailer has already done that for you. Anyway new '03 Dodge GCVWR 23,000lbs, empty truck 7,500 approx and 15,500 for max trailer weight.

I thought ( just hearsay) that the CDL was only required in commercial applications not for private use.

 

[MarkV]

I’ve casually looked at a couple of trailers lately so I thought I would share the prices for those looking. These all looked like well built units but I don’t have the sizes of the steel used.

All of the trailers were 16’ with a 2’ dovetail and 84” wide. They all had pressure treated decks, stake pockets and bulldog hitches.

Equipment trailer with dual 3500 lbs axles, brakes on one axle and fold down ramps. $1350

Same basic trailer as above in a lowboy configuration with ramps that store under the trailer. $1550

Same two trailers with dual 6000 lbs axles and dual brakes were $1000 more give or take $50.

MarkV

 

[Hoeman00]

CDL is for everyone.
Friends brother got ticket out of it and for CGVWR being over his OH license plate wt.
1 ton pick up and 5th wheel trailer (empty when ticketed).
U also have to watch fuel tax and get sticker and pay extra fuel taxes.

BTW Chevy HD 2500 22k CGVWR.

 

[Chillimau]

Well you got me to looking. In Oklahoma, if it is a farm vehicle, no requirement for CDL regardless of weight, but limited to a 150 mile radius of farm and must be driven by farmer, family member or employee of farm. Otherwise CDL is required.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>I thought ( just hearsay) that the CDL was only required in commercial applications not for private use.</font color=blue>

It may vary by state, but I don't think so. Here is info from<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.state.ma.us/rmv/license/2diflic.htm> Mass RMV </A>


Truck or truck + trailer > 26,001 LB or trailer over 10,000 LB = CDL


There are often exemptions for farm & emergency vehicles.

 

[Phred]

hosejockey2002,

You forgot about the F450s. GVWR is ~15,000 lbs and GCWR is about ~30,000 lbs. 26 GCWR is a peice of cake for one of these.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/fleet_showroom/Showdetail.asp?Pagecate=5&vyear=2003&vcode=6270&vehmodel=pho00f450sdcchas%2Ejpg>http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/fleet_showroom/Showdetail.asp?Pagecate=5&vyear=2003&vcode=6270&vehmodel=pho00f450sdcchas%2Ejpg</A>

Hazmat,

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

Truck or truck + trailer > 26,001 LB or trailer over 10,000 LB = CDL

<hr></blockquote>



That must be a Mass law see previous discussion:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=genbuy&Number=184412&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=DMV&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=182617>http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=genbuy&Number=184412&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=DMV&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=50&Old=allposts&Main=182617</A>

In AR and apperantly TX you have to be at a GCWR>26,000 before CDL is required, regardless of trailer weight.

My F250 has a GVWR of 8800 lbs and weights ~6500. GCWR is 20,000 lbs. Therefore if you assume a load capability of 2300 lbs (GVWR-weight) and 10% hitch weight then you could have a very heavy trailer weight and not violate the GVWR law. Of course this would require quite a hitch setup!
So this means that the GCWR is the real limit. GCWR is 20K so 20K-6.5K gives you a trailer max weight of just over 13K which is what ford publishes.
This is just the theoritcial limit, the real limit is sligtly less since the hitch rating must be considered.
Also the newer F250s are a good deal heaveir so you need to watch the GVWR rating.

Bottom line is that in many states you can pull a 10-12K trailer with a pickup truck legally.

Fred

 

[DK35vince]

Phred,
Over 26001 LB truck or over 10,000 LB trailer =CDL in Pa. also.
I believe this is the law in most states.
I suggest you get a CDL book in your state and and read the states law.

 

[Phred]

Guys,

I am not trying to be argumenitive but here is a quote from the Texas state CDL hand book:
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/dlindex.htm">http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/dlindex.htm"</A>

"You must have a CDL to operate:
A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating
GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds.
A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if
the gross combination weight rating is more than
26,000 pounds.
A vehicle designed to transport more than 15 persons
including the driver.
Any size vehicle which requires hazardous materials
placards".

A quote from the Arkansas DMV web page:

"What type of license do I need to drive?
Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided that the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. Minimum age of 18.

Class B - Any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,001 pounds or more and any vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds. Minimum age of 18.

Class C - Any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of less than 26,001 or any such vehicles towing a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds comprising: (1) vehicles designed to transport 16 passengers or more, including driver; (2) vehicles used in the transport of hazardous materials which are placarded. Minimum age of 18.

Class D - Any vehicle which is not a commercial vehicle as described above. Minimum age 14 restricted/16 unrestricted."

If I am missing something please enlighten me since I have no desire to break the law.

However, these quotes appear to clearly show that in at least two states one can legally tow a 13K trailer with a 1 ton and no CDL.

Fred

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Fred,

FYI, the F-450 is not a class three (commonly misnamed 'one ton') truck. It is a class four truck. Hardly an 'apples-to-apples' comparison there. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[DK35vince]

Phed,
Class A,CDL=Any combination of vehicles over 26,000 LBS.
Or any towed vehicles over 10,000 LBS.

If you read your last post cafefully that is exactly what it says.