OP
bazman82
Gold Member
No special license to drive that thing?
Is it worth it to have a slide out installed on a horse trailer?
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Sprinkler Fitter
Gold Member
many people want to. There are all kinds of horse trailer rv's around. Some people even sleep in a rv that hauls atv's
Sprinkler Fitter
Gold Member
if it is licensed as a rv some states don't require any special license.
ponytug
Super Member
Nope. Normal drivers license, no extra training or certification required. That is a national thing.
Welcome to the wide open RV loophole that allows anyone with a normal driver's license to to drive a semi, provided a) you don't do it for hire, and b) the semi has at least three of a toilet, a stove, a fridge, or a bed, thereby making it an RV. (And that the truck is less than 40') It also means no health certificate, no log books, and nobody leaning over your shoulder on whether you have done all of your air brake checks.
The RV exemption is insane, but isn't going away. I admit that I am not a spring chicken, but the thought of moderately incapacitated folks by reasons of shall we say for example heart conditions can drive 40' 40,000lb RVs is, you have to admit, a little illogical. I see drivers climbing out of some large RVs having trouble with the stairs, and it makes me worry about their reaction times.
I will say my toter is very easy to drive, except for two things a) you have to get used to the size (height (11'6") and width (8')), and b) when you crank the front wheels all the way over, they are at something like 65 degrees, which means the front moves more laterally than forward, which means the side of the toter will cover ground not covered by the front wheels. The first was easy for me, the second took a little more learning, and then you fall in love. (That is why it can do a U-turn in three lanes.)
BTW, here in California, your setup would require you to have a Class A non-commercial license due to the weight of your trailer. Mine rig only needs is a standard Class C license.
I did take the time to read the commercial drivers license handbook (above) for my state, and I do do the air brake / system tests as required for a commercial operator. I don't do log books, but I do follow the FMCSA rules as far as I understand them.
If you do consider a toter, I would suggest driving a couple different ones. The build quality varies greatly. I test drove one based on a Kodiak, and the while the build quality wasn't great, the builder had really put too much on the poor Kodiak, and it showed. The Renegade build quality is excellent, and my rig maintains 55mph going up the steep hills in the Sierras. My poor old 7.3 dually would fade to about thirty mph, or less trailering.
All the best,
Peter
OP
bazman82
Gold Member
Thanks for the info Peter. I would honestly love to get a toter and then haul around our little bumper pull 3 horse but I don't see that happening. I took a look at the link you shared and some of those rigs are bigger than our house and more luxurious. I told my wife, lets sell everything we own so that we could put a down payment on this used 2018 toter lol.
Md. has commercial and non-commercial classes also. A toter home would be a Class A non-commercial if personal use only.
“Please note: Motor homes/recreational vehicles can be different weight classes. Your license must reflect either the appropriate weight class for the vehicle you are operating or must have the appropriate motor home/recreational vehicle restriction code noted on your license.”
Recreational Vehicle Information - Pages
An official website of the State of Maryland.
mva.maryland.gov
If money is not the problem, Equine Motorcoach 4, 5, 6 Horse w/Hay Pod - Equine Motorcoach
OP
bazman82
Gold Member
Oh wow....I want one of those instead. It'd be perfect lol. Just need to win the lottery....Md. has commercial and non-commercial classes also. A toter home would be a Class A non-commercial if personal use only.
“Please note: Motor homes/recreational vehicles can be different weight classes. Your license must reflect either the appropriate weight class for the vehicle you are operating or must have the appropriate motor home/recreational vehicle restriction code noted on your license.”
Recreational Vehicle Information - Pages
An official website of the State of Maryland.
If money is not the problem, Equine Motorcoach 4, 5, 6 Horse w/Hay Pod - Equine Motorcoach
ponytug
Super Member
Md. has commercial and non-commercial classes also. A toter home would be a Class A non-commercial if personal use only.
“Please note: Motor homes/recreational vehicles can be different weight classes. Your license must reflect either the appropriate weight class for the vehicle you are operating or must have the appropriate motor home/recreational vehicle restriction code noted on your license.”
Recreational Vehicle Information - Pages
An official website of the State of Maryland.
If money is not the problem, Equine Motorcoach 4, 5, 6 Horse w/Hay Pod - Equine Motorcoach
To confess, I drove one of those that belonged to a friend that was built on a Volvo chassis, and fell in love with it. My spouse could go back and check on the horses as we drove, and you could extend the ramp out the back as terrace or sleeping platform. Plus since the horses ride on the air suspension of the whole chassis, with the weight of the whole RV, they get a much, much smoother ride. Their compartment is insulated, so it is quieter, and cooler/warmer, as needed. The lower part of the cab hydraulically tilted forward for easy servicing of the engine and transmission.
Then I found that only six(6!) of the Volvo horse coaches had been imported, exactly once, and that they basically never came on the market. The one my friend bought was a lucky purchase. (Also for much less than a new F450.) In Europe, they are very, very common. Not so in the US, and those new ones can get to insane prices. I saw one for over $1M, of course it came with crystal glassware and Wedgewood china...
That lead me to the whole toterhome concept, and while I did consider rebuilding ours with a horse compartment to the rear, but decided that it was too pricey.
I am really happy with our toter. After years of sleeping in a shell on a pickup, is so great to have the luxury of a fridge, and shower in the boonies. The visibility from the cab is incomparable, with great mirrors everywhere, and I added a rear view camera for trailer hook up and to keep an eye on the trailer.
All the best,
Peter
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