Texas trailer regulations???

[dynasim]

I found something interesting that isn't typically brought up here. If one gets a 4WD, particularly a 3/4 ton, pickup, it'll weigh 8k#. The typical tag is 13K#. That only leaves 5 K# of trailer+load available.

If you want to get a bigger tag, there is a ream of paperwork to fill out, and it costs a significant amount of money if it is non-farm.

I was shocked when I weighed my pickup. It is my belief that most people ought to get one of the high towing capacity 1/2 ton pickups, unless they are all in, and are willing to go down the paperwork trough.

My heaviest normal load is right at 13K GVW. It irritates me that the 4WD cost me so much, usefulness wise, and I would have held out for a 2WD if I had know the consquences. I bought to he heavy duty pickup and trailer to expand my capability, and it hasn't moved one bit.

Chris

 

[jinman]

Not many know about this but if it will haul over a certain weight you have to get it inspected. I am pretty sure if it has a farm tag it is exempt.

House trailers (RVs) and some horse trailers with living accommodations require inspection, but farm trailers and most small utility trailers do not require inspections. The standard registration fee for trailers 10,000 to 17,000 lb is $0.66 per 100 lb of rated axle weight plus a flat $25 fee. A trailer with two 5,000 lb axles would be $66 + $25 = $91 plus any local fees. If you want to be legal for every use and not worry about it, even a 14000 lb trailer will be around $118 - very reasonable when you compare that to a fine of $25 up to $200 for improper use of a farm trailer.

Rick, since you plan to tow with an F-150, make sure the tongue weight and towing weight for that vehicle are not exceeded when hauling your tractor.

If you decide to register as a farm trailer, you won't need a title. You have to keep the original bill-of-sale and farm trailer declaration to show if ownership is ever challenged by law enforcement. You pass those documents on to the next buyer if you ever sell the trailer so that person can obtain registration.

I would say you really raise your chances of being stopped if you buy the car hauler and then put farm tags on it. I'm not sure hauling vehicles of any kind (even tractors) is covered in the farm trailer exemption. When you read the law, you'd think that you could only use that trailer to haul produce to market and seed and fertilizer to grow crops. Hauling tractors is not listed as one of the things allowed. People are not supposed to haul animals to shows and events in farm trailers, but that rule is ignored regularly. The law allows only hauling to and from market and can be interpreted very stringently in some areas.

Good luck with your purchase. You've had some great advice and you just want to make sure you know all the rules and facts to help with your final decision.:thumbsup:

 

[RickS]

Jinman is right, lots of great advise. Thanks for all who have chimed in.

I'm going to seriously consider the 9998# rated trailer. It does have brakes on the rear axle only (would like it to be both but it is what it is). On the sticker on the tongue it says that payload should not exceed 8,001 lbs. I assume that to mean that the trailer weighs about 2000 lbs (9998-8001 = approx. 2000). My F150 has the trailer towing package and I have a Prodigy brake controller. I think my towing limit is 7,700 lbs. I'll have to check up on that.

Good stuff, guys. Thanks!

 

[StanR]

I think this is current.

05.06 Inspect All Trailers, Semitrailers, Pole Trailers, or Mobile Homes Exceeding 4,500 Pounds Actual Gross Weight or Registered Weight For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection) Refer to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, if required.

* Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility on towing vehicle

1. Brakes (system) (If gross weight exceeds 4,500 pounds)
2. Tires
3. Wheel Assembly
4. Safety Guards or Flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle) Pole trailers exempt.
5. Tail Lamps (2)
6. Stop Lamps (2)
7. License Plate Lamp (1)
8. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
9. Turn Signal Lamps
10. Clearance Lamps
11. Side Marker Lamps
12. Side Reflectors
13. Side Marker Lamps and Reflectors (30 feet or more in overall length)
(Refer to Reference Section as per lighting diagrams and as applicable to the particular trailer being inspected.)
14. Serial or Vehicle Identification Number


And I found this

§ 548.052. VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO INSPECTION. This
chapter does not apply to:
(1) a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile
home moving under or bearing a current factory-delivery license
plate or current in-transit license plate;
(2) a vehicle moving under or bearing a paper dealer
in-transit tag, machinery license, disaster license, parade
license, prorate tab, one-trip permit, antique license, temporary
24-hour permit, or permit license;
(3) a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile
home having an actual gross weight or registered gross weight of
4,500 pounds or less;
(4) farm machinery, road-building equipment, a farm
trailer, or a vehicle required to display a slow-moving-vehicle
emblem under Section 547.703;
(5) a former military vehicle, as defined by Section
502.275;
(6) a vehicle qualified for a tax exemption under
Section 152.092, Tax Code; or
(7) a vehicle for which a certificate of title has been
issued but that is not required to be registered.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, § 30.121(a), eff. Sept. 1,
1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 963, § 1, eff. June 18, 1999;
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1423, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 19.006, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

 

[jinman]

Good specific details Stan. I found that same material, but you took the time to post it and remove speculation.:thumbsup:

 

[ModMech]

We were told by TWO Ag dealers that you *can* transport a tractor "to or from the 'farm'" on any trailer you wish and it is within the legal use of a "farm trailer" to do so.

We confirmed this with the county when we obtained the registration and plates for our farm trailer.

They did suggest that using a "farm trailer" to haul your cart to the golf course could cause you to mis your t-time and some financial difficulties

 

[jinman]

We were told by TWO Ag dealers that you *can* transport a tractor "to or from the 'farm'" on any trailer you wish and it is within the legal use of a "farm trailer" to do so.

Yep, I never meant to question the legality of hauling a tractor, but rather just to point out that hauling "farm equipment" is not clearly spelled out in the documents. The application for farm trailer tags has a section where you check the primary use of the trailer as shown in the attachment. You really have to interpret the language they use to mean hauling farm equipment. I'm sure other documents are clearer, but this document leaves a lot to be desired. I don't know why our laws have to be full of legal jargon and complex interpretations, but that's the way it is and probably keeps lots of lawyers in good paying jobs.

 

[TRR]

The trailers have a change in driver license requirements at the 10,000# point. Anyone can pull a trailer under 10K. It takes a class B to tow a trailer over 10K. However, there are 2 significant modifiers. 1) If the trailer is hauling perishable farm commodities the farmer is allowed to go over that and cannot be detained at a weigh station even if over the limit. (Be sure you carry a copy of the law with you if you do this.) 2) You do NOT need a CDL to get a class B license - there is a "Class B - exempt" meaning it allows operating Class B equipment without a CDL. This is generally limited to farmers and ranchers who run heavy trucks and trailers. I can't find the actual law at the moment, but here's a extract from the Texas DPS website:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/InternetForms/Forms/CVE-13.pdf

Classes of Texas Driver License: Non-Commercial Driver License (Non-CDL)
Class A Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of
the vehicle, or vehicles being towed, exceeds 10,000 pounds.
Class B Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more towing a vehicle with a GVWR of
10,000 pounds or less.
Exception in Texas only: (TRC (Transportation Code) 521.082)
(a) towing a vehicle, other than a farm trailer, with a gross weight rating that is not more than
10,000 pounds; or
(b) a farm trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating that is not more than 20,000 pounds.
Class C Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that does not conform to the description under
Class A or B of this section.Revised 5/20/2010
6
CDL Exceptions
(a) Farm vehicle drivers are exempt from CDL requirements if:
(1) Used to transport their own agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from
their farm;
(2) Used within 150 miles of the person痴 farm.
(b) FMCSR interpretation - Farm supplies are placardable amounts of hazardous materials, including
fuels such as diesel or gasoline, and all types of fertilizers such as anhydrous ammonia, etc.

 

[Duffster]

The trailers have a change in driver license requirements at the 10,000# point. Anyone can pull a trailer under 10K. It takes a class B to tow a trailer over 10K.

That isn't how it goes. Ture, anybody can pull a trailer 10k and under but anybody can also pull a trialer over 10k if the CGVWR is under 26k. If the trailer is over 10k and the CGVWR is over 26k it requires a class A. You can't tow a trailer over 10k with a class B unless the CGVWR is under 26k.

:thumbsup:

 

[TRR]

I am aware that different people interpret what is written differently. That is why I posted the extract from the DPS web site. Everyone can draw their own conclusion and make their own decision. I have no further comment on this.