Pickup rental?

I'd just take what you have to the test and see if they care.

There's a lot of maneuvering to do that. Long wait time to schedule the test, have to bring a CDL/non-com license holder with me, I keep my 5er an hour away from me, etc.

I’d go with AZ’s suggestion.

Do they go off of actual weight or rated weight?

Also you list two GCVWR figures. Which one is correct?
- my current pickup has a max GCWR of 23,500lbs
- my GCWR would be 28,150 as per the stickers.

Where did you get your info? I get that just showing up and being wrong may be a hassle but if it's off the web site, maybe try calling and explaining your situation. They may say it's not a problem or they may have alternatives you could try.

You might try one of the truck rental companies (Penskie or the like). Does the licensee specially call out 5th wheel? If you had a big moving van with sufficent rating would that do the trick?

valhalla360 wrote:
Do they go off of actual weight or rated weight?

All licensing, as far as I know, is based on rated weight. When you get pulled over, they don't direct you to the closest scale to check the actual weights, they just look at your stickers on the vehicles for rated weights.

valhalla360 wrote:
Also you list two GCVWR figures. Which one is correct?
- my current pickup has a max GCWR of 23,500lbs
- my GCWR would be 28,150 as per the stickers.

Both are correct.

23,500 is permissible max weight combined as per my owner's manual. 2004 GMC 3500 diesel dually. Not to exceed 23,500 combined truck and trailer, so my max rated weight (GCWR) is 23,500 as printed.

However, adding up the truck GVWR of 11,400 and the trailer GVWR of 16,750, as printed on their stickers, and you get 28,150, which bumps me into Class A range (GCWR of 26,001+).

valhalla360 wrote:

Where did you get your info? I get that just showing up and being wrong may be a hassle but if it's off the web site, maybe try calling and explaining your situation. They may say it's not a problem or they may have alternatives you could try.

I got my info from those who have taken the test. The officer will check the manual of the tow vehicle.

valhalla360 wrote:

You might try one of the truck rental companies (Penskie or the like). Does the licensee specially call out 5th wheel? If you had a big moving van with sufficent rating would that do the trick?

Then I would have to find a tow behind trailer with sufficient GVWR to get me over 26,001 lbs GCWR, a whole other challenge in itself. A single vehicle with a 26,001+ GVWR will only get me a Class B license.

I have no idea and can't help, but my suspicious mind immediately went to the catch 22 situation of "need to rent something > 26,001lbs GCWR to take the test to get the license, but they won't rent to you until you have the license"?
Good luck!

I already have the trailer, all I would need to rent is the tow vehicle. You don’t need a Class A endorsement to rent a pickup with the ability to tow that weight. You just need that endorsement if you are *actually* towing that weight.

Ah, got it! Should make things a little simpler, one would hope!

I've read through this thread several times, trying to figure out exactly what you are trying to do. Looking at buying a bigger truck or trailer, or just trying to be legal with your current combo? I'm thinking that if it's just for your current combo, they can't very well require you to have the A license for your combo, yet not allow you to take your test with it. In my state, the GCWR used for licensing purposes is simply the truck GCWR+ trailer GCWR. The manufacturers GCWR does not matter at all.

Well, to be honest, I can understand why they would not let me take the test in my rig: technically, if I load up to max GVWR for each vehicle, I would be exceeding the combined rating.

If they only police via GVWR, as far as they know I could be showing up at the test already exceeding the rated capacity of my vehicle combo, making the whole point of ensuring I am operating safely moot.

Further, should I get in an accident, even with the Class A license, I'd be exposed to liability since research could show that GCWR was being exceeded (they're not going to weigh the debris after an accident to calculate actual weight, they'll just look at stickers).

What I am trying to accomplish here is a step toward being legal, perhaps with a new truck in the future to make it official.

A step towards being legal has to be better than nothing. Holding that Class A license could be the difference between being or not being impounded should I ever be pulled over. I doubt the officer would look into my owner's manual at the time, he would just look at my stickers and my license.