30,000 lbs behind the Ram

Jesus H ...

I guess it depends on what state you're driving in:

License requirements for RVers

ShinerBock wrote:

4x4ord wrote:

Is it a big deal for an RVer to get a CDL? In Canada the worst thing about having a class 1 license is that after a certain age a class one driver needs to renew his/her license every couple years, which involves getting a medical and paying some fees.

Yes, it is. As I said above, your fines and punishment are doubled if you have a CDL. If speeding is only 2 points for a regular driver then it is doubles for a CDL driver. If you get enough points then you loose your licence. A single ticket for improper lane change or speeding past a certain point is an automatic 120 day suspension of your licence.

It is just a bit stupid that a guy pulling a 12k trailer in his SRW 3500 truck that has a GCWR of 25k lbs does not need a CDL to be legal, but a the same person pulling the same 12k trailer in his DRW 3500 truck does need a CDL all because the DRW truck is rated at 27k GCWR just so the manufacturer can say it is "best in class".

You don't if you are not commercial.

4x4ord wrote:

Is it a big deal for an RVer to get a CDL? In Canada the worst thing about having a class 1 license is that after a certain age a class one driver needs to renew his/her license every couple years, which involves getting a medical and paying some fees.

Yes, it is. As I said above, your fines and punishment are doubled if you have a CDL. If speeding is only 2 points for a regular driver then it is doubles for a CDL driver. If you get enough points then you loose your licence. A single ticket for improper lane change or speeding past a certain point is an automatic 120 day suspension of your licence.

It is just a bit stupid that a guy pulling a 12k trailer in his SRW 3500 truck that has a GCWR of 25k lbs does not need a CDL to be legal, but a the same person pulling the same 12k trailer in his DRW 3500 truck does need a CDL all because the DRW truck is rated at 27k GCWR just so the manufacturer can say it is "best in class".

transamz9 wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

fly-boy wrote:

I agree most guys are using their trucks to haul well under 30k and thats a good thing. But some of us really do use these trucks.

Well you see, that is where the problem lies. Due to this proverbial pissing match between the makes, those who want these big DRW trucks just to tow their 15k trailer without a CDL are breaking the law. Most of the DRW trucks today have a GCWR of over 26,001 lbs which means towing a trailer that has a GVWR of over 10k without a CDL can lead to hefty fines in most states.

They should make a DRW with a GCWR of 25,999 for those that want DRW for towing stability and don't need to tow something that heavy to need a 26k+ GCWR.

CDL: A License To Tow

I've had my CDL for over 20 years now. In a lot of states including mine you have to be operating commercially to be required a CDL. Then you have different commercial rules for Interstate and Intrastate. There are exceptions to log book rules for drivers that are local. Agriculture falls under different rules also. In my state farmers aren't required a CDL or vehicle identification numbers as long as the stay with-in 150 air miles of their home base.

In all reality you can be commercial after you break the 10,000# GVWR rating on your truck. You are required to have a medical card.

In Texas, the 150 miles rule still stands for farmers as long as it is under 20k lbs. Also, you can tow a 10k trailer here without needing a CDL as long as what you are towing it with does not have a GCWR higher than 26,001 lbs. It looks like it is the same in Kentucky as well with not needing a CDL to tow over 10k unless the truck has a 26k GVWR (Do I need a CDL?)

Not everyone wants to be required to have a CDL just to tow with their DRW truck. There are a lot of stipulations that go along with a CDL. Not only is it more expensive obtain, but the fines and punishment is increased as well. Here(and many states) you get double the points for every infraction even when not in a vehicle requiring a CDL. It is a lot easier to get your licence suspended. I can see why many would not want to get a CDL, but now have to just to tow with a DRW truck and still be legal because the pissing match between the brands made it that way.

ShinerBock wrote:

fly-boy wrote:

I agree most guys are using their trucks to haul well under 30k and thats a good thing. But some of us really do use these trucks.

Well you see, that is where the problem lies. Due to this proverbial pissing match between the makes, those who want these big DRW trucks just to tow their 15k trailer without a CDL are breaking the law. Most of the DRW trucks today have a GCWR of over 26,001 lbs which means towing a trailer that has a GVWR of over 10k without a CDL can lead to hefty fines in most states.

They should make a DRW with a GCWR of 25,999 for those that want DRW for towing stability and don't need to tow something that heavy to need a 26k+ GCWR.

CDL: A License To Tow

Is it a big deal for an RVer to get a CDL? In Canada the worst thing about having a class 1 license is that after a certain age a class one driver needs to renew his/her license every couple years, which involves getting a medical and paying some fees.

ShinerBock wrote:

fly-boy wrote:

I agree most guys are using their trucks to haul well under 30k and thats a good thing. But some of us really do use these trucks.

Well you see, that is where the problem lies. Due to this proverbial pissing match between the makes, those who want these big DRW trucks just to tow their 15k trailer without a CDL are breaking the law. Most of the DRW trucks today have a GCWR of over 26,001 lbs which means towing a trailer that has a GVWR of over 10k without a CDL can lead to hefty fines in most states.

They should make a DRW with a GCWR of 25,999 for those that want DRW for towing stability and don't need to tow something that heavy to need a 26k+ GCWR.

CDL: A License To Tow

I've had my CDL for over 20 years now. In a lot of states including mine you have to be operating commercially to be required a CDL. Then you have different commercial rules for Interstate and Intrastate. There are exceptions to log book rules for drivers that are local. Agriculture falls under different rules also. In my state farmers aren't required a CDL or vehicle identification numbers as long as the stay with-in 150 air miles of their home base.

In all reality you can be commercial after you break the 10,000# GVWR rating on your truck. You are required to have a medical card.

fly-boy wrote:

I agree most guys are using their trucks to haul well under 30k and thats a good thing. But some of us really do use these trucks.

Well you see, that is where the problem lies. Due to this proverbial pissing match between the makes, those who want these big DRW trucks just to tow their 15k trailer without a CDL are breaking the law. Most of the DRW trucks today have a GCWR of over 26,001 lbs which means towing a trailer that has a GVWR of over 10k without a CDL can lead to hefty fines in most states.

They should make a DRW with a GCWR of 25,999 for those that want DRW for towing stability and don't need to tow something that heavy to need a 26k+ GCWR.

CDL: A License To Tow

Road speed up the grade is irrelevant. I wouldn't run fast even where I could. Too many vehicles are slow. The increasing stupidity of car drivers has accelerated in rate. And a combined rig can't get out of its own way. (Read that again).

When the Interstates were being built I thought then (and now) that it's wrong to have a high upper speed limit on ascent and descent.

The ONLY thing that matters is control down the hill. Those with trailer anti-lock disc brakes raise their hands.

(Yeah, I thought so).

Little boys

My Big Tex has a 24k GVWR. Last big load on that trailer was 28k pounds of steel I picked up in North East Oklahoma and hauled back to AZ- behind my 1 ton Chevy. Between truck, trailer and the steel I had to be somewhere near 42-43K pounds running down the road. Does that count?

I even got pulled over at the Oklahoma/Texas border by the Oklahoma transportation police and they asked what I was doing. When I told them I was hauling steel back to my ranch in AZ they said "enjoy the evening and have a safe drive." They were looking for commercial guys using their own trucks and trailers I guess.

I agree most guys are using their trucks to haul well under 30k and thats a good thing. But some of us really do use these trucks.