SidecarFlip wrote:
Works for me. I've seriously considered a day cab for pulling my goose neck hay trailer around. Day cabs don't have much resale value. I looked at a day cab Pete with a Cat and 10 speed, twin screw, low miles for 22 grand.
One thing about using a Class 8 truck to pull an RV is, you don't ever have to worry about being over on an axle and put 'Private Carrier, not for Hire' on the side and no log book or DOT physical either. I think you still also need a Federal DOT number, I know I do with my 350 Ford because I use it to pull a hay trailer and I'm over 20K GCVW.
The trick to towing with a class 8 truck is to convert it into a "motor home". This is much simpler then you would think depending on the State you live in.
In Washington for example, there are 6 requirements to convert a semi into a motor home but you only have to do 4 of the 6 requirements. Because my truck has a sleeper, ( 1) it has permanent sleeping facilities, all I added was a (2) charger-inverter so I can run the appliances off of shore power or battery power, (3) I installed a micro wave for cooking, and (4) the easiest one of all I bought a portapotty NEVER took it out of the box but placed it under the bunk in the sleeper, my truck is no longer a truck but a legally titled and registered motor home that can be driven with a regular drivers license.
There is no need for DOT numbers as it is NOT a commercial truck, there is no need for any signage stating not for hire, privet RV or any other such lettering all this does is confuse the LEO's. Have a folder where all your paper work is neatly laid out in order, have a copy of YOUR States requirements for a motor home, house car, or privet truck, each State has a different way of naming and configuring a truck to meet the requirements of a NON COMMERCIAL TRUCK. As an RV you do NOT need to stop at weigh stations.
If you tow a large RV trailer one that weighs 18,000 pounds or more, run the numbers you can't beat a converted class 8 truck, I have way less money in this Peterbilt even with all the conversion work and Smart Car, deck build then you could buy a newer one ton pickup truck for.
Dave
