California Non-Commercial Class A License

[jyh818]

I am not sure if this topic was covered in the past so forgive me if I'm asking again.

I understand that to tow heavy for recreational vehicles up to combined weight of 26K lbs. in CA, you will need to get a non-commercial class A license.

The question I have is that 26K lbs. Is that the combined GVWR of the truck AND the GVWR of the 5th wheel?

Example: I have a 2006 F350 dually 2WD crew cab, long bed with 4.30 gear diesel. GCVWR is 26K lbs. Truck loaded with people and gear (no 5th wheel hooked up) is 7,500 lbs. GVWR of the truck is 13k lbs. If I get a 5th wheel with a GVWR of 16K lbs., even if I fully loaded the 5th wheel, my combined would be 23.5K lbs., under the 26K lbs. combined.

Is it still legal? If you take the GVWR of both truck and 5th wheel, it will be over 26K lbs. (13K truck + 16K 5th wheel) at 29K lbs.?

I'm not sure if the 26K from a legal standpoint is the addition of the weight ratings or what you really have.

Thanks.

[Cummins12V98]

hotpepperkid wrote:

azdryheat wrote:
Your CHP illegally pulls over triple axle toy haulers headed to the dunes to inspect the driver's license for a Class A non-commercial endorsement. Too bad CA DMV makes it such a pain to get the Class A as it seems DMV doesn't have a clue. Move to AZ where you don't need anything special to drive any size of RV. And yes, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum.

And besides all of that you can tow doubles in AZ with out getting a CDL with doubles indorcement like you have to do in CA. One of the smartest things I have ever done is move from CA to AZ for a lot of reasons

Since you are approved to do so now in AZ that qualifies you to tow doubles in CA.

I am Licensed SD and do so all the time in CA.

[hotpepperkid]

azdryheat wrote:
Your CHP illegally pulls over triple axle toy haulers headed to the dunes to inspect the driver's license for a Class A non-commercial endorsement. Too bad CA DMV makes it such a pain to get the Class A as it seems DMV doesn't have a clue. Move to AZ where you don't need anything special to drive any size of RV. And yes, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum.

And besides all of that you can tow doubles in AZ with out getting a CDL with doubles indorcement like you have to do in CA. One of the smartest things I have ever done is move from CA to AZ for a lot of reasons

[bpounds]

jyh818 wrote:
This is why I was trying to get clarification on the Combined part. From reading the DMV chart, it appears 5th wheel under 15K lbs. with endorsement is ok?

Check that chart again. There isn't any 26k combined restriction for not for hire. As long as your truck weighs more than 4k# unladen, you can pull up to 15k fiver, but you do need the recreational vehicle endorsement above 10k.

You can also drive a 2 axle single vehicle with a GVWR up to 26k.

I don't understand one part - it says under class C, any 3 axle vehicle of 6k. 2 axles up to 26k, 3axle up to 6k? I don't get the reason for that.

[jyh818]

This is why I was trying to get clarification on the Combined part. From reading the DMV chart, it appears 5th wheel under 15K lbs. with endorsement is ok?

[Wood_chip]

jyh818 wrote:

Wood chip wrote:
Geez, I thought I was on the right track when I went down to the CA DMW and got my class C restriction 41 endoresment for my 13,000 GVW 5th wheel but I now interpret this that since Im over 26k GCVW, I need the Non commercial Class A. Its very frustrating

I would get clarification on it. Heaven forbid if something happened and you did not have the proper license, your insurance company would not cover anything. Not to mention the lawsuits from the other party(ies).

Yes I will, I checked my truck GVW and its at 13,025 + trailer 12,999= 26,024. 24 lbs over hahah

[jyh818]

Wood chip wrote:
Geez, I thought I was on the right track when I went down to the CA DMW and got my class C restriction 41 endoresment for my 13,000 GVW 5th wheel but I now interpret this that since Im over 26k GCVW, I need the Non commercial Class A. Its very frustrating

I would get clarification on it. Heaven forbid if something happened and you did not have the proper license, your insurance company would not cover anything. Not to mention the lawsuits from the other party(ies).

[Wood_chip]

Geez, I thought I was on the right track when I went down to the CA DMW and got my class C restriction 41 endoresment for my 13,000 GVW 5th wheel but I now interpret this that since Im over 26k GCVW, I need the Non commercial Class A. Its very frustrating

[Cummins12V98]

BarneyS wrote:
No need to apologize. You are fine posting that here and your reasons for doing so are valid.
Barney

GEEZE Barney, don't be so darn nice!!!

[BarneyS]

No need to apologize. You are fine posting that here and your reasons for doing so are valid.
Barney

[jyh818]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
License in another State. I am licensed SD and I tow 33k combined and also 35k double tow, no issues.

Why is this posted in Fifth-Wheels??? "General RVing Issues" IMHO would be more appropriate?

I wasn't sure, but generally 5th wheels would weigh that much and I thought since many here would have more experience with that kind of weight. TT usually don't get that heavy. I didn't find that general topic in any of the choices. My apologies.

[Cummins12V98]

License in another State. I am licensed SD and I tow 33k combined and also 35k double tow, no issues.

Why is this posted in Fifth-Wheels??? "General RVing Issues" IMHO would be more appropriate?

[momentum_rv]

Bottom line... your 5th wheel trailer is over 15,000lbs you need a Non-commercial class A license.

[azdryheat]

Your CHP illegally pulls over triple axle toy haulers headed to the dunes to inspect the driver's license for a Class A non-commercial endorsement. Too bad CA DMV makes it such a pain to get the Class A as it seems DMV doesn't have a clue. Move to AZ where you don't need anything special to drive any size of RV. And yes, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum.

[bpounds]

This chart is helpful.
CA DL Classes Sorry, I see toedtoes already linked this.

There doesn't appear to be a combined gross limit with either comm or non-comm class A, as long as the vehicles are within other weight limits. (40 ton?)

You need a class A for fifthwheel over 15k gross rating, or over 10k for bumper pull. Not what it actually weighs, but what it is rated for. Can be comm or non-comm. Can be over 26k combined with either comm or non-comm. You cannot get a doubles endorsement on your non-comm class A, which is a big issue for those who want to double tow in CA.

Class C can pull up to 14,999 fiftwheel, but over 10k requires the rule 41 endorsement.

So if your fiver is going to be rated for 16k gross, you need the class A, regardless of whether it is over 26k combined.