Flatbed

[arkansasrunner]

Just checking to see if anyone is putting a 5th with a 1 ton flat bed ? THanks

[ol_Bombero-JC]

john&bet wrote:
Wow, all the discussions about other states requirments other than the one he lives in and very little on the actual pros and cons of doing it. JMHO

Huh!..:?

How much (more) info can I give you about the requirements for the state I live in (CA)??..:S

Shhesh - if you need help "doing it".... go to any of the gas/diesel truck forums for your brand of pickup - and find all the "how to" -including pics - you could ever ask for..:R

Pro: Get more "stuff" in a given area of space on the back of a pickup. When towing 5th wheel, no worry about hitting bed rails, etc.

Con: See next -and- CONtrary to your statement above, don't have a clue how it's handled in states other than the one I reside in.

Con:
In case you missed it....the point is/was - *if* you change to a flat bed or utility body in CA -the state I live in- you are required to stop at *ALL* weigh stations. - Bummer!.:(
Of course - if you like sitting in lines at weigh stations, being weighed and possibly inspected - guess that could be considered a "Pro", LOL!

How that modification (flat bed) might apply in your home state -now or in the future- is to *you* to determine.

BTW - Happy capish(ing)!.:B

~

[john_bet]

Wow, all the discussions about other states requirments other than the one he lives in and very little on the actual pros and cons of doing it. JMHO

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Dayle1 wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

See: PICKUP.
Discussion. (last half of paragraph) If the pickup has a GVWR of 11,500 lbs or more, or the pickup bed has been removed and a utility body or flat bed has been mounted, then it no longer meets the definition of pickup in CVC Section 471; it is then a "motor truck" under CVC Section 410 and required to stop at the weigh stations.


IMO - if you are traveling in CA, with out-of-state plates, reciprocity for your home state legal flat bed would apply..:C

~

Glad I don't have to register my TV in Ca.

And....pay the registration $$ fees!!.:(..:(

Ex: My 1T pickup (when new) was over $600. in CA.
($225 of that is/was weight fees as a commercial truck)
Same truck in SD non-commercial (private truck) - $66.

However - on the flip side of the coin.....

Register your Tow Vehicle singled (Class 7) HDT Heavy Duty Truck as a Motor Home and the registration fees are less than those for a pickup.
Bonus: As a MH, it doesn't have to stop at weigh stations, LOL!
(even with a flat bed "deck")

Speaking of MHs & CA :
Buy a Motor Home, take delivery out-of-state, keep it out of state for 1 year....and pay *NO* sales tax (which is currently close to 10%) - then *legally* register it in CA.

Oh yeah - and more on the MH registration.
My neighbor bought a new gas burner MH in 2005 for approx $85K.
My 1T pickup - also new, same year - about half what he paid.
Registration for the pickup was about one third *more* than his MH.
(And yes - he utilized the CA "90 day rule" for zero sales tax).

Win some - lose some..:B

~

BTW - CA "90 Day Rule" (now "one year rule")

~

[Dayle1]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

See: PICKUP.
Discussion. (last half of paragraph) If the pickup has a GVWR of 11,500 lbs or more, or the pickup bed has been removed and a utility body or flat bed has been mounted, then it no longer meets the definition of pickup in CVC Section 471; it is then a "motor truck" under CVC Section 410 and required to stop at the weigh stations.


IMO - if you are traveling in CA, with out-of-state plates, reciprocity for your home state legal flat bed would apply..:C

~

Glad I don't have to register my TV in Ca.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Thought I would skip the potential hearsay from another 'net forum, and "cut to the chase".....

As pertains to CA:
Simply stated - "All flatbed trucks in CA must stop at all CHP weigh stations, regardless of size or weight". CHP officer.

And the regs:
"Who Must Stop At Scales"

Scroll down to -
"Do These Vehicles Have To Stop At Scales?"

"Discussions" quoted -

See: PICKUP.
Discussion. (last half of paragraph) If the pickup has a GVWR of 11,500 lbs or more, or the pickup bed has been removed and a utility body or flat bed has been mounted, then it no longer meets the definition of pickup in CVC Section 471; it is then a "motor truck" under CVC Section 410 and required to stop at the weigh stations.

See also: PICKUP WITH CAB / CREW CAB WITH BOX TYPE BED - YES.
Discussion. The utility or box bed has to enter weigh stations.

And there you have it for flat bedding in Kalifornia..:W.:B

IMO - if you are traveling in CA, with out-of-state plates, reciprocity for your home state legal flat bed would apply..:C

~

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Tango, AE7UI wrote:
I have a service/utility body replacing the p/u bed on my 1 ton.
I would think this would be about the same as a flat bed since it "looks commercial".
Never stopped or even looked at by police as "being commercial".
I go by truck scales all the time, empty or with the fifth and no problems.

Now *if* you were in CA, and pass the same scales as I do - might be a different story.:R

Can't tell you why pickups (with utility bodies and flatbeds) are in line, maybe they all mis-interpret the sign..:h

I suspect they're now included due to (business) delivery folks "working the system" - *No Pickups* = *No Stop*.

*EVERY* pickup in CA...from the smallest import to Chevy Avalanche, etc. - are required to have *Commercial* plates even if it only carries your groceries or golf clubs.
There are no "private trucks" - or "non-commercial" plates.
So, there has to be some way to sort 'em out.

Why? It's spelled....R-E-V-E-N-U-E..:W

~

When I re-registered my 1T pickup back to CA from SD (originally registered in CA), DMV wanted to know what weight capacity I wished to register it for.
Told her the same as previously - the factory specs.
Never thought to ask her why.

Anyway - I'll try to find the diesel forum thread regarding same.

~

[redcow]

Love mine (see signature)don't have to worry about looking back to see if bed is going to hit trailer.

[Old-Biscuit]

My pickup truck with factory bed is registered as 'commercial' and never have been given a second look.

Stopped at a scale (towing 5'vr) ONE time because of my commercial plate and was told....get out of here.

[Tango__AE7UI]

I have a service/utility body replacing the p/u bed on my 1 ton.
I would think this would be about the same as a flat bed since it "looks commercial".
Never stopped or even looked at by police as "being commercial".
I go by truck scales all the time, empty or with the fifth and no problems.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

arkansasrunner wrote:
Just checking to see if anyone is putting a 5th with a 1 ton flat bed ? THanks

"putting" on the 5th green??..:B

Good - Bad - and the UGLY - of flat beds:

Good = handy, etc. - like posters have said.

Bad and UGLY - but, not what you think!!..:?

Some states consider a pickup bed replaced with a flat bed or even
a utility bed - to be commercial.....required to stop at scales to
check for (over)weight - and proper registration for load carrying
capacity.

Start watching scales in your travels.
You will see signs saying, "ALL Trucks stop at scales - no pickups".
BTW - a "pickup" means equipped with a bed like it left the factory!

This topic has surfaced on several of the diesel forums - posters are removing their utility beds and going back to original pickup bed.

Soooo - even if legit in your home state, it could cause you grief on the road. (Bad!)
"Grief" (or lack of same) could vary from being waved thru scales - to being chased down if you don't stop (Bad to UGLY)..:W

Verify you're not "hot-shotting" - OK, private truck & private RV - no problem. "But when you drove over the scales sir, your 5th is too heavy for the rating of your truck." (UGLY).:(

~

[C_Schomer]

I've built several beds and the last 2, on my own trucks, are/were hauler beds - a flatbed but with low fixed sides that taper down even lower towards the back end. They are awesome... no clearance problems and I don't have to tie my cargo down like with a real flatbed. The first one I built was a flatbed with stake pocket and removable sides. The biggest problem was everybody and their brothers, and I'm not exaggerating, wanted me to haul oddball stuff for them. I had a picture of a 10 x 12 tuff shed on it! I built a heavy framework under the hitch area and I bolt the hitch to the bed (the nuts are welded on underneath) and it's flat when the hitch is out. I can also screw in a g/n ball. Craig

[Veebyes]

Well now, that is one way not have to worry about the tailgate or bedrails.

[Dog_Folks]

Sure. We have seen more than just a few in our travels.

[Old-Biscuit]

Seen some fancy flatbed trucks towing 5'vrs



And have seen some 5'vrs on flatbeds