class A license for a class A RV?

[pedally]

Just wondering if you need a special drivers license for a class A motor home.

[Passin_Thru]

When in doubt, mumble.

[Kayteg1]

Why not go 1/2 step farther and make mandatory 50 hr with instructor for teenagers?
The "practice under parent's supervision" is a big joke.
If parents can't drive without talking on the phone, what you expect them to teach?

[SoCalDesertRid1]

A class B license would be the appropriate license for a motorhome over 26,000 lbs GVW, if one were being required.

[the_silverback]

Michigan does not require a special license for a Class A and I do not have one. That is the point. We should have a special license.

[lryrob9301]

the silverback wrote:
Been RVing since 1973. I know a lot of people won't like this, but I feel all class A MH's drivers should have a special license. They are not a car!!!

Exactly what special license do you have, since Michigan does not require anything special to drive a class A?

[SoCalDesertRid1]

California laws are very convoluted and always changing. That's what happens when you have several hundred legislators and agency employees in government, who's sole job it is to dream up new laws, for years and years, never ending...

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Yeah, a short wheelbase, top heavy Bronco towing a 22' travel trailer is unstable enough with just the trailer, let alone adding a Jeep on the end, which weighs as much as a Bronco...

[msmith1199]

There is a vehicle code section that says your towing combination has to be stable when being towed. So if you tried to put something heavy behind a trailer you may fail that test.

[Kayteg1]

The law in CA was that you can pull 2 trailers and it doesn't have to be 5th wheel.
Unless something changed in last years, it is still valid.
Still with 65 total length there is not much use of it.
Few years ago, out of curiosity I was following Bronco towing about 22' travel trailer and Jeep behind.
The way the setup acted on the road made me dropping the idea of making similar set up myself.
I already was talking to DMV about making appointment for exam with my SUV pulling 25' TT and small trailer with PWC behind.

[msmith1199]

It's possible that if it is legal now, the reason you don't see it often is because the 65 foot overall limit still applies. Even my 35 foot motorhome with my Dodge Dakota in tow is at least 55 foot long. So I guess if properly licensed I could attach a small trailer to the truck. Now I am curious if it is really legal. I don't think I'd try it if it was, as it just seems like to much of a pain in the rear.

[msmith1199]

The boat requirement changed a long time ago. And you may be right on the 5th wheel requirement being changed, as I can find a specific section that says that anymore. 29007 of the vehicle code does say, "(f) No more than one tow-bar or ball-and-socket type coupling device may be used in any combination." However, that particular section is referring to commercial tow operations. So there is a specific section for commercial operations, but not one for private operations?

[SoCalDesertRid1]

msmith1199 wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
I thought CA had something special if over 40 ft?
MD has/had a 26,000 lb. cut off.
very few DPs under that.
bumpy

California does have a special license for over 40'. Otherwise you need nothing on anything 40' or less other than a regular license.

Unless you're pulling 2 trailers, then you need a non-commercial class A with doubles endorsement, in California and Arizona.

You can't pull two trailers behind a Class A motorhome in California. The first trailer has to be a 5th wheel.

That was the law in California. I've heard it's been changed to drop the 5th wheel requirement. The second trailer used to have to be a boat, some years ago, but that was changed too.

[the_silverback]

Been RVing since 1973. I know a lot of people won't like this, but I feel all class A MH's drivers should have a special license. They are not a car!!!

[msmith1199]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
I thought CA had something special if over 40 ft?
MD has/had a 26,000 lb. cut off.
very few DPs under that.
bumpy

California does have a special license for over 40'. Otherwise you need nothing on anything 40' or less other than a regular license.

Unless you're pulling 2 trailers, then you need a non-commercial class A with doubles endorsement, in California and Arizona.

You can't pull two trailers behind a Class A motorhome in California. The first trailer has to be a 5th wheel.