Insurance for F350/F450 DRW

[Lexx]

First post here. I'm retiring in a few weeks at age 57. But we have young triplet boys aged 6. So our vacation schedule is going to be the kids school vacation schedule.

We're thinking of spending their 2 summer months off traveling in a fifth wheel, likely something like a Grand Design Solitude 377mb.

Everyone here seems to say "make sure you get enough truck". So I'm looking at the new DRW F350/450's.

Have any Californians had an issue getting regular non-commercial insurance or registering their truck in this state? I've searched around and seen a number of posts from people complaining that their ins co forces them to buy a commercial policy if it's a F450.

I did call my carrier AAA today, and was told that my premium for the F450 Platinum would be about $1500. That's more than I'm paying for my Porsche!

Actually I'd rather get a used truck, but my wife is adamant about having all the latest safety features such as blind spot monitor and adaptive cruise.

[srosa]

Lexx wrote:
First post here. I'm retiring in a few weeks at age 57. But we have young triplet boys aged 6. So our vacation schedule is going to be the kids school vacation schedule.

We're thinking of spending their 2 summer months off traveling in a fifth wheel, likely something like a Grand Design Solitude 377mb.

Everyone here seems to say "make sure you get enough truck". So I'm looking at the new DRW F350/450's.

Have any Californians had an issue getting regular non-commercial insurance or registering their truck in this state? I've searched around and seen a number of posts from people complaining that their ins co forces them to buy a commercial policy if it's a F450.

I did call my carrier AAA today, and was told that my premium for the F450 Platinum would be about $1500. That's more than I'm paying for my Porsche!

Actually I'd rather get a used truck, but my wife is adamant about having all the latest safety features such as blind spot monitor and adaptive cruise.

I am in CA too and my new F450 pickup ended up being $55 more per year to insure than the 2011 F350 CC 4WD dually I traded in. GEICO is my insurer and they seem to understand the difference between "commercial" designations for pickups versus chassis cabs. I did have to sign additional documentation stating that the truck is not used commercially and that there were no commuting miles. My premium is about half of what you were quoted but my mileage estimates are lower than average.

[blt2ski]

Lexx,

Traveling light is 50-100 lbs per person.......you are packing a LOT more than that! I figured we loaded 2000-3000 lbs into our RV with a family of 6. 1300 lbs of people when my 4 kids were adult sized teens, just in the bodies alone with clothes etc. You will need to be one chassis upgraded vs most folks on here, just to handle people weight etc.

If you use in the winter as a ski hut, add a few more lbs for ski's, snowboards etc. not too mention snow load for the way down!

Marty

[2oldman]

Nevada will be ok with my MDT.

[Lexx]

mkirsch wrote:

Lexx wrote:
Everyone here seems to say "make sure you get enough truck". So I'm looking at the new DRW F350/450's.

There is an alternative: Get less trailer.

You can find lots of roomy options in 5th wheels in SRW F250/F350 territory. Odds are when the kids are grown and gone in 12 years you'll want something different to really retire in anyway, both truck and trailer. Then you can change your residence to another state that is more friendly to large truck ownership.

I had thought of that. But we have three 6 year old boys! They have bounds and bounds of energy. They need space to run, jump, crash into walls, etc.

And my wife and I would like a trailer that can stay very cool even in the heat of summer. So it can't be a lightweight low R value insulation unit.

We need room to store my kids bikes, our bikes, their clothes, our clothes, and all the other stuff a family of 5 needs. And lest you get the wrong idea, we actually travel light.

[mkirsch]

Lexx wrote:
Everyone here seems to say "make sure you get enough truck". So I'm looking at the new DRW F350/450's.

There is an alternative: Get less trailer.

You can find lots of roomy options in 5th wheels in SRW F250/F350 territory. Odds are when the kids are grown and gone in 12 years you'll want something different to really retire in anyway, both truck and trailer. Then you can change your residence to another state that is more friendly to large truck ownership.

[mkirsch]

2oldman wrote:
In any case, if you beg them I'm sure you can avoid a commercial license. After all, you're not commercial.

Clearly you've never dealt with insurance companies or the government before... They have "policies" that must be followed, and "systems" that limit them in what they can do... You can beg and plead all you want but you are not going to get an exception because you somehow think you are special.

[1jeep]

In Ma...the other state that tries to be as bad a California! They forced me to a commercial plate being it is a dually, once you have that plate you must get commercial insurance. I should have just bought a 450, I assumed I would be able to avoid this by getting a 350drw.

BTW the policy on my truck this year is $1670, I have safe driver credits that do not count as it is a commercial policy.

[rowekmr]

In IL when I got a F450 they mandated commercial policy. It cost more and was a 12 month policy periods vs 6 months for non commercial. in the past I was able to get passenger plates for a few trucks I have owned but now I get truck plates for all.

[Lexx]

JS Kid wrote:
Lexx,

I live in Elk Grove CA, I have a 2016 Ford F350 - Crew Cab - DRW - Lariat. I have insurance through National General. I pay 974.00 per year, full coverage. My truck is licensed the same as my F250. I just payed the renewal, it was $725.00 for the year.

Do not have to stop at the scales.

I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for posting that. It's good to know.

[JS_Kid]

Lexx,

I live in Elk Grove CA, I have a 2016 Ford F350 - Crew Cab - DRW - Lariat. I have insurance through National General. I pay 974.00 per year, full coverage. My truck is licensed the same as my F250. I just payed the renewal, it was $725.00 for the year.

Do not have to stop at the scales.

I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any questions.

[Rich1961]

Lexx wrote:

2oldman wrote:
You may have to stop at weigh stations.

On this issue I'm pretty sure the answer is you do NOT stop at weigh stations. In fact others have posted that the weigh stations have a sign that states "NO RV's".

Only thing is in California if your GWV towing is over 16,500 lbs, then you need a Class A non-commercial license.

Class A Non Commercial required for a 5th wheel over 15,000 GVWR. Travel trailer requires it over 10,000 GVWR.

Rich

[azdryheat]

Lexx wrote:

2oldman wrote:
You may have to stop at weigh stations.

On this issue I'm pretty sure the answer is you do NOT stop at weigh stations. In fact others have posted that the weigh stations have a sign that states "NO RV's".

Only thing is in California if your GWV towing is over 16,500 lbs, then you need a Class A non-commercial license.

CA says over 10,000 for a bumper pull and over 15,000 for a 5th wheel.

[dfletch]

I am in Virginia and the dealer put truck tags on my 3500 dully. I went to the DMV and told them it was for an RV and they changed it to a standard plate. My insurance GEICO also insured me as a standard vechicle. Sometimes you just have to get them to understand it's not for business.

[2oldman]

Lexx wrote:
In fact others have posted that the weigh stations have a sign that states "NO RV's".

Yes, because RVs aren't licensed commercial.

I'm sure if one pleads their case hard enough a commercial license will be avoided.