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I'm so confused; what truck and trailer combo do I need for NON-CDL

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#22 ·
Roogie said:
Wow, thanks for the input everyone !!!
It seems like I 'm going to have no choice but look into getting a CDL. I certainly have not done any research but how the hell do all these recreational rigs go down the highway without CDL. If they have a 3500 or 4500 pickup with those mini homes on wheels they have to be over the 26k limit regardless if 5th wheel or conventional setup. I'm guessing they are exempt of any CDL laws which would be crazy cause there are more of them than little local guys like me. Not bashing the rec guy, more the law makers if that's the case.
So, for myself, I guess it's time to go find a CDL school before I purchase anything. The schooling alone is a costly adventure but, it is what it is.

Thanks again for all the input !!!
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First call your local DOT authority and ask them what you kind of licensing need to run a f350 with a 14 or 16k trailer. You could just need a medical card which is a doctor saying your fit enough to drive. IF you have basically any sort of medical condition they are only a little tougher to get.
 
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#23 ·
16 is overkill. You do not need one that heavy. 14 is good sized but will run you into CDL issue. 12 will do the job and with a carefully selected truck, might work out that you don’t need a CDL.

My advice. Order a custom trailer. Have it built to 14k specs , but have it stamped as 9,990. This way , you will be able to load the trailer heavy without breaking it. But your GCWR will be below 26,000.

you buy a license plate for 14,000 or 12,000. That way you can avoid some weight ticket issues.

if you got pulled over , all your paperwork is going to say less than 26. Any standard cop is just going to deal with the original infraction that got you pulled over. Only a truck enforcement is going to scale you.

if they did scale you, they would say hey your load is too heavy for the trailer. You might get some type of ticket for that but I do not believe it would be a CDL ticket. Every cop is different but we have been running this for 10 years, been scaled and pulled over , Never once has it been an issue.
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
The sad thing for me is the CDL school is going to cost around $5-6k, if I'm eleigalbe. Since I'm on SSDI for a inoperable brain tumor and have sleep apnea, I'll most likely will not qualify for a CDL through the medical examiner; regardless if I'm going to be a few times a year recreational hauler of my equipment or if I wanted be a "for hire" self employed business. Of course if I went into business, I'd have to limit any income to $1500 a month to stay on SSDI. At my age I'm not trying to make millions, I've put my time in, just wanna be legal and safe while having the ability to move my equipment and make a little extra income on my own time. Not trying to be a cry baby, just being honest and dissatisfied of my scenario and laws that are in place.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
grass man 11 said:
16 is overkill. You do not need one that heavy. 14 is good sized but will run you into CDL issue. 12 will do the job and with a carefully selected truck, might work out that you don’t need a CDL.

My advice. Order a custom trailer. Have it built to 14k specs , but have it stamped as 9,990. This way , you will be able to load the trailer heavy without breaking it. But your GCWR will be below 26,000.

you buy a license plate for 14,000 or 12,000. That way you can avoid some weight ticket issues.

if you got pulled over , all your paperwork is going to say less than 26. Any standard cop is just going to deal with the original infraction that got you pulled over. Only a truck enforcement is going to scale you.

if they did scale you, they would say hey your load is too heavy for the trailer. You might get some type of ticket for that but I do not believe it would be a CDL ticket. Every cop is different but we have been running this for 10 years, been scaled and pulled over , Never once has it been an issue.
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I like the idea but how would I go about ordering a custom trailer and would that be more of an "equipment style" verses a dump? I'm assuming I'd have to use a fabricator verses a trailer manufacture to have one stamped for one weight but have the ability to carry another?

Just for the record of clarity, I'm not looking at hauling everyday or every week. Maybe a few times a month at most when I'm done on my own project to put a few extra dollars in my pocket. Not trying to make millions or kill myself working countless hours; already have done that. At my age, I just wanna enjoy life and have a few bucks to do it since my expendable income is pretty small.
 
#29 ·
grass man 11 said:
16 is overkill. You do not need one that heavy. 14 is good sized but will run you into CDL issue. 12 will do the job and with a carefully selected truck, might work out that you don’t need a CDL.

My advice. Order a custom trailer. Have it built to 14k specs , but have it stamped as 9,990. This way , you will be able to load the trailer heavy without breaking it. But your GCWR will be below 26,000.

you buy a license plate for 14,000 or 12,000. That way you can avoid some weight ticket issues.

if you got pulled over , all your paperwork is going to say less than 26. Any standard cop is just going to deal with the original infraction that got you pulled over. Only a truck enforcement is going to scale you.

if they did scale you, they would say hey your load is too heavy for the trailer. You might get some type of ticket for that but I do not believe it would be a CDL ticket. Every cop is different but we have been running this for 10 years, been scaled and pulled over , Never once has it been an issue.
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12 won’t do the job. With skid and tools he’s at 10k.
 
#31 ·
Scott87 said:
It was enforced this way 20 years ago. I was able to get my charge thrown out for a first offense and a plea to the judge that i would switch to a 9990 lb trailer. This is a federal law I think and I guess its up to the state county and Judge you appear in front of for enforcement. The DOT was doing strict enforcement of all the lawncare and landscaping outfits then Honestly I feel safer knowing that every Hun Yuck out there doesn't get to run around with a pickup pulling a 14k lb trailer. I had a Class B with a 10k trailer restriction. I was pulling a 12k trailer at 9500 lbs at time of enforcement and thought I shoould have been within the love of the law.
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If the trailer is over 10k, then an overall combined weight limit of 26000 lbs applies.

If the trailer is under 10k, then your towing vehicle can be upto 25,999lbs, and then you can have your sub 10k trailer.

That's the fed cdl.

In NY I can't find the cutoff but there is a state requirement for a med card for being 10k combined running commercially, my son needs one but I dont.
 
#32 ·
Brucey said:
If the trailer is over 10k, then an overall combined weight limit of 26000 lbs applies.

If the trailer is under 10k, then your towing vehicle can be upto 25,999lbs, and then you can have your sub 10k trailer.

That's the fed cdl.

In NY I can't find the cutoff but there is a state requirement for a med card for being 10k combined running commercially, my son needs one but I dont.
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Yeah. If you look up Minnesota, they are more stringent. 10k or over trailer. CDL.
 
#33 ·
Roogie said:
Wow, thanks for the input everyone !!!
It seems like I 'm going to have no choice but look into getting a CDL. I certainly have not done any research but how the hell do all these recreational rigs go down the highway without CDL. If they have a 3500 or 4500 pickup with those mini homes on wheels they have to be over the 26k limit regardless if 5th wheel or conventional setup. I'm guessing they are exempt of any CDL laws which would be crazy cause there are more of them than little local guys like me. Not bashing the rec guy, more the law makers if that's the case.
So, for myself, I guess it's time to go find a CDL school before I purchase anything. The schooling alone is a costly adventure but, it is what it is.

Thanks again for all the input !!!
Click to expand...
Maryland requires a CDL for those camper rigs over 25K , its a non commercial CDL . Its rarely enforced
 
#35 ·
#36 ·
Roogie said:
Wow, thanks for the input everyone !!!
It seems like I 'm going to have no choice but look into getting a CDL. I certainly have not done any research but how the hell do all these recreational rigs go down the highway without CDL. If they have a 3500 or 4500 pickup with those mini homes on wheels they have to be over the 26k limit regardless if 5th wheel or conventional setup. I'm guessing they are exempt of any CDL laws which would be crazy cause there are more of them than little local guys like me. Not bashing the rec guy, more the law makers if that's the case.
So, for myself, I guess it's time to go find a CDL school before I purchase anything. The schooling alone is a costly adventure but, it is what it is.

Thanks again for all the input !!!
Click to expand...
It's very simple...it's in the words, cuz words mean things. C in CDL stands for COMMERCIAL.

An RV is not a commercial vehicle, hence no CDL needed.
 
#39 ·
For calrification:At the time of my situation, when you got pulled over they just add the weights of my tabs for truck and trailer to determine if a cdl was needed. No one cared that my truck gcvw is 25,999 lbs and under cdl until I got to court. After I switched to a 10k trailer and was ticketed again as tabs are 31k lbs. Got that throwed out again. After that I saw that officer at a trade show and asked if he rembered me. He said yes and he will write me the same ticket again the next times he sees my rig. I decided at that point flying under the radar would be my best option.
 
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#40 ·
The problem I have with statements like this are many.
1) Laws are extremely confusing. You can ask 3 different motor carrier officers on an interpretation of a law and get 4 different answers. Possibly 5.
2) Rumors and statements regarding trailers over 10k. Federal law has not changed and I don't believe they can make it more stringent. Because if I drive into one of these states with a 12k trailer and no CDL, can they legally ticket me AND win?

For years/decades, everyone believed if a truck had air brakes/breaks, the operator had to have a CDL. This is just flat out wrong. If the truck is under 26K GVWR and has air brakes/breaks, by definition, no CDL with air brake/break restriction/endorsement is required. Because the truck does not require a CDL. An operator's license canNOT have an air brake/brake endorsement, hence no CDL required with or without air brake/break endorsement.

So until someone can show me an actual link/law that says any trailer with a GVWR of 10k or above is law, I am skeptical to the point of not believing it. For any state.
 
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