Check out this towing thread

[copo69]

http://www.dragraceresults.com/ubbcg...1&t=004270

[Norm reynolds]

Most of my frends in pa use a flat bed end of story never had any problem

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I must be slow today, so somebody do the math for me. If my dad's truck weighs 6,000 lbs, my open trailer weighs 1,400 lbs and my Yenko weighs 3,200 lbs, what kind of registration would I need since I live in PA? The truck is a standard bed F150, 4x4 with a tow package rated at 5,000 lbs (it might be 4,500 since it's a 5speed manual). I can't afford a fine like that guy got!!
M

[Chevy454]

I don't know how it is anywhere else, but here in Missouri your tow vehicle tags have to cover the whole thing. From front to back, top to bottom, truck/trailer/load. For instance, on my dually that I sold not too long ago, we had 18,000 lb. tags on it, but was over that pretty easily with the double trailer. Heck, the trailer alone weighed 9k lbs., and the truck weighed 7k...load the cars and throw in some tools, and we were WAY over the limit! Now, we pull the same trailer with a soon to be crew cab TopKick, and have 36,000 pound tags on it, which are pretty salty.

The CDL thing is a whole other fiasco. Everyone we asked, from the license bureau, to truckers, to the MOHP, they all told us something different. But, the main theme seemed to be that you could drive as big a vehicle as you wanted, from 6K to 60K (or whatever!), without a CDL, as long as it wasn't for profit or for business...thus NON-COMMERCIAL. The very second you start seeing any money, is when you need a CDL, even if all you are driving is an old Ford Escort. It's kind of ironic, but I frequent the Studebaker newsgroup and a couple of members were talking about making the trip to the national meet in South Bend, when one of them mentioned that he got pulled over last year(?) in Colorado headed to the Stude meet, and had some parts in the back of his truck. When the officer asked what he was hauling the guy said his luggage, and some parts to sell at the swap meet. WHAMO! No CDL, which meant no log book, permits, etc, and meant he left with something like a $2,500 fine. On the same note, I got pulled over by the Colorado DOT last year, had to run across the portable scales, go over the rig, and jump through several other hoops before I could leave. The only thing that saved me was the guy I was meeting (I was delivering a car) happened to see us, and stopped, and new some of the DOT guys...he asked them what the problem was, and smoothed it out.

Look out for the DOT... [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

[shor]

Maybe that explains why alot of tow trucks have "not for hire" written on the door?

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I am leaving Houston Texas and driving to almost Green Bay Wisconsin to look at buying a car hauling rig,planning on loading my wife's blazer on the back when we get there and drive home.I sure hope I don't get one of those high dollar tickets.I am not going thru PA but thru Illinois,Missouri,Tennessee,Arkansas and Wisconsin.I don't know what the trucks registered GVW is but the guy has used it to haul a race truck for a couple of years.It also has a lounge area,maybe I can tell them it is a recreational vehicle.

Bobby

[Chevy454]

Shor:

A VERY GOOD POINT, that I had forgotten to mention! If you are "recreational", that is non-commercial, you must have "Not For Hire" on the side of the tow vehicle, along with your GVCW. If you are "commercial", then you have to have a BUNCH of other stuff!

Bobby:

I wouldn't worry too much. Since you are just buying it, you are allowed to get it home before having to do anything license-wise. As for the lounge denoting a recreational vehicle, I think as long as it's "not for hire", it's considered recreational, which means a lot fewer hoops to jump through. What kind of rig are you looking at, a toter-home?

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

It's a chevy custom rig.I had my wife talked into going with me to get it until I started have some problems with my health.It sounds really good for the price.I will e mail you a picture so you can see it if I can make this computer work right.

Bobby

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I am not able to work this darn thing to post a picture so look at Ebay # 1736679126,it is located about 30 miles from Green Bay Wisconsin.It is suppose to be all aluminum except for the frame,20,000 on rebuilt 454 and trans.I have it bought for$4,000.00 but am not able to go get it, so if you guys want it I would hop on it quick before it goes back on e bay.The seller used it to haul a off road racing truck around Wisconsin and neighboring states.They out grew it and bought a semi rig for there racing vehicle.

Bobby

[Rat_Pack]

Okay guys, here are some things that you need to know about trailering legally in the 48 states. Do check the laws in your state also.

Trailer GVWR (on the data plate for the trailer) over 10,000 lbs. requires the driver to have a CDL and the trailer must have commercial tags, no exceptions, all states. Most open tandem axle trailers will be under 10,000 lbs unless they are 6 lug axles. Enclosed car haulers are the ones that usually go over the limit.

"Not for Hire" must be visible on both sides of the trailer and tow vehicle.

Towing with an RV does not exclude you from the two rules above and adds some things into the mix. Check with your trailer dealer or RV place before towing.

If your business name appears on the side of the tow vehicle or trailer then you are susceptible to having to buy fuel permits or have an IFA endorsement.

If anything you are hauling is being vendored (swap meet parts, new parts, merchandise such as t-shirts, tools, etc.) you must have your state commercial tags plus fuel permits for the states you will be traveling through.

Make sure that the GVWR of the trailer is not more than the GVWR of the tow vehicle as that will get you busted for "overloaded" whether the trailer is empty or not. Usually the maximum trailer weight is the GAWR frt + GAWR rear = max trailer weight.

My 2001 1500 4wd Suburban with the 5300 Vortec has a GVWR of 7200 lbs. The max trailer weight is 7600 lbs. (3600 lbs. front and 4000 lbs. rear on each axle on the truck) with a GCWR of 13,000 lbs with the 3.73 axles. This can be obtained through Chevrolet or it is in the owners manual. Also check your tire manufacturers weight ratings, factory sizes should be okay, but smaller tires will change your GVWR as will larger ones.

One note when traveling to Florida with a "goose neck" trailer, you must have a "5th wheel" or you will be cited. They have outlawed all "goose neck" trailers that are hitched to a ball whether it is mounted in the bed of the truck or on a hitch.

I hope this helps and if you are unsure whether you are towing legally or not, check with a local trailer sales place or Peterbuilt, KW, Freightliner, or GMC dealer as they know them the best......................RatPack............