Diesel Junkie

So I have a 2007 Mega Cab Dually, 6 speed cummins, exhaust brake, 4x4, 8klbs empty i think.

and I have a Big Tex tandem dually deck over gooseneck trailer, 24' deck, 5' dovetail, 39' total. Axles rated at 10klbs each. 7klbs empty. registered to me.

I want to use that combo to move a 1989 John Deere 510C backhoe at 15,500lbs.

about 30klbs total. every axle should remain under the gross axle weight rating. The hitch and everything should remain under ratings as well.

I am thinking about getting my non comercial class A California driver's liscense this week. ( I have a class C right now).

Anybody know of any other gotcha's? Do I need to re-register the truck to a new special GCWR? get that door sticker that says 30? Get a door sticker that says "not for hire"?

Anything I should keep in mind? I have chains and binders and I know the hoe has to be chained. and I have 15klb rated monster ratched straps.

Thanks,

rich

only thing i can tell you is and you already said you were going to do it is get the lass a since you are over the 26k as a combo. the onlything i can also think of is it only for personal use or are you doing work with it for money. money = commercial

CoastalDav

I would call your Local DOT or go to a weigh station and ask some questions.

As it is, if your truck weighs in at 8K and you use the 20% rule, your pin weight in the truck will be 4500lbs. (Depending were the axles are on the trailer) Trucks GVW 11500 or 12000lbs, so you'll be over your trucks rated GVW by 500 to 1000lbs. I suppose tags out there are the same as here and you can tag it for the vehicles GVW or whatever (GCVW ?).

You will be over the trucks designed GCVW by 5 or 6K as well. To be legal, you may be able to just tag the truck for the GCVW for a year and be happy.

Dave

rebal

My neighbor is a dot and I have the same set up only I use my 01 2500
He has come over and told me that as long as I dont go over the max weight ratings of the tires I can haul what ever . the only other thing he is concerned about is stopping and they dont have a way to check that .
He has gone as far as bringing his scales over to check .
with my set up I am 100 lbs over on my rear axle ,but I have 1300 lbs to go on tires of rear axle. you will need to check that your not heavy on a set of tires or that will ding you

ellerman

From what I have heard Rebal is right on- in California they go off of the max weight your tires are rated for. You will also need the non commercial class a that you mentioned. Good luck, Eric

Scotty

One thing I learned, the hard way is that all trucks are not created equal with what the manufacturer says is the GCWR.
My 07 quad cab dually 4x4 said 12,200lbs.
My 07 mega cab dually 4x4 says 10,500 lbs.
A 4x4 3500 quad non dually long bed is 10,100lbs.
A 4x2 3500 quad cab dually is 11,500lbs.

Its very easy to exceed the total weight in these trucks compared to what they can actually pull. I wonder how they arrived at 10,500 on the Mega cab dually compared to the 12,200 of the quad dually? The difference in the actual weight of the trucks was only 400 pounds.
I got tagged for the overloaded truck and depending on the DOT in your area...they can and will check that door sticker. I am not posting this to create a discussion on what we can and cannot do...it just surprised the heck outta me when I learned this from the DOT.
Not a lot of room for heavy pin weight when the mega weighs in around 8000 pounds.

On edit, its not the axle ratings that DOT looks at. Its the smallest number on the door sticker...the manufacturers weight rating. My axles and tires where fine. The truck was overloaded when looking at that sticker. Really was an eye opener for me.

Diesel Junkie

Went to the CA DMV today to take care of some off road registration, and asked them about all this.

They were clueless. and said to call the CHP.

Pretty rediculous that the DMV who issues the class A liscense and also issues the weight ratings knows nothing about their own rules. If you have ever seen the inside of a CA DMV however, this lack of knowledge would make sense.

Rebel,
Do you think I need a Non Commercial Class A?
Or special registration up to 30K?

I am pretty sure your right about the tire ratings and gross axle weight ratings.

ellerman

The non commercial class a is needed when you have a conventional trailer rated at or above 10,500lbs or a gooseneck or 5th wheel rated at or above 15,000lbs. I know I need one to legally tow my toybox, but last time I was at DMV(for off road reg's) I asked what DMV I could do the driving test at they couldn't answer- told me to call the state to find out. Gotta love the DMV

GAmes

According to the CA DMV website any trailer over 10,000 GVWR is considered commercial and requires a class A CDL to pull. Why am I not surprised that the mouth breathers who work for the state have no clue about the regs they are supposed to know.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#CDL

A commercial vehicle is a motor vehicle or combination used for hire to transport passengers or property or which:

Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
Is designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 10 passengers, including the driver
Tows a vehicle or trailer, which has a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more
Transports hazardous materials, which requires placards
Tows any combination of two trailers or vehicle and trailer
To apply for a commercial permit, you will need to:

Visit a DMV office (make an Appointment(s) for faster service)
Complete a California Driver License Driver License Application form (DL 44 or DL 44C). (An original DL 44C form must be submitted. Copies will not be accepted.)
Complete a 10 Year History Record Check form (DL 939) if you have been issued a driver license in the same or different name to operate any type of motor vehicle in another state or other jurisdiction within the previous ten years
Give a thumb print
Have your picture taken
Provide verification of your social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration while you are in the office.
Verify your birth date and legal presence (you may use your California driver license) If your current name no longer matches the name on your birth date/legal presence document, see "True Full Name" and "How to Change Your Name" for more information.
Pay the application fee for a 5-year license
Pass a vision exam
Submit a completed Medical Examination Report form DL 51.
Effective October 1, 2004, DMV will accept only a Medical Examination Report (DL 51) with a revision date of 2/2004 or later, or a current medical form (containing the new blood pressure guidelines) approved by the Federal Highway Administration or the Federal Aviation Administration.
Pass the traffic laws and sign tests for the class of vehicle you will drive. You have three chances to pass the test.

Scotty

Good old interpretation...I have seen it and heard it from so many different entities. Makes you wonder what really is legal. After I came across the door sticker incident I did my own digging and it pretty much boils down to what the officer or agent can legally present to you...not an assumption, not a conclusion and not a story of he said or she said. Thats what I was told by ND DOT, ID DOT, AB DOT, SK DOT and BC DOT. Contacting other agencies got all sorts of 'different' answers.
For me after what I encountered with the fine and having to drop the trailer, I will go by whats on the door sticker, not the weight of the trailer or the ratings of the axles and/or tires. It sure could get messy if an insurance company actually had the knowledge and canceled the insurance had there been an accident...all they would have to do is refer to the manufacturers rated limits and that would be their way of not paying.

I know its easy to haul a heavy load and many of us are very competent to do so. The kicker is if you run into someone with the knowledge and they know what they are looking for. Really Pi $$ed me off to learn that my truck was so under rated compared to a quad cab.

Scotty

cincydiesel

If you get pulled over by a D.O.T just face it, your getting a ticket.. Regardless of what your driving and how much weight your pulling those guys will find something wrong. It just depends on what kind of day thier having determines how much your going to pay.

rebal

You should get a commercial class A ,you can get one with out air brake cert. I believe non com. class A is for like BIG RVs .Not sure. but my DOT neighbor said I have to have a commercial A, because of the weight .I dont haul for hire . you will also need to get a CA# and $1million in insurance (MIN.) the CA # is like $35 buck and you dont need to post it on the truck it can go on the trailer as long as you keep the factory pickup box on the truck .switch to a flat bed it will need to be posted on the truck.Let me know if I can help you with anything else?
cincydiesel is right too they can always find something wrong just pray you get a nice guy

GAmes

Will this internet myth ever die? Virtually all auto accidents are caused by breaking a law of some type. Too fast for conditions, improper lane change, drunk driving, the list goes on and on. Insurance companies can't just deny a claim because you broke a law or didn't use common sense. They might cancel your policy after the fact, but they can't refuse to pay.

Scotty

Ain't that the truth. The guy that tagged me said that was all he was out looking for that day. Once he found I was in violation he tried to find more and then let up on his microscopic inspection when he saw that the rest of the load and truck where within the limits.

GAmes

Bashing LEOs only reflects your lack of professionalism and lack of knowledge of the rules. Scotty must be from B.C. because to my knowledge they are the only entity that cares a whit about the GVWR rating on the door post sticker. In the U.S. it is very common to see car hauler wedges with three and sometimes four vehicles as cargo. It is impossible to load a pickup directly over the pin and 2 or 3 more on the ramp and not exceed the GVWR of a 3500. As long as the truck and trailer are tagged correctly and the driver has a class A CDL they are legal. I've been spot checked on numerous occasions ranging from a logbook check to a full inspection. The only ticket I have ever received was from a Harris County deputy for a logbook violation that was dismissed in court. He wasn't DOT certified and had no clue of the rules. I did pay a fine for 2 miles over the posted speed limit.