The biggest issue here is that the feds and states have so complicated the rules that even the officials and law enforcement don't know how to interpret them. Just because the one at the last weigh station said your completely legal, don't expect the next one to agree with him. This whole thing has turned into nothin but one big Grey area open to interpretation and the mood of the inspector on that day. So in the end, be sure to carry a box a fresh doughnuts through ever inspection terminal.

 

Are you quoting Federal rules or state rules? Sounds like you are combining the two.

 

That is just what i was told and we were told to comply with these rules since we are traveling across state lines. Like uncle bubba said it is one big gray area and depends on the officer and how good of a day he is having. I just made sure i did what he told me and haven't had many problems since.

 

I'm about to retire and want to see the country. I don't have a toy hauler yet; but just bought my '96 dually. I was looking at a '97 2500 as well but decided on the dually primarily because it had a Gear Vendor gear splitter. I plan on getting a toy hauler in the 22' to 26' range. Now as I understand what everybody has said I should be OK as I am pulling my own toys with no commercial use; but when you throw in all the different states and people trying to interpret laws I could still get hassled or fined. I had already been considering converting to single tires in back and it sounds like that could stop it from even coming up just because it would look like a 2500. How much does it cost to convert and what are the pros and cons of converting?

 

if by toy hauler you mean a camper with a place in the back for toys, you should be ok even with the duals on because it falls under recreational vehicle

 

more government control, sweet!!!!!! just what i've always wanted NOT, anyway, now i'm kinda glad i don't use my truck for anything other than a pavement pounder and never pullin anything, sorry all that are affected in a negative way because of this

 

I looked it to this. In California the trailer only has to have a GVWR of 10,000lbs for you to be required a Class "A" CDL. In Utah the Vehicle and the trailer have to have a combined GVWR of 26,001lbs for you to be required a CDL. The Federal Law states 26,001lbs combined with a 10,000lbs trailer for you to be required a Class "A" CDL and 26,001lbs with less than a 10,000lbs trailer for a Class "B". But your state can always go stricter (IE California). Check your state laws.

 

The local cops and DOT here in Ga must be lazy or somethin. Ive been meaning to get my CDLs since i was 18, im 21 now and always workin so ive just kinda put it off. Im going in a week or two, but i guess its even more important now. A few weeks ago i hauled our New Holland TS115a tractor, about 12,000#s or so, on our 28ft dual tandem 10 ton gooseneck, which is over 7,000, not sure the exact weight, 7 thousand is probably a little low, but still, 12,000 for the tractor, 7 for the trailer, and thats almost 20,000 if not over. I went about 30 miles up the interstate to the New Holland dealer and passed Ga State Patrol, 2 DOT, and a bunch of Sherrifs and nobody gave me a second look. It does worry me, even though pleading ignorance and farm use has always worked for me, Well i guess it just means i cant put it off now.

 

Thanks for all the information, folks. I've been researching this in TN today because my son has been offered an opportunity to haul some cattle for a sale barn. I was wondering if he'd need a CDL or just a Class D with an F endorsement (For Hire, replaces chauffeur in TN). He has commercial tags, but rated up to 16k pounds. Mainly just for a small landscaping biz. Sounds like we'll be spending a lot of $ to get legal, but that's better than risking it.