CC's must be upfitted before delivery...?

[mwilson]

Studied this, the truck tractor section matches what I said above.



Truck/Bus/MPV Poster Table for Website



What I can't find is the legal definition of a truck tractor, still working on an official designation.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Right, but that shows where the lights have to be if a state were pushing the issue.

As far as that power unit goes when it is on the ground and being inspected at a State Inspection Facility the factory installed stop/turn/tail lights, back-up light, plate light, reflectors and factory flaps are within compliance. It needs nothing else for a sticker where it is a tractor.

The same argument would apply in my mind to a 1 ton or C/C that hauled trailers... ... ..... and had a hitch installed.

Mike.

Mike,

The TX DPS trooper who I spoke with and who was identified as one knowledgeable on state vehicle inspections told me cab and chassis duallies have to have rear clearance lights and outside fender lights - basically what is displayed on the tractor in your photo only permanent.

 

[mwilson]

And that can interpreted several ways by each state which I have always found maddening... .



Here, a One-Ton with a home made steel body and a pair of stop/tail/turn lights on the back with flaps will pass a Maine State Inspection with flying colors.



Back when I had my inspection license for cars, trucks and school buses the emphasis was not on where the lights were as much as the fact that any lights that were on the vehicle had to work... .



You still see 45' logging semi trailers and lowbeds here that never leave the state and will only have four working s/t/t lights on the rear. Blank holes where all the marker llights used to be and that is perfectly legal for in state use... ... ... ... and qualifies for a Maine Trailer Inspection Sticker.



Just don't take it out of state.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Yep, everything motor vehicle related that individual states can control they want to do differently than the next state. I guess that's the reason for the fed DOT.

 

[HBarlow]

Studied this, the truck tractor section matches what I said above.

Truck/Bus/MPV Poster Table for Website

What I can't find is the legal definition of a truck tractor, still working on an official designation.

Mike.

Mike,

That's a good source of information.

I scanned it very quickly and noticed immediately that the reason tractors like the ones you deal with are exempted from the rear clearance lights requirement for light trucks as the TX DPS officer told me is due to a specific exemption in that guide.

I can understand the reasoning because they are so large and so tall that its not easy to overlook them and its easy to see the lighting on the back of the cab.

 

[mwilson]

That and the fact that they are designed to be hooked to a Semi-Trailer most of the time which does have the perimeter width/height lighting.



If you study that section for tractors they are also required to have 18" reflective strips on the rear of the cab, 2 vertically and 2 horizontily.



Note the inverted "L" on each upper side of the cab.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, I saw them and am accustomed to seeing them on OTR tractors bobtailing.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

What makes it a tractor: I know one thing -- if it has brake lines run to the rear, it's a tractor. I (on my employer's behalf) ordered a couple of new F750s in 1998, with plans to send them to an upfitter to get 5th-wheel decks. I wanted to order factory extended airbrake lines, but the dealer told me that if I did that, I would trigger the FET (Federal excise tax) for tractors. Without the brake lines extended, it was just a truck. Once I took delivery, it was a used truck. At that point, if the upfitter installed the brake line extentions there would be no tax.



Of course, being a law-abiding citizen and so as to not deprive the gummint of any income, I ordered the brake lines from the factory and paid the tax.



hth a little

kevin

 

[Bill Stockard]

What makes it a tractor: I know one thing -- if it has brake lines run to the rear, it's a tractor. I (on my employer's behalf) ordered a couple of new F750s in 1998, with plans to send them to an upfitter to get 5th-wheel decks. I wanted to order factory extended airbrake lines, but the dealer told me that if I did that, I would trigger the FET (Federal excise tax) for tractors. Without the brake lines extended, it was just a truck. Once I took delivery, it was a used truck. At that point, if the upfitter installed the brake line extentions there would be no tax.



Of course, being a law-abiding citizen and so as to not deprive the gummint of any income, I ordered the brake lines from the factory and paid the tax.



hth a little

kevin

You are correct about the 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET) on truck tractors. Factory installed fifth wheels, air brake hand control valves, tractor protection valves, air brake lines to the rear of the truck, etc. will automatically trigger the FET that the dealer must collect. If after an IRS audit, (Believe me, they comb the files looking for tricks) it is found that it wasn't collected by the dealer, the back taxes are collected and a fine is incurred.



Better safe than sorry...



Bill

 

[mwilson]

You are correct about the 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET) on truck tractors. Factory installed fifth wheels, air brake hand control valves, tractor protection valves, air brake lines to the rear of the truck, etc. will automatically trigger the FET that the dealer must collect. If after an IRS audit, (Believe me, they comb the files looking for tricks) it is found that it wasn't collected by the dealer, the back taxes are collected and a fine is incurred.



Better safe than sorry...



Bill

It used to be easy to add a tractor package to a chassis cab, Bendix even offered an kit at one time.



Now, not such a good idea. The braking and ABS systems make it more complicated and even though it can still be done you will offset the savings in tax with parts, labor and issues if not done correctly... ...



Plus if we do the conversion it has to be done using a factory bill of materials, if a guy does it in his shop he can be a little less fussy.



Mike.

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,



In 2009, I purchased my '09 4500 near Atlanta Georgia. Initially, I was getting a C&M bed financed in the deal and installed back here in San Antonio. The dealer didn't mention any problems about driving it back to TX w/out a bed, other than it might have a harsh ride. As it turned out, the dealer upfitted the truck w/ a J&I tow body. The long and short of it, they never mentioned any problem. I am glad I did the upfit at the dealer though. The ride back to TX was great and I saved an additional $900 w/ factory dealer upfit incentive.



Take care,



Wiredawg