Is a Special Driver License - 45 foot Goose Neck

[JBlock]

I just purchase a 45 foot goose neck enclosed car trailer with three axles and then!!! happen to run across a towing article in Truck Trent.



The article indicates that there are 18 state that only allow a maxinum of40 foot trailers, :{



Is this true, or is there away around it. Oregon right below me. As I live in Washington State it not a problem.



Here the Truck Trent List.

Alaska

Arizona

California

Delware

District of Columbia

Hawaii, it no worry

Illinois

Lousisana 30 foot

Maryland 35 foot

Nebraska

New Hampshire

New Jersy

New Mexico

Oregon 35 feet

Rhode Island

West Virgina

Wisconsin



And Califonia calls for a Class A licence for three axle trailers, not necessary a commerial but PRIVATE for no hire.



Please let me know before i take delivery.



thanks.

 

[roadranger]

I'm reading Trailer Life's Directory of length laws, and here's what's different according to THEM; best bet would be to call DMV in the state you have questions about.

FYI, these are for STATE Highways only, NOT the Federal Interstates.



Overall trailer Length



Alaska 40'

Arizona 45'

Calif. not specified- 65' overall combined length

Delaware n/s- 60' OACL

DC n/s- 55' OACL

Illinois 53'- 60' OACL

Louisiana 30'

Maryland n/s- 55' OACL

Nebraska 40'

New Hamp. 48'

New Jersey 40'

New Mex. 45'

Oregon n/s-60' OACL, 65'OACL by permit

Rhode Island n/s-60' OACL

West Virginia 48'

Wisconsin 45'



A Dodge Quad Cab long bed would be 16 feet long AHEAD of the 45' gooseneck trailer, for a OACL of

61 feet.



Your problem would be meeting the overall length limits in some states.



But how often do you see a truck getting taped for length nowadays??



I regularly pulled a 45' trailer thru out New Jersey back in the 70's and never got bothered...

 

[NVR FNSH]

Is your trailer registered as an RV?



Not sure about the length thing in CA but here's what I know regarding license classification in CA.

I have a Class CM1 - standard class C with motorcycle endorsement. For my 36ft 5th wheel (tandem axle) RV trailer I had to take a written test for a restriction 41 - allows me to drive/tow a 5th wheel RV trailer between 10,001 - 14,999.



The Santa Rosa DMV had no idea what I was talking about when I went down there to take the written test. My guess is that CHP doesn't 'enforce' this rule very often.



Brian

 

[Eric_77]

yeah your bigger issue is going to be weight most triple 48's are in 18-20k range GVW so even with a 2500 you would be over 26,001 which requires a class A.



I thought all the states got rid of the 10k trailer endorsement for under 26,000 GCVW about 6 years ago.

 

[JBlock]

Class A ???

Eric77



You may be right 10,000 trailer/ 26001 combination, but whenI check the California Licensing site and it was the triple Axle that required a class A, but CDL was required if you were doing comerical work.



Above some mentioned a RV liense for 10000-14999 that sound good as there plenty of room in the rfront to make a outfited sleeper and cabin. The deck is flat for 32 feet then 8. 5 overhang plus 3. 5 feet for the goosneck extension, for the short bed cab clearance.



thanks please keep your though coming in.



Joe

 

[ISBPilot]

What a surprise.........

Had no idea about the 30' limit here in Louisiana. I pulled a 32' cattle trailer for a while (all trailer lengths are floor area only, do not include neck of trailer). All the sale barns use the same size trailers, 32' with 3 axles. Commercial hot shots pull 40' floats all over the place around here. Our D. O. T. cops usually only bother big trucks, it has to be pretty bad for em' to stop a 1-ton.





Todd

 

[JBlock]

Tongue weight 3500 pounds empty?

I getting a little confused the conversation on purchasing the new trailer, which I really like. We got around to weights. The owner just took nit to the scales and had it weighed. 3500 pounds tongue (NG) on F350 dually crewcab six speed. Doe this sound right. i had no Idea three axle trailers put this much weight forward.



Also does 6950 sound right for a crew cab dually F350, I think one should be using a F450-F550 at these tongue weights.



Boy I a noice at the enclosed car hauler business.



Joe - you were correct the 19,000 is GVW for the trailer not the weight; I weighed the trailer with my f-350 which weighs about 6950 lbs



Weights are: steer axel - 4180

drive axel - 6120

trailer axel - 6560



total weight 16860

trailer weight - about 10000 lbs

Your 2500 ram truck would be fine - this trailer is very ezsy to haul - I can pull

70-75 very easily

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

From Oregon state web sites:



http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_700/OAR_734/734_073.html



Truck-Tractor with Semitrailer Combinations -- State-Approved Highways



(1) The length of a semitrailer in a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination shall not exceed 53 feet. The overall length of the combination shall not exceed 65 feet.



http://www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/464.pdf



"A travel trailer shall not exceed 45 feet in length. "

 

[NVR FNSH]

Re: Tongue weight 3500 pounds empty?

Originally posted by JBlock

Also does 6950 sound right for a crew cab dually F350, I think one should be using a F450-F550 at these tongue weights.

Last time at the dump I was weighed at 7300lbs - '00 2500 4wd QC spd with leather. 7300 lbs included me (255lb)=, 1/2 tank of fuel & a 15k Reese 5th wheel hitch.



6950 lbs sounds light for a Crew Cab F350.



Brian

 

[Eric_77]

6950 is real light for dually crew cab try more like 8 to 8. 5 k



one thing is commercial use trumps RV. Basically commercial use makes the requirements no RV exemption just a commercial requirement does that make sense? basically you can't add a toilet/stove/etc to a Semi rig and say "exempt I'm an RV".