looking at new work truck

[HBarlow]

Gentlemen, I dare enter the fray with an experience of my own, I am a small manufacturing company that builds specialty oilfield equipment, we produce a service trailer that is 3 axle and 27,600lb gvw. Federal DOT clearly states that axle centers must be 40" or greater. The law subsection was created 40 years ago before the serious advent of tag trailers and low profile tires, subsequently you simply cannot purchase springs and hangers that will produce anything greater than 38" centers on 8k axles. That being said, we have passed inspection in 47 states. #48 North Dakota has ruled our unit has 1 axle and does not recognize the low profile tires and goes by wheel width resulting in a gvw of something like 17,500, The North Dakota Highway Patrol ruled it 1 axle, 6 tires at 20,000lb gvw. Last week we shipped a replacement unit with custom equalizers to obtain a 40. 5" axle center to comply literally with the law. In my conversation with North Dakota DOT they also ruled my horse trailer, dump trailer and car trailer as 1 axle and would issue a ticket for overweight based on that assertation.
I do not have a point other than, I have seen directly that units within the same government body cannot rule the same, at the same time, same place and same unit in the same parking lot!
I also appreciate reading both of your posts and find you both thoughtful and thought provoking,
good day,

Perry

In your experience with ND DOT do you know if they enforce the same regulations on RV trailers?

I've pulled lots of RV trailers through ND and have gone through at least one DOT inspection in ND but never ran into a problem. RV trailer axles are not on 40" centers either.

 

[d6c]

In Oregon, at least, the dmv desk jockies can not be depended on to get it right. Standard plates only go to 10k gvw, even my srw 1 ton exceeded that and was illegally registered (until I put T-plates on it) IMHO, the only out of state exemption ANY of us might benefit from is if we are towing an RV. Another example would be a farm-plated rig I own... Other than my limit of 150 air miles from my farm and very specific restrictions on type of use, only certain other states have reciprocal agreements to allow operation of that vehicle in their state. The list goes on and on, things are misconstrued and abused intrastate, much less interstate.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm not clear on your meaning.

I have pulled probably 100 RV trailers for hire out of Pendleton, across to Portland, and down I-5 to KA and also down US-97 through Bend without ever being hassled by OR DOT without any special registration required by OR.

Likewise, an OR resident can haul through the other states if he is legal under federal DOT rules.

The primary area where regulations differ between states is under registration and taxation and can normally only apply to their own residents. Issues of CDLs, weights, lighting, etc. are generally standardized by DOT rules.

 

[PLefever]

Harvey, To tell the truth I was simply dismayed by the fact that ND (or that particular department or officer) would not apply simple logic. That being said I found a clause in the ND DOT that stated over 24k commercial, but they did not explain it that way. I offered my living quarter horse trailer as an example to try and find a baseline for logic when they stated it would be the same. I would not hesitate to pull any of my trailers through any state. I believe that our unit was hooked to a semi so they treated as a semi trailer even though it is in essence a flat deck pull type trailer that can be pulled with a 1 ton with a pintle hook, and the lack of knowledge or exposure led them to stick to their guns with subsection blah blah blah,

So with that ramble, I don't know if I actually answered anything, LOL



Perry

 

[RVTRKN]

As always, when confronted with your own posted misinformation you try to sling a bag of waste up against the wall to see if something will stick. When you attempt to twist the statements previously posted you look pretty silly.



If you had suggested that an owner contact his local authorities to determine ahead of a purchase what their interpretation of their local law is, you would have seen no disagreement from me. But that is NOT what you posted.



On more than one occasion you have tried to tell other members that Ram 3500s or C&Cs must be registered and insured as commercial trucks. That is a false statement except perhaps, in KA and, as I stated, could cause a member considering a new truck to make a bad decision based on misinformation. The laws of KA are not the laws of the nation. All state DOT regulations are based on the federal DOT code but some states do attempt to interpret parts of them differently.



I have written many times, a 3500/4500/5500 is not considered a commercial truck under DOT regulations for interstate operation or in states not controlled by socialists.



I have also attempted to explain repeatedly in these pages that DOT regulations apply to trucks used for hauling for hire or other commercial applications such as a painter, plumber, welder, and mobile mechanic but not to privately owned and operated trucks except in KA and other socialist states.



I don't give a damn what other people choose to buy and nowhere in these posts regarding whether a 3500/4500/5500 is a commercial vehicle have I tried to persuade a member to buy one.



My interest here is to educate and inform. When members don't understand why a local DOT cop tickets them or a DMV clerk requires them to register a vehicle a certain way I attempt to explain the reasons. When members such as yourself post something that is inaccurate I attempt to clarify it for the benefit of others who might make a decision based on wrong information.



I think you would prefer not to be challenged, even when you are clearly wrong, to protect your sensitive little ego. Don't post nonsense if you don't want to be corrected.

You don't intimidate me, and you can try and put me down all you want. It wont change the fact your wrong. And I have the registration to prove it. As you can read even if the law is XXXXX it only matters with who gives the ticket. It's then up to the individual to fight it in court. I would love to be a fly on the wall when your before a judge explaining to him the law. :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Your reading comprehension much be very limited or perhaps you're arguing with voices you're hearing in your own head.

Having a discussion with you is like trying to have a serious conversation with a child. You never respond to a post, just come back from out in left field talking about something entirely different as if the you didn't read or didn't understand the previous one.

 

[d6c]

WOW boys... This whole thread gets down to three simple facts: vehicle licensing, driver licensing and insurance for the vehicle. OTR big trucks run apportioned plates for interstate travel, I'm starting to see a lot more little (1 ton dually) type guys running the same, today. Best guess would be some good old boy rv transporter should have been doing the same when he was in business commercially a few years ago..... Bottom line is purchasers should have a full understanding of the three simple facts (above) before they put down their hard-earned cash for a rig or a trailer. .

 

[RVTRKN]

Yes, I can comprehend your stubborn and a fool, if you think you know every State law and DMV reg. as well as DOT reg's per the state requirements.



Before I mentioned my issues with my C&C per California DMV/DOT pertaining to my Sate, you would have given a perspective buyer of a C&C advise "not to worry and that it only counts if commercial" in California. It would have cost him a minimum of $2500. 00 a year insurance and thats with a squeaky clean record. Then he would have to pay true commercial tags to include a decal for $10. 00 first issue then $3. 00 every year, to stick on the side of his door declaring his GVW/GCVW.



You need to cool your jets and really think when you open your mouth.

 

[therabbittree]

I don't understand all the bickering?. . WTH?... If you want a truck with beefier parts and more carrying capacity buy a 4500 or 5500. Each state is going to hae its own rules... I'd buy the most truck you can get for your dollar and work from there. If you bought a smaller truck fro less insurance or registration $ only to move or have the law change then your stuck with a smaller less capable truck.

JMHO

 

[RVTRKN]

Thats what I thought when I purchased my C&C, it had a purpose. The 4500 or 5500 was not available at the time, and the 3500 C&C has a better suspension as well as the frame, then the reg 3500. But the option of a regular 3500 might of changed my mind. But only because of the 5. 9 that was still available in 07. I would of saved a couple of headaches though, dealing with DMV as well as registration/insurance costs. I'm OK with the truck, just thought I would maybe help someone else make a decision to save some dollars. HBarlow just cant sit still enough, and I could care less what he thinks, or did I not comprehend your post? :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

I would be very surprised if you are even correct about your own KA registration and you certainly don't know the first thing about other states or federal DOT regulations.

At the time you bought that C&C truck you were pretending to be in the air conditioning business and had business signs on the doors. The fact that the truck had a GVWR of greater than 10k and was used in business activity made it commercial and required you to have commercial registration and liability insurance. Now that your air conditioning business never happened you probably only need ordinary insurance.

I have paid no attention to the laws in KA and it is would be quite difficult to get a straight answer from KA's screwed up DMV or KADOT and then the CHP doesn't enforce the code as written so I'm not going to bother to research it.

Perhaps someone who lives in KA and owns a Ram 3500 that is used for private use only can tell us.

 

[RVTRKN]

Now your telling me what I'm doing or not and why. First off it's non of your business what I'm doing, but now that you have accused me of pretending. I still have the Contractors lic. Class A lic. and I'm EPA certified for refrigerant. When I'm ready to start my business again I'll ask for your permission. I went back to work for the same company I worked for, for 10 years, because I know what I'm doing, and unlike you, brag about what I know to please your own ego.



YOUR JUST AN OLD FOOL. :-laf





Yes, when I registered the truck for 26K was when DMV discovered the error. This was for the transporting company you recommended, that used me to move some Weekend Warrior RV's before the plant shut down. I guess they thought I was fool enough to travel all the way back to the plant to pull another. That was the end of my transporting for hire. That trip ended up costing me money, let alone all the miles I put on my truck, to deliver someone else's RV. And they expected for me to do the same all over again.



When I went back to DMV to change the truck into private use, was when I discovered that it can not be registered as reg pickup because of the INCOMPLETE tag. My AC company is on hold for the moment, but it is still a matter of record with the CSLB of California, if you don't believe me, you can look it up. With me doing no business, I went to my insurance company to insure it as a private truck, the VIN prevented my insurance company from doing just that. So I went to my private insurance company and they said the same thing, I got several quote's from others to find the same dilemma. I then went back to my private insurance company and threatened to pull all of my insurance if they would not do so. My agent recommended that I remove the graphics on the door and have him inspect it, with pictures to appeal it. That worked, and I now save now $1500. 00 per year.



You can believe what you want Old Fool!

 

[RVTRKN]

I would be very surprised if you are even correct about your own KA registration .

You know I've been thinking about this statement, and I couldn't figure out what bothered me. And then it dawned on me, you don't know for sure, why would you be surprized. :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the entertainment. You're good for a laugh occasionally.

 

[kd5eiv]

Gentlemen,

I know I just a guest, one considering joining TDR, but after monitoring all of this discussion, I'am not sure if I will. Is all of this necessary?

Rog

 

[RVTRKN]

Sorry you had to see that, but we have feuded in the past. HBarlow is very knowlegable when it comes to towing and hauling, and he can take it a little to far. I'm sure if you have a question on that subject he would bend over backward to help you.



I hope you don't judge him or me by that exchange, it's sort of like family members arguing, but dont let someone else argue from outside TDR. You would lose out in the long run if you were to drop TDR. I have benefited more than a few times when I needed it, from TDR.



If you were to read between the lines, a lot of information was brought out on this thread.



Hope to see your posts in the future.



Steve

 

[therabbittree]

Thats what I was getting at... . this thread has just about jumped the tracks. I get enough bickering and argruing at work and home. I almost got a headache reading this exchange about registrations. :-{} The thread is about Chassis Cab specs LOL. Lets get if back on track. I'm surprised some of it hasn't disapppeared from the moderator.