moving soon, how strict are the states listed...

[GWBourne]

i will be moving from San Diego CA to Harrisburg PA at the end of the month.



i will be driving from temecula CA to Pima AZ then to Alb. NM then to harrisburg.



i HAVE to stop in Pima to pick up the trailer/19. 5's/finish gauge install and say hello to a great friend. i HAVE to stop in Alb to see a good friend/HS buddy.



after that the route is planed to hit the following major cities/states.

i will be towing my 32 foot GN and be overweight. my major concern is the fact of being overweight. i dont want to find out that in certain areas i am required to pull over at a scale. i DOUBT i will have any issues, but wanted to double check.



Amarillo TX

Oklahoma OK

Little rock AR

Memphis TN

Nashville TN

Knoxville TN

Christianburg VA

Winchester MD

then into harrisburg PA.



thanks for any and i mean ANY input... .

Grant



p. s. i will be moving to the town of red lion PA. i will be the local Marine Corps Recruiter... WHOOHOO!!

__________________

 

[jelag]

As long as your hauling your personal goods... . and not commerical goods your not required to stop at the scale houses in most states..... Note as you enter the state that they usually post... "all commerical trucks over ****GVW stop at port of entry"



I've been hauling personal stuff around and have been stopped by the commerical guys. . they ask and have usually let me go..... no questions other than is what your hauling commerical..... OTOH - one thought I had the trailer overweight..... which by itself is a problem... he pulled out a set of jump scales... . and weighed me... . based on the GVW of the trailer and its rating..... if you exceed the weight of the trailer... . even with personal goods and you get caught its not a fun thing if they want to be tough on you...



And my last thought... . I'd never pull a trailer where I knowingly had the tires overloaded..... this is an accident waiting to happen someplace where you least expect it..... I'd be checking the tires for overheating and air pressure every day at least... . and wouldn't drive through temperatures over 100* with tires overloaded... .



Nothing like being out in the desert changing tires when its 110* outside... .



Just my thoughts here... .

 

[Eric_77]

Overweight you are at risk, Are you over 26k? if so then real bad news, you need to get legal or you can be sidelined on the road if stopped by a strict by the book officer. Can you have the truck/trailer reregistered to bring your gross up so you are legal? If under 26K gross and only slightly over the registered weights (ie bumper not dragging ground or tires bulging or look rag tag)or if you are hauling a trailer without markings or appears as personal (camper, horse, or open trailer with household goods) you should go under the radar.



Oh on your list from what I have seen



OK, and Texas are rather lax but Tx has announced a crackdown but have not seen it.

 

[leaky gasket]

Grant -

Jim is right about the tires and heat. I was an over the road driver for 13 years and you can always tell the new guys in the desert. They would be the ones on the side of the road with a blown tire. The trick to getting through the desert in high heat is driving 55-60 mph. This reduces the resistance, thus reducing the running temperature of the tire.



Also how far over weight do you think you are going to be? In the long run it might be cheaper to make two trips then to have your stuff scattered across the desert.



Just my thoughts,

Brian

 

[GWBourne]

i fully understand the heat/tire issue, i am not over weight on the tires, i am overweight on the legal side of the numbers on the truck. 23k... last time i weighed in i was at 26,580, but was on base so they didnt care.



thats with a full tank of fuel and me inthe truck. this time i think i will be a bit heavier. the trailer is rated to 21k and the tires on the trailer are rated for 22k. the trailer loaded weighs around 19k. i will be upgrading the tires to 265 - 70- 19. 5's that are in shipping status right now. they will meet me in Pima. truck tires wont be a problem either. 4500lbs there. i know the truck doesnt have aproblem with the weight as i have towed the setup from oregon to socal to Yuma AZ back to socal to Pima. ZERO problems and it stops faster/easier with the trailer behind it. the exhaust brake gets used in a more efficent way and the tripple axles braking helps as well.



thanks for the input and keep it coming.

Grant

 

[MMeier]

Over 26k. . you sir, are a commercial motor vehicle. COMBINED GVWR... trailer you said is 21k, and your truck. Some states are starting to crack down hard . Rumor has it next year, they will be looking at just about anything hauling anything out there. Just 2 weekends ago, my buddy got his balls busted out in BFE Arizona. on his way to chassis shop in Phoenix. Pulling with his truck, his trailer, (48' enclosed) and his new race car inside. 30 minutes later, after trying unsuccessfully to reach a commercial code officer on his cell phone... ( no coverage where they were at :-laf ) he let him off with a warning that next time through he had better be sure he is legit. Note my Sig! My Ram is an OTR tractor in the eyes of the law now, DOT/MC #'s, hi $$$$$$$$$$ insurance, IFTA, NM weight /distance, whole 9 yards!!!!

 

[GWBourne]

alright alright, let me just get something straight here folks...



i dont tow overweight because i want to... i dont have a choice.



those of you that have served our country know how it is. when it is time to pick up and move you do just that. im not going to go into detail, but this is MY ONLY option.



once i get settled in PA i wont be towing overweight anymore. i doubt i will be towing much at all. the only reason i bought the trailer as big as it is is so i can tow a suburban and a blazer on it. with those two rides on the trailer i will be under legal limit. not by much, but still under.



EVERYTHING i own is in the truck, or in the conex box on the trailer... .



again, i know the risks of being overwieght, im asking if there are any SPECIFIC places to avoid. im not a jackarse with the trailer. i stay to the posted trailer speed limit, respect others with loads and others without the same, and am very cautious. i will NOT get pulled over for speeding. not with the trailer anyway...



thanks for the info, PLEASE get off my back about the weight issues. the only thing i am doing wrong is going over a number. the equipment is set up to handle it.

 

[bmoeller]

I would suggest running at night. Most scales are closed from 11PM to 5-6AM. Also, they tend to be closed on weekends, but they can, and will surprise you. Not always very many cops out either.



Even when loaded legal, I normally will go around the scales on a back road anyhow. Livestock can shift, and wind up throwing you over on a set of axles. Been there, done that. Even happened when I grossed out at 2k UNDER 80k. Got a fine.

 

[GAmes]

Just because you may be over 26,000 pounds does not require you to have a CDL.



The Congress of the United States enacted The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA/86) which requires that all of the individual states conduct uniform testing and licensing standards for all commercial drivers. It also established uniform standards for qualification, suspensions, and revocation. It requires that no commercial vehicle operator may possess more than one license. That license MUST BE ISSUED FROM THE DRIVER'S STATE OF LEGAL RESIDENCE.



A Commercial Drivers License (CDL) is Required if you drive ANY of the following commercial vehicles for hire ANY place in the United States...





A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.



A trailer with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.



A vehicle designed to carry 15 or more passengers (excluding the driver).



A vehicle of ANY size or type which requires hazardous materials placards.





Notice the paragraph about driving a COMMERCIAL vehicle FOR HIRE. You are not doing that, so don't sweat the legalities. You are legal. If the weights do exceed the GVWRs of the truck or trailer, and that includes axle and tire ratings, then you may encounter problems. I transport trailers all over the U. S. and have not seen one state that requires non-commercial vehicles to cross the scales. If a DOT officer does stop you for a check you only need to insure your drivers license and registrations are up to snuff. Also remember they are men of uniform also, so showing your ID card along with your drivers license might save you some hassle. Having a copy of your PCS orders handy might be a good idea as well.



ON edit; You didn't say which state your drivers license is from but for the heck of it I looked up CA's requirement for a Class A non-commercial, just in case someone posted that you need one.



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



A Noncommercial Class A license is required if you tow:



a travel trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) which is not used for hire.

a fifth-wheel travel trailer weighting over 15,000 lbs. GVWR which is not used for hire.

a livestock trailer that is not for hire, weight over 10,000 lbs. GVWR but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, and is operated within 150 miles of the farm by a farmer to transport livestock.





Looks like you have a loophole with a cargo trailer. If you don't have a CA license then you need to check your state.

 

[GWBourne]

im all messed up when it comes to what state i claim as home... had an oregon lic till march of this year. had it for 8 years since i was born in oregon and recruited out of oregon. fell in love with arizona and have a license from there due to the fact it doesnt expire till 2045.



cali plate on the truck, oregon plate on the trailer... i get some odd looks now and then.



thanks for the cali info, i have reviewed it in the past and think it is silly. they dont pull anyone over for things like that... ever...



thanks again for the info though.



as for the mil ID, it come out before the DL and ins does. PCS orders are in the center console as well. been there, done that played that game a few times. 99. 9% of the time it works.

 

[dunderkofler]

Looks like you have a loophole with a cargo trailer.

A little furthur up in your link removes this loophole and requires a CDL in California.



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



Hopefully nobody bothers you. Have a safe trip.

 

[Eric_77]

A little furthur up in your link removes this loophole and requires a CDL in California.



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



Hopefully nobody bothers you. Have a safe trip.

He should be fine on license. I would see about adding on to the vehicle registration.



As for what state you are from, you would be needing to comply with AZ driver licesne requirements as that is where you are licensed. Which reminds me I have had two friends stopped there with trailers hauling race vehicles and questioned and put out of service for no log books plus fines for no DOT #. They were illegal, ie commercial, you moving your own stuff shoulf not have to worry about that.



Some state do require all vehicles over certain GVW to stop at weigh stations regardless of commercial or not but I don't remember which ones CO I think was one and IN another.

 

[bmoeller]

IIRC, since you are in the military, you don't need a Class A to even drive a big truck.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

GW I wouldn't worry about any of it. Drive it until they put their lights on. Don't stop at the scales unless they specifically point you out to pull in. By the time you get those 19. 5's on, you will not be over any tire limit (I do not think it's possible to be at 26k on a SRW without being over the 17" tire limits, or unevenly weighted) and you are personal,so being over 26k is not much of a concern

 

[jnelson]

A "jerk" DOT man will scale you and will fine you of you are overweight. I dont care if you're millitary. Raise your registation on your trailer to where you need it and wear your milltary clothes and dont stop at any scales. Make them come get you.



My best advice is to load up and gitt'er done. If a jerk DOT man pulls you over just tell him you can kill him with your thumb.





PS - you can add weight to your registratin but if you are over your tire rating you can get a ticket for that. thats why I have my trailer registered for the combined weight ratings of my tires. just a little note.

 

[GAmes]

A little furthur up in your link removes this loophole and requires a CDL in California.



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



Hopefully nobody bothers you. Have a safe trip.

You failed to read the whole CDL thing. He is not for hire, therefore the 10,001 lb trailer paragraph is moot.



On edit;

I went back and looked at your route. Be advised that NM DOT has some real A-*****. One made me buy a temp permit to haul a FEMA trailer through the state although it was the norm to be waved though, even in Az.

 

[Hercules130]

Welcome to the nieghborhood, i was just in red lion yesterday visiting family

 

[Sled Dog]

You'll be fine in OK,Arkansas and Memphis. As long as your set-up looks good and don't do anything to draw attention to yourself.



Like the Jodes, in the movie The Grapes of Wrath. :-laf

 

[GWBourne]

cool info folks. thanks.

looks like i will kee the route the same as the only areas of concern are places i HAVE to go. luck be a lady tonight eh?



i wont have the trailer through 60% of AZ, and have never had an issue going there with it except for in blyth ca the weigh as you go told me to pull over... i blew past it, they all looked at me and went back to talking.



thanks again, and if anyone has more info, please add it.

Grant

 

[Nate]

That is just for military vehicles.



Example... at work I can drive a tractor trailer... one we have is a 40ft low boy, the other just a normal flatbed, we use them to haul explosives (what I work with).

I don't have a CDL or need one.

IIRC, since you are in the military, you don't need a Class A to even drive a big truck.