Question to hotshots...

[David_VT]

What can I get away with for cross country transport of used compact tractors?

Bottom line I want to buy as many as I can fit on a gooseneck and haul them from CA to VT.

They will be owned by me and transported to my farm in Vermont. DOT does not have to know that I might want to sell some of them at some point in the future. I am not a dealer of tractors but might decide that I only want to keep one of them. #ad


So, if DOT in any state sees me wheeling past them with an open flatbed loaded with with dirty compact tractors, what will I run into??

Can I do it without CDL, etc?
Can I blow past the scales?

With a 2500, I can't go too wild on the size of the gooseneck trailer for obvious reasons.

What is the largest anyone suggests for towing behind a 2500?

If you think you can do it for me at a better cost than doing myself, drop me an email.

The objective of this thread is to look into the legal issues, not to look for someone to haul for me.

 

[Barry]

I have a 40' Take 3 car transport with "flips" on both ends. (gives me about 43'of floor space) I regularly put 3 units on the trailer and come hom from the auction. My trailer has 2 axles and I am plated for 22,800. The Tx. DOT is death on pick-ups pulling those lloonnggg 48 to 52 footers with 3 axles and not be DOTed and CDLd. I have never been stopped with my 40 footer. If I were you, I'd find a trucking co. in your area that runs Cal. and needs a "backhaul". Have them flat rate the truck to you coming back and then load as many of those little buggers on as will fit. Then put some in the cab and sleeper. Strap a few on the hood and chain a few on the sides and then tell the driver to GO!

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2001 2500 QC, ETH/DEE,4:10s, LSD, EZ with elbow(26. 5PSI)Stage 1 injectors from Carl, Boost/Pyro Guages, 4" Turbo back, BD Brake,Mag-Hytec Cover, Kleen Wheels, Energy Release, 70 gal. fuel, 20K Reese. 31,000 Miles on 03/01/01(Auto/Truck/RV Dealer)

 

[Hot Shot]

What do these tractors weigh? This will determine what trailer size to get.

Since you are not a commercial vehicle you will not fall under many of the DOT regs.

You are hauling your own equipment for personal use. the best thing you can do is get farm tags on your trailer and your chances of getting messed with are slim to none.

You must be careful in the respect not over-axle you trailer or your truck. you can be fined for having more weight than what your truck and trailer are registerd to carry.

While pulling my gooseneck flatbed empty, I get the evil eye from the Full Grown Bear.

Pull my 32x6 cattle trailer loaded to the nuts, they dont even look.


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2001 3500 QC 24V SLT Larimie, leather, BD Plug in Power, 275 injectors, BD Torque Convertor ,Valve Body, Pressure Lock, Torque-loc, Gauges,Black w/ Ranchhand bumpers Brownes HD Headache rack and a black wetherguard coffin. pullee 34Ft. gooseneck and a 32ft x 6ft stock trailer.
2000 Durnago SLT 5. 9litre V8

[This message has been edited by Hot Shot (edited 03-28-2001). ]

 

[rob10858]

as soon as you go interstate, you will be looked at more carefully by the state and fed dot troopers. it will be up to you to explain why you are transporting your personal property across state lines. the best excuse that ive heard is "for repairs" that was given to me by a dot man that had pulled me for not stopping at a weigh station, three states away from my point of origin. he more or less told me what to reply when questioned about my intent in their state. one officer in south carolina told me that if i was in his state, getting my equip repaired, then i was persuing a busisness related purpose, and i was a comm vehicle. they will always try to define you as a comm veh as long as it will mean more revenue for them. its your job to play "dumb" and write down everything they say, just to make it look like you will comply the next time through. theres a 150 air mile rule as far as farmers and comm veh are concerned that you should look into. after 150 miles from your "farm" interstate, watch out.

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[TomC]

Dave-
When I used to run the lower 48 and Canada I was under the impression that if you put "private carrier not for hire" on the side DOT wouldn't say much about the regs. I would make sure that you have a "bill of sale" with numbers and all for every tractor. By the way-- Make sure that your name is on the bill of sale.
Hope this helps some
Tom

 

[illflem]

I've hauled Ag equipment over state lines many times, they don't even look at you. After once stopping at a weigh station years ago with two tractors on the GN and having them tell me it wasn't necessary I haven't stopped since. Tom C's advice sounds good for a little insurance though.

 

[David Phipps/Mike Hurd]

OK heres the breakdown. First you will need Not For Hire on both sides of the truck. You can get mag signs for 20. 00 for both sides. Have recipts for every tractor including vin #'s for each one. Made out in Your Name. Not a company name. You gave no idea of weight your wanting to haul or trailer length. we all know even a 2500 will haul lots of weight but don not get too crazy You want a properly loaded and secured load. Depending on size of the tractors you want a secure attatchment of @ least 2" ratchet straps But chain and binders would be better. This will be a safty issue. But I'd say roll with it. Since your Not commerical you should not be messed with. feel free to ask anything else regarding dot or hauling related. Reguards, Mike

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http://hometown. aol.com/hotshothauler/myhomepage/business.html 2000, CTD 3500, Air brakes on truck & trailer. 202,000 miles todate. DOT custom built sleeper unit. pulling a 40' G/N flatbed
2000 FL-70 Pulling a 48' low boy. 211,000 miles
Just bought another 92 D-350 215 P-Pump motor and NV 4500 180,000 miles 24 lbs boost all stock For now

 

[rob10858]

david and mike, what about a company that is transporting their company's equip back and forth across state lines in business related matters? we dont haul anyone else's equipment, only our own. we dont charge by the mile, nor do we charge the customer for freight, etc. all of our one ton combination weights with trailors do not exceed 26001 lbs. we have all the proper weight ratings on all trucks and trailors with co name and dot #s displayed. i have 14 truck and trailors to take care of and have been over this a million times with state and fed dot's. after 16 years and no telling how many miles, i havent heard a good reason to register my rigs as commercial. ive heard the 10000 lb truck limit, the comb of truck and trailor gvwrs, the trailor over 10000 lbs etc. correct me please, but i think that most of the fed regs apply more to you guys that that really do "haul for hire"

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[QRTRHRS]

David,

If you do go through with this, do your homework on selecting a trailer. My 25' beavertail weighs 5400. My buddies 24' beavertail weighs 4something. Realizing that money is a concern going into something like this, there are aluminum goosenecks available. Do you have any idea as to the lengths and weights your going to be moving? If at all possible, see how it pulls before you buy. With my extended cab, the freeway slap is worse with my trailer. I guess it is just a combination of natural frequencies. Yet, my BP horse trailer is silky smooth.

How often do you figure on making this run? Some states have 24 hour scales but others don't. If you can handle it, stick to running at night as much as possible. That way, you limit your "exposure" and generally have less traffic to contend with.

 

[illflem]

David, one other thing you may want to consider in your plans is putting the tractors on sideways. I saw a load of Kubota landscape/homeowner sized tractors on the highway pulled by a flatbed trailered semi, there were at least ten on it. You might get by with a smaller trailer or want to up the trailer weight rating to haul more.