towing and drivers licence

[RSeymon]

Greetings one and all,



Here in Nevada if you have a class C licence it states you can tow up to 10,000 lbs. , Do other states require you to have a class a d. l. or a special licence to tow a 5er above 10,00 lbs?



Thanks in advance

 

[jwduke]

In Iowa, you can tow, non commercially with a regular drivers licence.



California, seems to have a goofy RV class drivers licence of some sort. But I think, what ever your home state requires for a DL, thats all you need, everywhere in the US, for what you want to do.

 

[KBalzuweit]

Check the fine print, most states have it so rv's are exempt. So as long as you are not commercial it is OK.

 

[puebla]

back on top... .

 

[cwsoules]

In California a citizen must have a #41 endorsement on the back if you are towing a RV the weighs between 10,000 and 15,000#. If the trailer weighs over 15,000# an non commercial truck drivers license is required.

 

[JRMora]

Greetings one and all,



Here in Nevada if you have a class C licence it states you can tow up to 10,000 lbs. , Do other states require you to have a class a d. l. or a special licence to tow a 5er above 10,00 lbs?



Thanks in advance

My NM license says:



"Single vehicle less than 26,000 # GVWR, May not tow vehicle in excess of 10,000# GVWR unless equipped w/ class 4 equalizer hitch or fifth wheel"



Juan

 

[jwduke]

Just go get a class A (Plus endorsements TX & D), then you can drive nearly anything with wheels on it.

 

[Mrudolph]

In Georgia a class "C" passenger vehicle license states, may tow a trailer weighing 10,000 lbs or less, and all recreational vehicles.

 

[kblranch]

I went and got my "J" endorsment for my Nevada class C which allows me to tow my 11000 pound horse trailer. With the J endorsment you are not under all the regulations that the class A and B drivers are under.

 

[rweis]

In FL we had a Brew Ha Ha last year when a state trooper forgot to read "does NOT pertain to personal recreational vehicles" on a dually truck towing a 5er. Fl a regular license works.



I got my class D anyway (took a written test, no driving test) just to be safe.



Bob Weis

 

[MacHaggis]

Here's the latest action from NY on the matter.



NY Class D (New)

 

[puebla]

Which state has the strictest DOT laws regarding towing heavy/long loads with a pickup truck?

 

[TRLRTRSH]

State Licensing

From Washington State:



CDL Exemptions.

The law exempts three groups of drivers from the CDL:

· Farmers transporting farm equipment, supplies, or products to or from a farm in a farm vehicle are exempted provided the farmer or a farm employee operates the vehicle. Products include Christmas trees or wood products transported by vehicles 40,000 pounds GVWR or less.

· Fire-fighters/Law Enforcement Personnel operating emergency equipment are exempted provided they have completed the Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention Program (EVAP) and they carry a card certifying completion.

· Recreational Vehicle Operators are exempted when driving RV's for non-commercial purposes. This includes two axle rental trucks, and horse trailers for non-commercial purposes.



So in Washington State you can drive a 50,000# motor home without a CDL, but one must have an endorsement and pay big $$ to ride a motorcycle, that kinda #@$%! me off!!



Bill

 

[surfbeetle]

In California a citizen must have a #41 endorsement on the back if you are towing a RV the weighs between 10,000 and 15,000#. If the trailer weighs over 15,000# an non commercial truck drivers license is required.

What is the #41 endorsement? I thought that all was needed is the green physical card. I do have a commercial class B with the physical card so I think I am probably okay.

 

[puebla]

I second that. What is a #41 endorsement?

 

[cwsoules]

A #41 endosement is listed on my class C regular drivers license on the back. On the front the card says I have two restrictions: 1. Corrective lenses, 2. 41

This is experssed as RSTR: CORR LENS 41

On the back of the card it states " 41. MAY TOW FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL TRAILER BETWEEN 10,001 AND 15,000 POUNDS GVWR. "



To get this endorsement requires passing a portion of the commercial drivers written exam. No driving test is required. The hardest part of the test was convincing the DMV in Oakland: 1. that there was such a requirement, 2. obtaining a book to study, 3. convincing the DMV that the answer sheet they were using to grade my exam was not the right one. (They had to get one faxed from Sacremento. )



I believe that if your GVWR is over 15,000 you have to pass a driving test with your trailer.

 

[kblranch]

Nevada also has a seperate endorsment for RV's with air brakes.

 

[BillGotthelf]

There are a few states that require air brake endorsements (damn push the brake pedal down and the motorhome stops) but only if you are licensed in that state. Also Federal Motor Vehicle Standards (that created the CDL's) also prohibits one state from enforcing its restrictions on license requirements for drivers licensed in another state.

 

[KLedder]

My Pennsylvannia license says Class C Single/Combo < 26001. Anybody know what you need for anything over this?