Toy haulers, heavy fifth wheels; what drivers license requirements are needed?

[jmtandem]

Are there any drivers license endorsement requirements to tow a heavy fifth wheel (up to 18,000 pounds) for recreation?

 

[Makensmoke]

In MN if you have a one ton you'll need a health card in your wallet (or purse) for a one ton is considered a commercial vehicle. Other than that your on your own.

 

[RustyJC]

The break point for a CDL in Texas is 26001 lbs - I don't know if there's an RV exemption or not since our rig is running 21180 GCW (21500 GCWR).



Rusty

 

[shaft]

The 26,001 combined weight limit before requiring a CDL appears to be the norm for just about all states... ... .

 

[jmtandem]

heavy hauling for an RV

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

 

[RichMorris]

Towing Hauling and Rv Forum

Correct me if I am wrong but the 26001 lb weight limit is for the combined weight of the truck and its loaded capacity. It is not the GCWR. The weight of your truck, pin or tongue weight of the trailer and any supplies (fuel, passengers etc. ) carried in the truck all count towards the weight rating of the truck. The GCWR then includes the weight of the trailer being carried on its axles.



I have been researching medium duty trucks as an alternative since I am towing my 5er at just over its GCWR of 20K.

 

[Rosco]

I live in Rhode Island and I have a class "B" CDL. On my license it says a class B is for any vehicle with a GVW over 26,000 and towed trailers up to 10,000 pounds. An example that would be legal is a tri-axle and maybe a bobcat and trailer. Now lets say you have that same tri-axle but pull a 12,000 pound backhoe and trailer combo then you would need a class "A" CDL to be legal. I think all you guys should be O. K. because the 26,001 gross vehicle weight rating is the trigger weight and not a 26,001 gross combined weight rating. Our trucks all have GVWR of less 26,000 pounds.

 

[MN Cummins Lvr]

Originally posted by Makensmoke

In MN if you have a one ton you'll need a health card in your wallet (or purse) for a one ton is considered a commercial vehicle. Other than that your on your own.

??? Is this a new law? I can't believe that all one ton trucks in MN are considered commercial? Maybe I am way confused



Paul

 

[Rosco]

In addition to my above reply which is confusing I wanted to say this. Do not confuse GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) with GCWR (gross combined weight rating). A CDL is required for a GVW over 26,000 (not for a GCWR of over 26,000). Also, if you want to tow a 18,000 pound trailer like jmtandem does make sure you don't exceed your GCWR. Even though you don't need a special license, if you do crash by the time the DOT, the police, and the insurance company get done with you, you will have more than enough headaches to last a lifetime. KEEP IT LEGAL and be safe.

 

[WadePatton]

full compliance

While things may look "general" and maybe 47 states do it this way or that, I strongly suggest contacting someone in the appropriate department of YOUR state for the real nitty gritty.

 

[Makensmoke]

I have owned 1 ton pickups and been pulled over and have never checked for a health card. My source of this info is a 1 ton dually psd companion who has his truck licensed thru his company. They use this truck to pull trailers no bigger than a bobcat trailer but haul enormous loads on its flatbed. He has run into situations with his workers not having health cards and is tired of dealing with getting his 1 ton D. O. T. 'd so is going to buy a 3/4 ton next time and leave the heavy hauling to his semi. This could be because it is a company vehicle, or maybe because the weight they are hauling is exceeding their license tabs, i don't know. Also at my work, we have several 1 ton pickups to pull bobcat trailers etc, we have to do pretrip inspections and the whole 9 yards on them just like a big rig.

 

[NVR FNSH]

As a CA resident I had to get a Restriction 41 endorsement that allows me to tow a RV 5th wheel between 10,001 lbs empty and 14,000 lbs loaded. I had to take a written test - no driving test.



Brian

 

[RustyJC]

In Texas, the 26001 lb trip point for a Class A CDL applies to Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR). The following excerpt is taken directly from the Texas DPS website:

Different Classes of CDL’s



Class A: Any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles towed exceeds 10,000 pounds.

An RV driven for personal use is exempted from CDL requirements, but a Class A non-CDL license would be required if the truck/5ver's GCWR was over 26001 lbs. See the following:

The law does provide provisions for some exemptions, using the CDL 2, Exemption form required. If the driver meets one or more of the criteria listed on the following page, he/she will not be required to have a CDL. However, the driver will be required to have a Class A, B, or C Non-CDL License.



Exemptions:



A vehicle that is controlled and operated by a farmer; and used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm; and not used in the operations of a common or contract motor carrier; and used within 150 air miles of the person’s farm.



A Fire-fighting or emergency vehicle necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions, whether operated by an employee of a political subdivision or by a volunteer fire-fighter.



A recreational vehicle that is driven for personal use.



A military vehicle, when operated for military purposes by military personnel.



A vehicle that is owned, leased, or controlled by an air carrier, as defined by Texas Trans. Code (TRC) section 21. 155.



A vehicle used exclusively to transport cotton modules or cotton burrs.

Here's the website if anyone wants to check it out for themselves: Texas CDL



Rusty