Overweight fines

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by SpikeEng

Not if you are in California. The highway patrol has started pulling over people towing large 5th wheel toy haulers to check if they have the correct license or endorsement to their existing license. If they don't have the correct endorsement or license, they get a fine. Why? I won't say...

you don't need any "endorsements" unless you are hauling combo (5er and a boat,etc.) Here is a quote from the Calif drivers handbook:

LICENSE CLASSES
This handbook assumes your interest
is in a basic Class C license.
With a valid Class C license -
You may drive:
- any 2-axle vehicle with a
GVWR of 26,000 lbs. or
less.
- any 3-axle vehicle weighing
6,000 lbs. or less gross.
- any housecar 40 feet or less.
- a vanpool vehicle, designed to
carry more than 10 but no more
than 15 persons including the
driver. The driver must have
a valid medical certification
on file with DMV and carry a
valid medical card.
I aggree that they are probably making sure you have the "commercial" plates on your truck so the state is getting thier "weight" fees. I have yet to be stopped.

[SpikeEng]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

you don't need any "endorsements" unless you are hauling combo (5er and a boat,etc.)

Wrong. See page 11 of the California DVM's Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook (DL 648 Rev. 2006).
PDF file is here: www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648.pdf
HTML link is here: Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook Table Of Contents

It specifically states the following:

A driver must have a fifth-wheel recreational trailer endorsement added to his/her Class C driver license to pull a fifth-wheel recreational trailer over 10,000 lbs., but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, which is not used for hire. This endorsement is not required if the driver has a Class A or Noncommercial Class A driver license.
* There is no fee unless your license expires within six months.
* You will take a law test for a noncommercial Class A license based on the information contained in this booklet. You must also pass the Class C law test unless you qualified for a Class C license within the past twelve months.
* You are not required to submit a Health Questionnaire.
* You are not required to take a driving test to add a Recreational Trailer endorsement to your current license.
* No other tests are required.

Notice the first sentence?

A driver must have a fifth-wheel recreational trailer endorsement added to his/her Class C driver license to pull a fifth-wheel recreational trailer over 10,000 lbs., but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, which is not used for hire.

[chuckster57]

I remember hearing about that but I had heard that the RV lobbiest's had killed it. thanks for correcting me, I'm just glad that I DIDN'T get the 5er I was looking at a couple of yrs. ago 11500 dry, and the dealer didn't say a word about any endorsement. Wonder how many dealers are aware, and how many drivers are "in violation of the law"?

[OMCUSNR]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

I remember hearing about that but I had heard that the RV lobbiest's had killed it. thanks for correcting me, I'm just glad that I DIDN'T get the 5er I was looking at a couple of yrs. ago 11500 dry, and the dealer didn't say a word about any endorsement. Wonder how many dealers are aware, and how many drivers are "in violation of the law"?

Judging from the size of 5'rs I see hooked up to F-250,s (& 2500's), I'd say MANY.

[dmd]

Originally Posted by OMCUSNR

Judging from the size of 5'rs I see hooked up to F-250,s (& 2500's), I'd say MANY.

Did the law say anything about truck size? I just read it was stating
trailer size.

[havasudiesel]

What if your 5'er has a gvwr of 18,000lbs. what type of lic. would you need.

[havasudiesel]

I pick my new 5'er up a few days before I leave on vacation so I won't have time to get my class a non-comercial. Will they let me slide if I have a appoin. set up with dmv?

[SpikeEng]

Originally Posted by havasudiesel

What if your 5'er has a gvwr of 18,000lbs. what type of lic. would you need.

Read the DMV links in post #17.

[BarrySmith]

In Tenn. a "regular" tag is good for 9000lbs combined. If your truck weights 7200lbs. (like mine) and you have a 16 flat bed bumper pull trailer (1500lbs.) and 2 grown men in the truck you are over weight. Here to get other tags you go in and tell them what you want. I was pulling nursery stock so I got a 32000lb J-5 tag for my truck. In Tenn. the amount of weight is dependant on axle weights of truck and trailer. My truck has a 8800lbs GVWR but 11??? axle weight rating. I now run a J-2 16000lb to cover what ever I'm going to pull now.

[Kaliburz]

Here in WA, you can buy any tonnage you want. But it's good for 1 year. Unlike trucks tagged "farm semi's" you buy them by the month.

I've seen a 1/2 ton pickup towing a short 5th wheel flat bed and it had 20K on the side of the bed. It was owned by a local farm supply company. Heck, my 1/2ton is rated 6100GVR, but currently licensed for 4000lbs.

I suppose it depends how you have your trailer licensed. Some trailers can be licensed perm. and the tonnage is on the tow vehicle. But, I wonder how you can use a 1 ton van (w/ no tonnage rating) and tow a trailer w/ a perm. tag (tonnage w/ tow vehicle)......

[DonWarkentin]

Originally Posted by havasudiesel

I pick my new 5'er up a few days before I leave on vacation so I won't have time to get my class a non-comercial. Will they let me slide if I have a appoin. set up with dmv?

You have to take the written test for your non-commercial class A before making the appointment for the driving test. The DMV agent may give you your class A non-commercial without the driving test. That is what happened to me.

You don't need an appointment for the written test, just go into any dmv office and take the test.