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Pulling a large trailer and not having a CDL

The tcase in those trucks are huge and hang down a ton, look almost like a drop box style case. But I do think they look cool. There's a place up by dalton Ohio that has probably a 100 of em sitting. They put beds on em
And as far as the cdl goes I would just get the class A. The permit test isn't difficult, not sure how ya would do the driving part of it. I went to a school almost 20 years ago and got mine.
 
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Some states have non-commercial Class A licenses (NC does, I have one) or RV endorsements that allow you to pull over 26k without CDL.

I'd recommend looking into that in PA, because having a CDL would be a pain (logging, medical, etc.)
 
Some states have non-commercial Class A licenses (NC does, I have one) or RV endorsements that allow you to pull over 26k without CDL.

I'd recommend looking into that in PA, because having a CDL would be a pain (logging, medical, etc.)

I'm looking into a class E here in GA. Allows higher than 26K and towing of more than 10K.
 
I was reading all of this and getting worried. Last year i bought a Freightliner sleeper semi to pull my gooseneck enclosed trailer. I was told to put a not for hire and roll. We wet to OK,PA,WV and all over KY with it. Well i got to looking hard and found this
https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1340/1340-01/1340-01-13.20160428.pdf
My trailer has a bed,microwave ,ac and heat. I consider that temporary living space. I think I am legal,but we all know if an asshole want to stop you he will.
 
One thing that will really help no matter where you are is to keep whatever you're doing clean and maintened well and that will help but not completely prevent DOT off your back.
 
If I was going to buy a new truck, it would definitely be a Chevy 4500.

So far so good with my F750 and 48' enclosed trailer in TN, KY, AR, and OK. I have driven past several weigh stations. The trailer has windows so it is easy to tell it has a living quarters. I never got pulled over with my old 38' enclosed and 1 ton dually.

Another member of this board got pulled over after driving past a weigh station in a Class 8 cab over Freightliner box truck. They let him go after looking at his buggy in the back and finding out he was not commercial. The box had a living quarters though.
 
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I believe those are now built by International, drove by the factory one day and the parking lot was full of them.
Yup International chassis with a Duramax, 6-speed Allison transmission like they use in dump trucks and Chevy cab. 4.30:1 gears in the 4x4s with a Dana super 60 front and 110 rear. Top speed limited to 75.
 
Yup International chassis with a Duramax, 6-speed Allison transmission like they use in dump trucks and Chevy cab. 4.30:1 gears in the 4x4s with a Dana super 60 front and 110 rear. Top speed limited to 75.
Purely out of my own curiosity, any idea what just the truck weighs?
 
Federal DOT regulations state that any towed vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or greater require a class a license. That's on the tag not necessarily what it actually weighs. Unfortunately you will either be driving out of class, or driving overweight most likely. If any of you have any questions regarding DOT regulations, I'm a certified commercial examiner and commercial driving instructor. I'd be happy to help you with any of it.
 
Purely out of curiosity again, how's the Silverado 4500 holding up? Likes, dislikes, issues, etc.
Only issue so far was an emissions code that showed up about three hours after I left the house and was speed limiting, thusly ending my planned Harlan trip a few weeks ago. Dealer replaced the DEF pump in the tank and the harness that feeds it, and it's been good since.
With the rockwell buggy and a Polaris Ranger on the trailer it was the heaviest I have pulled, and I must say I was expecting a little more towing prowess. It slowed down on the long mountain runs that my 3500 Duramax dually would fly up with the same load. I guess the extra 4,000 lbs. the truck itself weighs doesn't help (11,450# curb weight as recorded on truck stop scales).
Tuning is pretty pricey but I suppose it'll have to be done for me to be satisfied with it.
https://duramaxtuner.com/diesel-tun...ne-incl-hardware-&-credits-l5d-2019-2021.html

On the plus side it rode much better with the trailer hooked up, and even once disconnected the rear springs seem to be broken in or something, way less bouncy. The Allison 2000 trans is amazing and the exhaust brake seems more effective than on the light duty trucks. Cab is as quiet as a half ton Denali.
 
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Only issue so far was an emissions code that showed up about three hours after I left the house and was speed limiting, thusly ending my planned Harlan trip a few weeks ago. Dealer replaced the DEF pump in the tank and the harness that feeds it, and it's been good since.
With the rockwell buggy and a Polaris Ranger on the trailer it was the heaviest I have pulled, and I must say I was expecting a little more towing prowess. It slowed down on the long mountain runs that my 3500 Duramax dually would fly up with the same load. I guess the extra 4,000 lbs. the truck itself weighs doesn't help (11,450# curb weight as recorded on truck stop scales).
Tuning is pretty pricey but I suppose it'll have to be done for me to be satisfied with it.
https://duramaxtuner.com/diesel-tun...ne-incl-hardware-&-credits-l5d-2019-2021.html

On the plus side it rode much better with the trailer hooked up, and even once disconnected the rear springs seem to be broken in or something, way less bouncy. The Allison 2000 trans is amazing and the exhaust brake seems more effective than on the light duty trucks. Cab is as quiet as a half ton Denali.

That's no good on the speed limited emissions code, but hopefully it's taken care of.

Wonder if the truck has been detuned like typical cab and chassis trucks?
 
Federal DOT regulations state that any towed vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or greater require a class a license. That's on the tag not necessarily what it actually weighs. Unfortunately you will either be driving out of class, or driving overweight most likely. If any of you have any questions regarding DOT regulations, I'm a certified commercial examiner and commercial driving instructor. I'd be happy to help you with any of it.

That's the first time I've read the bold text.

I knew some states went by paper/tag weight of truck + trailer as opposed to the real weight of the truck + trailer.
 
That's no good on the speed limited emissions code, but hopefully it's taken care of.

Wonder if the truck has been detuned like typical cab and chassis trucks?
It has been. Less hp and torque and a smaller turbo for torque earlier. Was hoping the 4.30:1 gears would do more.
 

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It has been. Less hp and torque and a smaller turbo for torque earlier. Was hoping the 4.30:1 gears would do more.
Makes sense there. I knew Ram and Ford detuned their cab and chassis trucks but was unsure on GM. What kind of mileage are you getting with it both loaded and unloaded?
 
That's the first time I've read the bold text.

I knew some states went by paper/tag weight of truck + trailer as opposed to the real weight of the truck + trailer.
This flow chart makes it more clear, they standardized it across all states. The only other thing is California offers and endorsement for 5th wheel rv trailers between 10,000 and 15,000 gvwr. No drive test necessary just a simple endorsement. However it's primary use must be an rv, crawler haulers and toy haulers are not eligible as they consider it's primary function as a transport. Same thing for horse trailers with living quarters. All three must obtain a commercial or non commercial class A license.
 

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