BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
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Joined: 04/04/2005
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way2roll wrote:I would research the requirements in your state. It's binary, either you need a different license or you don't. If you need it, get it. It's pretty simple. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. The question about whether you get pulled over and the consequences is just noise. If you have the proper license it's no longer a question.
I was in an interesting situation pertaining to a Texas DL.
Class A - a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lbs and towing a trailer with a GVWR greater than 10,000 lb.
Class B - a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lb or a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lb and towing a trailer under 10,000 lb.
Class C - a vehicle not falling under class A or class B towing a trailer with a GVWR of under 10,000 lb.
My truck/5er conbined GVWR was under 26,000 lbs. So I did not fall under the class A license. Or class B. But my 5er GVWR was about 14,000 lb, so did not fall under class C. So my situation did not meet any of the requirements. I continued to tow with my class C wondering how a LEO would respond if I got stopped and he questioned my license class and I then ask him what class I should have based on my weights. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/scratchead.gif "scratchead") Never got stopped to find out.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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^If you re-read DPS license classes, it plainly falls in Class C.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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Joined: 06/10/2019
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johndeerefarmer wrote:JRscooby wrote:A question, because many owners of RVs are known to travel;
It is a given that if your Drivers License is good for what you are driving in home state, it is good for all states.
Does it follow that if your DL is NOT good in your home state, it would not be good in any state?
I know that in my state, if don't have a good license you vehicle can be impounded. That would sure mess up a vacation.
If half of the TX DPS officers don't know which license is required how do you expect cops in other states too?
So you are willing to bet any LEO you meet will not know, or have the ability to check with in-car computer what requirements are?
About 30 years ago departments in my area started sending officers to training for commercial vehicle enforcement. I think many LEOs understand the truck driver, (and RVer) is unlikely to attack them, so if have a reason to stop will, and once stopped, will check everything can think of so have excuse to stay out of danger.
Insurance will pay, if there is accident. But that does not solve all the problems. By the time the case is settled the other lawyer will be saying "Yes, the car full of nuns pulled out in front of him, but his state does not think he is qualified to drive the vehicle. And if state law says unlicensed drivers go to jail they will not lock up insurance company.
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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BB_TX wrote:way2roll wrote:I would research the requirements in your state. It's binary, either you need a different license or you don't. If you need it, get it. It's pretty simple. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. The question about whether you get pulled over and the consequences is just noise. If you have the proper license it's no longer a question.
I was in an interesting situation pertaining to a Texas DL.
Class A - a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lbs and towing a trailer with a GVWR greater than 10,000 lb.
Class B - a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lb or a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lb and towing a trailer under 10,000 lb.
Class C - a vehicle not falling under class A or class B towing a trailer with a GVWR of under 10,000 lb.
My truck/5er conbined GVWR was under 26,000 lbs. So I did not fall under the class A license. Or class B. But my 5er GVWR was about 14,000 lb, so did not fall under class C. So my situation did not meet any of the requirements. I continued to tow with my class C wondering how a LEO would respond if I got stopped and he questioned my license class and I then ask him what class I should have based on my weights. Never got stopped to find out.
Don't know about non-commercial, but when it comes to CDL, if the GVWR of the trailer is over 10,000, no matter what the actual weight of the trailer, a class A CDL is required.
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johndeerefarmer
Texas
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Joined: 03/06/2011
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BB_TX wrote:way2roll wrote:I would research the requirements in your state. It's binary, either you need a different license or you don't. If you need it, get it. It's pretty simple. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. The question about whether you get pulled over and the consequences is just noise. If you have the proper license it's no longer a question.
I was in an interesting situation pertaining to a Texas DL.
Class A - a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lbs and towing a trailer with a GVWR greater than 10,000 lb.
Class B - a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lb or a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lb and towing a trailer under 10,000 lb.
Class C - a vehicle not falling under class A or class B towing a trailer with a GVWR of under 10,000 lb.
My truck/5er conbined GVWR was under 26,000 lbs. So I did not fall under the class A license. Or class B. But my 5er GVWR was about 14,000 lb, so did not fall under class C. So my situation did not meet any of the requirements. I continued to tow with my class C wondering how a LEO would respond if I got stopped and he questioned my license class and I then ask him what class I should have based on my weights. Never got stopped to find out.
Class C is fine for what you have. Many hotshoters have their truck derated to 10k lbs (which is why Ford offers this option when you order) and with a truck rated at 10k they can tow a trailer with a GVWR of 16k and still only run Class C
Registration on a 10k truck is cheaper and so is insurance I think
2020 Ford 350 6.7 PSD & 2017 F150 3.5 EB max tow
GD Reflection 29rs
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johndeerefarmer
Texas
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Joined: 03/06/2011
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JRscooby wrote:Maybe it is because I'm not from Texas, but this kind of question always confuses me.
The wording of the question suggests you know you have a responsibility to take/pass the test if you want the privilege of driving your RV. Do you think you lack the skills to pass the test? Do you think you are not smart enough to get the skills needed? What makes you special enough to be allowed to share the road with others while you have so little faith in your skill level?
Been towing FARM trailers for 40 years. Skill isn't the issue. The PIA of having me and my GF to have to try and schedule and take tests is an issue. Around here you have to wait half a day or more just to renew your drivers license.
I also know MANY horse folks that tow 45' trailers with large trucks and just use their regular drivers license. How do they all get away with it? It must not be enforced (at least in Texas) for the horse folks and RV folks
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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johndeerefarmer wrote:
Class C is fine for what you have. Many hotshoters have their truck derated to 10k lbs (which is why Ford offers this option when you order) and with a truck rated at 10k they can tow a trailer with a GVWR of 16k and still only run Class C
Registration on a 10k truck is cheaper and so is insurance I think
I got flagged over for safety check. Guy there had a Bobcat trailer stickered OOS. While I was waiting for the scales to get there guys wife showed up with MT trailer behind the company F150. I watched them write her up because of Class C.
3 weeks later, I hooked a MT Bobcat trailer behind a dump truck so class B driver could tow it back to yard. He got stopped, had to get him tested for Class A before court date.
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BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
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johndeerefarmer wrote:BB_TX wrote:way2roll wrote:I would research the requirements in your state. It's binary, either you need a different license or you don't. If you need it, get it. It's pretty simple. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. The question about whether you get pulled over and the consequences is just noise. If you have the proper license it's no longer a question.
I was in an interesting situation pertaining to a Texas DL.
Class A - a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lbs and towing a trailer with a GVWR greater than 10,000 lb.
Class B - a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 lb or a combination of vehicles with a combined GVWR of 26,001 lb and towing a trailer under 10,000 lb.
Class C - a vehicle not falling under class A or class B towing a trailer with a GVWR of under 10,000 lb.
My truck/5er conbined GVWR was under 26,000 lbs. So I did not fall under the class A license. Or class B. But my 5er GVWR was about 14,000 lb, so did not fall under class C. So my situation did not meet any of the requirements. I continued to tow with my class C wondering how a LEO would respond if I got stopped and he questioned my license class and I then ask him what class I should have based on my weights. Never got stopped to find out.
Class C is fine for what you have. Many hotshoters have their truck derated to 10k lbs (which is why Ford offers this option when you order) and with a truck rated at 10k they can tow a trailer with a GVWR of 16k and still only run Class C
Registration on a 10k truck is cheaper and so is insurance I think
Not according to the definition of class C. It specifically says a trailer not to exceed 10,000 lbs. My 5er was about 14,000 lbs.
A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 26,001 lbs. towing a trailer not to exceed 10,000 lbs. GVWR or a farm trailer with a GVWR that does not exceed 20,000 lb
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toedtoes
California
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Joined: 05/17/2014
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johndeerefarmer wrote:
Been towing FARM trailers for 40 years. Skill isn't the issue. The PIA of having me and my GF to have to try and schedule and take tests is an issue. Around here you have to wait half a day or more just to renew your drivers license.
I also know MANY horse folks that tow 45' trailers with large trucks and just use their regular drivers license. How do they all get away with it? It must not be enforced (at least in Texas) for the horse folks and RV folks
Why bother getting a driver license at all then. It's just a time wasting technicality. People drive without licenses all the time so why should you bother.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
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PA12DRVR
Back in God's Country
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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FWIW....when I live in Ewe-stun, admittedly a few years ago now, there were vendors (for lack of a better word) that offered all sorts of driver training, from ordinary DL stuff for teens to full-on CDL with all the endorsements training.
About the time I simultaneously realized I needed a Class A non-CDL AND decided to ditch Texas for Alaska, I found a couple of places that (for a fee) would provide, over the weekend, training and testing for the Class A non-CDL, including (they were a contractor of some sort for DPS) issuing the new / upgraded license. Fairly steep (recall it being $400 at the time) cost, but it was essentially a plug and play...set aside a weekend and $400, come out of it with a Class A non-CDL.
Never attended and it might be only in the bigger areas, but something like that might be an option.
CRL
My RV is a 1946 PA-12
Back in the GWN
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