A few car trailer questions
#1783041
03/18/15 08:19 PM
03/18/15 08:19 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,166 PA.
pittsburghracer
OP
"Little"John
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OP
"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,166
PA.
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Been thinking of getting a new or used car trailer to upgrade from the 24 foot one I have now. I bought it used many years ago and I know I am over the trailers tagged weight limit (3500 pound axles) with my Duster, quad, tools, and now sometimes over 55 gallons of alcohol. I found a used (2011) 28 foot Bravo Icon and its a beautiful trailer with 7000 pound axles. I tow 80% of the time with my 3/4 ton Dodge diesel and the rest with my class A 454 motorhome with a Trailer Toad dolly. I know both have the power to tow the added weight as they both do great now BUT how do legalities change. Am I now classified as a combined weight and would there be any other legal issues. One of the main reasons I am doing this is they have been targeting trailers in PA since we had several deaths from trailer (mostly landscaping) breaking away.
Last edited by pittsburghracer; 03/18/15 08:20 PM.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: pittsburghracer]
#1783043
03/18/15 08:29 PM
03/18/15 08:29 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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That is a good looking trailer... I dont know the trailer rules in your state... here in Mich the rules are much different from what I have heard... I dont even want to trailer in PA
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1783044
03/18/15 10:48 PM
03/18/15 10:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,384 Upstate NY
Bigcube
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,384
Upstate NY
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Looks wider than normal? Looks good!
Jim
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: A/MP]
#1783048
03/19/15 12:07 AM
03/19/15 12:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,166 PA.
pittsburghracer
OP
"Little"John
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OP
"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,166
PA.
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Good information. thanks. There will be no lettering on the trailer
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: skicker]
#1783051
03/19/15 10:24 AM
03/19/15 10:24 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,828 MI, usa
dvw
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,828
MI, usa
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Here's what I've learned. States vary all over the place with regulations. Each state has there own. They're impossible to get information from anybody in the government that is 100% correct. They can and will pull people over and ticket them , the fact that you are legal makes no difference. In Michigan we can go to 26,000lbs total if we are non commercial. I called to Pennsylvania and Illinois last year numerous times, the answer, "you should be ok". I know a guy that was ticketed in lllinois with a 24' enclosed, 3/4 ton P/U, no lettering on truck, trailer or car. Unit was 100% legal. He fought it and won but was fron out of state, PAIN IN THE BUTT. That's what they're banking on. That being said I've pulled a enclosed with my 1 ton dually since the early 90's with no issues. Doug
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: dvw]
#1783052
03/19/15 12:32 PM
03/19/15 12:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 268 pa
Kyle Reasbeck
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 268
pa
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Hey John, I just got another trailer and went through this same thing. I finally got a hold of a higher up in the Harrisburg PSP DOT dept. (who happened to have a max wedge car I learned through conversations with him). The skinny he laid out for me lines up with what I read: You need a Class A license if towing: -GCWR is over 26k OR -Trailer GVWR is over 10k Class B is necessary if a single vehicle (not towing) is over 26k So my trailer I figure will be around 11k loaded, truck is 8k, and the trailer is rated for 15k GVWR, so I need a Class A. The trailer GWVR is the trigger that throws me into Class A territory. http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverLicensePhotoIDCenter/license_classes.shtmlYou do not need a CDL to do this, just a non-commercial class A (though the test is the same). He stated if the truck and/or trailer is in a business name as opposed to your personal name arguing the non-commercial fight may be hard, but if in your personal name non-commercial is exactly what you need. Also, according to the DMV over here in June the Class A Non-comm/CDL test is going to get way more difficult, so I'd do it before then. Hit#2 is plating your truck. It will need to be plated for the actual weight of the combined set-up. So for example in my scenario, 11k trailer +8k truck + 2k misc (people/coolers/etc) puts me at 21k combined, placing me in a Class 8 (438 bucks a year, woof). http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/mv_forms/mv-70s.pdf
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: Kyle Reasbeck]
#1783053
03/19/15 01:21 PM
03/19/15 01:21 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,166 PA.
pittsburghracer
OP
"Little"John
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OP
"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,166
PA.
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Thank you very much for the info. Half the reason I am finally looking to upgrade is to become legal at least axle wise, so you might as well go the whole way. This racing gets very expensive.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: moparts]
#1783055
03/19/15 06:47 PM
03/19/15 06:47 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,828 MI, usa
dvw
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,828
MI, usa
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Our state doesn't even have "class A, B etc. Either standard, chauffeur, or CDL. That''s the dumb thing. I'm legal in Michigan, anywhere else??? Michigan doesn't inspect cars like pa and some other states. I still drive my Mi. car there. This is why it's a can of worms. I'll bet no one else from other states has unlimited medical insurance required in Mi. for car insurance, they don't ticket you. It should all be standardised, it's nothing more than a money grab. Besides who's to say because something is lettered it's a "for profit" deal. Plenty of lettered up clones. Doug
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: dvw]
#1783056
03/19/15 07:03 PM
03/19/15 07:03 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
Our state doesn't even have "class A, B etc. Either standard, chauffeur, or CDL. That''s the dumb thing. I'm legal in Michigan, anywhere else??? Michigan doesn't inspect cars like pa and some other states. I still drive my Mi. car there. This is why it's a can of worms. I'll bet no one else from other states has unlimited medical insurance required in Mi. for car insurance, they don't ticket you. It should all be standardised, it's nothing more than a money grab. Besides who's to say because something is lettered it's a "for profit" deal. Plenty of lettered up clones. Doug
Doug... Mich sounds like we are the odd ball but it works for me... one time trailer plate but thats all it is... no weight on it.. but again that works for me.. I'm 100% legal here but I'm really leery about some other states... I know I wont pull my rig into PA.. I think they are just waiting for us out of staters... I've never had any issue in Ohio either
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1783057
03/19/15 10:18 PM
03/19/15 10:18 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,176 East Coast
A/MP
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,176
East Coast
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Again here are some of the issues that exist for racers. There is the Fed law and then there are the state laws. Fed laws are uniform throughout the 50 states. State laws vary according to each state. For racers the problem arises-are you racing for money doing it as a business. Other than professional teams the feds and states look for tell tale signs. First, does the car, trailer, motorhome or tow vehicle have lettering that indicates a business venture...Bob's Texaco, Silver Plating Inc., High Flying Cuda etc. If you get pulled over and they ask you to open the enclosed trailer, will they find a lettered car. The old sign"NOT FOR HIRE " is not antedote for being pulled over. The follow up is, if you are given a citation you may need to prove to the contrary. As per the IRS... 8,000.00 in car expenses and only a $50.00 check for round money makes you a business. IRS rules about auto racing are very screwy. In the state of PA only state troopers were allowed to pull over and cite trucks, truck/trailers. Now local townships can do this if there are trained. As I said before, this is a real money maker for local government. As you go through different townships on your way to race, look for police cars that are stationed near turnpikes and major roads. They are usually looking for tractor trailers, flat bed tow trucks and P.O.S. There are usually posts on line when there is a large race reminding drivers to be updated with driver regs. Does this mean that everyone will be stopped? No. But government is always hungry for $. Things have really changed. SEMA is working on this issue for motorhomes. Racers as a group in general need to work together on this issue. This is not to scare anyone. Just info that needs to be known
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: ro23car]
#1783059
03/19/15 10:37 PM
03/19/15 10:37 PM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,828 MI, usa
dvw
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,828
MI, usa
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Quote:
any type of monetary value constitutes a bussiness. mich does have class a and b licence on a cdl.
But not for a standard license. 26000lbs is legal on a personal vehicle, non commercial with no CDL. Doug
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Re: A few car trailer questions
[Re: dvw]
#1783060
03/20/15 12:03 AM
03/20/15 12:03 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,632 SHELBY TWP,,MICHIGAN
72N96RR
I LOVE WEDGIES
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I LOVE WEDGIES
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,632
SHELBY TWP,,MICHIGAN
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Michigan has very light laws on towing, trailering and weight restrictions...Its the biggest reason our roads are so screwed up..
1972 Road Runner / GTX 440 4spd Dana 3.54 Just about to turn 26K original miles..
A boat, a GMC truck, some Craftsman Tools, LOTS of Zombie Protection, and a few Goldfish..
If you love someone set them free.. If they come back it means nobody else wanted them either..!!
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