Starting out in the car hauling business...

Discussion in 'Car Hauler and Auto Carrier Trucking Forum' started by double yellow, Dec 13, 2011.

  1. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

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    Anything over 3 cars behind a dually isn't safe, and I can't see how it's legal, well, it may be legal, but you're not gonna get it stopped.
     
    Hammer166 Thanks this.
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  3. truckon

    truckon Swamp Thing

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    A 4 car would be fine, that will put your rear axle at right about 10,500#, I would not put a 5 car behind a 3500, you will pull it ok, but the dot will pull you in every time and you will be stuck always trying to find a load of 5 small cars, very hard to do.
     
    Nikki/ Thanks this.
  4. Nikki/

    Nikki/ Bobtail Member

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    dot gonna stop me and check for overload? but if i have a cdl? or i can't overload a rear axle? if i load four cars, do i need to balance weight? for example Suv and trucks on back of the trailer or it doesnt matter?
     
  5. Nikki/

    Nikki/ Bobtail Member

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    is it legal to sleep in Dually if i log it as " off duty"? or i need to show hotel reciepts to DOT for my 10 hr break?
     
  6. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

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    It's not legal to sleep in a dually, some will tell you it is, but any newer truck with emissions isn't good to idle for long periods of time. You'll find out the moneey you save on hotels you'll dump into a DPF.
     
  7. truckon

    truckon Swamp Thing

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    A 5 car will over load the rear tire rating on a one ton very quickly, the 4 & 5 car trailers both have the same axles under them, so the only benefit of the 5 car would be is that it is able to load more weight on the truck ( I.e. single axle semi) if you follow me.
     
  8. Pullin2

    Pullin2 Crusty Canuck

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    I concur with SHO-TYME. It is NOT legal to sleep in a dually UNLESS that dually is a cab and chassis with a LEGAL sized bunk mounted behind the cab. Crew cabs/Super cabs won't cut it with the DOT and don't think they haven't been down that road before with dually drivers. There are TONS of dually drivers out there pulling cars, boats, RV's, etc etc. There is even a show on TV about that. Shipping Wars ? If I remember the commercials. I haven't seen it myself. Anyway ..... I can't remember what the actual measurements are for a legal bunk, but they do exist. Better look that up unless someone here has that info at hand. Just my opinion, as usual. Home made bunks apparently won't cut it anymore either. The bunk must meet/exceed safety blah blah blah .... you get the idea ? The bunk must be a pre-engineered product. ebay and Kigigi are loaded with them. Truckpaper too. Look around. Luck.

    SL
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2012
  9. 05 kenworth

    05 kenworth Bobtail Member

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    I just happen to stumble on this forum, thought I would join. The questions Speed Loader is asking can be found in your dot drivers hand book which all cdl drivers are suppose to have in their possession. The questions on bunk sizes in there, log books. for instance if you do not have a bunk you must provide prof where you slept, when off duty. I don't claim to know it all, hauled autos and medium duty trucks, motor home chassis for 31 years and retired last year. do miss it. what iI do not miss is the guys that come in to this profession cutting the rates and not properly tying down these autos. they give the real car-haulers a bad name. JMHO good day- Greg
     
  10. KANSAS TRANSIT

    KANSAS TRANSIT Road Train Member

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    DOT sleeper size is defined as 25" H, 25" W 75" long, you CAN get the H and W in a crew cab, BUT they all fall short in the length dept, I believe Ford is the closest but is still about 4" short.

    You CANNOT log sleeper in a dually, BUT as of this earlier this year you CAN log off duty, with no recourse.
     
  11. Andy9077

    Andy9077 Bobtail Member

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    OP, listen, I've been a driver for over 9 years, for the past 2 have been driving dually (RAM 5500) and hauling cars. I first got trailer for 5 cars, but the stopping was a nightmare!!! It is VERY hard to stop such a heavy load, especially during winter. And the breaks on the trailer will not be much help. People are right, it was also hard to find 5 small cars to haul. The other big problem was DOT - they pulled my file every few months and did a complete check. Even thought it is legal to pull that weight, it is also almost the max limit, so they check you A LOT! That was a pain in my ###. Finally, I switched from 5 to 4 cars trailer and am now doing so much better. I am not scared to stop anymore, and it gets the job done, easier to find 4 cars as well and I haven't had any DOT checks for the past 7 month. Save yourself a headache and get a 4 or 3 cars trailer. It is less money, but well worth the hassle.
     
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