Recreational use of Semi on weekends

Well clh, I'm sure you are getting quite an education on trucking regulations, I know I am. It's probably best you just leave the semi alone, and transport your recreational items by some other means.

 

The only way you can claim it as an RV is if it's registered as an RV!

 

I am a commercial owner operator who occasionally hauls my personal 5th wheel rv. Still have to follow all commercial laws.
I am a member of the Escapees RV club. They have lots of members who have legally converted class 8 trucks to an rv title and pull various trailers, but still get questioned. There have been cases where the wife sews quilts and sells them at flea markets on the weekend and the officer claimed it was a commercial vehicle.
The problem is racers and amusement companies among others try to fly under the radar and don't want to pay to get compliant, and the enforcement is cracking down.
In the old days they would let you slide. Not now.

 

Hi SH, that's a new one for me in the "you've got to be kidding" file. I suppose if your truck has a commercial plate, a cop is going to do their darndest to find some infraction. Making quilts and selling them at flea markets, in my mind, hardly qualifies as a commercial endeavor, but it shows the new low LEO's will stoop to in order to uphold the law. Quick question, was the officer a woman?

 

So you will need to go to court every time because the cops dont know the law. As one has already stated, when in doubt write a ticket and waste your time because you are worthless. Now just figure out what defines a commercial vehicle in the state you are in. The other question is if you haul agricultural supplys why not get agricultural plates? They are legal in all 48 states. I own my truck, so yes I use it for personal stuff all the time. I do not fill out any kind of log when it is not being used as a commercial vehicle. Read the last sentence again, If not, it is not. It is as simple as this. But remember the cops job IS to wright you tickets, they have a quota to fill, not a safety quota.

 

If you are selling quilts, it is a commercial activity. If you are racing cars and there is a cash payout if you place, it is a commercial activity. There have been horse people going to/from a show or competition getting in trouble because their gooseneck with living quarters has RV tags on it while being used for "commercial" purposes hauling a couple horses to the event.

Sure, sounds stupid...but that's the reality we face.