Questions about Hauling into Ca with an old Pete

My understanding is that if you are not for hire, its the same as an RV as far as logbooks and scales go .
No reason you should have to pull into a scale.
In most states I dont think you even need a CDL
Emissions is quite another thing though , not sure how that one will play out.
I dont think california allows you to have any vehicle in the state for more than a month without plating it there.
I think you will need to send the DMV a long email, this is a tricky one.

 

www.OOIDA.com can answer your questions.
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Interesting thread though. Haven't heard of anyone needing a CDL that uses a truck as an RV, is the truck is registered as an RV.

 

You might find your answers (as far as running the older truck) on the CARB website.

 

Howdy MJuneAK,

It sounds to me like the easiest solution to your problem is do what is nessisary in your HOME STATE, to register and title your 379 as an RV. Most States do NOT require a CDL, to drive an RV, check with YOUR State to see if it is required or not.

Many years ago I jammed gears for a living, haven't done so in over 30 years. However I have been driving an HDT, as an RV for the last 6 years. First one I built 6 years ago was a Freightliner Columbia, did what my home State of Washington required to convert the truck and then legally register and title it as an RV, in my State no CDL required to drive an RV. Three years ago I found a very nice 2001 379 and converted it to an RV, sold the Freightliner and have been driving the 379 into, through and out of commiforina as an RV for the last 3 years.

If you convert your 379 into an RV, it is NO LONGER a commercial vehicle and unless and until they change the laws concerning "RV's" to have to meet commercial truck emissions standards if have converted your truck into an "RV" your legal even in commiforina. Here's my "RV" completely LEGAL even in commifornia.

Started with this.


Converted it into this.


Use as this, when traveling.


What we do each winter to escape from the Nor-Wet gloom.


Dave

 

Farming is considered commerce/ commercial unless you have an actual farm plate, then that’s when the grey areas start (as long as it is for the farm) unless you are towing an actual camper it is not an rv

 

As a guy that owns both a 379 and a modern diesel pickup.. I'd far rather tow 20K behind my old Duramax or my newer Ram, than sit in 35+ year old Pete going down the Alcan, but that's just me. If it's a day cab, even less so.

Your best bet is to contact Alaska Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. I've never had any problems talking to them. Secondly you can talk to the Alaska Trucking Association. They are also a DMV contractor and can issue plates. I had ZERO issues with them issuing private plates for a bus I was converting to an RV. I just had to show them pics of the seats removed. However, I had a hell of a time insuring it and nobody would cover it reasonably for full coverage. I have a $600 a year liability only policy on it.

Finally, I would skip the scales once you are privately plated in Alaska. Let them come to you. What you are doing is not illegal in Alaska and you can travel the U.S. with that exemption as long as you are an Alaskan resident. No different than if I took a 10K+ RV trailer into Texas for a visit, while they require TX residents to have a class A license for that if they live there.

As for CARB requirements, once again it's not commercial. You need to look at their private side of things to determine legality.