CDL with a 3500 dully problem

Ok so my wife and I bought a 3500 dully and put a 5th wheel in it, passed our written test but now we’ve ran into a problem, we need a 5th wheel trailer that’s at least 18,000 to put us over the 26,000 but can’t find one to use for the skills test. Anyone been through this? Need some big time help

 

What kind of dually only have an 8,000lb GVWR.. As far as I know you only need to reach 26,001 lbs. Even an old '99 2wd dodge dually should be 10,500 GVWR. A little tandem 7k axle PJ (15,680)or big tex(15,900) will push you over where you need to be.

 

Hell, if it's a newer truck, I think about 13,000lbs. Is the lowest GVWR out there. Go rent a little 14,000lbs bumper pull. No law saying it has to be 5th wheel coupled..

 

You don’t even need a gooseneck. Borrow someone’s bumper pull rated over 10k.

 

The average half-ton is 7k lbs or better these days.

 

Same for every state. If you have any dually, it pretty much comes down to the trailer rating. Not sure is any dually is rated less than 26000 combined. The tow vehicle dry weight does not matter. It’s all combined max weight.

 

Maybe rent a trailer like U-Haul or something like that?

 

Actually yes. Most states will put a 5th wheel restriction on the CDL is it's not tested with one. Most of the time even goosenecks don't count.

As to the op, your truck, for a 3500, has a GVWR of between 10,400 and 13,500. That leaves a max trailer weight rating of 15,601 needed. If you have the heaviest 3500, you only need a trailer with a weight rating of 12,501. In both cases look at auto auctions and see if anyone of the o/o's can/will rent you their 3 car wedge to take the test in. Remember, it's all about weight ratings, not actual weight. Yo can weigh an actual weight of lees than 10k, but if the GCVWR is 26k and the trailer is 10k rated you are good to go.

I take it you do not have a trailer yet? Might wanna wait on the license until you get it so you can use it to take the test. Just make sure a class A CDL holder is pulling it up there for you.

Here is the link to Chevy 3500 weights. Rams will be very close (since you didn't say which 3500 you have)
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

 

UHaul doesn't rent 5th wheels. He might get something from Ryder or Penske, but don't hold one's breath on that.
Maybe even a large 5th wheel RV camper will work if it's rated more then 10k. Dunno about that though, I'd call the DMV first about if it would be a valid trailer for testing in.

 

its not likely the examiner will put a 5th wheel restriction on a pickup truck class a when there is no air brakes involved. If it’s a Mack truck or a peterbilt dump truck with a tag along, then yes, they don’t want you jumping into an 18 Wheeler. But for all purposes, if you show up for a class a for just a dually pickup and a trailer, with no intention of air brakes, then all you will get is a air brake restriction. How do I know this? Well it’s common sense, before I left my last company last year, they sent several guys for cdl with dually and 8 ton bumper pulls for class a and all they got was air brake restriction. They didn’t even get automatic trans restriction. If you bump it up to actual commercial vehicles like triaxle a and 18 wheelers, that’s when they start restricting you