I am considering buying a truck with a luxury cab (kitchen, sink, stove, running water, bathroom, queen-size bed, laundry, solar panels), but with no trailer. I will probably bobtail, although I might want to flatbed a large-size pick-up truck as a trailer. Do I need a CDL? And will I have to stop at weigh stations? Thanks!
It's California so who knows... But I believe that you will be fine as long as you put private carrier / not for hire on doors.
A guy in PA did the same and didn't need a CDL. California is California; check online with Google, then see if the DMV gives you the same answer.
Thanks both of you! I plan to drive it across the country and use it as a motorhome/RV! I plan to park it anywhere from campgrounds to federal lands to Walmarts to hotels to truck stops This is what google says: http://www.truckingtruth.com/cdl-training-program/page1 " A CDL must be obtained by the driver of any of the following vehicles: Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds. Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver. Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials. The following vehicle operators are not required to obtain a CDL: Recreational Vehicle Operators - Recreational vehicle operators, when using the vehicle primarily for personal use, do not need a CDL. " Yes! I hope I don't get stopped when I drive past the coop!
IS it going to be used as a commercial vehicle? IF not, then it should be titled and plated as an RV and then you don't need to worry about a CDL.
Whatever you do, do not buy a truck with a Maxxforce engine. Those engines will bankrupt Bill Gates. You can find some beautiful trucks real cheap and if they're cheap, they have a Maxxforce engine because no one will purchase those trucks if they know about that engine.
A friend in Cali drives a big motor home pulling his car on a trailer. He told me he had to get a non Commercial Class A beacause hid GVW is over 26000#. Call the Ca DMV and ask them,
pick-up trucks in CA are classified as "commercial" for registration....$$$$ is all they think about. Not a good idea to "flatbed" your second vehicle...get a pintle-tow package instead of a flatbed trailer.
States may vary on whether or not you have to go through the scales, but you won't need a CDL until your gross weight rating crosses the 26000 lb threshold. ETA: Never mind. Saw post #4.
