Tremor Payload??

[Supercup]

I didn't see anything in there about a fifth wheel endorsement. Looks like anyone with a Basic Class C can legally tow a fifth wheel up to 15,000lbs - over that, you need a non-commercial Class A

Attached a Calif. Highway Patrol Information Bulletin on what the requirements are in Calif. I cut and pasted some language below FYI. You can tow over 10k and up to 15k 5th wheel, not for hire, with and endorsement to your class C license. I also put below a link to Calif. DMV website on "how to get a endorsement" to your class C license.

Also note if your 5th wheel has been converted to a "gooseneck" or your trailer is a gooseneck then you can't operate legally on a class C with and endorsement, as it does not meet the definition under the endorsement code.

Finally note that if you are towing with an out of state drivers license, inside Calif. these requirement do not apply, your States requirements apply and you can tow up to 26,000 lbs. on your standard drivers license.

I am sure after reading through all of this it will be clear as mud!

From CHP Information document:
The following are examples of DL requirements, and are not all-inclusive:
• A vehicle towing a trailer designed for human habitation as a trailer coach (Section635 CVC), exceeding 10,000 pounds GVWR, may be legally operated with a Class A CDL (Section 12804.9[1][A] CVC) for any purpose, or with a restricted Class A DL (Section 12804.12[a] CVC), when not for compensation.

• A vehicle towing a fifth-wheel travel trailer (Section 324 CVC) with a GVWR at or between 10,001 and 15,000 pounds may be legally operated with a Class C DL with an “endorsement” (California Department of Motor Vehicles DL restriction code 41) for fifth-wheel travel (recreational) trailers (Section 12804.9[3][F][ii] CVC), a restricted Class A DL (Section 12804.12 CVC), or a Class A CDL (Section12804.9[1][A] CVC).

NOTE: Some recreational trailers are configured with a bumper pull or a gooseneck hitch, which utilizes a ball and socket-type connection, and are not included in the definition as a fifth-wheel travel trailer (Section 324 CVC). These trailers will qualify for operation under the provisions of Section 12804.12(a) CVC, restricted Class A DL

Section 12804.12(a) CVC classifies a restricted Class A DL, also known as a noncommercial Class A DL, which allows the operation of a combination of vehicles consisting of a two-axle vehicle weighing 4,000 pounds or more unladen when towing a trailer coach exceeding 10,000 pounds GVWR, or a fifth-wheel travel trailer exceeding 15,000 pounds GVWR, when the towing of the trailer is not for compensation. This license allows noncommercial (recreational) towing.

Link to CA DMV site on how to get endorsement: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/recreational-vehicles-and-trailers-handbook-2011/recreational-trailer-endorsement/#:~:text=A driver must have a,is not used for hire. .

 

[Philly]

Wow California is messed up. I’d say your best bet is to move to any other state.

 

[Leadmic]

Wow California is messed up. I’d say your best bet is to move to any other state.

It's really hard to beat the weather here, it will be 60 degrees today. We are 2 hrs from the coast and 1 hour from the mountains. The biggest deal for me is you can't take everyone you love and care about with you when you move. I do hate California politics and government, especially over the past 20 years.

 

[2020Tremor]

Wow California is messed up. I’d say your best bet is to move to any other state.

Unfortunately after seeing how some people tow TT and 5ers around here in MT needing a little extra licensing wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Not to uncommon to see a 250/2500 class truck doing the Carolina load squat going way past 80mph with monstrous triple axle toy-haulers. I don’t want to be the one they take out when the load cuts loose in the curves. See a fair number of those tipped on the there side or what’s left of it in the ditch or blocking lanes on the passes.

With the state rules I can hook onto a personal 5er and legally cruse down the road maxed out at 20K ish lbs for my F350 but need a CDL to pull a 16K equipment trailer unless can prove it’s for farm or strictly personal use, which likely result in a court date to do that. DOT used to check anything that looks to be construction related and not look twice at toyhaulers even if they looked to be running on the bump-stops. How does that actually help safety on the road?

 

[gsea]

DOT used to check anything that looks to be construction related and not look twice at toyhaulers even if they looked to be running on the bump-stops. How does that actually help safety on the road?

It doesn’t, because it’s not really about safety. It’s about revenue, and fining commercial operations is easier and more lucrative.

It’s the same reason they will sit there and run speed traps while there are stacks of unresolved real crimes in their jurisdiction.

 

[Donnie With A Dee]

It’s about revenue, and fining commercial operations is easier and more lucrative.

This. It's ALL about revenue. It's the reason cities like Elk Grove and Torrance have their own commercial guys driving pickup trucks with camper shells, just like who.....the CHP.

 

[Vecman]

If you are buying this truck for personal use, then CDL stuff is all gonna be state related. Federal law requires both GCWR over 26,001 pounds AND using for intrastate or interstate commerce. Personal use does not meet federal requirements. So, now you have to look at your specific state for what is needed.

Here in AZ it’s a big mess. Anyone that owns a 1-ton truck, regardless whether personal or commercial, has to register it as a commercial vehicle, pay an extra fee for that, and then declare a gross combined weight category and pay another fee depending on your chosen category. Then, if you plan to tow over 26,001 GCWR here, you must have a CDL. However, even in AZ State statutes, I still am not a commercial vehicle because they define it same as the Feds - weight AND use for commerce.

So what does that mean? You may or may not need a CDL based on your state requirements, but if for personal use, you will not need to keep logs, hours, have all the federally required safety gear, or whatever else commercial CDL drivers have to do, because you aren’t driving commercially.

I planned on doing a CDL test and such, just to have it, but I ruptured my Achilles the night I was supposed to go over to my buddies house (Doctor) for my DOT physical. A few months later, the CDL stuff changed, and now you have to go to certain schools and do certain requirements if you’ve never had a CDL before. It’s way too prohibitive for someone who’s just getting it for a state law, and not for a commercial reason.

 

[gsea]

I planned on doing a CDL test and such […] It’s way too prohibitive for someone who’s just getting it for a state law, and not for a commercial reason.

Thought about this as well, but got turned off due to worry over the extra scrutiny and accountability of having a CDL. In the unlikely event you ever were in an accident, or your math was wrong one day and you were over weight, you’re possibly going to exposed to greater liability having had a CDL.

Same with an EMT cert, trained fighters, NFA items, Dive master certifications, commercial pilots licenses, off-duty physicians and LEOs, certified mechanics, etc. Even if those are just for fun/hobby pursuits, legally they can expose you to higher standards and consequences should a legal situation ever arise.

Not necessarily a reason not to do it, but something to consider nonetheless.

I personally don’t like to invite more government, paperwork, and liability into my life, so it’s been enough to turn me off to pursuing some of my hobbies to the extent I would otherwise be interested in doing for fun.

Our society is so credential-obsessed and liability-driven, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for the renaissance man anymore who wants to learn and dabble in many things outside of their official profession.

That turned into a rant, sorry.

 

[Vecman]

Thought about this as well, but got turned off due to worry over the extra scrutiny and accountability of having a CDL. In the unlikely event you ever were in an accident, or your math was wrong one day and you were over weight, you’re possibly going to exposed to greater liability having had a CDL.

Same with an EMT cert, trained fighters, NFA items, Dive master certifications, commercial pilots licenses, off-duty physicians and LEOs, certified mechanics, etc. Even if those are just for fun/hobby pursuits, legally they can expose you to higher standards and consequences should a legal situation ever arise.

Not necessarily a reason not to do it, but something to consider nonetheless.

I personally don’t like to invite more government, paperwork, and liability into my life, so it’s been enough to turn me off to pursuing some of my hobbies to the extent I would otherwise be interested in doing for fun.

Our society is so credential-obsessed and liability-driven, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for the renaissance man anymore who wants to learn and dabble in many things outside of their official profession.

That turned into a rant, sorry.

Good points. My father has kept up his CDL for decades, but doesn’t really need it anymore. But the rare times he has gotten a ticket, I know he can’t just do traffic school, and has to go to court to have it either waived or reduced. Again, he hasn’t had to deal with that often at all, but that’s definitely something to consider. I average a ticket maybe every 5-6 years or so, maybe longer, but it’s super easy to pop online and do some lame traffic school vs having to show up to a court.

 

[Martineztremor350]

If you are buying this truck for personal use, then CDL stuff is all gonna be state related. Federal law requires both GCWR over 26,001 pounds AND using for intrastate or interstate commerce. Personal use does not meet federal requirements. So, now you have to look at your specific state for what is needed.

Here in AZ it’s a big mess. Anyone that owns a 1-ton truck, regardless whether personal or commercial, has to register it as a commercial vehicle, pay an extra fee for that, and then declare a gross combined weight category and pay another fee depending on your chosen category. Then, if you plan to tow over 26,001 GCWR here, you must have a CDL. However, even in AZ State statutes, I still am not a commercial vehicle because they define it same as the Feds - weight AND use for commerce.

So what does that mean? You may or may not need a CDL based on your state requirements, but if for personal use, you will not need to keep logs, hours, have all the federally required safety gear, or whatever else commercial CDL drivers have to do, because you aren’t driving commercially.

I planned on doing a CDL test and such, just to have it, but I ruptured my Achilles the night I was supposed to go over to my buddies house (Doctor) for my DOT physical. A few months later, the CDL stuff changed, and now you have to go to certain schools and do certain requirements if you’ve never had a CDL before. It’s way too prohibitive for someone who’s just getting it for a state law, and not for a commercial reason.

I think California is similar and will probably force me to pay more depending on what i can tow (commercial numbers), which I'll never do.

I'm not getting a CDL, unless the situation arises.

 

[Vecman]

I think California is similar and will probably force me to pay more depending on what i can tow (commercial numbers), which I'll never do.

I'm not getting a CDL, unless the situation arises.

This was my thought also - I’ll take the gamble, as I rarely tow a GCWR of over 26,001#. I think most officers can tell the personal guys from the commercial guys anyway. At least, that’s what my trooper buddy told me.

 

[TheManderson]

I think California is similar and will probably force me to pay more depending on what i can tow (commercial numbers), which I'll never do.

I'm not getting a CDL, unless the situation arises.

At least in California you can just get a noncommercial Class A and essentially do the same without the CDL issues

 

[deathfromafar17]

Not too shabby. Ill add its a 6.7 short bed.

 

[Supercup]

Not too shabby

7.3?

 

[shermanator2]

Since the 8th digit of his VIN is an M, this is a 6.7 HO.

 

[NightForceFan]

Since the 8th digit of his VIN is an M, this is a 6.7 HO.

Mine is 2023 CCSB 6.7HO with sunroof. 3214# payload

 

[Supercup]

Mine is 2023 CCSB 6.7HO with sunroof. 3214# payload

F-250 - lower GVWR box checked?