My buddy has an 06 Dodge Cummins 3500 4x4 SRW with a GCWR of 23k, GVWR of 9900 and max tow rating of 15,800. He is building a new house for him self and is planning to buy a used gooseneck dump trailer rated to 15k. The truck is legal but is he?

He called me with this question but I got my commercial class B 15 years ago and got my CCA before we recently added a 379 dump at work. this means I was little use answering his question. The CA handbook seems to create more questions than answers.

It says anyone can tow a tag along up to 10k GVWR or a "fifth wheel travel trailer" up to 15k GVWR. Thing is, this trailer is neither a travel trailer nor technically a "5th wheel" (no mention is made of gooseneck, semantics?)

link: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/lic_chart.htm

To make clear, the trailer will be towed only by him and is not for profit. He is not commercial or a builder by trade but his new job allows enough time to begin this exciting project.

One last rant, according to the CA handbook you can't drive the new GM/Ford duallys with a class C as they exceed 26k GCWR??? I find that hard to believe as another buddy of mine just bought a 2011 GM dually and he has only a class C yet neither the dealer nor the DMV had any problem with his paperwork

Thanks in advance,

-Rob

Looks like he would need a non-commercial class B according to the link you posted. You're right it's confusing and they intend for it to be that way, so they can write tickets for however the officer interprets it, no matter if it fits the intent of the law. :mad:

Looks like he would need a non-commercial class B according to the link you posted.

Doesn't a basic Class C fit also? As I read it the Non-comm B, Basic C and Comm C can all tow the same thing. His trailer is a 'fifth wheel' over 10k but under 15k right?

Doesn't a basic Class C fit also? As I read it the Non-comm B, Basic C and Comm C can all tow the same thing. His trailer is a 'fifth wheel' over 10k but under 15k right?

Looks like you're right, they are both listed under the same and I missed the Class c part.

Well crap looking at it again, the only one that fits this guys situation is a class A CDL, because the trailer is not a travel trailer or 5th wheel camper.

Looks like you're right, they are both listed under the same and I missed the Class c part.

Well crap looking at it again, the only one that fits this guys situation is a class A CDL, because the trailer is not a travel trailer or 5th wheel camper.

Wow, I guess if they stick to the 'travel trailer' limitation he needs Com. Class A all the way...glad I'm not in Cali. I guess we should all just get Class A's and not worry about it.

Looks like you're right, they are both listed under the same and I missed the Class c part.

Well crap looking at it again, the only one that fits this guys situation is a class A CDL, because the trailer is not a travel trailer or 5th wheel camper.

Exactly, it's preposterous. Thanks for replying and helping reassure me I'm not just stupid. It seems incredibly vague.

On other thing - when they say you can have a tag along up to 10k GVWR they mean sticker right? Basically if your trailer weighed only 8,000lbs they could still ticket you if it was stickered to be able to have a GVWR of say 12k?

That's how it reads, if they meant ACTUAL weight they'd say GVW (not rating) but that seems absurd.

What sucks about this is all he wants to know is can he tow this trailer (which he's getting for a steal from a neighbor) without breaking the law either due to some strange weight requirement or the need for a license. If it was black and white no one would argue but as cgreen says, it's like they try to trip people up on purpose. Hell the guy has enough truck, and would be towing a "5th wheel" (gooseneck) below 15,001lbs no commercially so how is he any different to someone with a TT?

One last rant, according to the CA handbook you can't drive the new GM/Ford duallys with a class C as they exceed 26k GCWR??? I find that hard to believe as another buddy of mine just bought a 2011 GM dually and he has only a class C yet neither the dealer nor the DMV had any problem with his paperwork

Thanks in advance,

-Rob

That particular "GCWR" is not what is used by the DOT to determine the class of license needed.

The GCWR that is used is GVWR(truck) + GVWR(trailer) = GCWR

That particular "GCWR" is not what is used by the DOT to determine the class of license needed.

The GCWR that is used is GVWR(truck) + GVWR(trailer) = GCWR

Thanks for the response. However, a point of clarification if you don't mind:

So basically one's actual weight doesn't matter (unless over) in the private use realm? If my wife is driving my truck with it's 14,500lb GVWR (even if empty so weighs 9k), then if we hook to anything bigger than a 11,500 GVWR trailer (even if it's emty so weighs 4k) then she needs a CDL?

-Rob

I believe a 'class a' license is needed, whether or not its a commercial or non commercial 'class a' depends on the state. Some states you don't need the 'class a' if it is private use.

The numbers the DOT uses are the GVWR of the truck and trailer since that is the theoretical max the vehicle could weigh. Just because you are under the sticker weight doesn't matter because they look at what you could be doing not what you are actually doing. Pain in the ass I know.

Thanks for the response. However, a point of clarification if you don't mind:

So basically one's actual weight doesn't matter (unless over) in the private use realm? If my wife is driving my truck with it's 14,500lb GVWR (even if empty so weighs 9k), then if we hook to anything bigger than a 11,500 GVWR trailer (even if it's emty so weighs 4k) then she needs a CDL?

-Rob

Yes, on a federal level.

In CA, apparently they go by trailer size alone.

From what I was told, you are allowed 9,999lbs on the bumper and 14,999lbs on the goose/5th. You might want to double check to be sure.