Community Forums

HD4Mark · 02-13-2013, 05:37 AM

Would your rig then need to be registered as a commercial vehicle? If so that can change your drivers license requirements in some states. Possibly insurance also.

How hard is it to remove the wrap stuff and is removal part of the bargain?

I think I am a no on this.

michelb · 02-13-2013, 05:46 AM

Personally, I'd probably do it - probably wouldn't even need $4k/month but as others have stated, getting 500 miles / week over an extended period of time is not going to happen with most motor homes (I think the average owners might put 5k miles / year on their motor home). I don't think having advertising whether it's a wrap or stickers or paint job on a vehicle is going to make it a commercial vehicle.

FWIW, I actually tried to do this (get a company to pay me to have advertising) a few years a few years ago when we did an extended trip - I put ads on craiglist and eBay and I never had any interest.

glarnold · 02-13-2013, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner

So... some of you would take money, for services rendered. Hmmmm...

Not sure of the point here. If you have a job, aren't you taking money for services rendered?

GL Arnold

CampDaven · 02-13-2013, 06:29 AM

One of the stipulations is to drive 500+ miles in a specified county each week.
So, you go where you are told.
This is not cross country touring.
No way, Jose

PyrateSilly · 02-13-2013, 08:00 AM

I have seen lots of RVs with advertising on them ------

What they are advertising is their own blog/website/church/books and they have no problem what so ever about being able to stay in campgrounds. People have their cars wrapped all over the place for money. If you travel and use your own vehicle for business than your vehicle is considered a tax deduction which I think would be the same in this case. You at that point would have to keep track of all receipts that have to do with any time you spend on the "job" of driving it around or driving it from spot to spot just like a regular travel job. Lots of tax deductions if you keep track of things makes the self-employment tax get down to almost nothing.

RustyJC · 02-13-2013, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelb

I don't think having advertising whether it's a wrap or stickers or paint job on a vehicle is going to make it a commercial vehicle.

Neither did a bunch of racers who found themselves targets of commercial enforcement. Some states were looking for rigs pulling decal-laden race vehicle trailers (cars, motorcycles, etc.). The racers were asked if they were racing for prize money. If the answer was "yes", they were deemed to be commercial. How does that differ from taking $4K/month for driving a wrapped RV?

Rusty

glarnold · 02-13-2013, 09:15 AM

I find three classes of commercial vehicles.

1- Carrying passenger for hire. Wouldn't apply.
2- IRS, used in a business. Could apply.
3- State Driver licensing requirements. Could apply, depending on the state. Could be the biggest problem.

Maybe why it's not being done...?

GL Arnold

michelb · 02-13-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC

Neither did a bunch of racers who found themselves targets of commercial enforcement. Some states were looking for rigs pulling decal-laden race vehicle trailers (cars, motorcycles, etc.). The racers were asked if they were racing for prize money. If the answer was "yes", they were deemed to be commercial. How does that differ from taking $4K/month for driving a wrapped RV?

Rusty

I probably wasn't clear in my message but as GL Arnold described, I certainly do agree that this is taxable income and would need to be reported as income to the IRS but I don't think this would make the motor home a commercial vehicle.

Similarly, I imagine those racers had to declare the prize money as income but I can't imagine their vehicles where now considered commercial vehicles because they used them to make the income.

RustyJC · 02-13-2013, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelb

....but I can't imagine their vehicles where now considered commercial vehicles because they used them to make the income.

The vehicles were determined to be "engaged in commercial activity" which makes them, in the eyes of the enforcing states, commercial vehicles. Those states viewed them as just as commercial as a Hendricks, Penske or Roush team transporter. Commercial activity does not require that the vehicle be for hire.

Rusty

stik · 02-13-2013, 10:34 AM

IF the motorhome IS classified as commercial (highly likely) then part of the can of worms will be weigh stations.

I believe the reason racers where classified as commercial was because their trailers were advertising their racing teams.

RustyJC · 02-13-2013, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stik

I believe the reason racers where classified as commercial was because their trailers were advertising their racing teams.

Actually, they were advertising their sponsors' products/services with all the decals (no different than the RV wrap scenario, right?) That triggered the traffic stop. The commercial determinant was that there was money involved in their activity - they were transporting the racing vehicles, supplies, etc. to/from races where they were running for prize money. If one is driving the RV around to fulfill the terms of an agreement to earn the $4K/month, would that not be similar commercial activity? Perhaps - I wouldn't want to be the poor sucker who is going to establish case law on this one!

Rusty

glarnold · 02-13-2013, 03:57 PM

This is how the state of Texas defines a "commercial vehicle." -

(5) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or property that:
(A) has a gross combination weight or a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, including a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight or a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds;
(B) has a gross vehicle weight or a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds;
(C) is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or
(D) is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F.

For what it's worth. Looks to me like no commercial driver license and no weigh station stops required.

Just my humble opinion.

GL Arnold

mikebrls · 02-13-2013, 04:35 PM

I put a call in to my insurance agent today and she is looking into the commercial vehicle part .
as far as paying tax on income that is a must in the good oll USA but you could probably write of fuel and expense and pay tax's on net.

mike

wa8yxm · 02-13-2013, 05:36 PM

In addition to a commercial vehicle (If it is carrying advertising I guess that makes the vehicle a commercial doesn't it? Sorry about the pun, Don't bother to answer.)

You need to check out the license requirements,, Now I do not know the precise language in Michigan for when a "other than basic driver's license" is required as it pretains to something like this, but I'm thinking that you might need an upgrade if you get paid to drive the vehicle, which this purposal clearly is.

In the old days it was a Chauffer's in Michigan, Today it might be a Chauffer's or a CDL (They are different) I do not know, I also do not know if you'd need a medical card.

The bottom line here is you need to research, Cause I do not know and thus can only ask questions.

It may also affect the registration of the vehicle if it carries advertising (other than for the dealer who sold it).