Community Forums

Roadgypsy71 · 11-16-2019, 06:53 PM

Hello everyone, I have been having a heck of a time trying to find out from Nevada DMV when I take my driving test, do I just need to bring my class A motor home?
My motor home is 24,000 lbs GVWR, and eventually will be dolly towing kia < 3500 lbs GVWR for a combined GCWR of 27,500 lbs.
Any ideas??? No one at Nevada DMV seems to know the answer.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

RVNuthouse · 11-16-2019, 07:40 PM

I looked on line and the Nevada DMV lists what each class is allowed to tow.

Class C
Cars, vans, pickups, mopeds, and other vehicles with a weight (GVWR) of 26,000 pounds or less; allows towing of a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less. Class C license holders may tow a combination of vehicles not to exceed 70 feet in length. If the GVWR of the towed vehicles exceeds 10,000 pounds, an Endorsement J is required.

Class A
Combination vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle being towed has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more. See the Commercial Driver Handbook.

Here is the link to this page https://dmvnv.com/nvdl.htm

Hope this helps.

Ucbyrickg · 11-16-2019, 09:16 PM

I drove my motor home to take my test with just the permit. Technically a class B driver or greater, should drive the coach there and be prepared to drive it home if you fail, that is only if your state requires it. I called the police department in the city where a was taking the test and explained the scenario, they said be sure the tags and insurance are valid but maybe have someone follow just in the event that I was to get pulled over they could offer an alternative. I’m not sure if insurance could deny a claim in the event of an accident for an improperly licensed driver. I do know you are supposed to take the test in the vehicle you plan to drive or one very similar. I have heard that you can pay class a drivers to drive you and the coach there and then you drive them home after you pass.

The hardest thing on the Road test was backing in to a very small opening that you can’t see using mirrors and if you hit the cones you fail but I was allowed to use the back up camera.

But even harder than that was going over the extremely extensive and detailed pre-trip inspection. They will expect you to know everything in your state book and explain it all to them from memory as if they have no idea what you’re talking about. Make sure you’re driving rig is free of any maintenance issues including cracked broken or not working lights windows wipers tires or any leaks whatsoever. Be sure your airbrake cut off‘s are working correctly gauges and air alarm. I would practice many many times the airbrake test procedure. You must remember all the numbers in the book for simple things like minimum tire tread depth, slack adjuster requirements and Air brake psi cut offs. You will also need to identify almost every common system in the engine compartment and point to it. I would have your wife or someone act as a test giver and go over it with them many many times.

Good luck

Rick

theroc · 11-16-2019, 11:29 PM

Welcome to the forum. Good news, you can relax and not worry about taking any tests. Being a Nevada resident during the years we were full-timing, I can assure you that you do not need a non-commercial license.

As RVNuthouse has posted, a "normal" Class C license is all you need as your motorhome is under 26,000 lbs. GVWR, and you are allowed to tow with your motorhome that is under 26,000 lbs. GVWR, a toad or vehicle on a dolly as long as it is under 10,000 lbs. GVWR. Your Kia on a dolly is well under 10,000 lbs. GVWR. And you should be well below the GCWR that would require a non-commercial Class A or a "J" endorsement.

Therefore you are well under the requirements where you'd need a "non-commercial Class B" license.

So you can forget about contacting the DMV to take any tests as you can drive your motorhome and toad on a dolly without anything other than the license you now possess.

The reason for the DMV not knowing much about what's required may be because Nevada requires you to use one of their CDL testing locations for non-commercial license testing rather than a just any DMV location so some of those working at the other DMV locations have no idea of the CDL and non-commercial requirements ...or so I have found. The CDL locations are in Carson City, Elko, Sparks, Winnemucca, and the North Las Vegas office on Donovan Way. They no longer do CDL testing at Tonopah where they once did.

Most diesel pushers are rated at or over 26,000 lbs GVWR so if you do ever upgrade to a diesel pusher, yes, you'd then need a "non-commercial Class B" license and you should contact one of those offices to take the tests.

NevadaNick · 11-17-2019, 07:06 AM

Theroc is correct.

MSHappyCampers · 11-17-2019, 08:26 AM

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Don't know anything about Nevada so can't comment. Noticed you are new on the forum and wanted to say hello! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Roadgypsy71 · 11-17-2019, 09:24 AM

Thank you everyone for your replies. I truly appreciate them. It appears from your answers, I only need my current Class C.
The conflicting information from Nevada DMV certainly makes the subject harder than it needs to be. The info presented by the DMV about over 26001 pounds was quite confusing.
Thanks again everyone and stay safe out there.

Chris
2019 Jayco Precept
34 G

loranimal · 11-17-2019, 09:31 AM

When I took my test a few years back, it was at the Fallon location. They set up cones at the fairgrounds for the parking/back part then do a road test. You only need the MH no toad.

Carl

gmiller46 · 11-17-2019, 09:55 AM

[QUOTE= Technically a class B driver or greater, should drive the coach there and be prepared to drive it home if you fail,
[/QUOTE]
That opens another "can of worms" as most insurance policies issued today will name specified drivers for the MH.

KanzKran · 11-17-2019, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmiller46

That opens another "can of worms" as most insurance policies issued today will name specified drivers for the MH.

If you have a learner’s permit, isn’t the second driver, with appropriate class designation, only there to comply with the requirements of the permit? In other words, you still drive your own rig, but with a Class 2 or 1 driver in the coach to make it legal. Or is that not correct? I accompanied several drivers over the years for their CDL driving tests, and I only sat in the right seat to make it legal, but that was long ago, including before there actually was such a thing as a commercial license (just by weight class, and state by state back then).

Ucbyrickg · 11-17-2019, 10:43 AM

I would check with the commercial dmv in your state or the highway patrol.

This is a subject that many refuse to accept the laws in their own state because they have been driving unknowingly forever illegally.

The people that know the laws and issue tickets, only go by the gross combined vehicle weight rating. If you drive a 9k lb. dually that has a CVWR of 30k you can drive it loaded below the 26,100lbs limit on a standard license, once you add a trailer or toy hauler that exceeds the GVWR you are now required to carry a class B or class A non commercial license. This is true with the vehicle you described as well, and it may be over the 26,100 with all the tanks full and full of passengers and cargo, unless your state, as some do, have no weight restrictions for non commercial vehicles.

NevadaNick · 11-17-2019, 10:52 AM

Nevada only goes by weight rating and registration if applicable. In the case of his motorhome registration is not. If he connected a trailer with a gvwr of 10k or more then he would need an endorsement or a class A.

robertkathy · 11-17-2019, 11:03 AM

each state listed on this link

https://www.campanda.com/magazine/rv...-requirements/

NevadaNick · 11-17-2019, 11:13 AM

What that link does not tell you at least in Nevada that its the rating, not actual weight that requires the endorsements or different class dl. Example, if you pull a trailer that has a gvwr of 11000 lbs and even if its empty and weighed 3000 you would need the endorsement or different class. Sites like that are just not accurate enough to trust. Goes back to towing doubles and those sites, just not accurate. But hey its on the internet so it must be true.