Semi truck tow vehicle

[jenandjon]

Originally Posted by xrated

Just curious, how much does your 5ver weigh? GVWR and the pin weight? There are a lot of 5vers that will tow very comfortably behind a F350/3500 Dually with a diesel engine.

My trailer weighs around 10,000 lbs. I have a 3/4 ton Chevy with a duramax and it does fine. But someday I want to go bigger. Pickup trucks are so darn expensive. I can buy a pretty nice older semi truck for $10,000 + modifications that will last me a long time and I never have to wonder if it will pull it.

[jenandjon]

Originally Posted by L.C.Gray

I built this truck for my own personal use. I put it together with the sole aim of skirting all the rules.

It started life as a class 8 semi tractor. 11.1/330 Detroit, Super 10, air ride, jakes, cruise, tilt & tele. By removing the 5th wheel and putting a bed on it, it became a straight truck and required re-registering. In the process of opening it up to re-register it gave me free had to set the numbers nearly anyway I want. I dropped an axle and lightened the truck all I could to get the empty weight for the title down to 15,060 lbs. having a manufacturers rating of 5 tons I was forced to have a minimum carrying capacity of 10,000 lbs putting me at 25,060 GVWR. This was a full size heavy duty truck (with air brakes) that used the same plate, same inspection sticker, same insurance and drivers license as an ordinary pickup. A 16 yr old with a newly minted provisional license could drive it daily anywhere.

That being said, there's no reason that you couldn't go anywhere in it from state to state on reciprocity. When towing you would need to be licensed A or B depending on trailer weight as you'd be over the 26k threshold. As long as you're towing your personal property that's not making any income you're still not commercial and not subject to commercial operating rules. I only went out of state a couple of times in it towing a dual tandem GN, but never even stopped at the weigh stations just like I wouldn't with my pickup towing personal property.

You should explore whether or not your state allows you to use you're farm tagged vehicle to use as a tow vehicle to vacation in. Common sense legislation recognizes you shouldn't have to have an additional heavy tow vehicle to use just a couple of times a year when you already have those vehicles for your farm work. Texas allows this.

That right there is pretty close to what I'm shooting for. What is your wheelbase? I want to stay as close to 200 as I can.

My pickup that I tow with now is farm plated. I never had any trouble except sometimes you will be pulled over by DOT and they will dip your tanks looking for red fuel.

[L.C.Gray]

I'm not sure what the WB was. I removed the fwd drive axle and moved the rear drive axle up to the fwd's mounts then lopped the frame off for an 11' flat bed. I built it a few years back and then let it go because I wasn't using it enough. I often regret not hanging on to it. I'd have a big ol toy hauler to go behind it these days.

[wa8yxm]

Laws vary from state to state.. There used to be a Canadian company (Wil-Ro) Far as I know they are still there but they made a line of Tractors called "Trail-Hauler" they are the Peterbuilt "local delivery" size (Mini Petes) Semi Tractors.. Sign painted said NOT FOR HIRE. RV USE ONLY on the sides.

They took regular pick up plates as I recall.. But laws vary from state to state and I'd not wish to advise wrong so check with the proper department.

NOTE: Good Tow vehicles for folks who do NOT want to get lied to when they ask the sales critter "Can my truck tow this".. Yes.. IT CAN.

[glennwest]

All states requirements is on Escapees forum. Go to HDT section and click on Heavy Haulers Resource Guide. That info there

[rollondown]

PM sent

[Coarsegold]

Originally Posted by MnTom

Look HERE

I looked at this for a long time, thanks.