Community Forums

baddwalk · 03-24-2005, 11:18 PM

Yesterday I was navigating through the California DMV web site and discovered something which I never knew. It has to deal with a special endorsement required for Class C licenses when pulling a fiver. According to the DMV web site, if you tow a fiver with a gvwr of 10,000 lbs or more but not exceeding 15,000 lbs, we are required to have an RV trailer endorsement for our class c licenses. This I never knew and I would imagine most others towing a fiver dont either. Without the RV trailer endorsement, most of us (me included)could be cited for violation of section 12500(d)CVC - Driving out of class. from what I have read, If you are more than six month from the expiration date of your California drivers license, the test is free and basically covers towing related questions. I thought that this might be good to know info since I have seen many RVr's towing fivers that would qualify for the weight provisions that dont have the endorsement. I guess I will be heading to DMV to take the test. Happy trails.

baddwalk · 03-24-2005, 11:18 PM

Yesterday I was navigating through the California DMV web site and discovered something which I never knew. It has to deal with a special endorsement required for Class C licenses when pulling a fiver. According to the DMV web site, if you tow a fiver with a gvwr of 10,000 lbs or more but not exceeding 15,000 lbs, we are required to have an RV trailer endorsement for our class c licenses. This I never knew and I would imagine most others towing a fiver dont either. Without the RV trailer endorsement, most of us (me included)could be cited for violation of section 12500(d)CVC - Driving out of class. from what I have read, If you are more than six month from the expiration date of your California drivers license, the test is free and basically covers towing related questions. I thought that this might be good to know info since I have seen many RVr's towing fivers that would qualify for the weight provisions that dont have the endorsement. I guess I will be heading to DMV to take the test. Happy trails.

aa6vh · 03-25-2005, 10:14 AM

Don,

I sure would be interested in knowing what the test is like, and how easy it was. Let us know after you take it.

Regards

Dave

Vette Racer · 03-25-2005, 06:34 PM

baddwalk

I guess the first question I have is, since you are a law enforcement person (at least I think you are do to your previous posts), why didn't you know of this before?

Regardless of that, I am sure glad that I don't live in Ca and have to deal with their laws. Maybe I'll just drive through and enjoy the sights with my Ok drivers license.

FatDog · 03-26-2005, 05:07 AM

thanks baddwalk,
and I have heard from a few people that this endorsement is now necessary. it would take vigilant purusal of our CA DMV Code to find this requirement, although I have still had to read it several times to try to understand it once finding it. It is confusing. What does not help is that I went to a local (Poway) DMV office and they disputed the need for the endorsement. sighhhh. i left without pressing the need to examine the code book while I was there with them. Now it looks like I will have to go back.
I would guess the code is a recent change, and I appreciate hearing about it. Driving without proper licensing can cause problems, although I'll bet this particular code is not well known right now.
Mike

h2guy · 03-26-2005, 06:24 AM

How about posting a link to the section where you found this req'mt??

FatDog · 03-26-2005, 07:14 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> How about posting a link to the section where you found this req'mt?? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt2.htm
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs03thru06.htm
a snippet from the link:

Class C

You may drive:

any 2-axle vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. or less.
any 3-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 lbs. or less gross.
any housecar, 40 feet or less.
..........
You may tow:

a single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. Or less including a tow dolly, if used.
a boat trailer provided the GCWR does not exceed 26,000 lbs. when the towing is for recreational purposes or repair, is not used in commerce or contract carrier operations, or in business, is not for hire, and doesn't require an oversize permit (VC Section 35780).
With a vehicle weighing at least 4,000 lbs., you may tow a:

trailer coach or 5th wheel travel trailer under 10,000 lbs. GVWR when towing is not for compensation.
5th wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. but under 15,000 lbs. GVWR, when towing is not for compensation and with endorsement.
NOTE:

Class C licensees may not tow more than one vehicle.
No passenger vehicle regardless of weight, may tow more than one vehicle.

Class A Noncommercial

You may drive any of the vehicles under Class C.

You may tow travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR or 5th wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs. GVWR when the trailers are not used for hire (pay or other compensation). Study material for this class of license is contained in the Recreational Vehicles and Trailers booklet.

( So it looks like with a Class C license, you need an endorsement with a 5er over 10,000 pounds, but not if you have a non-commercial Class A. )

Nat · 03-26-2005, 11:39 AM

Looks to me like you can tow up to 15,000 with a standard class C
5th wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. but under 15,000 lbs. GVWR, when towing is not for compensation and with endorsement
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, later, Nat

FatDog · 03-26-2005, 02:18 PM

Nat
you are right
i should have slowed down a bit when I read it.
The CA DMV mentions different 5er weights in several different places. I have to read it in entirety to get the jist of it.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Class C:
.......
( a Class C license can TOW: )
- with a vehicle weighing 4,000 lbs. or more unladen, a trailer coach or 5th wheel travel trailer under 10,000 lbs. GVWR when towing is not for compensation.
- with a vehicle weighing 4,000 lbs. or more unladen, a 5th wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. but under 15,000 lbs. GVWR, when towing is not compensation and with endorsement.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I see an awful lot of large tag-alongs being pulled down the road. It looks like my Class C (with M1 motorcycle attachment

) is fine for my 5er but wouldn't be for a good number of the prox.30' and larger TT's that are over 10K.

baddwalk · 03-26-2005, 03:21 PM

Thanks Fatdog for typing it out and the links. I dont have the computer skills to post links, and yes to Vette Racer. I am in law enforcement. The California vehicle code for 2005 is 686 page long and covers more codes that Carter has pills, not to metion the fact that I am supposed to know the Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, Fish and Game Code etc. Who could possibly retain all that? I have to carry a virtual library with me just to do my job. No wonder my back hurts all the time (LOL). Just like DMV doesnt tell the public, they dont tell us either. So Im pretty confidant that most cops would not know this and probable dont have endorsements either. I found this out by accident more than anything else. Figured I should let you all know also. By the way, when I retire, I will find a nice little state to move to that is friendly to everyone. Anyone with ideas what state that might be, let me know.

CyberVet65 · 03-26-2005, 04:02 PM

Baddwalk, join the thousands of refugees from California and move to Utah.
We still have lots of open country and lots of friendly folks live here.
I moved here from Virgina to retire. But I am working again. Need chrome thingee's for the motorcycle.
I have lived here for going on three years and have met about 20 folks who are native. And I meet a lot of folks!
I had a purchased a lot and have a custom built home for $150K. With your equity in the Califonia real estate you could build a very nice home on about 20 acres for about $200K. I live in a little subdivsion and have about 1/2 the local city,county and state LEO living here. It's like living at the end of a 40 mile long dirt road. Very quiet and nice area.
Chet

Jim Gehlen · 03-26-2005, 05:10 PM

The endorsement for pulling the heavier RV's came out in about 1997. Many folks pulling the triple axle Alfa's in the chapter we were with opted to get the endorsement. Simple written test at the DMV and some offices required a drive test with the trailer, others just issued the endorsement. Didn't make much sense but the requirement was met.

cwsoules · 03-26-2005, 08:47 PM

When I got my endorsement, the first problem was getting the DMV in Oakland be believe that there was such a thing. Finally I was give the ptofessional truck drivers home study guide. I spent a few days reading it and then took a test of about 20 questions which was not hard if you had read the study book. The second problem was they tried to grade my exam with the wrong answer sheet! Finally they had to ahve Sacremento fax them the correct answer sheet. A few weeks later I got my new license in the mail. I understand that if your rig exceeds 15,000# they will want to give you a road test too, but as mine is only 10.4K I did not need a road test.