Hauling equipment???

[Take Dead Aim]

Can anyone tell me where to find the regs on how to understand trucks, trailers and equipment. I'm purchasing a new skid steer that weighs 12,100 lbs. Current truck is Ford f350 that has GVWR of 11,500. I do not have a CDL and would prefer not getting one. Looking for new trailer for this setup. Any recs or info where I stand would be appreciated.

[30-30]

I’m no help finding official verbiage online. But my understanding is 26,000 is the combined truck/trailer gvwr limit for in-state hauling without a CDL. Regardless of how much weight is on the trailer. You can get yourself there very quickly with a one ton.

Side-bar: Is it true the limit drops to 10,000 for crossing state lines? Can one even drive an empty F350 across the line without a cdl?

[Bassbuster]

26k. So your truck,trailer,and Machine can’t weigh over that. Your at 23,600 right now. That only leaves about 2,400 lbs for a trailer.

[TX03RUBI]

Originally Posted by Bassbuster

26k. So your truck,trailer,and Machine can’t weigh over that. Your at 23,600 right now. That only leaves about 2,400 lbs for a trailer.

That’s not quite how it works, even though it’s close. His truck weighs roughly 9,000, but has an 11,500 GVWR. That means the most trailer he can even hook up to empty is one with a GVWR if 14,500 lbs or less. The two GVWR can’t exceed 26,000. They could care less if the trailer is unloaded and only weighs 5,000 lbs.

[TX03RUBI]

OP I have the same truck as you. Any trailer that’s rated to carry that heavy machine is going to legally put you into CDL territory. There are no ways around it. Now you can try and skirt by without being noticed, and depending on your locale you may be quite successful. I’m in the Permian basin, so I don’t even attempt it. DOT is very strict out here.

[Drycreek3189]

Farm tags if you qualify. If it’s for commercial use, you don’t.

[HOOKNBULLET2]

First is to find a scale and get the actual weight of your truck.

Truck weight plus machine weight will then tell you how much you have left to work with.

Most trailer manufacturers publish their empty trailer weight.

Stay under 26,000lbs total and you don’t need a CDL.

[TX03RUBI]

Originally Posted by HOOKNBULLET2

First is to find a scale and get the actual weight of your truck.

Truck weight plus machine weight will then tell you how much you have left to work with.

Most trailer manufacturers publish their empty trailer weight.

Stay under 26,000lbs total and you don’t need a CDL.

Truck weight doesn’t matter. 11,500 is his truck GVWR. His trailer GVWR can’t exceed 14,500. Doesn’t matter if they’re unloaded and only weigh 14,000 combined. It’s the GVWR that DOT goes by.

[30-30]

^This. Combined GVWR of truck and trailer can’t exceed 26.

[retrieverman]

I’ve got a F350 and a Kubota SVL90-2 skid steer and haul it most of the time on a 24’ gooseneck lowboy with 2 7k axles. I’ve also got a 30’ dual tandem with 10k axles that I bought specifically to haul the skid steer, but I have only used it to haul hay for the last couple or three years. I’ve got farm tags on all my trailers.
If your going to be using the skid steer commercially, get a CDL and a dual tandem trailer. If it’s for personal use, get farm tags on whatever trailer you choose, and you should be fine.

[pilar]

Originally Posted by 30-30

^This. Combined GVWR of truck and trailer can’t exceed 26.

I don’t have a CDL and had a BOBCAT E55 excavator Cab with A/C, Machine weights 12,500lbs I have a 16 foot lowboy bumper pull with two 7k axle and am way under the 26000 with the whole rig
With my 25 foot top hat gooseneck I was probably getting closer to the limit
I have type 2 diabetes and hear with that I would need a physical every year to keep a CDL
I would research getting a trailer that will haul your skidder , but also not so large as to draw attention from DOT

[Take Dead Aim]

Originally Posted by pilar

I don’t have a CDL and had a BOBCAT E55 excavator Cab with A/C, Machine weights 12,500lbs I have a 16 foot lowboy bumper pull with two 7k axle and am way under the 26000 with the whole rig
With my 25 foot top hat gooseneck I was probably getting closer to the limit
I have type 2 diabetes and hear with that I would need a physical every year to keep a CDL
I would research getting a trailer that will haul your skidder , but also not so large as to draw attention from DOT

Can you tell me what trailer make and model you have please?

[pilar]

Originally Posted by Take Dead Aim

Can you tell me what trailer make and model you have please?

Sorry I bought the excavator and trailer as a combo (can’t remember brand) and sold the hoe and kept the trailer ( I really like it, just would like to upgrade the brakes to electrical instead of hydraulic)
I think it is a diamond C mod EQT 16
https://www.diamondc.com/trailers/equipment/eqt/

[Dale Moser]

Originally Posted by TX03RUBI

Truck weight doesn’t matter. 11,500 is his truck GVWR. His trailer GVWR can’t exceed 14,500. Doesn’t matter if they’re unloaded and only weigh 14,000 combined. It’s the GVWR that DOT goes by.

This man is steering you the right direction. Others...notsomuch.


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[Dale Moser]

Originally Posted by pilar

I don’t have a CDL and had a BOBCAT E55 excavator Cab with A/C, Machine weights 12,500lbs I have a 16 foot lowboy bumper pull with two 7k axle and am way under the 26000 with the whole rig

With my 25 foot top hat gooseneck I was probably getting closer to the limit

I have type 2 diabetes and hear with that I would need a physical every year to keep a CDL

I would research getting a trailer that will haul your skidder , but also not so large as to draw attention from DOT

You still weren’t legal.


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[pilar]

Originally Posted by Dale Moser

You still weren’t legal.


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Probably not “ if you say so” but have been doing it for over 30 years and only ticket I have ever gotten with a trailer is having a expired plate

LOL used to pull everything with Chevy 1500 HD with a 6.0 in the early 2000’s ( got about 6-7 mpg) then a 2500duramax
Driving a Chevy 1500 now and am contemplating buying a Kubota KX121-3 because it will fit on my trailer

[DarrellS]

Take gvwr of truck plus gvwr of trailer and if they add up to 26001 pounds plus your are illegal.

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[Take Dead Aim]

So the weight of the does or doesn't matter in TXDOT eyes as long as trailer is rated for weight?

[Dale Moser]

The actual weight does not matter in regard to needing a CDL. But if the trailer is overloaded you can still be cited. It’ll probably never happen unless you run over someone, then they will sue your *** off and they WILL win. Insurance can probably bend you over in that scenario as well.


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[fullsizeaggie]

Sticker Gross Combined WR is over 26000. Weight does matter, if you are exceeding your gvwr of either truck or trailer loaded, they can ticket you. May not be in CDL territory, but can be overweight. In that case they could take most single wheels with goosenecks/rv to the cleaners. I keep my cdl, physical every 2 years, nothing special to keep. Dot paperwork and logging requirements is what takes more time, if you are commercial. Not familiar with farm use.

[scott123456789]

You’d be painfully close to Okay if you found a bumper pull flatbed with 7k axles. The shorter the better.

If your truck is newish I’d trade you a 2500 ram... gives a bit more flexibility.

[brushtrooper]

Actually the GCVWR threshold is 26,001 lbs not 26,000lbs. Th GVWR of truck and GVWR of trailer added together must be under 26,001lbs to stay out of CDL requirements. Farm use laws have changed, they follow the same standards, if GCVWR is over 26,001lbs then you will need a non commercial CDL. The empty weight does not matter, it is the GVWR on both. Ideally you need to find the shortest, lightest weight trailer that can carry your skid steer. Sending a PM

[pilar]

Originally Posted by brushtrooper

Actually the GCVWR threshold is 26,001 lbs not 26,000lbs. Th GVWR of truck and GVWR of trailer added together must be under 26,001lbs to stay out of CDL requirements. Farm use laws have changed, they follow the same standards, if GCVWR is over 26,001lbs then you will need a non commercial CDL. The empty weight does not matter, it is the GVWR on both. Ideally you need to find the shortest, lightest weight trailer that can carry your skid steer. Sending a PM

I am now confused as my 16 low boy has a LRE of like 2100? with tandem 7k axel , gvwr 14000 . My truck is engineered to tow up to 19,780 pounds and weighs 8500-9000
How much breathing room do I have on what size tractor, excavator or skidder + implements or different buckets I can legally tow

Rams claim
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING (GCWR) SAYS IT ALL. We get it. You need to count on your Ram Heavy Duty to accomplish the toughest jobs. The Ram Heavy Duty maximum GCWR numbers measure up. On Ram 3500 models, GCWR reaches up to 17,736 kg (39,100 lb). The numbers behind Ram 2500 are equally as formidable: these 3/4-ton GCWR figures are rated up to 11,476 kg (25,300 lb).

[GA Bowhunter]

Originally Posted by Take Dead Aim

Current truck is Ford f350 that has GVWR of 11,500.

What is the configuration of your truck?

A srw PSD F350 with .355 gears ranges from 20,200-28,700 GCVWR.

A drw PSD F350 ranges from 36,000-41,800 GCVWR.

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

[GA Bowhunter]

According to the GADOT cop I talked to, "technically" every dually, loaded or empty, is supposed to go over the scales. He said that they don't worry about duallies though.

I had the Florida DOT guys take me over the hurdles for about an hour at an AG weigh station on my DRW Ram 3500. I was over 30,000 lbs and they were jamming me up over some live plants.

[JANKEII]

Originally Posted by pilar

I am now confused as my 16 low boy has a LRE of like 2100? with tandem 7k axel , gvwr 14000 . My truck is engineered to tow up to 19,780 pounds and weighs 8500-9000
How much breathing room do I have on what size tractor, excavator or skidder + implements or different buckets I can legally tow

Trailer and truck combine is 33,780.
Trailer weighs 2,100lbs can have a load on it 14,000 - 2,100 = 11,900. Can take some of the load weight and move it to the tongue weight of truck.. I might be wrong but I think it's like 15%.

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by 30-30

I’m no help finding official verbiage online. But my understanding is 26,000 is the combined truck/trailer gvwr limit for in-state hauling without a CDL. Regardless of how much weight is on the trailer. You can get yourself there very quickly with a one ton.

Side-bar: Is it true the limit drops to 10,000 for crossing state lines? Can one even drive an empty F350 across the line without a cdl?

Commercially, yes, but you don’t have to have a CDL unless you’re combined GVWR is 26,001.

Oklahoma is the same as Texas, unless you don’t live there. If you live there, same laws apply as they do here. If you don’t live there, and you are over 10,000, you are regulated by DOT and must possess a log, medical card, and physical. So yes, an empty F350 would be considered DOT regulated.