Update:
I contacted the Michigan Dept of State today and they said that I could get a 14 day temp registration for moving the vehicle for $10. She gave me chapter and verse in case I had trouble with a local office. She said that I can get another one when I'm ready to pick it up to get the final inspection and get it registered as a MH. This may not seem earthshattering to any of you, but originally I was told that I would have to properly register it as an commercial truck until it was converted. $20 is a lot different that $1200 if I have my math right. My Insurance agent is looking into coverage. So far, everyone has been pretty co-operative.
Bo

i don't know if you need a cdl or not but my pa license says i'm class C which is any single or combo < 26,001 you need a class A for greater than that i would imagine. I'm sure my small motorhome and 32 tag trailer is more than that. also the not for hire on your rig will only get you passed the weight scales for commercal vehicles. i quess the only answer to it all is to get the cdl and your covered either way , when it comes to the law ignoance isn't a good defense

A registered RV is exempt, no if's ands or buts. People working out of their rv's are exempt. It's no different than a traveling salesman working out of a car - they are working directly out of their vehicle yet are not required to have a cdl. Neither are we.

Now this may all change and I've heard rumours that it has in Texas, and of course Kalifornia is it's own world when it comes to most laws but especially motor vehicle laws, however for now, according to the state of Georgia I'm good to go in an rv no matter what the weight or the purpose for which I use it. Even says so on my drivers license...


Sean P. Clarke
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing

So what your saying is....It all depends on the state it is titled in as a RV...what about your insurance company?...what do they say?......I listen to Insurance Co's more than the State of Ohio employees[BMV]. I do have a friend who is the P.U.C.O. enforcement officer here and I go by what he says.....and I can quote him if I get into a jamb....geof

I picked up a CDL handbook from the Highway Patrol office here in South Dakota, and right inside the front cover it says that you do not need a CDL to drive a motorhome, even if it weighs over 26,000 pounds (or whatever the majic number is).

I don't know if it would also apply if you are doing business out of it, as they are cracking down on race car drivers that pull their race cars with trucks licensed as RV's.

If you use it to make a profit, they say you must have a CDL, and as far as the Highway patrol is concened, if you have a sponsor on your race car, or you win a cash prize, you use it to make a profit.

Jeff in South Dakota
1995 Ford F-250 4X4 PSD
1992 Skamper Slide in camper
1984 Holiday Rambler 5er
1979 Mercedes Benz Unimog

P.U.C.O officer said it has to do with advertising on the outside of the trailer....Brand names logo's etc...theose give probable cause to ask for permission to have a look...Interesting part here is the differance between a hobby and a business...seems to be the crux of the matter....but them again-I didn't listen too well as I only camp and haul my personal toys on my roll-off.....As long as you have the proper proof of ownership and use you have no problems with the cops/PUCO.....the big deal I'm told is the insurance company if you have an accident.....they will weasel out of it and leave you blowing in the wind if they can.....OY!....geof

I talked with a state trooper in Texas today while trying to determine what class of license is required when using a class 7 or 8 truck as a RV tow vehicle. His response was that a CDL is not required, but a class A lecense is required. Now most of us have a class C license which is all that is required for passenger cars & light trucks or medium duty trucks towing LESS THAN 10000LB TRAILERS. After that conversation, I checked out the State of Texas web site & lo & behold, what he said was confirmed by section on license requirements. Basically, a class A license is required if the GVWR of the vehicle is greater than 26001 lbs, or if the combined GVWRs of the tow vehicle & trailer are greater than 26001 lbs & the GVWR of the trailer is greater than 10000 lbs. What this implies is that if you have a 1-ton pickup with a gvwr of 12000 lbs and a 30+ ft 5th wheel travel trailer with a gvwr of 14500 lbs, you are required to have a class A drivers license instead of class C. For medium duty haulers with a gvwr of 16500 or greater & any trailer with a gvwr of 10000 lbs, the same would also apply. This means that most of us that are pulling a 34 ft or longer 5th wheel with a 1-ton dually or bigger tow vehicle are theoretically illegal unles there is some exemption which I have not found yet. I spent a couple of hours on Texas' web site & haven't found an exemption for the class A lecense. CDL, not required for recreational vehicle, Class A, I don't know. I do know that there are a lot of folks pulling trailers with a gvwr of over 10k that exceed the combined limit of 26k. Any thoughts on this comment?

TexArMan:

Almost 100 percent correct. I'd like to make a minor change in what you said about 1 ton truck GVWR plus a trailer GVWR exceeding 26,000 pounds thus needing a Class A license. Not true! 1 ton truck has a CGVWR under 26,000 pounds --- if you pull a trailer that exceeds the rating of the truck, you don't need a Class A license; you need your head examined. You did mention the rating of the truck and that is all the information you need - if the CGVWR is over 26,000 pounds you need a Class A license to pull a trailer over GVWR of 10,000 pounds. Texas has some CDL exclusions and RV'ers is one of them. But you are not excluded from the Class A requirement.

If your bob-tail truck/motorhome has a GVWR over 26,000 pounds you need a Class B (or Class A). And you can pull a trailer under 10,000 pounds GVWR.

CGVWR: Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Retired Dallas County Dep. Sheriff

Oh, and other States vary --- no such thing as "Standard"..

I am in Texas and currently have a 40ft Hyline Premier. It has a GVW of 15,565. I pull it with an 03 4X4 Dodge quad cab dually. I have a weigh ticket on a certified Cat scale of 22,500 lbs of the entire rig. Thats with empty holding tanks, a full tank of fuel, my dog, son and load excluding the wife. I am about to buy a 95 Volvo day cab single axle tractor, M11 Cummins and Fuller 10 speed. With all of the weights and laws floating about I have the same question. Do I need a license other than my class C. I see other converted toters in my park (yes, I am a full timer) and they just sport a regular tag and inspection sticker. What would I need to do, if anything, to the title and/or truck to make it legal for a private toter.

I am all about legal, and I am not commercial in any streatch of the imagination. this truck would also have to be used as an everyday driver (pickup rather, it will get a fabricated bed on it) so are there any other requirements for that. The Dodge, altho a great truck would have to go if I buy this truck. The deal has been made, I just havent paid for it yet and want to cover all the bases before I do.

Well, let me help in your corruption..

Going from memory (I'm not in Texas), I believe you'll need a non-commercial class A.

This topic has been talked to death in the Escapees HDT forum.
Escapees HDT

If you look, you might also find some ideas for a bed too.

Not that there is anything wrong with your choice, but personally I would have leaned toward a sleeper cab. A day cab might get a little cramped for 3+dog.

-ll