I have a 6.5-powered '94 Suburban 2500HD. I wouldn't want to pull nearly that much weight with it. YMMV. It's perfectly capable of dragging around my car trailer and whatever will fit on it, but more than one car and more trailer would make it feel woefully underpowered.
I towed 14000 pounds for two years with a chev dually with a 6.5. It's not up to the task, and neither is the suspension transmission and brakes. I was very happy when I airmailed a rod and bought a newer truck. I did the front end three times in two years and the second tranny was hooped as well when th motor blew.
that part i figured out when i searched and found that every year, the 454 is consistently rated to tow 3,000+ more than the 6.5TD. that told me everything i need to know. I believe my uncle has a class A due to working at a big rig shop and having to test drive trucks to diagnose and post repair. so he could ride with me.
i guess first thing to do is find a truck, but that'll take a little while. still have a couple years of payments left on the avalanche, and at that point i'd be willing and able to look for a bigger truck in the 20k range. find truck, study study study, practice pre trip inspection, take practice tests, get learner's permit, buy trailer, practice with someone with license, go take test.
sounds relatively not hard compared to other things i've done.
In reply to patgizz:
You've got mail.
mail back.
what gives with trucks. in the last 10 years we've gone from a ram dually cummins that is rated to tow 15,200 to a ram dually cummins that is rated to tow 30,000? are they that much beefier or is it all about one-upsmanship in the rating department?
patgizz wrote: mail back. what gives with trucks. in the last 10 years we've gone from a ram dually cummins that is rated to tow 15,200 to a ram dually cummins that is rated to tow 30,000? are they that much beefier or is it all about one-upsmanship in the rating department?
Well, the chev was a 1995 and the one I use now is a 2008. I have never done any front end components and the original transmission is still going strong. It is WAY heavier all round.
PHeller wrote: Without having access to a truck, what do you think the cheapest someone could get a CDL would be? My local Vo-Tech offers a CDL-A training course but I think its like $3500.
Bump?
In reply to PHeller: You may be able to rent a truck and trailer. I haven't looked into that as I just used a company truck. Go pick up a book at the DMV and take the written tests. That'll get you your learners permit for the cost of the test.
I got my class B with air brakes paid for by a previous employer in the form of a school bus drivers license. I was then able to upgrade to a class A with a pickup and triple axle gooseneck trailer in theory.
In practice my county was too small to have a testing facility for the driving portion of the test and so they contract that out and the guy who did my test wanted to use his truck, so I had to do it in a semi anyway.
so if a truck has a GCWR of 19,000 i'll get sent to federal pound me in the ass prison for having my total rig with trailer and cargo weigh more than that, right? maybe not that drastic, but big time trouble?
i've got a guy in one ear telling me he has the same truck registered at 34,999 and goes across the scales at 34,2xx with his trailer, dozer, and a load of something in the dump bed.
when you get commercially licensed it's all about the number on the door, not the number you tell the DMV, no? because i have my half ton registered in ohio commercially at 14k gvw because it's been known to tow 6k and weighs 6k. in state, no CDL, no weigh stations, if i get pulled over and weighed i'm under my declared number so i'm cool. fine for being over your declared gross is 1000 or so, but it's a cash grab to make you get more expensive plates. but how does it work interstate?
if anything i have a truck capable of picking up a trailer and doing my CDL test with empty before having to dive headlong into a newer truck with more sticker on the door.
I know if you go out of state, without apportioned tags, you get wrote for the entire weight of the truck, trailer and cargo. Doesn't matter what it says on the door or tags from your state, without apportioned tags and being out of state your GVWR is ZERO. Ask me how I know
Also, they tend to not like fictitious DOT numbers on your truck.
on apportioned plates i get this:
ohio bmv said: Is your vehicle IRP qualified? If your truck has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 26,000 pounds or greater, it is an IRP qualified vehicle. If your truck has three or more axles regardless of weight, it is also IRP qualified.
so i gather it would be in my best interest to investigate trailer weights, truck weights, and then vehicle weights. while it would make less profit per trip, it's sounding like buying a 2 car trailer and staying well under 26k is the way to go seeing as they're telling me apportioned plates can run well over a grand per year, which would take a lot of hauling to make up.
IRP qualified and IRP registered are two different things. I run a Kenworth T2000 with a 53" trailer that is IRP qualified but it is only registered in NY as a tractor and trailer. To get the IRP (apportioned plate) I would have to supply a valid checking account in the trucking company name that has at least 90 days of activity, in and out, and supply income/expense sheets for the company. I only run 5-8 times a year so nothing is in a company name and all expenses are paid out of personal funds.
I do however have to secure temporary trip permits for the states I will be driving in/through with the exception of my home state, NY, I do have an IFTA permit and NYS HUT, just no IRP. Be aware though the permit service charges a hefty fee for getting the temp permits, even though the cost of the permits themselves are not that bad. A few examples, NJ 25.00 permit +29.50 fee, GA 30.00 permit + 33.45 fee, FL 30.+ 29.50 and so on.
And you must have these permits before entering the states, they frown on drive through and try to buy if you get stopped(that's firsthand experience talking). And if you plan to enter our friendly coutry to the North make sure you get a copy of there requirements and adhere to them ...fully..(more experience talking)..
As a note, I only carry vehicles personally owned by my employer for his own personal use, no commerce is carried on, we are listed as a private carrier, not for hire but we still have to adhere to all DOT regulations and record keeping...its a far cry from the old wild west days of trucking..and the regulations are getting tighter and tighter every year..
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