Special drivers license to tow your Redwood?

[johnboytoo]

Not LEGALLY in MANY states - but many people do it !

[mesg]

If you are required to have a Class A (1) operators license to tow your trailer.. you DO REQUIRE A YEARLY SAFETY CERTIFICATE for BOTH tow vehicle and trailer..

They are considered and presumed to be a commercial vehicle (due to the weight)

[Caribe77]

In Texas, the answer is Yes. Both TW and trailer have to have a yearly safety inspection.

[rcflame]

When we were in the Freightliner RV Haulers club there was a member who had a Renegade which is similar to a Class C Freightlliner which he used to pull a 40 ft, Teton behind which he pulled a jeep. 75 ft long when all hooked up. Claimed he'd never been stopped for over lengh, and he was at a rally in North Carolina. He maybe was over length, but he wasn't over weight.

[almcc]

Originally Posted by mesg

If you are required to have a Class A (1) operators license to tow your trailer.. you DO REQUIRE A YEARLY SAFETY CERTIFICATE for BOTH tow vehicle and trailer..

They are considered and presumed to be a commercial vehicle (due to the weight)

I have copied the following from the Ontario MTO website that covers the yearly inspection info (yellow stickers), and I've highlighted some text:

Annual Safety Inspections
(yellow stickers)

An annual safety inspection is required:
on a truck, which does not tow a trailer if:

• the truck's actual weight, registered gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 4,500 kgs (9,920 lbs).

on a truck, which tows a house trailer only:

• if the truck's RGW exceeds 4,500 kgs.
• if the truck's gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 4,500 kgs, or
• if the truck's actual weight (without the house trailer attached), exceeds 4,500 kgs.

Notes:

• house trailer weight is not used when determining a truck's actual weight.
• house trailer weight is used to determine a truck's RGW.
• a house trailer does not require an annual safety inspection.

on both the truck and towed trailer (other than a house trailer) if:

• the truck's actual weight, registered gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 4,500 kgs, or
• the actual weight of the truck, when added to the actual weight of the towed trailer or trailers exceeds 4,500 kgs, or
• the gross vehicle weight rating of the truck, when added to the gross vehicle weight rating of the towed trailer or trailers exceeds 4,500 kgs.

This MTO website provides complete details on annual safety inspections.




No where in the above does it indicate the requirement for a sticker if you have a class "A" license. And to the issue of commercial vehicles, all pick-ups in Ontario seem to deemed "commercial", they have commercial (black printed) plates including my neighbour who has one of those little Honda "pickups"


All teh above applies to "house trailers", if you are hauling a large utility trailer then it's a different matter.

[Dan]

Here in BC Canada there is a requirement for a special endorsement tow tow any house trailer that is over 10400 Lbs and a full licence to tow a horse trailer. You require both a written and driving test.

I was informed they are looking at a formal test for motor homes other than the current Air Brake endorsement



Dan

[Campers]

Mesg Thankyou for the info. I went to the web site you provided and find it very interesting. My question for you, what about the Fifth Wheel class G Excemptlion that he has posted. We fall in that area as long as you do not go over the 11,000 kg restriction. Correct?

[mesg]

As explained to me... from 2 M>T>O> inspectors.. (twice) as they did an inspection of my unit.. at the scales in Putnam and Bowmanville ( when we where pulled over and asked to procede directly to the scales then inspection lanes) that a yearly certificate of safety was required for both tow unit and trailer due to the weight ( our 2013 36fl is more than 10140 (4800kgs) and a class A license was required for that reason, even though empty... with nothing in it, no water, truck and trailer scaled at 23880 just under the 11,000 kgs (24.400 pounds). Yes they looked at my trucks axle rating and weight limit, (they weighed all 4 axles) hitch rating/connection/break away switch, trailer brake connection and function (disk brakes).. lights license/insurance etc.

I know what was posted above...and have the exact pages saved in pdf form.. You get no argument from me..but both sets of inspectors wanted to see the valid (and according to them required) inspection sticker on both my f350 and 36fl..

B4 we had left the inspection lanes, they had pulled in a Montanna towed by a dodge.. next victim...

[atom ant]

Wow, I wouldnt even know where to go for a safety inspection on either vehicle. CO seems to focus on emmissions.

[almcc]

mesq, from what I read above since you have the yellow sticker on both truck and RV I assume that you didn't get a ticket or summons.

Having the MTO website info and the yellow sticker exemption info on it (and being retired with lots of time on my hands!) I would go to court if I was ticketed.

[Campers]

Hi All

just found the MTO information regarding Fifth Wheel exemption for G Lic.

mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/recreational-vehicles/part2a.shtml

hope it helps

[johnboytoo]

Here in the states (at least in Texas) mamy rv dealers will do your 5er inspection (at least all the ExploreUSA's will Atom Ant!)

[atom ant]

Do they sticker it Jon? or is it just a courtesy type inspection?

[johnboytoo]

They actually did an inspection on ours --- lights, turn signals, etc....

took them about 20 minutes and then they put the sticker on the drivers side window....

for my previous 5er I also had it done at the McClains next to Camping World in Fort Worth, Tx on I-35W

Thanks,
John

[Bill Rush]

Even if you are from out of state, not a Nevada licensed vehicle?

[Dave&Ginny]

States will recolonize your licensing (home) states rules. Otherwise you'd have to have a different license for each state you drive in. As it is, some states require the pick-up trucks being inspected while others don't.

[johnboytoo]

Originally Posted by Bill Rush

Even if you are from out of state, not a Nevada licensed vehicle?

Oh sorry, was responding to an early question...

Since our's is registered here in TexUS it has to be inspected...
as Dave said, out of state vehicles need not apply

[almcc]

A bit of history on the yellow inspection sticker in Ontario, it came into being following a number of accidents and fatalities resulting from stuff like wheels coming off transport trucks and going through car windows. The inspection covers all trucks and trailers over about 4,600 kg. GVWR (except house trailers), so it captures most 350's and above pick ups. It has to be done by a licensed mechanic who is required to check a list of things on the vehicle, it generally isn't a problem if you take your vehicle to the same mechanic and he/she "knows" the unit. A copy is filed with our MTO. It's reduced the number of fatalities in our province due to unsafe vehicles.

[NW Snowbirds]

Where does this leave snow birders from out of state or province when they travel to a state requiring inspections/special licensing?

[rcflame]

I don't know about Canada, but in the US you have to go by the requirements for the state you are registered in. If you travel to a state that requires inspection or special drivers license, but your state doesn't, you are ok. It would really be a mess if you had to head all the requirements of all the states you travel through.