So here the deal i have a dozer roughly 7-8k i need to tow and am looking for a goosneck trailer for my 03 f250. But i have heard of the pa laws and how anything over 10000lbs you need a cdl So i email a few trailer dealer and the one guys said that goosenecks leave 25% of weight on truck and bumper pulls leave 10% on truck and he also said the a 20 ft +5 beavertail weight 4300lbs and that if i get a 12000lb he can derate it to 10000 and with 7000 on trailer plus the weight of trailer so 11300 total that means the trailer axles will have 8500 and my truck will have the rest 2800. What im saying is is this how things work if id get pulled over? do they weight trailer axles and truck axles? Do anyone know the PA laws cause everyone i have talked all say something different. If anyone has some information please help me out,

 

Our wonderful, fun state of PA! I can help you with some of the info. First off, if you are going to tow over 10,001 by rights you need a class A license. Now, PA does offer both a CDL A and a Non-Commercial class A. It does not matter if its, a tag trailer, gooseneck, or RV. There is NO RV exemption, they apply just like any other trailer, however the DOT cop did specifically say they don't target RV's. A medical card is also required to tow over 10,001 CDL or not. What you need depends on what you are doing. Are you hauling the dozer for personal use? IE, NOT for making money? Or are you using it to make money? If you are only hauling it for personal use, be prepared to make you're case because they are going to assume it's commercial. If you're using it to make money "for commerce" as they call it, you better have DOT numbers also.


Derating the trailer is a myth that won't win any battles with DOT. They go by the VIN tag, not what the registration says. The only way to skate that is to have a 10k trailer built with "upgraded" 6K axles, but the printed GVWR still says 10k. I've seen it done, but not commonplace.


Another little known issue is that if the trailer goes over 10,001, then the truck needs to be registered for the combined GVWR of the two pieces. If that exceeds 26,001, again, better have a class A.


Depending on where you are in PA, you may get more or less attention. I've been warned on a few occasions that the cops love pickups here in southeast PA. Especially pickups with goosenecks. I never got hassled with mine.


Regardless, I just sold 14K gooseneck yesterday. Not because of the hassles, just don't need it anymore. I'm searching for a dump trailer to replace it with and am really on the fence with where to go. I am leaning toward a 6x12 10K unit, just to completely dodge the headaches. Though I prefer the safety margin with heavier axles.........................

 

I have classic tractor and just want to run around to different shows leagally like pa new york and ohio

 

You do not need a CDL automatically if you are over 10k. If you are hauling commercially, then you need to look into it.


Bullet points from PA Title 75;


* no individual axle can be over the weight limit for the axle.
* GCVW cannot be over factory GCVWR
*you can't be over the max factory GVWR for truck or trailer
*you can't be over your registered weight for the truck or trailer
*if the trailer is over 10k, the tow vehicle has to be registered for the combined weight of the truck and trailer.


PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services - Vehicle Code


Look at Chapter 49.

 

PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services - Classes of Licenses


You will need a Class A (non-commercial) if your combination truck and trailer added together is rated over 26K AND the trailer is rated over 10K. Other than that, a Class C is fine.

 

Just remember, he didn't say you needed a CDL to pull a trailer over 10k, he said a class A license.
Here in Cal, you too need a Class A (whether CDL or non CDL) to pull a bumper pull trailer over 10k or a 5th wheel over 15k.
Slight difference.

 

In PA the magic numbers for a Class A (commercial or not) are 26k combination including a trailer over 10k.


A combination over 26k with a trailer under 10k is a Class B. So is a single vehicle over 26k.

 

Yeah thanks for the info I havent decided which route to go