Can I legally tow a 20,000 lb trailer with my F450 in Missouri?
 

This is one of those topics that have never seemed to had a definite answer when discussed on a web forum, but here I go with it anyway. lol

Basically I want to know if I can LEGALLY tow a 20,000 lb. goose neck trailer with my 2000 Ford F-450?

The F-450 has a GVWR of 15,000 lbs., but I don't know what the GCWR for it is though. I just had the truck weighed yesterday and the weight was 9,330 lbs. with a full tank of diesel fuel.

The trailer in question would be a 20'+5' goose neck trailer with a GVWR of 20,000 lbs. and an actual weight of 5,440 lbs..

The load for the trailer would be an ASV RC-100 with a Fecon Bull Hog mounted on it for a combined weight of 12,440 lbs. I'm also considering a grapple rake for an additional weight of 820 lbs..

Here's a little chart that I made:
Avail. Capacity
GVWR of trailer 20,000 lbs.
Weight of trailer 5,440 lbs. 14,560 lbs
RC100 + Bull Hog 12,440 lbs. 2,120 lbs
Grapple rake, 73" 820 lbs. 1,300 lbs

I haven't even figured in the additional weight of 100 gallons of diesel fuel that I'd put in the transfer tank mounted on the flat bed of my truck, or misc. things like chains, load binders, extra fluids, grease guns, tools and so on.

So... can I legally tow this trailer if it was maxed out at it's full 20,000 lbs.?

Is it just a matter of licensing the truck for a weight higher than I plan to haul?

What agency here in Missouri would be the authority on this topic if I wanted to seek official information?

If the trailer was maxed out at 20K, that would definitely put me over 26,000 lbs.. How's that going to effect things as far as licensing the truck, trailer and a CDL?

I don't doubt that the truck and trailer could handle the loads, I'm wondering about the legalities of it all though.

Thanks!!!<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

Sent a PM to our resident Commercial Trucker friend. He'll know. He's a Missourian too.

mrfixit64857 <-The main man for truckin' questions.

the way i see it and im not a over the road driver by any means! you will need a cdl license class A and your f-450 will need to me rated high to pull the trailer weigh and truck weigh combined. so u would need a 30,000 lb tag or higher for your truck!

o and dont forget to stop at the weigh stations if you go that far!

As long as you get it registered for the total weight, they won't say or do anything about it. Also, if you stay within 100 miles of your farm, it negates the need for CDL. If you do any for hire or beyond the 100, then you must have the CDL. It isn't a bad plan to have one, but you would have to go class A since the vehicle is a combination instead of a straight truck. If you cross state lines though, it may be treated differently, so be aware of that. Typically, as long as you register it for the weight, by the DOT you are fine. You also can ask at your local DMV, they should know the rules and requirements. My inlaws farm there too, and haul hay and such around as well.

Well, Tom can't enter FTE anymore, but here's what he sent me via e-mail:

Tell him to find the regulations he needs to visit http://www.safersys.org
got all the rules he needs. just from the title alone, he would have to have a CDL just to drive that truck across state lines... and maybe within them! if the combined gross vehicle weight is 26001 or more, he must have the cdl, medical card, log book, and if there is anything on that trailer that he himself does not OWN, he needs BOTH an MC# and USDOT #s.