Newer 3/4 ton advice?

[Copperhead]

If you豎*e trying to stay legal, that will still need a CDL. It doesn� matter that it逞ｴ registered at 14k, if the GVWR is 14,900 and the truck is 12k. Some trailer manufacturers will derate a trailer, but usually not after it逞ｴ sold, must be ordered that way. To stay under CDL, with that Diamond C trailer, the truck will have to have a GVWR of 11,100 lbs, or less.

Only if doing commercial work with it. Even farm activity within a 150 mile radius of the farm, no CDL required even though that is technically a commercial activity. Some goofy state might play the CDL game, but the overall majority of states have no requirement for that needing a CDL unless it is a commercial activity. I could have a 53' 5th wheel triple axle flat bed and moving a couple of pieces of equipment I own, all while it being powered by a Ford 550 chassis cab with platform mounted 5th wheel. And it would not need a CDL unless that is a commercial activity. If it is purely for personal stuff, no CDL needed.

Likewise, I can drive my semi truck tractor down the road with a 25K 5th wheel travel trailer hooked up to it. And no CDL needed. I can go out and buy a old Army 5 ton dump truck and drive it around, even hauling gravel for my driveway or taking junk to the landfill and not need a CDL.

No different than someone with a large Class A diesel pusher with a 8.5 x 20 cargo trailer hooked up to it and driving down the road on vacation doesn't require a CDL. And many of those Class A diesel pushers utilize air brakes.

CDL... Commercial Drivers License. The operative word is "commercial". I do have a Class A CDL with all endorsements, but it is because I actually do commercial transport stuff.

Posted by a player in the trucking industry. Read all of it, because it outlines who is NOT required to get a CDL to operate even semi trucks and trailers. Weight of single or combination vehicles is not in play.

Who Is Required To Get A CDL? | High Road Online CDL Training

Backed up by the state of Washington....

WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: Who doesn't need a CDL?

Likewise, State of OH....

State of Ohio BMV

And the list goes on and on and on. The CDL is a Federal program instituted by congressional action and directed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. States must abide by the mandate of the Federal CDL program.

 

[Copperhead]

Now, there are a handful of rogue states (several of the usual suspects) that have taken it upon themselves to mandate a CDL for anyone operating over 26000 lb. The question then becomes if they are in violation of state reciprocity laws if a driver from another state that doesn't require a CDL to operate over 26000 lb for personal reasons and is stopped by an LEO, checked, and cited in a state that does require a CDL for that? That is lawyer territory.

But it is certain, the CDL program is a Federally directed program and it does not require a person to have a CDL, irregardless of weight of single or combination vehicles, if the vehicle is being used for personal and not commercial activity, along with exemption for farm operations of 150 mile radius of the main farm location.

Not sure how current this article is, and it is from an RV standpoint, but it lists many of the states who require a CDL under some conditions and those who exempt CDL.....

RV Driver's License Requirements In Every State | Campanda Magazine

 

[ruffdog]

Comparing the 2020 diesel and gas GM trucks for milage loaded and empty. Diesel loaded 10 mpg...empty 20 mpg, Gas loaded 7 mpg...empty 16 mpg.

Towing, it would take 116k miles to break even on the $10k extra a diesel costs. If you drive empty, 600k+ to break even.

 

[nikerret]

Only if doing commercial work with it. Even farm activity within a 150 mile radius of the farm, no CDL required even though that is technically a commercial activity. Some goofy state might play the CDL game, but the overall majority of states have no requirement for that needing a CDL unless it is a commercial activity.

I’m not sure why you thought it was necessary to post all of that. The OP clearly states he is going to be commercial. Even if he was doing agricultural work commercially, it would still all apply as the exemptions are only for the farmer, family members, or employees. Per FMCSA:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmc...lds/396526/agricultural-reference-guide_0.pdf

And repeated in Colorado’s literature:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Farmer brochure Web.pdf


Now, you are correct in that for personal use you can drive about anything, on a regular DL. You are also correct in that some States are much more restrictive than others or the minimum requirements the Feds set.

By the letter if the law, all the farmers who hay other peoples’ fields are subject to all the regulations. In reality, it’s ignored.

 

[nikerret]

Not sure how current this article is, and it is from an RV standpoint, but it lists many of the states who require a CDL under some conditions and those who exempt CDL.....

RV Driver's License Requirements In Every State | Campanda Magazine

This source is not accurate. Kansas follows Federal regulations. If you’re driving a truck and trailer or motor home, for strictly personal activity, only a Class C is required (Class C is the lowest non-restricted DL). This site says a Commercial CDL A is required, that’s not true, regardless of weight. Other restrictions may apply, but if you stay within all weight and size requirements, drive on.

 

[Copperhead]

Comparing the 2020 diesel and gas GM trucks for milage loaded and empty. Diesel loaded 10 mpg...empty 20 mpg, Gas loaded 7 mpg...empty 16 mpg.

Towing, it would take 116k miles to break even on the $10k extra a diesel costs. If you drive empty, 600k+ to break even.

Some wil argue that the diesel holds its resale better. I checked the NADA guide, the standard for many auto dealers, and I looked at 2015 and 2017 Chevy 2500's and the Dmax version was valued only $6K higher than the gasser on trade in both years. For the Dmax version to hold more value in resale, it would have to sell for less than $6K more than its gas counterpart. I have never seen a new Dmax 2500 sell for less than a $6K spread. Most time the spread is $9K+. So by being only valued $6K more in the guide for trade in value, most folks actually lose more money by getting the diesel. One had better have a real use for it to justify throwing more money away.

 

[two_bit_score]

NADA is popular with consumers and is widely sold to them. It’s mainly a glorified depreciation schedule.

Dealers use Blackbook or Mannheim Market Reports.

 

[Copperhead]

NADA is popular with consumers and is widely sold to them. It’s mainly a glorified depreciation schedule.

Dealers use Blackbook or Mannheim Market Reports.

I have watched as many financial institutions use NADA also. And many of them will not generate a loan on a vehicle that exceeds the NADA value. So NADA still has its place in the scheme of things. And any dealer is going to only offer the lower of what trade in values are showing, irregardless of what data source and what folks feel a vehicle is worth.

Now selling a vehicle, the dealer will all of a sudden elevate the price to make it look like it holds its value more. That is because it is easier to buffalo folks into paying more. after all, some folks will just about pay anything for a diesel versions simply because they swoon over the mere mention of "diesel". Some of us who use diesels daily, and in my case I buy 21,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year, a diesel vehicle doesn't have the glitter that other folks see in it. A diesel truck is simply a tool. I would never pay, and never have paid, more than the NADA guide for a retail used vehicle. And that being said, the NADA guide for a diesel pickup is about $6K more than the gas version.

 

[two_bit_score]

It depends on if you are buying, selling or lending money on which guidebook you use, I guess. But you said, “ I checked the NADA guide, the standard for many auto dealers, .

My point is that auto dealers don’t use NADA to rely on to make money or they wouldn’t be in business long. Some might try and convince naive consumers a vehicle is worth NADA but they don’t buy vehicles for NADA.

 

[Code54]

I very recently traded a 2012 diesel 2500 in for a new gas 2500. It was worth more, about 6k more than the comparable gas truck - BUT I think it cost me about 8K more for the diesel when we bought it so I really lost an extra 2k. Now I enjoyed it for 6 years but have to say I really didn't need a diesel and the extra cost associated with it was not worth it to me. My new gas truck is great, lots of power and much cheaper to run. Now don't get me wrong, it is great when you go to the dealer and they say your truck is worth 35k and not 29k but you spent that money up front so it not as good as it sounds.

 

[goeduck]

My new gas truck is great, lots of power and much cheaper to run.

Lots of people buy diesels that do not need them given the power modern gas engines put out and in many cases have greater reliability than diesel.

 

[Code54]

I have to agree there. I had the opportunity to get a diesel in 2012 and really just wanted to have one. The CTD had incredible power pulling but did I need it, nope. Sure was nice towing my mini ex home 500 miles but I'm sure a gas motor would have done it, maybe not quite as fast but it would have been fine. The diesel was fun to own but expensive and the much higher cost of diesel over gas here never allow me any savings in fuel costs. This weekend I had around 2500lbs in the bed on the new truck and it hauled it extremely well. Honestly other than having a better than normal ride you really didn't notice the weight much. The lighter gas engine also allowed the payload to increase so that has been a nice benefit as well.

 

[Snobdds]

Where I live, 6500 feet, normal physics that states there is no replacement for displacement is wrong. At altitude the saying goes, the replacement for displacement is turbo PSI.

Gas trucks are dogs up here, they run out of air long before they run out of rpms or fuel. We only drive diesels and now ecoboosts. I have both and will never own another naturally aspirated truck again, I waited years for an OEM to produce a gas engine that has turbos.

And I don't care how much diesels trucks cost, when you need them, you need them.

 

[nikerret]

Where I live, 6500 feet, normal physics that states there is no replacement for displacement is wrong. At altitude the saying goes, the replacement for displacement is turbo PSI.

Gas trucks are dogs up here, they run out of air long before they run out of rpms or fuel. We only drive diesels and now ecoboosts. I have both and will never own another naturally aspirated truck again, I waited years for an OEM to produce a gas engine that has turbos.

And I don't care how much diesels trucks cost, when you need them, you need them.

Thanks, for your post. Can you give any insight as to what elevation the diesel becomes necessary, based on your experience?

 

[Fallon]

Thanks, for your post. Can you give any insight as to what elevation the diesel becomes necessary, based on your experience?

I live near Denver at 6,000' or so. That's a 20% HP loss from somebody at sea level due to lack of oxygen. My L4060 up here probably is equivalent to a L3560 at sea level. I wish it was turbocharged or I'd gotten a bigger engine at times (I dont regret the L4060 though & it fit my budget).

I cant answer your exact question, but adequate HP for you guys down low is often a bit lacking up here. A turbo mitigates the altitude a bit, but not completely.

 

[Snobdds]

Thanks, for your post. Can you give any insight as to what elevation the diesel becomes necessary, based on your experience?

I sure can...

Anything above 1ft in elevation above sea level requires a diesel, based upon my experience.

Good day...

 

[Industrial Toys]

And below, with a snorkel too.

 

[nikerret]

I sure can...

Anything above 1ft in elevation above sea level requires a diesel, based upon my experience.

Good day...

Okay....typically, when I get an F U, they include the reason why.

 

[Snobdds]

Okay....typically, when I get an F U, they include the reason why.

I also don't answer such convoluted questions either.

I mean, really, what elevation does it make sense? I don't know, that's a personal opinion and I gave you mine.

However, mathematically speaking...there is a 3.6xxx% loss of power/1000 feet. So I am 23.4% under powered at each RPM level.

300Hp - 229HP at elevation
500 Ft/lbs - 383 at elevation.

Where the diesel or turbo charged gas might give up <1% at elevation. After all an engine is just an air pump.

 

[goeduck]

I sure can...

Anything above 1ft in elevation above sea level requires a diesel, based upon my experience.

Good day...

So If I drive on the beach, I am okay with gas?