Question about 5 yard dumptruck to tow my hoe with

[Anonymous Poster]

I am thinking about buying a 5 yard dump truck with equipment trailer to tow my fullsize 7 ton backhoe with.

I have seen a 1980 GMC 7000 with 454 engine, 5 speed tranny and a single rear axle for sale with 11 ton 3 axle equipment trailer (DOT has inspected everything and it runs/looks good)

First off is this a good year,make,model truck or will it break down all the time?

Being that it has a gas rather than diesel engine, will this truck have enough power to tow my backhoe?

Will I need a CDL license to drive this truck with a load of gravel or even empty while towing the backhoe?

What kind of insurance or permits are required to tow a backhoe with a 5 yd dump?

Any other advice/insight is appreciated /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I believe you do have to have a CDL now, no matter what 5 yrd. v. 20 yrd.. I would also be curious to know people's opinion on the gas v. diesel. I know that gas will burn so much faster. My boss had a gas d. truck and it had to be fuled up three times a week. Now it's only once. That's a heck of a lot of money saved. His is a 20 yrd. truck though. But still....What kind of backhoe do you have? Just curious. I don't think you need any permits, just the CDL. You of course want insurance, and if you're going to do jobs on other's property, you want to be licensed, bonded, and insured. Other wise you could really suffer.

Blake
WA

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

First, the fact that this 23 year old truck is still on the road tell you it's ahead of 90% of vehicles that age. The 454 is certainly a proven engine and ought to be plenty to tow your backhoe. No one can speak to that particular truck without seeing it.

As to the need for a CDL, if you do a search here for 'CDL' you will find any number of threads with that information. The pertinent facts are not what the truck actually weight with or without a load of gravel, but rather the GVW rating of the truck.

For insurance information you would be best served contacting an insurance broker in your area. There are way too many variables to address that here.

 

[Darren]

Re: Question about 5 yard dumptruck to tow my hoe

The requirements for a CDL can be confusing. If the combination is over 10,000 GVW and you will running the rig as part of a business, the feds will want to see a CDL if they pull you over out of the state of registration. If you're over 26,000 GVW whether it's for business or just a play toy, you'll need a CDL. Air brakes are another factor. Generally if the vehicle has air brakes you'll need a CDL but I've seen info that some states don't require a CDL if it's 26,000 GVW or less. Some trucks go up to 33,000 GVW with hydraulic brakes. Even with hydraulic brakes if you're over the magic 26,000 manufacturer's rating, it's CDL time according to the fed DOT.

 

[RoyJackson]

You really need to check with your state's Dept. of Transportation or State police..
If you're a commercial driver, most certainly you'll need a CDL. But if you're driving for personal use or agricultural use, you may not. Tags, road taxes and other user taxes may or may not apply depending on which category driver you are.

Again, you need to check with your state DOT. Answers here on TBN are always good, but not necessarily reliable.

 

[Darren]

Re: Question about 5 yard dumptruck to tow my hoe

From personal experience (Maryland - twice!
Beat them in court both times.) I wouldn't necessarily trust the state police or state DOT inspectors to know the actual law. The Fed DOT regs are on the internet. You should also be able to walk into any weigh station and find and be able to read a copy of the same.

There's a big difference between personal usage for non-business related activity and business use. The CDL applies no matter what based on the GVW. The other stuff you have to comply with is based on usage.

 

[DKinWA]

luvmud-

It's dfficult to know if you'd need a CDL with the information you've provided. Take a look at this link (http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/cdl.htm) for our state and it will help you determine if you need a CDL. I can't help you with your other questions, but hopefully someone will come along that can. By the way, I like your BB name /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

you have over 10k combination gross weight, you need a cdl. Air brakes? you need a cdl. Doesn't matter if a farmer or for business. You need a CDL. A 454 is a good engine, however, with three axle trailer a hoe, I'm averaging 16K weight, you'll be dead on any hill or even small hills. We have some old timers here still running that combination and basically they don't perform very well. Of course my back yard is up and down, up and down some more.
I just passed Ct DOT check with a Dodge pick up and new Bri-Mar equipment trailer.. Trailer gross, 12K, I need a CDl. Although I got my class one in 67, and for me it was a written test and roll over class one to CDL A when they first started CDL's.. Too many states are interpreting fed laws kind of on the dangerous side. One state may allow air brakes if it is a farm or personal business. Your still not legal. Here in New England, one can pass through five states in as many hours. Better off with a class B CDL, then you'll never have to worry.

 

[BobinCols]

Chevy-GMC made the same C50 thru C70 series from about 1973 thru 1989. They are proven trucks. The 80 GMC you refer to actually has a 366 or 427 big block V8 and not a 454 big block. The 366 or 427 are as fine as engines that Chevy made. They have power, like gas, and are hard to work on-just look under the hood. Parts are still available, just remember it is 23 years old and things break.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I had a 1972 C60 with the 366 gas engine, pulling a triple axle with a Case 580K backhoe for several years. Long uphill grades took a little longer, but I sure liked that ol' truck. A Diesel would have been "nice", but since I only used it occasionally I couldn't justify the greater expense a Diesel has upfront. If you are going to use it everyday to pull the hoe, get a diesel. If it is going to be an occacional trip, the big block gas engine will suit you fine. That is a REAL Big Boy Toy combination. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Rick