CDL - A, B, or C?

[Mitch Hoy]

Derating for the purpose of DOT weight restrictions can be done at any DMV during initial registration or any time thereafter. It has to do with what the vehicle is registered at for intended use as opposed to manufacturer’s specs and rating. We have two trucks set up like this. When you are pulling a 14k trailer loaded at or near its capacity, it’s nice to have a serious work truck hauling it without needing a CDL for everyone. Only health card required. SRW trucks will do the job with modifications, but having the differential ratio and suspension of a medium duty truck is hassle free and handles better.

 

[Fivepoints]

Derating for the purpose of DOT weight restrictions can be done at any DMV during initial registration or any time thereafter. It has to do with what the vehicle is registered at for intended use as opposed to manufacturer’s specs and rating. We have two trucks set up like this. When you are pulling a 14k trailer loaded at or near its capacity, it’s nice to have a serious work truck hauling it without needing a CDL for everyone. Only health card required. SRW trucks will do the job with modifications, but having the differential ratio and suspension of a medium duty truck is hassle free and handles better.

Count your blessings that flys there. It's not like that everywhere. We are not able to do that here with trucks.

Btw our f550 weighs 10,500 across the scales empty with a 12 ft dump bed, with all our gear, full of fuel, and with a 200 lb driver. Its not going to take much stump grinding to put you over 12,000 lbs.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Agreed.

And why are people happy about getting an F450 for tree work over a 550? Every day I go across the scales to pay for debris disposal I notice that this tree or trees weren't sticking to their diet either.

Just my opinion.

 

[Reach]

Agreed.

And why are people happy about getting an F450 for tree work over a 550? Every day I go across the scales to pay for debris disposal I notice that this tree or trees weren't sticking to their diet either.

Just my opinion.

I’m with you there. Our new all-aluminum Ram 5500 chip truck is apparently 2600 pounds overweight with a full load of oak chips and a chipper behind. A kind (and somewhat clueless) DOT officer was nice enough to point that out to us the other week. An F450 might make a nice truck for pulling a trailer around, but at least for our operation anything smaller than a 550 is not really all that useful.

 

[Merle Nelson]

How many yards does your 5500 hold?

I have a 5500 and keep procrastinating on mocking up my ideas for a working chip box out of aluminum.

 

[Mitch Hoy]

Count your blessings that flys there. It's not like that everywhere. We are not able to do that here with trucks.

Btw our f550 weighs 10,500 across the scales empty with a 12 ft dump bed, with all our gear, full of fuel, and with a 200 lb driver. Its not going to take much stump grinding to put you over 12,000 lbs.

We addressed DOT before doing the de-rate to make sure it complies. To my understanding, it is standard in most places, and the reason for the common load rating of 14k on many trailers. Not sure why it wouldn't "fly." It makes sense to be able to road rate a truck for its intended use, and one way to work with the fact that so many combinations easily jump into class A CDL requirements.

Your dump bed must be heavier material. Even with a large steel chip box insert (total volume 15 yards, chipped volume 12) on the mason bed, our truck was under ten on the scale. I am sure we could go over if we went to town, or depending on the amount of dirt in the grindings, species, etc. We empty it daily when used, so even a large stump (8-10' root crown silvers, commonly for us) doesn't put more than a few yards, and wouldn't put it over weight. For large projects with a lot of stumps, it is easier to pile in our dump trailer, anyways.

Cheers.

 

[Reach]

How many yards does your 5500 hold?

I have a 5500 and keep procrastinating on mocking up my ideas for a working chip box out of aluminum.

It holds about 18, if my memory is correct. It’s a pretty big box, 11’ 8” long, 6’ high inside. The toolboxes and mat rack take up a lot of space, and add some weight. 500 pounds just in mats.

 

[Mitch Hoy]

It holds about 18, if my memory is correct. It’s a pretty big box, 11’ 8” long, 6’ high inside. The toolboxes and mat rack take up a lot of space, and add some weight. 500 pounds just in mats.

That's a super nice truck. Is there a reason why you didn't go with a larger non-cdl chassis cab for your build?

 

[Merle Nelson]

Thanks Reach.

Nice looking box, incredible function. My steel bins are great for logs, but I need to have an aluminum chip box built.

 

[Reach]

That's a super nice truck. Is there a reason why you didn't go with a larger non-cdl chassis cab for your build?

Thank you, we really like it. We already have that as well, but like the short wheelbase and maneuverability of the 5500 platform. It’s easier to put in a small space, and these new little trucks can pull plenty as well. Plus, it’s not as scary looking to a new driver to jump in as an F650.

 

[Reach]

Thanks Reach.

Nice looking box, incredible function. My steel bins are great for logs, but I need to have an aluminum chip box built.

I agree. It’s a great setup. You can’t beat the price of the shop we used either, they were almost $10k cheaper than Eby. The downside is they are booked 6 months out at the moment...

 

[VenasNursery]

I agree. It’s a great setup. You can’t beat the price of the shop we used either, they were almost $10k cheaper than Eby. The downside is they are booked 6 months out at the moment...

There’s a reason they are out 6 months

I bet all the big manufacturers are out that long also but like you said 10k more and probably steel not aluminum

 

[Reach]

There’s a reason they are out 6 months

I bet all the big manufacturers are out that long also but like you said 10k more and probably steel not aluminum

Yes, probably they are all that far out right now, but I don’t know the other shops very well. The owner of this one is a friend of mine, so I talk to him pretty regularly.

 

[VenasNursery]

Yes, probably they are all that far out right now, but I don’t know the other shops very well. The owner of this one is a friend of mine, so I talk to him pretty regularly.

It’s always awesome to support your locals when possible

 

[Fivepoints]

We addressed DOT before doing the de-rate to make sure it complies. To my understanding, it is standard in most places, and the reason for the common load rating of 14k on many trailers. Not sure why it wouldn't "fly." It makes sense to be able to road rate a truck for its intended use, and one way to work with the fact that so many combinations easily jump into class A CDL requirements.

Your dump bed must be heavier material. Even with a large steel chip box insert (total volume 15 yards, chipped volume 12) on the mason bed, our truck was under ten on the scale. I am sure we could go over if we went to town, or depending on the amount of dirt in the grindings, species, etc. We empty it daily when used, so even a large stump (8-10' root crown silvers, commonly for us) doesn't put more than a few yards, and wouldn't put it over weight. For large projects with a lot of stumps, it is easier to pile in our dump trailer, anyways.

Cheers.

Here whatever the gvwr is listed on the truck is what matters, not whatever you want to register it for.

One reason you see a lot of 14k trailers is that 7k axles are common. We commonly have 14k trailers that have been derated to 10k by the manufacturer when it was built.

 

[Reach]

Here whatever the gvwr is listed on the truck is what matters, not whatever you want to register it for.

One reason you see a lot of 14k trailers is that 7k axles are common. We commonly have 14k trailers that have been derated to 10k by the manufacturer when it was built.

PA is the same way, we are not permitted to use combination weights to eliminate the need for a CDL. If the factory sticker says 14k, that’s all that matters.