From: MV (MV@dc9.tzo.com)
Date: Thu Oct 13 2005 - 16:10:18 PDT
If you aren't hauling commercially then an awful lot of stuff that
applies to commercial haulers does not apply. The problem with any
really heavy rig is that most insurers want to sell you a commercial
policy. If you are not a commercial carrier with an MC number, etc,
then you don't need carriers liability insurance at all. Also, if you
can get a military tractor, then at least in Indiana, you don't need
semi tractor plates to use it on the road as a private vehicle. In fact
per the law you don't need a plate at all. It just has to be
registered. Semi trailer plates are cheap, about $40/year or so here.
If you drive a normal semi tractor you can buy regular semi plates plus
the trailer plates for about $400.00/yr for a 50,000 lb GCWR rig.
The other thing to consider is that once you go over 55,000 lbs you are
suppose to pay the HUT or heavy vehicle use tax, which I think is
$500/yr now. I don't know how that law is written if that would apply
to non commercial vehicles or not??
Finally, as a commercial vehicle operator anything over 26,000 lbs has
to pay IFTA taxes on fuel.
Although the law is pretty vague regarding recreational use, I think
that most DOT and regular cops would have a problem with a person
driving a full blown semi without a CDL.
Actually the trick that Sonny did is probably the easiest way to get a
heavy hauler that doesn't cost a fortune. Make it an RV. After all
that is really what it is anyway if you are hauling your own stuff. The
commercial laws really don't apply to RV use at all.
The law is just so vague and the cops are on the tails of the commercial
guys so things get a bit dicey.
I'm setting up a rig right now that will be just less than the 55,000 lb
HUT limit, but it will be a full commercial rig, but without the IRP
plates. I'll just pay for permits I guess if I have to run out of
state. The IRP plates are just too expensive. I've already got the
IFTA stickers. That is more of an accounting problem than anything else.
Dave
Sonny Heath wrote:
> Yeah, then you would only have to pay about five or six grand a year for
> a tag and liability insurance,
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Sonny
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "MV" <MV@dc9.tzo.com>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [MV] Increasing towing capacity of 800 series trucks?
>
>
>>
>> The ratings on the M series truck are definitely on the light side
>> compared to what they are really capable of.
>>
>> What's the rating of the pintle hitch itself?? I'd find a similar
>> commercial articulating pintle and compare ratings. Once you find
>> that, look for attachment recommendations from the pintle hitch maker.
>> Compare that to what you have.
>>
>> I would not be surprised if the frame and hitch are good for 50,000
>> lbs or more. I wonder more about the vehicle dynamics of putting a
>> lot of tounge weight on the pintle. With that pivoting rear axle and
>> big tall tires. I suppose it also depends on just how far and how
>> fast you want to go.
>>
>> What are you going to pull that weighs more than 30,000 lbs? Huge
>> backhoes are about 20,000 lbs.
>>
>> HP is going to become an issue also if you have to climb any hills.
>> With my M51 dump with 30-35,000 lbs in the bed, it is not a fast
>> machine. 45 mph is pretty much top end and that is after going
>> through most of the 10 forward speeds. The 800 series trucks have a
>> little more hp than my old R6602 which is at 200 hp, but not that much
>> more.
>>
>> I'd seriously think about acquiring a 5 ton tractor (m52 or 800 series
>> equililent?) and using a 5th wheel trailer for heavy loads. Tag
>> trailers just have a lot of limitations when they get that big.
>> Besides semi trailers are cheap and plentiful at least in the midwest.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> J wrote:
>>
>>> Looking for any info on increasing the legal towed load capacity of a
>>> 800 series truck. Out of the box, it is 30,000 pounds. I'm guessing
>>> that is due to the articulating pintle hitch that the Army wanted for
>>> towing loads over rough ground. For normal hiway driving, the
>>> articulation feature is not needed, so a heavier duty commercial
>>> hitch would work, provided that the local structure of the frame will
>>> support it. Has anyone done or seen such a mod? Thanks. Jim
>>>
>>>
>>
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