Getting ready to try and get my HINO truck-based camper registered as an RV, or at least registered in a non-commercial category and could use some advice.
HINO, in case everybody's not aware, is a branch of the Toyota motor group, generally comparable to Mitsubishi or UD/Nissan, except that their trucks have won in the heavy truck category of the Paris-Dakar rally numerous times
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In 2005 they began offering a conventional cab truck which is assembled in the United States but that's a different topic.
My truck is a 1998 SG model(COE), 2wd, of course. Manufacturer's GVW is 32995lbs.
At present, my truck weighs around 15k lbs.; by the time I'm done with modifications, I might be around 26k, but not nessecarily over.
My conversion meets the standard requirements in most states for registration as a RV- permanently installed heat/plumbing/stove, etc..
It's been fairly well established that RV's over 26k lbs are being allowed without a CDL in a lot of places, but not everywhere. Any thoughts or experience on registering a commercial truck chassis as a RV and whether there would be any advantage to registering at or below 26k?
As a commercial vehicle, the states seem to be pretty uniform about "downplating" not being a valid way to be exempt from the CDL requirement.
But if Recreational Vehicles are really completely exempt form the CDL requirement, then registering over 26k shouldn't be an issue anyway, right?
Oh, and for the time being, vehicle is going to be registered in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or possibly Illinois but interested in traveling in most of the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
HINO, in case everybody's not aware, is a branch of the Toyota motor group, generally comparable to Mitsubishi or UD/Nissan, except that their trucks have won in the heavy truck category of the Paris-Dakar rally numerous times
.In 2005 they began offering a conventional cab truck which is assembled in the United States but that's a different topic.
My truck is a 1998 SG model(COE), 2wd, of course. Manufacturer's GVW is 32995lbs.
At present, my truck weighs around 15k lbs.; by the time I'm done with modifications, I might be around 26k, but not nessecarily over.
My conversion meets the standard requirements in most states for registration as a RV- permanently installed heat/plumbing/stove, etc..
It's been fairly well established that RV's over 26k lbs are being allowed without a CDL in a lot of places, but not everywhere. Any thoughts or experience on registering a commercial truck chassis as a RV and whether there would be any advantage to registering at or below 26k?
As a commercial vehicle, the states seem to be pretty uniform about "downplating" not being a valid way to be exempt from the CDL requirement.
But if Recreational Vehicles are really completely exempt form the CDL requirement, then registering over 26k shouldn't be an issue anyway, right?
Oh, and for the time being, vehicle is going to be registered in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or possibly Illinois but interested in traveling in most of the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
