Question on hauling my own equipment

Not sure I make it a point to know were the scales are on any trip and try to pass them at night or sunday when ai know they are not open?? I would also like to hear the info from other members👍

I haul with 30' 5th wheel flat bed behind 350 Ford. Mississippi Lic, NO CDL. Custom made trailer, so no VIN plate on trailer. I claim is a 14K trailer, but we built it with 2 12k axles, so can haul a Cat 60 or 65 with no problems.

Never stop at scales - day or night

1. Stoped in KY with a CAT 30 on the trailer (One Sunday). They escorted me to the scales, and first question was "Who was I hauling for." Second question was "My God, how old is that thing anyway" Found I was under 26K total and said have a good day.

2. Stopped in Indiana empty. Safety check. All ok, but got a warning ticket for not having a CDL to operate the rig in Indiana. I said the trailer was only 14K so did not require a CDL, and was told "Sure, don't come back to Indiana without CDL. Haul to Portland show every year since, and never had any other problems, still no CDL.

if you keep it below 26001# then you are ok, if over then you should get a cdl.
If you have farm tags then no worries.
Make sure that the pulling vehicle has tags that cover the total GVW ( in NC this means the truck, trailer, and cargo )

I was pulled over here in Michigan last summer coming home from a show. I was in my F550 dump truck (private) and had the Jeep on the 7 ton trailer and another antique garden tractor in the back of the truck. I was stopped by Mi. State police DOT for not having DOT numbers on my truck. Once I explained that I was non commercial I was sent on my way after a quick check of my license & registration.

Just the day after I got home from Portland last August I was pulled over in Benton Harbor Mi. again by a Mi. State DOT officer. I explained that I was on my way home from looking at an antique tractor that I was thinking about adding to the collection and heading home empty (except for the old Kubota garden tractor still in the truck from Portland). I explained that I was non-commercial and the officer told me that I was doing 67 mph (in a 70mph zone). I told the officer that I was well under 26K and he told me that it didn't matter. ANY Car, Truck, RV, SUV, Bus or other vehicle pulling a trailer (boat, camper, or whatever) with a TOTAL COMBINED weight over 10,000lbs is limited to 60mph by Michigan law. Although I admitted that my truck alone was 10,000lbs, the trailer was 3800lbs and the Kubota weighed about 700lbs. for a total combined weight of just under 15K I was escorted by the officer to the state highway dept. garage at the next exit where I was weighed by portable scales that the officer had in his Tahoe Cruiser. Even though I was being a REAAAALLLLY nice guy at the time and helped the officer with moving his portable scales ( I call it the "hind-lick maneuver"), The %*@?)!!&%$ Still gave me a ticket!😈 By the way, that officer also told me that my Pintle latch was not closed and threatened to give me a citation for that too. I showed him that the hitch was a combination pintle/ball hitch and the trailer has a 2 5/16" BALL coupler and not a pintle eye. He had never heard of such a thing.😆

I have passed weigh stations without any trouble (so far) myself but the whole "Private not for hire" thing is a big grey area. I have talked to at least half a dozen officers about getting DOT numbers and even went to talk to people at the Kalamazoo DOT office and NOBODY can or will give me a definite answer. Two people at the DOT office told me that I couldn't have a DOT number since I am hauling privately:noidea:

Laws vary from state to state. I have been hauling antique tractors in Michigan Indiana and Ohio for over two decades so far and have never been stopped until recently (I was pulled over by a local officer many years ago just because he wanted a closed look at the '37 John Deere B that I was hauling. He was very polite and apologized for "wasting my time" I started the tractor for him there on the trailer with traffic whizzing by and invited him to stop by my house sometime and I'd let him drive it).

At our Kalamazoo Antique Engine & Machinery Club meeting next week we are supposed to have a lecture from Michigan State DOT officials about proper towing procedures and I'm Hoping to get a definite answer about the DOT numbers (in writing and notarized). That's a good idea for a meeting topic for your local club meetings. It could save you some fines (and points against your license).👍

I was pulled over here in Michigan last summer coming home from a show. I was in my F550 dump truck (private) and had the Jeep on the 7 ton trailer and another antique garden tractor in the back of the truck. I was stopped by Mi. State police DOT for not having DOT numbers on my truck. Once I explained that I was non commercial I was sent on my way after a quick check of my license & registration.

Just the day after I got home from Portland last August I was pulled over in Benton Harbor Mi. again by a Mi. State DOT officer. I explained that I was on my way home from looking at an antique tractor that I was thinking about adding to the collection and heading home empty (except for the old Kubota garden tractor still in the truck from Portland). I explained that I was non-commercial and the officer told me that I was doing 67 mph (in a 70mph zone). I told the officer that I was well under 26K and he told me that it didn't matter. ANY Car, Truck, RV, SUV, Bus or other vehicle pulling a trailer (boat, camper, or whatever) with a TOTAL COMBINED weight over 10,000lbs is limited to 60mph by Michigan law. Although I admitted that my truck alone was 10,000lbs, the trailer was 3800lbs and the Kubota weighed about 700lbs. for a total combined weight of just under 15K I was escorted by the officer to the state highway dept. garage at the next exit where I was weighed by portable scales that the officer had in his Tahoe Cruiser. Even though I was being a REAAAALLLLY nice guy at the time and helped the officer with moving his portable scales ( I call it the "hind-lick maneuver"), The %*@?)!!&%$ Still gave me a ticket!😈 By the way, that officer also told me that my Pintle latch was not closed and threatened to give me a citation for that too. I showed him that the hitch was a combination pintle/ball hitch and the trailer has a 2 5/16" BALL coupler and not a pintle eye. He had never heard of such a thing.😆

I have passed weigh stations without any trouble (so far) myself but the whole "Private not for hire" thing is a big grey area. I have talked to at least half a dozen officers about getting DOT numbers and even went to talk to people at the Kalamazoo DOT office and NOBODY can or will give me a definite answer. Two people at the DOT office told me that I couldn't have a DOT number since I am hauling privately:noidea:

Laws vary from state to state. I have been hauling antique tractors in Michigan Indiana and Ohio for over two decades so far and have never been stopped until recently (I was pulled over by a local officer many years ago just because he wanted a closed look at the '37 John Deere B that I was hauling. He was very polite and apologized for "wasting my time" I started the tractor for him there on the trailer with traffic whizzing by and invited him to stop by my house sometime and I'd let him drive it).

At our Kalamazoo Antique Engine & Machinery Club meeting next week we are supposed to have a lecture from Michigan State DOT officials about proper towing procedures and I'm Hoping to get a definite answer about the DOT numbers (in writing and notarized). That's a good idea for a meeting topic for your local club meetings. It could save you some fines (and points against your license).👍

Wisconsin farm plates lets you go about 300 miles from the place listed on the title. I have heard in IL if it is AG, you do not need over width permits.
Every state has their own little changes to the federal laws.
Terry

Wisconsin farm plates lets you go about 300 miles from the place listed on the title. I have heard in IL if it is AG, you do not need over width permits.
Every state has their own little changes to the federal laws.
Terry

In Ohio the law exempts these categories from the CDL:
"A commercial motor vehicle that is operated for nonbusiness purposes. "Operated for nonbusiness purposes" means that the commercial motor vehicle is not used in commerce as "commerce" is defined in 48 C.F.R. 383.5 as amended, and is not regulated by the public utilities commission pursuant to Chapter 4919., 4821., or 4923.,of the Ohio Revised Code."

I have been driving a 1983 GMC Brigadier medium road tractor with Historical plates set up for 60,000 lbs, air brakes, and fifth wheel trailer. So far no problems. Planning on going to Portland, IN this year. Will Indiana lock me up at the boarder? I don't now and have never had a CDL. I'm sure the truck would pass DOT, at least I'd like to think so, new tires and everything works. I have not gone thru a scale yet with this truck, what should I expect? I have gone thru scales in NY state with a different truck and just got a "go" and why are you wasting our time look. I have Historical Vehicle insurance on the truck and trailer and it doesn’t limits how far I drive as long as it's for fun and hobby related. Anyone had problems with Ohio?

My girl friend and I just got back from a 3,400 mile trip from Bakersfield CA to Omaha NE. then down to Belle Plaine KS for the fling.

We take lots of back windy roads (not to avoid the scales) but fun for me driving and she like to take pics.

I stop at all the scales and they red light me at every one. We go in and tell them were vacationing and they let us go. I've asked several times if I have to stop and they say "yes". So if your legal just stop because they will come and get you and wright you a ticket for not stopping.

Here are a few pics, ya it can be a embarrassing pulling my old trailer but sure is nice having it with me 👍