From: Jim Newton (jnewton@laurel.com)
Date: Tue Jun 08 2004 - 21:06:57 PDT
Hi Arthur...
I respectfully must correct you on the California regulations.
You are required to have a Class B in California to drive a
non-commercial vehicle that has _3_axles_ that ALSO weighs
_more_than_6,000_lbs_.
If it only has 2 axles, then anything under 26,000 lbs is OK with a
regular license. This WOULD include a deuce if it only had 2 axles
since it has a GVW of 23,000 lbs. It is that second axle that gets
you.
There is a guy here in the SF Bay Area (in Sunnyvale on Blazingwood
Drive) that is converting his deuce to a single rear axle...I think
this 3rd axle rule must be why.
In my case, there is some weirdness...DMV refuses to let me take my
Class B skills (driving) test in MY M35A2 because it is registered as
an Historic Vehicle. They said it is because on the registration
form, it literally says that my truck is a "CAR", and you have to take
your Class B skills test in a "truck". All HV's in California are
classed as "car"s. So I hope that this means I am driving a "CAR"
when the cops stop me. ;)
There's another aspect...was the deuce "designed" to carry more than
15 passengers with the troop seats installed? If so, this would
require you to have a Class B with a special BUS endorsement.
It is all VERY nebulous here in the people's republik of KA.
Here (between the "***"s) is the simplified California code, directly
from the California DMV web site
(http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs03thru06.htm):
***
Class A**
You may drive any legal combination of vehicles, including vehicles
under Classes B and C.
You may tow:
- any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more
than 10,000 lbs.
- any trailer bus, with endorsement
- more than one vehicle, with endorsement
- any vehicle under Classes B (an additional endorsement may be
required) or C
Class A Fire Fighter**
You may drive only Class A and Class B defined combination fire
fighting vehicles and all vehicles listed under Class C.
You may tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs.
Class A Noncommercial
You may drive any of the vehicles under Class C.
You may tow travel trailers weighing over 10,000 lbs. GVWR or 5th
wheel travel trailers weighing over 15,000 lbs. GVWR when the trailers
are not used for hire (pay or other compensation). Study material for
this class of license is contained in the Recreational Vehicles and
Trailers booklet, available at any DMV office.
Class B**
You may drive:
- any single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs.
- a 3-axle vehicle weighing over 6,000 lbs. gross
- any bus (except a trailer bus), with endorsement
- any farm labor vehicle, with endorsement
- all vehicles under Class C
*Refer to the Commercial Driver Handbook for additional information
and study material.
You may tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. or less.
Class B Fire Fighter**
You may drive only a Class B defined single fire fighting vehicle and
all the vehicles listed under Class C.
You may tow a single vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. or less.
Class B Noncommercial
You may drive:
- any vehicles listed under Class C.
- a housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet, with endorsement.
You may tow any vehicle listed under Class C. Study material for this
class of license is contained in the Recreational Vehicles and
Trailers booklet, available at any DMV office.
Class C
You may drive:
- any 2-axle vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 lbs. or less.
- any 3-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 lbs. Or less gross.
- any housecar, 40 feet or less.
- a vanpool vehicle, designed to carry more than 10 but less than 15
persons including the driver. The driver must have a valid medical
report on file with DMV and carry a valid medical card.. The driver
must also have a signed certification stating he/she has not been
convicted of reckless driving, drunk driving, or hit-and-run in the
last five years. (VC Section 12804.9[j] ).
***
>The 2.5-ton is the choice. Smaller, lighter, easier to insure. NO CDL in any
>state regardless of the gossip. The fellows who have been told that they
>need a CDL in California should go back and try again and find a clerk who
>knows her job. The feds agree that every state should treat trucks equally
>and fairly. These rules are federally set and enforced.. The brakes are air
>assist, which according to the DOT is the same as vacuum assist or cosmic
>ray assist, the operative word being assist.
>
>Getting back to the merits, I am biased because I sell stuff for the M35,
>but most of my customers who have both types prefer the M35. Get one with an
>air-shift transfer and a turbo. You will not be disappointed.
>
>Arthur P. Bloom, Pres
>www.M35products.com
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jim Zehr" <jimm1009@yahoo.com>
>To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 8:56 PM
>Subject: [MV] 2.5 versuses 5 ton trucks
>
>
>> I came across a M54W but I did not get a chance to
>> write the NSN down. What is the "W"?
>> It is in the civilian world and now has a water tank
>> on back. The tank does not look military and probably
>> was added by the current owner who paves roads for the
>> county.
>> It does have the multi-fuel engine, power assist
>> steering, 11:00 x 20 tires, and a manual shift
>> transmission. No winch or winch provisions.
>> My question to the guys with experience in both
>> trucks.
>> If a newbie was interested in a 2.5 ton and/or a 5 ton
>> which would be best to have of the two? I would not
>> want one with an automatic tranny due to cost of
>> repairs.
>> For the money what would be better to have for a
>> collector / occasional driver / rarely a work truck?
>> Are there more more costs for one than the other. Are
>> parts about the same in availablility and cost?
>> It appears that the 5 ton is a little faster on the
>> road unloaded but I am still comparing opinions and
>> -10s. Looking for experienced opinions from the
>> experts.
>> Thanks as always,
>> Jim
>> jimm1009@yahoo.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________
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>>
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>
>
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--Jim "Ike" Newton
o 1984 M1007 CUCV Military Suburban 6.2 Liter (378 CID) Turbo-Diesel Engine 5/4 Ton Cargo Capacity, 4WD
o 1971 M35A2 Military Troop/Cargo Truck "Deuce and a Half" 478 CID Turbo-Diesel Multi-Fuel Engine Air Shift Front Axle 2 1/2 Ton Cargo Capacity, 6WD
See These Trucks at www.CUCV.NET Keyword Searching of 22,000 Electronic TMs at www.MILDOCS.com
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