TX_Dj
New member
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- Location
- Texas, Plano
Howdy Fellas...
Before I go on, let me say I've been lurking here a while, and have searched quite a bit. However as beneficial as the vast knowledge shared in these forums is, it sometimes can make it a little different to find specific answers for questions I'm certain have been asked before.
Please keep in mind that most of my questions are Texas Specific, and while I can appreciate the want to put information for other states for people who may be searching that information, that very practice is what's made it somewhat difficult for me to find the specific answers I require. Sorry!
1) Unloaded, no trailer, no "historic" plates, is it legal in TX for me to drive an M818 on a Class C license? Technically it is under 26,000 lbs in this configuration, but I suspect because it has a GVWR or GCWR in excess of 26,000 lbs it wouldn't matter one bit. This leads me to believe that in an "uncombined" single-vehicle configuration, I would require at least a Class B to legally operate it. I don't want historic plates because I don't want to be limited in the number of miles I can legally operate the vehicle per year, though at this point I do not foresee that I would exceed that limitation anytime soon.
2) If I require a Class B or Class A in Texas, and because the truck (and any trailer attached) would be personally owned, and not operated for profit, could I qualify under the Non-CDL Exemption as a Recreational Vehicle? This seems the only provision under the exemption which would seem to somewhat match my situation. I've found verbiage in the law a few years back that said in order for a vehicle to be considered an RV it must have a sleeping berth, galley, and bathroom facilities at a minimum. Obviously an M818 isn't going to meet those requirements.
3) If I got a Non-CDL exemption for the higher classes of license, would it be at all possible that my donation of time, equipment, and fuel would be also exempt from CDL provisions if donated to a not-for-profit entity? I am a member of a car club that does quite a number of shows per year, but not all members have the ability to transport their vehicles to the show. If I could somehow provide transport for a few of their vehicles for these shows, without receiving any compensation, would this still qualify under the Non-CDL exemption, as I'm transporting property which does NOT belong to me?
Ultimately, I have no qualms with getting the CDL, it's just that I don't want to pay extra (and the extra requirements) to get the CDL if I can operate without it in a legal fashion. The main concern here is that (like so many of us, I'm sure) I do occasionally get a ticket that can be dismissed via an accredited defensive driving class, and in TX if you possess a CDL you cannot take a defensive driving class, even if you were not operating a commercial vehicle when cited. This is, quite honestly, the only thing which has prevented me from simply getting a CDL already.
I really want a 5-ton, not that I have anything against the dueces, and I will likely own one (or more) some day, and I also have had an M715 at the top of my want list for a decade or so. I would really like to have the ability to load a deuce and a 715 on a trailer and haul it to a show or event with the 818 and be completely within the law, in addition to the scenario #3 above.
Now for my only two non-TX-Specific question in this post:
4) I have not seen diagrams for the drivetrain in the 809-series trucks. Is the T-case a divorced unit, or integrated to the transmission? It seems that this truck is lacking enough ratios to perform well while under load, and it would be quite nice, I think, to drop an RTO 10-speed in place. I figure the engine must be using a standard SAE bell housing/flywheel/clutch configuration, so I figure mating the transmission to the engine is a no-brainer. The real question is, would I still be able to run the T-case with such a swap, and has anyone done something like this?
5) Are there any lockers available for the 5-ton axles? Honestly, I'll admit, I haven't searched on this yet. If so, is it acceptable to lock all 3 axles, or would you want to keep one of the drive axles unlocked? Regardless of all the above, and regardless of whether a 2.5 or 5 is my first MV, I'm going to want to play in the dirt, and I can't stand to play in the dirt without lockers and a winch.
Thanks in advance guys, I really appreciate all the great knowledge I've already picked up from the forum.
Before I go on, let me say I've been lurking here a while, and have searched quite a bit. However as beneficial as the vast knowledge shared in these forums is, it sometimes can make it a little different to find specific answers for questions I'm certain have been asked before.
Please keep in mind that most of my questions are Texas Specific, and while I can appreciate the want to put information for other states for people who may be searching that information, that very practice is what's made it somewhat difficult for me to find the specific answers I require. Sorry!
1) Unloaded, no trailer, no "historic" plates, is it legal in TX for me to drive an M818 on a Class C license? Technically it is under 26,000 lbs in this configuration, but I suspect because it has a GVWR or GCWR in excess of 26,000 lbs it wouldn't matter one bit. This leads me to believe that in an "uncombined" single-vehicle configuration, I would require at least a Class B to legally operate it. I don't want historic plates because I don't want to be limited in the number of miles I can legally operate the vehicle per year, though at this point I do not foresee that I would exceed that limitation anytime soon.
2) If I require a Class B or Class A in Texas, and because the truck (and any trailer attached) would be personally owned, and not operated for profit, could I qualify under the Non-CDL Exemption as a Recreational Vehicle? This seems the only provision under the exemption which would seem to somewhat match my situation. I've found verbiage in the law a few years back that said in order for a vehicle to be considered an RV it must have a sleeping berth, galley, and bathroom facilities at a minimum. Obviously an M818 isn't going to meet those requirements.
3) If I got a Non-CDL exemption for the higher classes of license, would it be at all possible that my donation of time, equipment, and fuel would be also exempt from CDL provisions if donated to a not-for-profit entity? I am a member of a car club that does quite a number of shows per year, but not all members have the ability to transport their vehicles to the show. If I could somehow provide transport for a few of their vehicles for these shows, without receiving any compensation, would this still qualify under the Non-CDL exemption, as I'm transporting property which does NOT belong to me?
Ultimately, I have no qualms with getting the CDL, it's just that I don't want to pay extra (and the extra requirements) to get the CDL if I can operate without it in a legal fashion. The main concern here is that (like so many of us, I'm sure) I do occasionally get a ticket that can be dismissed via an accredited defensive driving class, and in TX if you possess a CDL you cannot take a defensive driving class, even if you were not operating a commercial vehicle when cited. This is, quite honestly, the only thing which has prevented me from simply getting a CDL already.
I really want a 5-ton, not that I have anything against the dueces, and I will likely own one (or more) some day, and I also have had an M715 at the top of my want list for a decade or so. I would really like to have the ability to load a deuce and a 715 on a trailer and haul it to a show or event with the 818 and be completely within the law, in addition to the scenario #3 above.
Now for my only two non-TX-Specific question in this post:
4) I have not seen diagrams for the drivetrain in the 809-series trucks. Is the T-case a divorced unit, or integrated to the transmission? It seems that this truck is lacking enough ratios to perform well while under load, and it would be quite nice, I think, to drop an RTO 10-speed in place. I figure the engine must be using a standard SAE bell housing/flywheel/clutch configuration, so I figure mating the transmission to the engine is a no-brainer. The real question is, would I still be able to run the T-case with such a swap, and has anyone done something like this?
5) Are there any lockers available for the 5-ton axles? Honestly, I'll admit, I haven't searched on this yet. If so, is it acceptable to lock all 3 axles, or would you want to keep one of the drive axles unlocked? Regardless of all the above, and regardless of whether a 2.5 or 5 is my first MV, I'm going to want to play in the dirt, and I can't stand to play in the dirt without lockers and a winch.
Thanks in advance guys, I really appreciate all the great knowledge I've already picked up from the forum.
