When I imported my 96 U295 into Texas from Arizona, one of the requirements for registration was that I have the vehicle weighed and submit the weight cert during the registration process. No problem, I weighed it at a Cat scale right after I fueled on the way home, tanks were full and a significant amount of parts, pieces . tools, misc and passengers were aboard. 27,275 lbs.
Fast forward a year or so. Texas changes its registration fees for motorhomes radically, realizing there is an untapped, undertaxed resource in the form of brand new real Texans claiming Tx as their domicile either for (ahem) love of the state or tax convenience. What used to cost around $125.00 a year is now close to $400.00 a year once you bust the magic 26.5K lb figure. A dollar a day for license plates, hmmm.
So, I had it reweighed at the local scale, this time without all the extra "stuff" aboard but still at an operational weight. 25,100 lbs. Weight certificate in hand, I applied for a corrected title and did receive it. Before anyone calls foul, let me point out that the Tx rules are somewhat ambiguous, requiring that the actual vehicle weight be measured. It does not require that the vehicle be loaded to gross cap. Somewhat akin to the thousands of "3/4 ton" pickup trucks pulling 8K lb hay trailers.
So, do I still need that class B license?
Chuck
From TX DPS Driver's License Handbook
Class B Driver License
A Class B driver license permits a person to drive:
1. Any vehicle included in Class C;
2. A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more and any such
vehicle towing either a vehicle with a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 lbs. or a farm trailer with
a GVWR that does not exceed 20,000 lbs.
etc.
So it's GVWR, not titled weight, that matters.
If you already have a class B, don't downgrade. There's no extra cost, although you do have to renew your license in person; you can't renew a class A or class B non-CDL by mail.
And a non-CDL class B allows you to drive a dump truck pleasure (just not for profit) ^.^d
Michelle
The mention of driving dump trucks for pleasure rather than for profit always elicits a smile and chuckle in our household. In spite of the possibility, we have not added a dump truck to our fleet. :D
A long nose Pete would get about the same mileage as f350 grocery getter. Splitting gears with a 13speed road ranger with air shifter....Yeehaw!
Our Diesel mechanic down in Lufkin, TX has a daily driver that is a 750 hp souped up 77 Kenworth conventional cab tractor. He claims he gets 13 mpg around town.
I still think it would be a pain to park at the grocery store.
Is that a full size tractor, or one of those chopped ones? I'd call the 13 mpg about right if full sized.
It is a full sized conventional tractor. Really slick looking also.
Actually, that is kind of funny. When I brought my current coach and presented the Tennessee title to NYS DMV, they looked up the weight in a little black book that they dug out of a cabinet there in the office. They did ask if the model was a U225 and which floor plan it had.