Hey there,

Getting insurance quotes it seems like people don't like the wonderful SRW idea much... that coupled with the 48 ft. trailer limit, I'm thinking about getting rid of the bed and going dually.

It's hard to find a 48 ft. car trailer too, most are either 32, 42 or 50.

If I go 5th wheel and ditch the bed, I might benefit (fuel savings from less air drag???) from getting one of those lo profile wedges.

To register as a "Tractor" to use > 48 ft. trailer, do you have to have a 5th wheel setup, or is gooseneck allowed?

How much weight did you lose by ditching the bed?

Noticed you don't have UFO lamps on that picture in your gallery... don't you need side markers and cab clearance lights with the DRW?

If you'd prefer to reply by PM feel free. Thanks as always for the insight.

 

Registering as a tractor is sort of state dependant. How did the insurance company know that it is single wheels? Just go for insurance on your serial number. Do look for an insurance company that deals in truck insurance, that is big truck insurance. Less hassle there and they know what you need. You won't find single or dual wheels listed on a policy and they do not have a difference in serial number.

Not sure what loss of weight without the bed. Never checked and I added more weight back on with the big tool box and winch and dual wheels.

You should be ok as a tractor with the gooseneck. All that designates is that your truck has no other function and can carry no load without a trailer. Can't tell you about NJ on that, here it is no problem, no inspection for it.

If your vehicle is over 80 inches than by law it must have ID and marker lights. The marker lights are already on any truck, the park lights so it would by law involve the three ID lights. I have never been questioned on many inspections and never got around to putting them on. Did you follow that on the lights? The three in the center are ID lights that say you are over 80 inches and show the hight of the vehicle. Marker lights show the full width of the truck, which the parking lights already do. So leagally you really do not need the top corner lights. In real life it is even debatable if the three lights mounted on the bumper would be legal as you see many full hight trailers with the three at the bottom. One of those grey areas. I have lights to go on the air dam and will wait for the top lights when I put a sleeper on it.

And finally there are a lot of 48 foot trailers out there and they are adequite for three cars, will get a little short for two Lincolns and a pickup truck. But you can add flip outs to cure that.

I would go to an insurance company and tell them you need insurance for a hot shot, give them the serial number, they will assume dually, but that does not show up. Or 1100 for an adaptor kit to go dually.

 

I heard the bed is a little under 500#!

It's hard to even get an insurance company to talk to me. They said the fact that I'm young (23) plus the fact that it's a light truck and that I don't have a CDL makes me highly unfavorable (I don't blame them). I guess dually isn't a huge factor after all that.

The insurance company I was talking to actually asked me specifically if it was a dually or not. They are Futurity out of FL and said liability underwriter would be Progressive and cargo would be Lloyd's (never heard of them). $8892 for 750K liability and $25K comp/collision on my truck, and $2250 for the cargo of 100K hauling cars. This $11142 is literally "only" double what I half of what my NJ company wants me to pay for 04-05. I am claiming residence in FL now though.

do you know off hand who makes 48' trailers?

What does the dually kit entail? I've read that all I need are the correct dually wheels, the right tires (for me 235/85/17 i think) and some kind of spacers for the front?

10-4 on the lights.

thanks again.

 

"It's hard to even get an insurance company to talk to me. They said the fact that I'm young (23) plus the fact that it's a light truck and that I don't have a CDL makes me highly unfavorable (I don't blame them). I guess dually isn't a huge factor after all that."

Your age is not good and I guess you are claiming no experience which is worse. I would go and get the CDL, you will need it anyway. And get your DOT number. When asked tell them the MC number is applied for. Find some experience driving a truck over 18,000 pounds, think good, you probably can remember someone that you drove for. Just so they can call him to verify.


"The insurance company I was talking to actually asked me specifically if it was a dually or not."

You probably got that wrong though, they were asking if it was a mid sized truck or a dually. That is usually a question. Just say yes...

"They are Futurity out of FL and said liability underwriter would be Progressive and cargo would be Lloyd's (never heard of them). $8892 for 750K liability and $25K comp/collision on my truck, and $2250 for the cargo of 100K hauling cars. This $11142 is literally "only" double what I half of what my NJ company wants me to pay for 04-05. I am claiming residence in FL now though."

Price sounds terrible unless you have a bad driving record. I did not know that Progressive wrote heavy truck insurance. Lloyd's is Lloyd's of London, and they carry most of the over 1,000,000 and cargo loss insurance. The cargo is very high, also you only need $80,000 to cover even new cars for three cars. You would have to burn the truck to get a total loss on them.

"do you know off hand who makes 48' trailers?"

Basically all of the companies, is one of the most common sizes.

"What does the dually kit entail? I've read that all I need are the correct dually wheels, the right tires (for me 235/85/17 i think) and some kind of spacers for the front?"

I am not at all familiar with the '03 setup. The rear will need spacers also. Contact Chromewheel.com and see what they have for a kit. It should include the front spacers and lugs, rear spacers and lugs, six wheels, covers. You get the tires. You may have a problem with the 17 inch tires, might go to 19.5.

 

I saw one of my moving companiy customer's insurance bill the other day. For two moving trucks and all the liability and cargo coverage he pays over $12,000.00 each 6 months!
His coverage is through Progressive. I called USAA who I currently use but they don't offer business coverage. That sucks because they are about half as expensive as most other companies....