rynosback Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 (edited) Is anyone running with a day cab? By the qualifications posted up, 1. Cooking - A small microwave is generally acceptable.2. Refrigeration or Ice Box - Either 110 Volt, 12 Volt or LP powered refrigerator is acceptable.3. Self-contained Toilet - In most states a Porta Potty is acceptable.4. Heating or Air Conditioning - Factory air/heat is acceptable w/separate sleeper berth control.5. Potable Water Supply System including a Faucet and Sink.6. Separate 110V Power Supply or LP Gas - A generator, inverter or shore power inlet is acceptable. it would not qualify as a not for hired “motorhome”. I would only use the truck to tow the 5ver, so not sure that I would need a sleeper. As a day cab would be the shortest option and the shortest wheel base allowing for the best maneuvering. Are the day cabs ride equal to the spleepers? Both have air ride, air ride seat and I think some day cabs have cab air ride. I did a search under day cabs and nothing came up. Edited July 16, 2023 by rynosback Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 It depends. You need to follow the rules in the state where the truck is licensed. That may, or may not, be in the same state as your domicile. For instance, we live in Indiana, but our rig is licensed at our farm, just 6 road miles away. 100% legally. Both Indiana and Ohio have the same requirements for a n motorhome: permanent bed for sleeping, permanent table with seating for dining, fridge or ice box, and cook surface or oven. No sink or toilet required. Most modern day cabs have air ride cab, as well as chassis and seat(s). Our Mack had air seat only on drivers side. Day cabs ride rougher for the same reasons that they're more maneuverable. Some states allow a day cab to be licensed as a simple non-com truck. No bothering with m/h status. Which circles back to.......what state will you license said truck? Look up the requirements in the Heavy Haulers Resource Guide above. Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted July 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 5 hours ago, rickeieio said: It depends. You need to follow the rules in the state where the truck is licensed. That may, or may not, be in the same state as your domicile. For instance, we live in Indiana, but our rig is licensed at our farm, just 6 road miles away. 100% legally. Both Indiana and Ohio have the same requirements for a n motorhome: permanent bed for sleeping, permanent table with seating for dining, fridge or ice box, and cook surface or oven. No sink or toilet required. Most modern day cabs have air ride cab, as well as chassis and seat(s). Our Mack had air seat only on drivers side. Day cabs ride rougher for the same reasons that they're more maneuverable. Some states allow a day cab to be licensed as a simple non-com truck. No bothering with m/h status. Which circles back to.......what state will you license said truck? Look up the requirements in the Heavy Haulers Resource Guide above. My Domicile is SD. Been full time for 8 years now. Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddm502001 Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 Be asking these questions of your DMV, here you will get opinions, where they will give a definitive answer. My own truck COULD qualify had I removed the sleeper and added Living Quarters, IE turn into a Class A Motor Coach. As is only a Tow Vehicle can be licensed only as a Tow Vehicle in MO, weight class, marking Not For Hire etc etc as to making it NON Commercial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 (edited) 9 hours ago, rickeieio said: Look up the requirements in the Heavy Haulers Resource Guide above. 3 hours ago, ddm502001 said: Be asking these questions of your DMV, here you will get opinions, where they will give a definitive answer. That's pretty much what I said, but beware, many (most?) county/state offices don't really know because this isn't something they do very often. If the office doesn't agree with the Resource Guide, there's a pretty good chance said office doesn't really know. So, yes, it's my opinion that you seek out the correct answer for the state in which you will license. Edited July 16, 2023 by rickeieio Quote KW T-680, POPEMOBILE Newmar X-Aire, VATICAN Lots of old motorcycles, Moto Guzzi Griso and Spyder F3 currently in the front row Young enough to play in the dirt as a retired farmer. contact me at rickeieio@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deezl Smoke Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 I think the majority of MDTs are "day cabs". ? My state, Oregon, has a website "askODOT.com" I have used it many times with absolutely awesome results. It's important to leave contact info, like your cell phone number if your state has such a site. Also, often a state requires a percentage of their criteria be met, not usually 100%. As rickeieio mentions, the resource guide has a lot of great info. Quote I'm a work'n on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted July 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Deezl Smoke said: I think the majority of MDTs are "day cabs". ? My state, Oregon, has a website "askODOT.com" I have used it many times with absolutely awesome results. It's important to leave contact info, like your cell phone number if your state has such a site. Also, often a state requires a percentage of their criteria be met, not usually 100%. As rickeieio mentions, the resource guide has a lot of great info. I’m looking at HDTs. Most of them seem to be tandem sleeper rigs. Edited July 17, 2023 by rynosback Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennWest Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 Be aware daycabs are short haul tractors. 500k miles is probably life of one Quote 2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deezl Smoke Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 1 hour ago, rynosback said: I’m looking at HDTs. Most of them seem to be tandem sleeper rigs. Yep, I get it. My reference was that MDTs are over 10k gvwr and for change of class purposes, "can" depending on your state, be quite similar to an HDT. Quote I'm a work'n on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted July 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 5 hours ago, GlennWest said: Be aware daycabs are short haul tractors. 500k miles is probably life of one I was thinking that also as they are used for stop and go and short hops. A lot harder miles than a long haul truck. Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddm502001 Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 The big cheap Magilla these days are the Unibody construct cab/sleepers, welded not riveted, larger roomy interiors to a point, flooded markets of used out there. HOWEVER check with insurers as the Welded Unibody designs tend to be higher cost on insurance as more difficult to repair than a rivet or huck fastener style cab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted July 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2023 6 hours ago, ddm502001 said: The big cheap Magilla these days are the Unibody construct cab/sleepers, welded not riveted, larger roomy interiors to a point, flooded markets of used out there. HOWEVER check with insurers as the Welded Unibody designs tend to be higher cost on insurance as more difficult to repair than a rivet or huck fastener style cab. Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteSuccess Posted July 18, 2023 Report Share Posted July 18, 2023 13 years ago I started the same search for the “perfect tow vehicle “. Lots of advice and initially thought a Volvo 670 singled short was the answer. As you can see, I ended up with a Volvo 780 with tandem axles and haven’t regretted that choice one bit. It’s not a daily driver but have used it to go just about everywhere we needed in a pinch…groceries, restaurants, even medical clinic. A very smart individual convinced me to stay tandem because I didn’t know the future of what my truck needs would be. As many have said, choose what YOU feel will fit your needs now but be cognizant of future needs also. It is likely as time goes on more and more HDTS are going to need to haul vehicles other than Smart cars. You’re at risk of overloading axles if not carefully planned…consider that. I am registered in Tennessee as a MH…I think number 4 to do so. My county had no clue how to do it and like most bureaucratic agencies said I couldn’t (cause they didn’t want to admit they didn’t know how). After a lot of leg work, phone calls to Nashville, I walked in with a stack of papers and letters and asked to speak to my County Clerk personally not an underling. She asked what I wanted, told her, offered the ream of documents. She got that “deer in the headlights “ turned to one of the underlings without even looking at the papers and said “make this man happy.” I am. Finally when you register be sure it’s right the first time. Number 3 before me got it wrong in Nashville and it was a mess to get re-registered as a Motorhome. BTW, as I said, don’t count on DMV, County Vehicle Registration etc. to give a definitive answer. My stack of papers had copies of federal and state statutes and memos to prove I could do what I wanted. Quote 2006 Volvo 780 "Hoss" Volvo D12, 465hp, 1650 ft/lbs tq., ultrashift Bed Build by "JW Morgan's Custom Welding" 2017 DRV 39DBRS3 2013 Smart Passion Coupe "Itty Bitty" "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nawaa Posted July 22, 2023 Report Share Posted July 22, 2023 We have our Freightliner M2-112 (a Class 7 HDT crew cab) registered in South Dakota. They call it a non-commercial truck and the registration fee is based on weight. On the SD title it says "Freightliner (RV)" under Make. Our truck does NOT have any of the "motorhome" items (except the back seat makes into a bed), I think they titled it that way because it was meant (by us) to pull an RV, not as a commercial vehicle. We have found the DMV folks extremely helpful and easy to deal with. Quote 2007 Freightliner M2-112, 68' connected 2021 New Horizons Majestic 45' toyhauler 2001 Kawasaki Concours 2007 Yamaha V-Star Classic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted July 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2023 3 hours ago, nawaa said: We have our Freightliner M2-112 (a Class 7 HDT crew cab) registered in South Dakota. They call it a non-commercial truck and the registration fee is based on weight. On the SD title it says "Freightliner (RV)" under Make. Our truck does NOT have any of the "motorhome" items (except the back seat makes into a bed), I think they titled it that way because it was meant (by us) to pull an RV, not as a commercial vehicle. We have found the DMV folks extremely helpful and easy to deal with. Thanks for the input. Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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