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Dozer moving:

1693TA

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Feb 27, 2010
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Farmington IL
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FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
Is there any way to legally scale a 16 ton dozer with a single drive axle tractor and tandem axle trailer?

Thanks,
 

skyking1

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Nov 3, 2020
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7,462
Location
washington
the fed law is 34K on a pair of axles.
It depends on your tractor and tonnage.
If you truck is 10K, your trailer 16K, you can have up to 32K on the truck and 34K on the rears for 66K
10 + 16+ 32 = 58K
So now the game is getting for enough back to not exceed the single axle limit on the tractor drive axle.
 

1693TA

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Farmington IL
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FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
Thank you. Not sure which truck I'm wanting to insure and plate again for commercial use. I have my B61T, (single drive axle) and an R model which is tandem drive. I do also have a "Neway" air tag which could be installed, but not really wanting the weight and space penalty for the limited usage it would see.

My trailer is all steel and a single drop 42' in length with hydraulic hinged ramps. It's carried dozers in the past but always behind the R model.
 

1693TA

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Farmington IL
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I've never been a trucker for hire on the roads. Always repaired equipment hauled to my shop, or field repair. I ran rollback trucks for years hauling insurance salvage automobiles too, but those were dedicated loads.

I've had this setup a lot of years with the tractor being purchased when the B-61 just wasn't heavy enough for some of the machines brought up from the bottom. Used to have a mechanical folding neck Hyster trailer behind this R model and the reason for the winch.

upload_2021-7-31_14-52-14.jpeg
upload_2021-7-31_14-52-41.jpeg
upload_2021-7-31_15-9-40.jpeg

Now retired and having my own equipment I need to figure out how to move it occasionally at about 175 miles distant to build a new house on family property. So far only have the dozer, and skid steer along with a few smaller implements for ground work.
 

1693TA

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The B-61 is going back on the road replacing my one ton Dodge truck which has rotted the frame out of it. Can't justify the prices for pickup trucks they want these days so going this way. Had that B-61 since April, 1979 so part of the family.

upload_2021-7-31_15-42-26.jpeg
 

Tyler d4c

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Mar 2, 2016
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1,750
Location
Salix Pa
Allowed 73280 on that set up in PA.
 

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catman13

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Aug 22, 2011
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Location
oregon usa
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refrigeration engineer/excavation contractor
how often are you going to move it, if its 1 or2 times you may find a trucking company that needs a back haul and save the hassle of doing it yourself
 

1693TA

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how often are you going to move it, if its 1 or2 times you may find a trucking company that needs a back haul and save the hassle of doing it yourself

Thank you. This is along the lines I'm attempting to find balance. Though I plan to drive the B-61 again as a large pickup truck, the cost of licensing comes into play. Not being for hire at this time, licensing is ongoing dead expense.

Don't really have a future outlook for how much I'd need to move the dozer as I am not a dirt worker by trade. As of now getting moved local I can do on the back roads myself, but distance is another matter to contend with. The blade is 10'10" wide so an over size permit is required regardless. I don't know anything about overweight permits as have never looked into one but maybe that would be an option also? From years ago I used to license for 45K to cover the truck and trailer which allowed for the tools and such I carried, but the trailer was never loaded on the roadways. It was used often off road carrying/bringing equipment back up to the repair shop however.

With the way Illinois has revamped the costs of licensing in this state, it may be easier to contract to move when they are needed.
 

emmett518

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Mar 24, 2021
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810
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USA
I find that trying to mess around with heavy equipment or heavy trucks as a non-commercial entity is crazy. According to the insurance companies and government, you're a freak of nature. In Mass, there doesn't seem to be an easy way to use / drive / register that stuff as a non-commercial entity. And doing it as a commercial entity is crazy expensive.

When I told my insurance agent that I needed to insure a backhoe, his response was "what for? Who owns a backhoe?"
 

1693TA

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Farmington IL
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I find that trying to mess around with heavy equipment or heavy trucks as a non-commercial entity is crazy. According to the insurance companies and government, you're a freak of nature. In Mass, there doesn't seem to be an easy way to use / drive / register that stuff as a non-commercial entity. And doing it as a commercial entity is crazy expensive.

When I told my insurance agent that I needed to insure a backhoe, his response was "what for? Who owns a backhoe?"

I'm a little fortunate as my shop liability covers most anything I do with exception of truck operation. Cargo and such is covered, but the trucks need a separate policy just as having two cars in the family do.

38 years ago when I last used that R model for it's intended purpose, licensing expenses were considerably less than today in Illinois. A 73,280 tag was $1380.00 back then. It is now $2394.00 for the same weight, (as example). There are farm, and mileage exemption plates, but they have limitations of use placed on them.

Anything over 55K also requires a federal 2290 form and annual "heavy use" tax payment.

Many around here have exited trucking and gone to contract hauling citing cost(s).
 

colson04

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Apr 11, 2016
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Delton, Michigan
I would love to have my own truck and trailer, just because I can, but the costs of ownership just become absurd to the point it can't be justified. Only way it makes sense is to be a trucking company, or have a business that requires frequent moving of your own equipment, neither of which I do.

I get your concerns @1693TA , especially since you already own the right equipment to do the job. I don't own the equipment, and find it extremely difficult to justify buying it.
 

1693TA

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Talked to a farmer friend today whom is local and he's offered up his tractor whenever I need it to move the dozer. I can use my trailer, or his RGN so should be all set. I did some driving for him last harvest without charge when his son was down with Covid.

He has two tractors so wouldn't be an inconvenience to anyone.
 

skyking1

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That sounds like a great solution.
One of the things I will miss very much when I retire is the use of the insured and maintained truck and trailers. I'm going to offer to work part time, and won't feel odd asking to use them now and again if I do work.
 

1693TA

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Farmington IL
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FAA Radar Engineer, (Retired)
This contact actually came about through the implement dealer friend I work for/help out. They farm also and when Covid was running unchecked the man's son came down with it at the height of harvest last fall. I only drive for the implement dealer so when the subject came up, I stepped up to keep him on track. Knowing he'd be good for any debt incurred, I refused any compensation other than "trading it out" on down the line someplace.
 
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