Need your help. I am new to the whole gooseneck towing arena. I am in the market for a 20ft gooseneck to pull my trail rig and came across a 24ft gooseneck for a good price (I think). My tow rig is a 2005 Duramax LLY with a 6" lift and air lift bags. the GVW of the gooseneck is 22.5K. My trail rig will be roughly 5.5K maybe less. My total weight on the trailer will be less than 10K (Toolbox and gear) Will my Duramax pull the gooseneck without an issue? and will I need CDL to pull the gooseneck. I do not want to have to pull into the scales when I am trailing my rig. Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jimmy

You should be fine no cdl required as long as you are not hauling commercial

IMO, you're in a gray area that could be trouble. Technically, unless your Duramax weighs less than 3,501 lbs. (which of course it doesn't), then your GCWR will exceed 26,000 which will put you in CDL territory. Using that trailer for hauling a vehicle is like using a tandem axle dump truck to bring a bag of sack-crete home from the home center.

I don't know what state you're in, but you may be able to go to the DMV and get the trailer derated and registered at a lower weight.

How do you derate a trailer that is already rated? I am in California.

I am in California.

you're fawked. you need a CDL for that trailer whether its empty or weighs 22499.9#

search, it's been covered 100 times in this forum

As for the weights, You WILL be over 10K loaded. I think that trailer should weigh about 6000 empty

:usa:

How do you derate a trailer that is already rated? I am in California.

I think only the manufacturer can derate a trailer once it's been rated in Ca. but I never looked into it in depth.

:usa:

a call or trip to your local DMV is prolly in order. there is prolly just a form to fill out. you will want to rate the trailer at a couple hundred pounds less than 26,000-GVWRof your truck. example,if your truck is rated at 9000 make the tralier maybe 16,500. that way your GCVWR is less than the allowed 26000.

i would then scale the trailer with your rig and gear and make sure youre not over. overloading is not any better for you than driving without a CDL. even if the trailer can handle 20,000 its what its plated at thats important.

here in ohio we are lucky. all we need to register a noncomercial homemade trailer is a weightslip,and since theres not a rating attached to a title they haVE to send us to a scale,and cant ticket just based on GVWR.

good luck and post pics if you get it :)

Yup... in CA you're fucked. No matter what you do... you're fucked. Give up the hobby and buy a Smart Car or move out of the state.... those are about your only options. :flipoff2: