A container is an 18 ga box, steel in this case.
They can be left on a chassis as a trailer or used on the ground.
I find working reefer trailers here from about $3500 up.
I'm using reefer trailers without the reefer units due to cost.
Insulation varies. Ice cream trucks have twice the insulation.
Prices vary by location.
I have paid much more since aluminum went up and trucking demand is high.
Look for under 53 feet, which is what they want for shipping now.
I can recommend the best locks for the money if anyone needs this info.
Hitch locks avail as well.
Screwed by Uhaul (obviously)
Big trailers
For towing a trailer I'm told a CDL is not needed for private use.
Some places require one if you have air brakes.
I'm now looking at a tractor eventually.
I found a wrecker chassis that is long enough to put an rv on and still haul.
It's about 40 ft long with 15 speeds.
Big turning radius but I could go w/o a trailer most places.
It could carry hundreds of gallons of water easily.
I'm told to expect five miles to the gallon.
Some places require one if you have air brakes.
I'm now looking at a tractor eventually.
I found a wrecker chassis that is long enough to put an rv on and still haul.
It's about 40 ft long with 15 speeds.
Big turning radius but I could go w/o a trailer most places.
It could carry hundreds of gallons of water easily.
I'm told to expect five miles to the gallon.
"Everything is more wonderful when you do it with a car, don't you think?"
-girl by the fire, watching a tree moved by car bumper in the bonfire
It would be a shame if I had to resort to self-deception to preserve my faith in objective reality.
-girl by the fire, watching a tree moved by car bumper in the bonfire
It would be a shame if I had to resort to self-deception to preserve my faith in objective reality.
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AntiM
- Moderator
- Posts: 20301
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 5:23 am
- Burning Since: 2001
- Camp Name: Anti M's Home for Wayward Art
- Location: Wild, Wild West
Okay, semi-rant here, I don't want to rain on gyre, but I am deeply concerned about the validity of his advice on semi trailers.
A semi tractor-trailer combo (38+ feet trailer) requires a class A CDL period. A big rig wrecker requires a Class B CDL. You can put "not for hire' on it and avoid some of the DOT paperwork, but if you want to move it legally, you must have a CDL. Even the private use trucks must get transit permits (weight tax, fuel tax varies by state). As for the wrecker/trailer combo, there are weight and length requirements which nullify the "private use" clause. And crossing state lines? That's a crapshoot.
Who told you you didn't need a CDL? My hubby's a trucker, I asked him, he said don't just take his word for it, CHECK IT OUT for yourself. Get your hands on a CDL license book, don't trust the twits at the local DMV, most of them don't know enough about commercial licensing even though they should. That or contact your Department of Transportation, tell them precisely what vehicle you have and where you are going; there are many, many regulations.
I would be very, very VERY certain about ALL the requirements. License violation fines of this type BEGIN at $500. Permit fines are worse.
Then there's routing, lots of states have strict weight limits about what roads can be used by a heavy vehicle.
In short, do your homework. There's a reason you don't see folks just hauling the big trailers around.
A semi tractor-trailer combo (38+ feet trailer) requires a class A CDL period. A big rig wrecker requires a Class B CDL. You can put "not for hire' on it and avoid some of the DOT paperwork, but if you want to move it legally, you must have a CDL. Even the private use trucks must get transit permits (weight tax, fuel tax varies by state). As for the wrecker/trailer combo, there are weight and length requirements which nullify the "private use" clause. And crossing state lines? That's a crapshoot.
Who told you you didn't need a CDL? My hubby's a trucker, I asked him, he said don't just take his word for it, CHECK IT OUT for yourself. Get your hands on a CDL license book, don't trust the twits at the local DMV, most of them don't know enough about commercial licensing even though they should. That or contact your Department of Transportation, tell them precisely what vehicle you have and where you are going; there are many, many regulations.
I would be very, very VERY certain about ALL the requirements. License violation fines of this type BEGIN at $500. Permit fines are worse.
Then there's routing, lots of states have strict weight limits about what roads can be used by a heavy vehicle.
In short, do your homework. There's a reason you don't see folks just hauling the big trailers around.
My info came from a fulltime trucker I know. He has a cdl.
I asked him because I saw so many people using these as race transporters without a cdl.
I'll check further before I buy.
There are a number of rvs that are essentially shorter softer, but full power tractors, many with automatics, no cdl I'm told.
You're definitely right about fines.
I was told that these rigs must be private use only to avoid the cdl problem and that sometimes you cannot have airbrakes.
He thinks the airbrake
thing is very out of date now.
You very definitely must have a cdl to move someone else's trailer for money.
This is something that should be checked in your area, even if it is true here where I live. All fines seem to be large with trucks.
I asked him because I saw so many people using these as race transporters without a cdl.
I'll check further before I buy.
There are a number of rvs that are essentially shorter softer, but full power tractors, many with automatics, no cdl I'm told.
You're definitely right about fines.
I was told that these rigs must be private use only to avoid the cdl problem and that sometimes you cannot have airbrakes.
He thinks the airbrake
thing is very out of date now.
You very definitely must have a cdl to move someone else's trailer for money.
This is something that should be checked in your area, even if it is true here where I live. All fines seem to be large with trucks.
Hey, I am one of the "DMV Twits", and I have to agree with Anti-M's advice. If I understand what you are contemplating doing correctly, you really have to research the laws, regulations, and such carefully. They vary considerably between states and, even though there is supposed to be reciprocity (sp?) between the states in theory, in practice it doesn't always work out that way, particularly with a modified vehicle. (At least I think that is what you are planing on doing...?)
One reason I am thinking about converting an old bus (probably a school bus) into an r.v. is that there is considerable precidence for being able to drive one without needing a commercial license-- at least by Wisconsin laws, and as long as it is registered as an r.v. and is designed to carry (and is carrying!) less than 12 passengers. (And, as a further disclaimer, I am not certain on the number of passengers. Mostly I recall that the number was much higher than the number I am planing on ever carrying!)
In any event, if you were to come into the DMV office I work at, I would have to get a very clear idea of what you wanted, and then I would have to do a lot of research-- or, more likely, direct you to someone higher up who has more expertise on the topic. (Heck, in training I HAD some of the experts available to ask, and I could actually stump them quite easily with some of the things I wanted to do with a bus! That's kind of a long story, and I am NOT going on record with what the questions were!
)
Lastly, any answers I could get for you would only apply to vehicles titled/registered in Wisconsin. In other words, any answers I could give you would not do you any good. The further you get from something off a production line, designed for your everyday commuter, the more you have to be certain of where you stand legally.
I hope this isn't too much of a wet blanket for your creativity.
I'm mostly trying to tell you to be careful when choosing your battles-- you want to be as certain of victory as possible.
Good luck!
B.
One reason I am thinking about converting an old bus (probably a school bus) into an r.v. is that there is considerable precidence for being able to drive one without needing a commercial license-- at least by Wisconsin laws, and as long as it is registered as an r.v. and is designed to carry (and is carrying!) less than 12 passengers. (And, as a further disclaimer, I am not certain on the number of passengers. Mostly I recall that the number was much higher than the number I am planing on ever carrying!)
In any event, if you were to come into the DMV office I work at, I would have to get a very clear idea of what you wanted, and then I would have to do a lot of research-- or, more likely, direct you to someone higher up who has more expertise on the topic. (Heck, in training I HAD some of the experts available to ask, and I could actually stump them quite easily with some of the things I wanted to do with a bus! That's kind of a long story, and I am NOT going on record with what the questions were!
)Lastly, any answers I could get for you would only apply to vehicles titled/registered in Wisconsin. In other words, any answers I could give you would not do you any good. The further you get from something off a production line, designed for your everyday commuter, the more you have to be certain of where you stand legally.
I hope this isn't too much of a wet blanket for your creativity.
I'm mostly trying to tell you to be careful when choosing your battles-- you want to be as certain of victory as possible.Good luck!
B.
"Nothing is withheld from us which we have conceived to do.
Do things that have never been done."
--Russell Kirsch
Do things that have never been done."
--Russell Kirsch
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leftbraindp
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:16 pm
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
We have SPACE AVAILABLE in our container 4 YOUR GEAR/PROJECT
We have SPACE AVAILABLE in our container 4 YOUR GEAR/PROJECT
We are out of San Jose. We're leaving/packing on Saturday/Sunday, will be on the playa on Monday. Return to the Bay Area on Sept. 6th. Let us know if you need some gear hauled.
CAMPain
We are out of San Jose. We're leaving/packing on Saturday/Sunday, will be on the playa on Monday. Return to the Bay Area on Sept. 6th. Let us know if you need some gear hauled.
CAMPain