Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Hi All, since you have never failed to answer my questions and I know there must be other Iowa RVers out there, I'm hopeful in getting an informed and quick answer.
A co-worker has told me that I will be required, as an Iowa resident, that when we purchase our 5er and dually that I will be required to have a CDL to drive it legally due to its weight.
I called the DOT and they told me no, due to it is for personal use for RVing, not hauling it for the public or a business. I asked for clarification on weight and they said that it did not matter as long as it was for personal use only.
My co-worker is insisting that they person I talked to did not know all the facts.
Any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Type "B" Vehicle/Class "B" CDL
Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
However, there are exemptions from a CDL in Iowa including recreational vehicles. From the same publication:
Who is Exempt From CDL in Iowa
Fire Fighters and Police Officers- A volunteer or paid firefighter while operating a fire vehicle or a peace officer while operating a commercial motor vehicle while executing related governmental functions.
Military - Active duty military personnel while operating equipment owned or operated by the Department of Defense.
Recreational Vehicle - A person operating a recreational vehicle for personal or family use or a person operating a vehicle with less than 26,001 GVWR towing a travel trailer or fifth wheel trailer for personal or family use.
So, no CDL is required in Iowa for an RV for personal or family use.
Howard, Thank you!!! Thanks to everyone who commented also!
I appreciate the link and the explanation you have given above. I'll have to give this link to my co-worker (who sorry to say, likes to think he knows it all) I know I DON'T know anything!! :) But reading the information should give me a leg up! :)
Couldn't imagine that he was correct considering all the RVers from Iowa that I know that don't have a CDL.
Yep, Howard gave you it right. We were Iowa residents for 35 years and no one we know of ever had a CDL to pull their RV(unless they had it for other reasons). Your co-worker needs to do a little more research.
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janieD 2007 Dodge 3500 DRW 5.9L 2010 Excel Limited 30RSO Full Timing starting June 2010 Blog: www.flamingoonastick.blogspot.com