Finally Legal

[wnytaxman]

Took my road test today for my 'R' Endorsement. Now I'm legal after driving my Berk for four years and 17,000 miles. Special thanks to Super Chief for being my chaperone as NYS requires another R license holder to accompany you on your road test.

Ed

[tmmar]

Craig,
Let me know when you will be on Long Island and you can be my chaperone also. (LOL!!)


Ed,
Congrats on passing the road test.
Tom

[boowho]

Why I don't live "back east"!!!

I'll bet they wouldn't even "grandfather in" and ex CDL-A holder.

I prefer the "wild and wooly" West where are the men are men and so are the women!!!

Boowho??

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by wnytaxman

Took my road test today for my 'R' Endorsement. Now I'm legal after driving my Berk for four years and 17,000 miles. Special thanks to Super Chief for being my chaperone as NYS requires another R license holder to accompany you on your road test.

Ed

Ever consider moving to a more "user friendly" state?

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by boowho

Why I don't live "back east"!!!



I'll bet they wouldn't even "grandfather in" and ex CDL-A holder.



I prefer the "wild and wooly" West where are the men are men and so are the women!!!



Boowho??

Boo sometimes you scare me. I do need to get out that way just to try the pizza. Remember your retired don't let them work you to hard.

[michell-n-scott]

I was told no extra license was required was I mistaken. Also I'm in longisland

[NO3putt]

Good thing in CO, have a license, good to go as long as not commercial that is.

[Superchief]

Michell-Scott - in New York State, you are REQUIRED to have a B endorsement on your license if you are driving a Motorhome than weights over 26,000 pounds. As has been discussed on this forum many times, RV dealers, Cops, and most Motor Vehicle workers are not aware of the requirement. If you go to a Motor Vehicle Office, ask for the Supervisor. If you need more specific information, PM me and I will send you all of the information. Craig

[boowho]

Originally Posted by Phil57

Boo sometimes you scare me. I do need to get out that way just to try the pizza. Remember your retired don't let them work you to hard.

Actually, I'm probably gonna give it up.

After being out of circulation for over seven years, I find that things like office politics, some people able to get away with EXTREMELY outlandish behavior (as is they were screwing the boss), and other bizarre things are harder to stomach than ever before.

It's an absolute JOY to be able to just say "screw it", pull up the jacks and drive away!!!! I don't need your ste-e-e-e-e-nking job!!!

RE: sometimes you scare me???? Just remember.... Always take no prisoners!!!

Boowho??

[Superchief]

See license type for NYS. Usually a Class D for general Drivers. See Endorsement List and then look at second picture for explanation of Endorsements.

[wnytaxman]

From the time Craig took the road test until I took mine they have changed it some. They now require you to be able to do a static and an active air brake test. I had no idea what the examiner was talking about and thought I was about to experience the shortest road test in history by never leaving the curb. She was very understanding and explained what I needed to do so all went well.

I would expect that at some time in the future it will be mandatory in all states that you have some sort of "endorsement" on your license to be legal in an RV. I would also expect the tests to get harder and closer to what a CDL test is. I see a lot of folks driving some big rigs that I question their abiltiy to drive those. Of course I see a lot of four wheelers that don't seem like they should be on the road.

[tmmar]

C'mon Ed, don't leave us hanging. What's the static and active brake test? (LOL!)
Tom

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by wnytaxman

...I would expect that at some time in the future it will be mandatory in all states that you have some sort of "endorsement" on your license to be legal in an RV. I would also expect the tests to get harder and closer to what a CDL test is. I see a lot of folks driving some big rigs that I question their abiltiy to drive those. Of course I see a lot of four wheelers that don't seem like they should be on the road.

I agree with making it mandatory for MH drivers to pass a driving test the same as bus drivers. See so many in FL that get out of a MH with a walker and can barely maneuver on their own. Can't imagine what their reflex time would be in an emergency situation on the road. Probably 15 - 30 minutes.

[wnytaxman]

Originally Posted by tmmar

C'mon Ed, don't leave us hanging. What's the static and active brake test? (LOL!)
Tom

Tom, I should have known I'd peak your interest on that one!

The static test is one where they have you put the coach in neutral, turn off the parking brake and hold down the brake petal for a minute to make sure your tanks are holding air and not depleting. The active test starts out the same way, neutral and parking brake off and then they have you pump the brake petal. First your tanks will go down to 75 pounds and the alarm will come on and then at 20 pounds your parking brake will pop up. I would have thought they would have mentioned that at Camp Freightliner but no such luck.


When she said "I want to empty your tanks," I'm thinking black water or gray or fresh or what? Then she clarified that it was the air tanks. I'm sure she saw my deer in the headlights look when she asked me to do the two brake tests. Craig had given me a pretty good primer before I took the test but he didn't have to do the air brake test so that one caught me totally off guard.

Ed

[Phil57]

They can make that same test for 5th wheels also. Same difference. 20'truck and a 38'trailer or a 40'MH and a 15'car.

[tmmar]

Ed,
Very interesting! Some day I will go for the endorsement. The weight on my registration says 25357. What does yours say? Not sure if that puts me below the 26000 lb limit for needing the endorsement.
Tom

[Dbt803]

Does the 2011 390bh 340 weigh less than 26000lbs? My husband had a cdl but didn't renew it. Am o driving illegally.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[wnytaxman]

Tom and Debbie,

My registration says 24,037 but it is my understanding that what dictates the R endorsement is your GVW which should be in the neighborhood of 33,000 pounds. If it was your unloaded weight then most of us would not need the endorsement, but I'm reasonably sure (although not positive) that your GVW dictates the need for teh R endorsement. So then you both are technically not legal.

The R endorsement is also required of any motorhoome that is 40 feet or more so again we're on the edge. For me it was not taking a chance on having one of the legal vultures swoop down on me if something went wrong.

Ed

[Dbt803]

Ed
You are not making my day with this info!!!! Lol
Debbie

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[wnytaxman]

Originally Posted by Dbt803

Ed
You are not making my day with this info!!!! Lol
Debbie

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forest River Forums mobile app

Debbie, I'm just trying to keep you and Tom both out of trouble. So far they don't seem to be doing much to enforce the requirements, but my guess is that it will be come a major issue at some point in the not too distant future. The test is not hard at all. The toughest part is waiting in line at the DMV.

Ed