Canada bound this morning

[tugboater]

Bought our beauty from a super nice family outside of Spokane yesterday. Spent the night at my driving partners place just north of Bonner’s Ferry, ID. Deer & elk everywhere, it’s beautiful here! Getting underway for Palmer, AK (home) this morning after first light!

[jazty]

It's a nice time of year for a drive, too! Enjoy the trip.

[Dapplecreek]

>...Bought my beauty...

Does it have air brakes? If you don't have an air brake endorsement on your driver's license, better not go into Canada!

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

>...Bought my beauty...

Does it have air brakes? If you don't have an air brake endorsement on your driver's license, better not go into Canada!

This is so not true.

The United States and Canada have full reciprocity of Driving Licenses. If one idiot at a particular Provincial border is causing chaos, then he needs pulling back in line.

US drivers in most states can't even get an air-brake endorsement, because their state doesn't offer one ... In fact, I can't find a state that does. The only oddball is PA, where they say that any air-brake vehicle requires a Non Commercial Class B, regardless of weight.

[Dapplecreek]

Originally Posted by Twigg

This is so not true.

The United States and Canada have full reciprocity of Driving Licenses. ...

Huh. I've seen cautionary tales all over the place in the past, and was giving my best to you. But on digging through the official BC sites I couldn't find a thing.

Twigg: thanks!

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

Huh. I've seen cautionary tales all over the place in the past, and was giving my best to you. But on digging through the official BC sites I couldn't find a thing.

Twigg: thanks!

I've seen the same tales. I've yet to see a first-hand experience that could tell us what went wrong.

Even Canada only insists on the air-brake endorsement for drivers from those Provinces that mandate it.

[PNW_Steve]

I traveled three Canadian Provinces without an air brake endorsement. I was ignorant of the requirements until months after the end of my trip.

No one in ON, AB or BC bothered to educate me.

That said, there is a respected member here shared his experience of being stopped by the weighmaster crossing from WA to BC.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I traveled three Canadian Provinces without an air brake endorsement. I was ignorant of the requirements until months after the end of my trip.

No one in ON, AB or BC bothered to educate me.

That said, there is a respected member here shared his experience of being stopped by the weighmaster crossing from WA to BC.

Does an RV even have to go through a weigh station?

[cadillackid]

I think part of the issue is that no one seems to really know what is reaslly required and what isnt.. that goes for the various DMV's in the US.. and the weighmaster stations in canada as well as weight stations in the US.

I klnow for a fact in Ohio you call the DSMV 3 different times and get 3 different answers as to what is truly required..

-Christopher

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Twigg

Does an RV even have to go through a weigh station?

Not if it's not a commercial vehicle.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Not if it's not a commercial vehicle.

Several states require certain non-commercial vehicles to stop at weigh stations.

A good summary of various state requirements can be found here: http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/weigh-stations/

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Several states require certain non-commercial vehicles to stop at weigh stations.

A good summary of various state requirements can be found here: Weigh Stations - AAA Digest of Motor Laws

So that's a nightmare.

Might as well just stop. Takes about 10 seconds and as about half the states seem to want any vehicle over 26000 lbs to stop, better safe than sorry.

You don't pass them that often, and they are frequently closed.

[dan-fox]

If you do stop, what's the usual experience? Are you waved through when they figure out you're an RV? Do they not believe you when you claim RV status, documentation to the contrary? Do you get a paper weight printout (which might be useful)?

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

If you do stop, what's the usual experience? Are you waved through when they figure out you're an RV? Do they not believe you when you claim RV status, documentation to the contrary? Do you get a paper weight printout (which might be useful)?

All I got when I pulled onto the scale was a disembodied voice telling me I was good to go.

[tugboater]

Just a quick hello...wanted to pass on that we made it home. About 72 hours, with 48 of it drive time. All went well...no mechanical or regulatory issues worth complaining about. The only real problem I can think of is that I was unable to come up with a name for the beast. I'll give the down and dirty details of the trip sometime soon!

[PNW_Steve]

Glad you had a good trip and made it home without incident.

Was there any issue at all regarding lack of air brake endorsement? That is a topic here that has seen a LOT of discussion.

[Gustav]

Congrats on your safe trip!!

[TrailLifeBill]

Wow - thanks for the pics - I would love to go to Alaska some day. Glad you made it safely - please do share more pics of your skoolie adventures!!

[tugboater]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Glad you had a good trip and made it home without incident.

Was there any issue at all regarding lack of air brake endorsement? That is a topic here that has seen a LOT of discussion.

No issue at all Steve.

[tugboater]

more detail on trip home here:

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/wi...-fe-22329.html

I started our build thread with this post.