Update and clarification on CARB and diesel motorhomes operating in Ca from FCOC

[Rustycoach]

@redbaron is correct. They have rolled back given the new administration.

California abandons diesel truck ban and 3 other clean-air rules before Trump is sworn in

Because Trump would be unlikely to approve them, California has no choice but to abandon its groundbreaking rules for zero-emission trucks and cleaner locomotives.

calmatters.org

It is hard to imagine CARB rolling back regulations just because of the change in Administration unless they are concerned about certain highway funding being affected by onerous state regs. It has been a couple of months since I got an email from them. It seems like I was getting an automatic account update monthly the last part of 24’

 

[Rich W.]

Older topic but still relevant... I signed up for my CARB account and get monthly emails about what I need to or don't need to do so far. I am not clear on when if ever I will need to get a smog inspection on my rig. My Brother has an older 2005 I think DP that they have had on non op status for a couple of years and are having a hell of a time getting it registered. They registered it non op when the registration came due a couple of years ago and were using a different rig for their needs. They sold that one and want to recommission the 05 rig for a long cross country trip this year and have been told that they need to get a smog inspection. They live in Williams Ca in the middle of Ag country 1/4 mile off of I-5 and they have yet to find a shop that can do the inspection they need to comply with the DMV and CARB requirements! Is there anyone living in the region that knows of or has personal recent experience with a shop they can recommend? Typical CA political crap storm. Non elected officials creating rules and standards that people are forced to comply with before the industry can develop infrastructure to support the new standards. This becoming so common place here like the idiotic concept of banning the sale of ICE vehicles by 2035 when only a relative small percentage of the population need, want or can even use an EV for their transportation needs!
Rusty Mayes

Most mobile big rig service/repair outfits do the testing. It’s just a 5 minute job - plug in a code reader and verify all is well. When I did it in May of last year, the charge was $150. Would have been more if they had to come to me. These are the guys that did mine: https://gandttruckrepair.com/. These guys are in Corning: Allan Wrenches - Mobile Services

Edit: Allan Wrenches just does 2013 and later and the 2005 will need a “smoke test”. My guess is that’s why your brother is having trouble finding a shop - anyone can do the late model test but not many are set up and certified to test earlier rigs. How about Sacramento Truck Service? Call Don at the RV desk - if they can’t do it, he’ll probably know a shop that can.

Digging into this is your best bet: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/active_commercial_smoke_testers_12.3.20_R.pdf. Looks like J&J in Woodland is the closest.

 

[Rustycoach]

Rich, have you heard anything about Ca dropping the requirements. I wonder when I will need a smog check on mine since it’s a 2022 model.

 

[team bradfield]

Why would anyone want to go to that hell on earth?

 

[J&JD]

Why would anyone want to go to that hell on earth?

Why don’t you tell us what you really think. Certainly glad you will never be visiting our beautiful state as we do not need more divisive people. Sad as you will miss some of the most magnificent scenery and nicest people in the country. We have visited all 50 states and always enjoy coming back to beautiful Northern California. We love and enjoy our amazing country.

 

[Rich W.]

Why would anyone want to go to that hell on earth?

If you mean Ca, probably because geographically it has more variety than any other state. Mountains, valleys, deserts, forests, oak woodlands, beaches, rivers, lakes, etc. And it covers almost 10° of latitude and over 14,000’ of elevation so there really is something for just about anyone. If you just steer clear of a few comparatively small but highly populated armpits, the rest of the state is really quite wonderful.

And while the cities do have countless problems, cities in almost every state do as well. As with the East Coast, policy is unfortunately decided by a few coastal population centers, but the vast majority of the state is so great that people here are willing to put up with high taxes, and a high cost of living, and a lot of ugly policy, most of which, with a few obvious exceptions, doesn’t effect daily life. We just hold our noses and/or stay out of the cities. Which to be fair, is what I do in almost every other state.

I’ve traveled extensively in every state, and while many have a lot to offer, there is nowhere else I’d rather live, even with the current situation. And tides turn. I’m a 4th gen Californian and we have two more after me. Correction, three - forgot that I’m now a great grandpa. Anyway I won’t let a few bumps in the road discourage me. My family has been here since before this was a state and a few current unpleasant trends won’t run me off. As for others, to each his own as my mother used to say.

Ooops - I’ve once again recklessly wandered way off topic…

 

[Joe Dutchstar]

My guess is that the CARB mandate is going to be changed in the near future. Authority might be stripped by the changes in leadership in DC.

 

[redbaron]

My guess is that the CARB mandate is going to be changed in the near future. Authority might be stripped by the changes in leadership in DC.

It has already been drastically changed by California administration, prior to Jan. 20.

The citizens of California took it upon themselves to force their government to make a change.

 

[J&JD]

I wrote my renewal check to the Ca. DMV for my Dutch Star license a couple of weeks ago figuring they would tell me I needed to take the rv to get an emissions test before they would issue new tags, much like they do for passenger vehicles.
To my surprise, the tags were in the mail today without any requirements! Gotta be a catch here somewhere but I’m not complaining nor am I going to ask…..

 

[redbaron]

As many of us predicted, the CARB mandate banning sales of Petro (ICE) vehicles beginning in 2035 had just been blocked by the US Senate.

We know it’s already too late for the Motorhome industry since the R&D money was spent for EPA 2027, but I remain hopeful that the future regulations are based on extending the 2027 for 10+ years, allowing pricing to return to pre COVID year over year increases vs the 3x rate we have seen for the last 5 years.