RV and trailer lenght.

Not going to California.

GlennLever wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Okay Glenn, if you're upset because California enforces the same law that applies to most other states, then you should keep out. California (especially So Cal and the Bay Area) tend to be more tightly packed than a lot of rest of the Country and oversized vehicles should be regulated.

Yep, will do. We are still saying the same thing, not sure what the issue is, over length stay out of California.

No we're not saying the same thing. The only law you've provided an example of that California is actively enforcing is the 53 foot trailer length. You are not violating that law. The law you would be violating is the overall vehicle combination length law. As far as I know, law enforcement in California is not actively enforcing that law on a regular basis in California as I see over length motorhome-trailer combinations on the road here all the time. Also I have yet to see somebody on rv.net post a story about getting an over length ticket in a RV with a trailer.

So if you are advocating avoiding California simply because there is a law that says you can't be over 65', then you have to advocate avoiding every single other state that has the same law. And by the way, New York also has a 65' length limit. You need to make sure you avoid New York.

Deleted, not getting the point.

Okay Glenn, if you're upset because California enforces the same law that applies to most other states, then you should keep out. California (especially So Cal and the Bay Area) tend to be more tightly packed than a lot of rest of the Country and oversized vehicles should be regulated.

Edit:
You edited after I replied; If you had watched what I have previously written, I stated to the OP that I've seen RV's all over this State that are towing trailers that make the combination too long and there doesn't seem to be any enforcement. Your rig is illegal in many other states too and like California I have not heard of much enforcement on the total length limit.

The one example you posted was of people who were modifying a single trailer to be 56' long. That means they are going to hold up more traffic trying to make wide turns, they are going to knock down more street signs and damage more traffic signals. There is a reason for the 53' trailer length.

I have no idea what got CHP to focus on NHRA and their 56 foot trailers, but I'd be willing to bet it had something to do with accidents. That brought the length to the attention of CHP and they started enforcing it. The 53' limit was apparently good for NASCAR as their trailers comply, but NHRA did not.

Deleted, not getting the point

Okay, I did some more research and seem to have found the truth. California has a 53 foot trailer length limit as does many other states. This is also the Federal standard. Anything over 53' requires a permit to operate. Apparently all these NHRA people knew this good and well yet they decided they were going to use 56' trailers anyway as they figured they were above the laws and nobody would check.

Well CHP did check and had apparently warned them in advance that the over length trailers would not be allowed and if anybody was caught brining them in they would have to take them out on a low boy trailer. Why is the low boy legal? Because you can only get a permit for an over length trailer to haul over length items. You can't simply get a permit for a 56' trailer simply because you want 3' of extra space. If you need 56' of space you have to use two trailers. So the reason the low boy is legal is because the low boy is hauling oversized cargo and that being the 56 foot trailer. So since the trailer is the cargo they can get a permit for that.

This is sort of like the Toterhome question that comes up on here. People are driving these giant motorhomes that are well over 45' in length and just hoping the law doesn't get enforced even though they know good and well they are breaking the law. And when some agency decides to enforce that law on them you can bet they'll be whining just like the NHRA who knew good and well they were also breaking the law.

I don't know Glen there just seems to be something missing from that story. Looks like he modified the trailer by adding something to the front of it. And he talks about Caltrans at the scales. As far as I know CHP runs the scales and they would be the one telling him that. Also if it was just about length, why was it okay to put it on an even longer trailer and move it? Maybe it was about length and something else? I don't know, there just seems to be some details missing.

Also, the 65' and 75' length restrictions he talks about are pretty standard in many states. Some of the states that allow longer lengths only allow them if they allow triples.

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

GlennLever wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

This happened to a number of NHRA Dragrace teams as they entered California. Their trailers were to long, and they had to unload and load into smaller trailers. Their original trailers had to be hauled out of California, and they cut the trailers down to legal size.

California is a pain, if you can stay out

How long were their trailers? California allows trailers up to 53 feet long which is pretty standard in most states as well as the Federal regs.

Well, you're talking to a bunch of us retired LEO's. The 53' applies to commercial rigs. You DON'T want to open that box...:W....Dennis

He said this was NHRA drag race teams. Wouldn't they be required to follow the commercial rules?

Deleted, not getting the point

msmith1199 wrote:

GlennLever wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

This happened to a number of NHRA Dragrace teams as they entered California. Their trailers were to long, and they had to unload and load into smaller trailers. Their original trailers had to be hauled out of California, and they cut the trailers down to legal size.

California is a pain, if you can stay out

How long were their trailers? California allows trailers up to 53 feet long which is pretty standard in most states as well as the Federal regs.

Well, you're talking to a bunch of us retired LEO's. The 53' applies to commercial rigs. You DON'T want to open that box...:W....Dennis