Forum Discussion

Thunderstruck88's avatar
Thunderstruck88
Explorer
Nov 04, 2013

50 state (or rather 47) legal length towing

On this link http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm , it mentions "reciprocity". Whereby if you are legal in your own state of registration, you are legal in other states too. Now I have looked at every state on the list and only 3 do not recognize reciprocity; Colorado, Georgia and Delaware. I'm a newbie. And in fact don't even have a DP. Yet. We are planning to order either a year end model or a new 2015 ( depends if we can find exactly the one we want already built) Cornerstone in October of 2014. But we will be moving to full timers by spring of 2015 once the last kid graduates and heads off to the Corps. So I am doing everything I can to research everything I can. This is about the only thing I can't find a topic on here. We are going to register in South Dakota thanks to a lot of the info I have read on here. SD's law says I can drive a 45' coach with a 35' trailer behind it. 80' overall max. So, as I read it, I should be able to go anywhere but CO, DE and GA. Even Canada.

Right?

What say all of the experts and long time towers on here?

Remember, I am a newbie, so I'm not trying to say this is right. I'm simply asking for help in making the right decision in purchasing our trailer. I want as large of stacker as I can pull with the above mentioned coach as I need to haul many Harley's, a Jeep Wrangler, my Harley shop and my gym with us. We plan to full time and work for the next 40+ Years and attend every bike rally 40+ times!!!!!!!

26 Replies

Show More
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Nov 04, 2013
    Like others have said reciprocity applies to the drivers license, vehicle license, insurance etc. Lot's does not get covered. As an example oregon does not allow double tow and has a max overall length limit of 65' and a max trailer length of 40ft. And oregon has a "strange" law regarding trailer brakes. The don't require trailer brakes, only that you be able to stop from 25mph within a certain distance. Other states require brakes on one or all axles.

    The oregon trailer guide states that these are oregon limits, and may not be recognized by other states.

    And even if they did recognize reciprocity, different roads in different states may have lower limits on length, weight etc.
  • tatest's avatar
    tatest
    Explorer II
    Nov 04, 2013
    Reciprocty doesn't work for size limits or oversize permits, beyond the Federal standard for "designated" highways. That one state permits larger does not mean all states must, just because you are licensed in that moregenerous state.

    Higher limits also apply only to specific roads, in many cases. In the middle of the country, some states allow lightweight triples, over 110 feet in some instances, on certain highways, but they have to break down before leaving the state, or on leaving the highway within the state. The operators have terminals specifically for these road train assembly and break down operations.

    You should size your rig for where you plan to travel, within limits of the states you will visit. Keep in mind also that the limits in these tables are for "designated" highways, other roads and many city streets may have lower size limits. Each state publishes maps for commercial truckers that cover the designated highways and classify other highways, only part of this information gets to the Motor Carrier's Road Atlas and ATA advisory web sites.

    Large commercial traffic goes where the law lets it go, dispatchers take care of route planning to get traffic legally and safely from terminal to terminal. Motorcoach companies work the same way to connect planned destinations. In a large RV, it is up to the operator to gather the information and do the planning. A list of state maximums is just a starting point.
  • Roadpilot's avatar
    Roadpilot
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2013
    I know a lot of people that have 45' MH's and pull 30' stackers. None has ever been cited for over length. The one state that can be a pain is California. Most won't bring their stackers there and many won't bring their MH there because of their restrictions over 40'.

    I have a 45' MH and a 30' trailer that I almost never tow, because to me it is so limiting in terms of CG's. Personally, I would stick to 65 or 70' overall, or less if you can live with it.
  • christopherglen's avatar
    christopherglen
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2013
    In a nutshell reciprocity means you only need one drivers license, not one for every state you drive through, and you only need to register your stuff in your home state, not every state you drive through. Most states are between 65 and 75 feet on length. The is a VERY small chance you will get away for long running 80 feet long in a 65 foot state. It is hard to eyeball the difference between 75 and 80, but most people can tell the difference between 65 and 80 feet. Get busted and drop the trailer - in your case rent something to tow it out of state. If you were pulling doubles you could drop the second trailer and come back for it after dropping the first somewhere.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 04, 2013
    NO.........
    There are laws dealing with paper (license, registration, etc.) and laws dealing with equipment (towing double, lighting requirements, etc). The paper laws usually have reciprocity, the equipment laws don't.

    Each state can enforce its own length restrictions, as well as double towing laws. You can try and argument 'reciprocity' alongside the road, but I doubt you will get far. Be prepared to unhook. Again, there is NO reciprocity between states on towing doubles, or on length laws!
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2013
    There's no such thing as "reciprocity" when it comes to rules of the road. States make their own rules re. length/weight limits etc. and one can get a ticket for violating them regardless of State-of-origin. The likelihood of that happening is another story altogether...

About RV Newbies

4,031 PostsLatest Activity: Jul 31, 2025