Different States Length of Trailer Laws

Everitt wrote:
Thank you to all of the replies. I didn' think about having an accident and being over length., I did think of it when it comes to weight (that's why we're going to a 1 ton dually). We are currently looking at 42' fifth wheels. We would like a shorter one but we cannot find a bunkhouse we like any shorter. By the way, I found the state lengths in the 2017 Good Sam Travel and Saving Guide book. It also has each states overall lengths in it.

That’s because you don’t need to worry about it. Too many chiken Little’s.
Go buy your favorite 5ver and dually and have fun!

BurbMan wrote:
As long as you are legal in the state where it's registered you will be fine. .

well, NO you won't "be fine" but you may "pay a fine" . trailer length laws and mutiple towing laws are not covered under reciprocity between states. you MUST be legal in the state and roads you are towing on for length.

Now, I'd be interested in feedback from anyone who personally has been stopped and ticketed or given a warning for being overlength pulling a SINGLE trailer or 5th Wheel. I'd say it is an extremely rare occurance.

While I agree that it is unlikely that anyone will be stopped just for being over length, your statement is just plain wrong. Reciprocity between states only applies to licensing and registration. Each state reserves the right to establish it's own laws for anything else such as weights, lengths, towing doubles, speeds, etc. Try telling a judge that you were going 70 in a 60 because it is legal where the vehicle is registered. You will have the same luck with length, weight or anything else. It is the driver's responsibility to know and comply with the laws in the state in which he is operating.

Silliness. Dont compare MPH to weight. I doubt there is anyone on this site that when making their travel plans, looks up the states limit on rv's to make sure they are legal and if not re-routes themselves to a more 'length friendly state' LOL.

The truth is - nobody really cares.

Lets make another point here, they want your money in the state you are traveling in, if you stop for food, fuel, camping etc your spending money. Unless you are out an out braking the laws of that state they will not bother you, as OP stated driving 70 in a 60 may get you a ticket, will the measure you when writing the ticket highly unlikely because you are a tourist...

One other things is they make far more money picking on trucks than they do you are a tourist...

One other pint is that someone stated follow the truck signs an if it states truck pull off here follow the signs an you will be ok, this is somewhat true but doing such at a weight station for trucks may just get you chewed out beyond belief by the scale operator an possible a LEO as well... Scale masters do not like RV on their scales when opened, they get really mad !! I do not care what anyone states as an over the road truck driver for 50 years you pulling a RV do not have to stop at any scale, drive by, no one will stop you unless you are hauling travel trailer for hire then it is a different story !!!

BurbMan wrote:
As long as you are legal in the state where it's registered you will be fine.

While I agree that it is unlikely that anyone will be stopped just for being over length, your statement is just plain wrong. Reciprocity between states only applies to licensing and registration. Each state reserves the right to establish it's own laws for anything else such as weights, lengths, towing doubles, speeds, etc. Try telling a judge that you were going 70 in a 60 because it is legal where the vehicle is registered. You will have the same luck with length, weight or anything else. It is the driver's responsibility to know and comply with the laws in the state in which he is operating.

As long as you are legal in the state where it's registered you will be fine. When traveling pretend you are driving a semi and follow signs for trucks, so if it says no trucks left lane, trucks use lower level, all trucks must exit, etc., then drive like that applies to you and you will have no issues.

You are worried about something silly. There is no LEO/Sheriff/Highway patrol that is going to waste their time pulling you over because they 'think' you might be too long, unless you are doing something silly like towing a 50ft fiver with a boat on the back of that and a toad after that. Most of them would not even know there is a length law.
Buy what you like and enjoy it and stop worrying.

dfletch wrote:
Good question we purchased our 42’ 5th wheel in June in NC which has a limit of 35’ we drove it home to VA where 42’’ is OK.

Overall non permitted length is 60' in NC. See clicky CLICKY

I asked about this in Maryland as I knew my hitched length was going to be in the 60-65' range. Turns out I'm 59 1/2' long bumper to bumper.

Most of the time, the guides that compile all of the states data don't cover the caveats of the states. For instance, Maryland is often quoted at 55'. Which is right, BUT you can be up to 65' in length as long as you follow a couple of rules.

Here's a snippet of an email exchange:

Maryland State Highway Administration wrote:
Noncommercial power unit and travel trailer combination may be up to 65 feet BUT anything over 55 feet is required to be on specific routes:

1. Interstate system
2. State routes considered authorized "truck routes"
3. Shortest practical route between designated highways and:
a. point of origin and destination on a particular day.
b. for a distance not to exceed 1 mile, facilities for food, fuel, repairs or rest.

Transportation article 24.104.1.m

I'm going to stop this right there. Obviously, I am unable to explain myself sufficiently clearly for you to understand, so there is no sense in continuing the discussion.