8'6" width concerns

[RVcrazy]

Hi All,

If you are towing a 5th 8'6" wide, have you run into trouble? Would you purchase a wide unit again?

[JohnBoyToo]

wouldn't you get used to it just like with anything.... ?

after all, it's for "recreation" - enjoy !

[realter]

Don't know about 5 ers or RV's, but when I had a pontoon that was 8'6", I hated pulling that. Looking in my mirrors, I was either over the center line, or on the white line on the edge of the pavement.

[gerrym51]

RVcrazy wrote:
Hi All,

If you are towing a 5th 8'6" wide, have you run into trouble? Would you purchase a wide unit again?

government definition of wide load is OVER 102 inches

[sele]

never had an issue in 9 years, but there is a bridge across the mississippi river at Lousiana Missouri that I avoid like the plaque. Most everybody else I know avoids that Old iron bridge, guys pulling a boat down to the Ozarks any type of camper. I have meet another rv on that bridge we both were going about 20 mph and glad to get by. Couldn't imagine a semi.

[travelnutz]

Lucky for me that my toy barn has a true 14' wide main door opening. I'll be in great shape when they increase the legal vehicle width the 12'. Bet I'll have a long wait! Unfortunately, my toy barn will probably fall down due to old age before 12' becomes legal though but I'll just wait and hope!

Let's see, 12' vehicle width plus a 4' slideout on either side looks like an 20' wide RV to play around in. OR Maybe they will perfect the slide in a slide system they're now working on and then I'll have a 28' wide RV. A real home on the run! GO GO GO

[punomatic]

travelnutz wrote:
Why, pray tell, would a width of 102" (8-1/2') VS 96" (8') matter when on the road or in a CG?

It probably wouldn't. On the other hand, I have a MH that is 96" wide. My RV garage door is 10' wide. The mirrors clear the door by about 2" on each side. If I got a "wide body" (102" wide) I suspect that I would have to remove the mirrors to get in my garage. There are considerations other than on the road or in a CG.

[jims1]

I never have an issue towing our wide CarriLite. Its narrower than the mirrors on my truck when flipped up. If there legal then the 5'er is.

[fj12ryder]

Has anyone, anyone, gotten a ticket for being overwidth in a stock 5th wheel? Be it 96" or 102".

[elliott-Maine]

The DOT, at least in Maine, measures the width of a unit by dropping a plumb line from the widest parts of a vehicle and measures the distance on the ground. On a 106-inch unit, if you have an awning you will be over-wide.

[Pete_k]

The unreal part, when the company that pics our campers up. They have to get a wide load permit. But when we get it, no permit for over width. Never figured out why that is...
Pete

[469whj469]

I am told that 8 feet is the max in Texas and when I asked how does that work with a few RVs being 8 and 1/2 feet. I was told that they are listed as 8 feet on the title and no one asks any more questions. I have never met anyone who has ever had an issue, even with the DPS.

[wandering1]

That hasn't been a problem that I know of since 1970.:S

[rupprider]

An extra 3 inches (from center-line) in trailer width may be noticed in a tight turn. -Assuming a fifth wheel- Check your king pin to back of cab distance.

[Tom_Diane]

fj12ryder wrote:
Suppose you only had 6" clearance on a side in a construction site with the 102" trailer. If you decrease the overall width to 96" you get 50% more clearance on a side. Another way of looking at it. 🙂

In the scenerio you give, you would not be allowed on that road with a trailer wider than 8'. in fact, it would be closed it would seem.For what its worth, a standard low boy trailer can be 8' to 8'6. Any wider than 8'6 and you better have your oversize load flags on and the red flags where needed and a D.O.T. premit. I doubt you would run into a situation where loads 8'6" are prohibited but if there was a restriction, I beleive it would be 10 ft or wider, other than that there might be a restriction for oversized loads and 8'6 wide is not an oversized load. Several years ago I was taking a wide load thru Omaha and they were doing construction on the interstate. I was routed by the DOT around the construction. It was a 10 ft restriction and my load was pusing 10ft wide and I got my permit at that width. I missed my exit around the road work and was left with no choice but to go thru the contruction site. I went thru with the flow of traffic and had no problems and I had a 5 axle trailer so I was long as well as wide. What I did was against the law but I had no choice and nowhere to turn around. I didnt get caught but it just reaffirmed that you get some grace on measurments on overhead bridges and narrow bridges and such but doesnt mean you can violate the law. But an 8'6 trailer or RV wouldnt bother me on a standard road way whether in cg or on the road. I guess my confidence is higher than some but I have driven proffessionally and many ,many oversized loads on diferent road construction sites