Am I over the Max 5fer length?

[speediq99]

Hello,

We are looking to buy a 44ft 5fer.m
I recently came across a Good Sam article with the trailer length limits per state. It looks like many states set the limit at 40ft. Is this something to worry about if you have the right tow vehicle?


https://www.goodsam.com/article/default.aspx?articleID=1195129
MC

[laknox]

Learjet wrote:
I think it would be helpful for a definition on how a 5th Wheel trailer is measured? Is it from the pin to the bumper or nose cap to the bumper?

YES!!!

Lyle

[JIMNLIN]

Since they're licensed by the state to issue titles either there's 0 enforcement of what the legislature put on paper, or they sell the majority of their inventory to out of state folks, I'll tell you which I think is more likely 😃

Checking rv vehicles for legal lengths isn't on our state troopers every day radar according to my local state DOT trooper.

Most cars/trucks sold today will exceed the vast majority of posted speed limits....but a car/truck dealer can legally sell a 180 mph vehicle.

You just take your chances pulling a over length trailer or speeding or shooting at a LEO or selling crack to drug crazed Americans or busting any other laws.

[afidel]

There are a LOT of illegal 5ers then, every widebody unit and most toy haulers are going to be over those limits. Obviously it's basically never checked or enforced.

Just for kicks I checked the first RV dealer that came up for Oklahoma RV dealer in Google, Floyd's. Out of 98 5ers in their inventory system 39 are over 40', and 30 out of 43 5er toy haulers were. Since they're licensed by the state to issue titles either there's 0 enforcement of what the legislature put on paper, or they sell the majority of their inventory to out of state folks, I'll tell you which I think is more likely 😃

[JIMNLIN]

My state title 47 says in part bla bla
***....trailer shall have a body width not exceeding eight (8) feet in travel mode and an overall length not exceeding forty (40) feet, including the hitch or coupling***.
I wouldn't attempt the other 49 state length description.

[Learjet]

I think it would be helpful for a definition on how a 5th Wheel trailer is measured? Is it from the pin to the bumper or nose cap to the bumper?

[nickthehunter]

The citations are all there, which makes it easy to research the law for yourself, the two I checked (which were of interest to me) where correct.

[ferndaleflyer]

Nick that was published about 5 years ago and I know for a fact the info on 2 states is dead wrong

[nickthehunter]

My answer would be yes, in a lot of states you would be exceeding their length restrictions.
Click

[Ivylog]

Each summer we spend several months out West staying in public CGs without reservations and even the last 2, while busier, still not a problem. Small is better if you can’t maneuver your rig.

[Veebyes]

Forty four feet is a monster for sure but the issue will be site availability. No problem if you don't move around much & are a KOA or resort type of person & like where all the big class As go but you will be passing by many state parks where even a 35' fiver is on the big side.

A compromise to think about before signing the dotted line.

[Sandia_Man]

I wouldn't worry about it as it pertains to state laws, if anything there might be an additional fee when registering it which is no biggie. There are so many RVs 40' and longer everywhere you go, the extra few feet is unnoticeable to most casual observers. IF LEO has nothing better to do than pull over slightly longer than average RVs I want to live there as obviously crime is not a factor in the area.

The only real concern would be going to older state and federal parks as big rig spaces are not overly abundant, any RV parks (private or public) created in the last decade or so should have plenty of sites for longer rigs. A few commercial parks recently built locally every site can handle 40' and above with ease, big rigs are ever popular with so many on the roads RV parks are designed for them nowadays.

[ferndaleflyer]

My old set up was 72ft if I remember right, might have been 75ft. I had that mess all over the country and not once could not find a campground. Only place I was concerned at that time was CA as they were known to ticket people over their legal length coming out of Vegas. I don't fool with state parks, etc only places with room. My current set up is about 56ft and I was in Myrtle beach first week of Dec and South FL first week in Jan.

[JIMNLIN]

The clicky is for commercial class trailers which a rv trailer isn't.
My states max length for a rv trailers is 40' per title 47. Over length permits are cheap .

Just like other size and weights weight regulations or exceeding highway/street speed limits....running stop signs/etc. Just 'cause you do it and get by with it doesn't mean its not against the law.

See your states max length for rv trailers (not a combination).

[BB_TX]

Retired JSO wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
Although some states have the 40’ trailer, I don’t remember any one saying they were ever stopped for trailer length. Overall length yes, trailer length no.

State, National, and local campgrounds can be a problem even at 35’+.

There are no states with a 40’ max. 48’ is the shortest in some state with the majority set at 53’ max.
Max Trailer Length

That link is for commercial towing. State rv towing laws are different.

https://www.rvia.org/system/files/media/file/Maximum%20RV%20Length.pdf