Mud Flaps Needed Before Inspection..!!

[judge]

When I purchased my Class-C 2 years ago in Houston, I was NOT told and didn't know that I needed to have Mud Flaps installed before I could get it inspected. I was turned down from getting my inspection today because the inspection station where I normally bring my car & truck told me that I need to have them before he can do it.

When I call Holiday World where I purchased the RV, they seem to know nothing about needing them. Is this a new law or something in Texas.

Has anyone else come across this or knew about this law. I thought this was only for Class A RVs..

[judge]

UPDATE:

Well, I ended up calling another place first and ended up going to them instead of the first guy who turned me down for inspection. They inspected it with no problems.

The thing that gets me is that yesterday I drove by an RV dealer and looked at some Class C motorhomes and NONE of them had Mud Flaps and all had current inspection stickers. So I guess that first guy just didn't know the law and thought it applied to my Class C.

Thanks to all of you who did research on this...

[toedtoes]

Found this: article

It seems the qualifying part is what the state defines as a "truck" under the above statute. An RV would not fall under the definition of "a motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily to transport property".

With that, it does appear that there is a lot of confusion about when mudflaps are required and when not. It may be prudent to put them on, just to prevent potential issues with peace officers, even if it isn't required.

[ugh]

Some of you are missing my point. I guess I did not explain it clearly. Inspection stations do make mistake like they did with mine. Just go to other place.

Also, when you shop for new semi, tractor trailer, dump trucks, etc they all come with mudflaps. The manufactures pre installs it before it leaves factory. I see many MH, TT, and fifth wheel at the dealer lot with no mud flaps.

[cgmartine]

I think that is a misinterpretation of the listed statue. It specifically states that it applies to a road tractor, trailer. When is states that it includes vehicles with four rear tires, it applies to the tractor/trailer. Its intent was for it to apply to commercial vehicles, not to a Class C motorhome.

[Old-Biscuit]

chaeworld wrote:
In the State of Texas. If a truck has dual rear wheels it has to have mudflaps . No exceptions for RVs.
I had to replace one on my Winnebago to pass inspection in 2013.
As new as your RV is I would make the dealer pick the bill up.
It's not a new law. I worked around trucks for years.

Hummmmmmmm

Guess a Class C with duallys needs mudflaps to pass TX Inspection
Guess the Inspection place was correct
Guess that TX Statue applies

[chaeworld]

In the State of Texas. If a truck has dual rear wheels it has to have mudflaps . No exceptions for RVs.
I had to replace one on my Winnebago to pass inspection in 2013.
As new as your RV is I would make the dealer pick the bill up.
It's not a new law. I worked around trucks for years.

[bob_nestor]

According to this technical report which summaries the legal requirements by State, they are not required for motor-homes. However this report was written in 2006 and I can't find any newer one in my searches.

[DrewE]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Texas
–
Texas Statutes Section 547.606
Safety Guards or Flaps Required
(a)A road tractor, truck, trailer, truck/tractor in combination with a semitrailer, or semitrailer in combination with a towing vehicle that has at least four tires on the rearmost axle of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination shall be equipped with safety guards or flaps that:
(1) Are of a type prescribed by the department;
and
(2) Are located and suspended behind the rearmost wheels of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination within eight inches of the surface of the highway.
(b)This section does not apply to a truck?tractor operated alone or a pole trailer.

Is your Class C a 'dually'?
If yes then mud-flaps

A class C (or class A) motorhome is neither a road tractor, a truck, a trailer, nor one of the described combinations, as I understand things. But, as I said, what really matters is how the Texas DOT understands things.

[Dakzuki]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Texas
–
Texas Statutes Section 547.606
Safety Guards or Flaps Required
(a)A road tractor, truck, trailer, truck/tractor in combination with a semitrailer, or semitrailer in combination with a towing vehicle that has at least four tires on the rearmost axle of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination shall be equipped with safety guards or flaps that:
(1) Are of a type prescribed by the department;
and
(2) Are located and suspended behind the rearmost wheels of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination within eight inches of the surface of the highway.
(b)This section does not apply to a truck?tractor operated alone or a pole trailer.

Is your Class C a 'dually'?
If yes then mud-flaps

It is none of those. It sounds like somebody full of themselves and interpreting law poorly.

[ugh]

I don't think that applies to you because your dually sits too far in and it sits lower than a dump truck or semi where it is too exposed and it sits higher. Go to a different place and get it inspected. I had trouble getting my truck inspected and passed at one place after several times. I decided to take it to a different place and it passed with flying colors. It turns out that heavy duty trucks are exempt from emission test. I went back to the other place and educated them on that matter.

[Old-Biscuit]

Texas
–
Texas Statutes Section 547.606
Safety Guards or Flaps Required
(a)A road tractor, truck, trailer, truck/tractor in combination with a semitrailer, or semitrailer in combination with a towing vehicle that has at least four tires on the rearmost axle of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination shall be equipped with safety guards or flaps that:
(1) Are of a type prescribed by the department;
and
(2) Are located and suspended behind the rearmost wheels of the vehicle or the rearmost vehicle in the combination within eight inches of the surface of the highway.
(b)This section does not apply to a truck?tractor operated alone or a pole trailer.

Is your Class C a 'dually'?
If yes then mud-flaps

[DrewE]

Probably this would best be answered by calling the Texas DOT and asking them. The general requirement seems to be for all vehicles with dualies to have mudflaps, though at least one source online indicated that motorhomes were specially exempted.