RV and trailer lenght.

[caou_26]

I have a 40 ft RV and will be pulling a 32 ft trailer. 80 ft total lenght.
Is that legal?

[GlennLever]

Deleted, not getting the point

[msmith1199]

Okay, I did some more research and seem to have found the truth. California has a 53 foot trailer length limit as does many other states. This is also the Federal standard. Anything over 53' requires a permit to operate. Apparently all these NHRA people knew this good and well yet they decided they were going to use 56' trailers anyway as they figured they were above the laws and nobody would check.

Well CHP did check and had apparently warned them in advance that the over length trailers would not be allowed and if anybody was caught brining them in they would have to take them out on a low boy trailer. Why is the low boy legal? Because you can only get a permit for an over length trailer to haul over length items. You can't simply get a permit for a 56' trailer simply because you want 3' of extra space. If you need 56' of space you have to use two trailers. So the reason the low boy is legal is because the low boy is hauling oversized cargo and that being the 56 foot trailer. So since the trailer is the cargo they can get a permit for that.

This is sort of like the Toterhome question that comes up on here. People are driving these giant motorhomes that are well over 45' in length and just hoping the law doesn't get enforced even though they know good and well they are breaking the law. And when some agency decides to enforce that law on them you can bet they'll be whining just like the NHRA who knew good and well they were also breaking the law.

[msmith1199]

I don't know Glen there just seems to be something missing from that story. Looks like he modified the trailer by adding something to the front of it. And he talks about Caltrans at the scales. As far as I know CHP runs the scales and they would be the one telling him that. Also if it was just about length, why was it okay to put it on an even longer trailer and move it? Maybe it was about length and something else? I don't know, there just seems to be some details missing.

Also, the 65' and 75' length restrictions he talks about are pretty standard in many states. Some of the states that allow longer lengths only allow them if they allow triples.

[msmith1199]

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

GlennLever wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

This happened to a number of NHRA Dragrace teams as they entered California. Their trailers were to long, and they had to unload and load into smaller trailers. Their original trailers had to be hauled out of California, and they cut the trailers down to legal size.

California is a pain, if you can stay out

How long were their trailers? California allows trailers up to 53 feet long which is pretty standard in most states as well as the Federal regs.

Well, you're talking to a bunch of us retired LEO's. The 53' applies to commercial rigs. You DON'T want to open that box...:W....Dennis

He said this was NHRA drag race teams. Wouldn't they be required to follow the commercial rules?

[GlennLever]

Deleted, not getting the point

[Executive45]

msmith1199 wrote:

GlennLever wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

This happened to a number of NHRA Dragrace teams as they entered California. Their trailers were to long, and they had to unload and load into smaller trailers. Their original trailers had to be hauled out of California, and they cut the trailers down to legal size.

California is a pain, if you can stay out

How long were their trailers? California allows trailers up to 53 feet long which is pretty standard in most states as well as the Federal regs.

Well, you're talking to a bunch of us retired LEO's. The 53' applies to commercial rigs. You DON'T want to open that box...:W....Dennis

[msmith1199]

GlennLever wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

This happened to a number of NHRA Dragrace teams as they entered California. Their trailers were to long, and they had to unload and load into smaller trailers. Their original trailers had to be hauled out of California, and they cut the trailers down to legal size.

California is a pain, if you can stay out

How long were their trailers? California allows trailers up to 53 feet long which is pretty standard in most states as well as the Federal regs.

[The_Texan]

msmith1199 wrote:

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

I too was a LEO and be assured, it happens in most other states. Very expensive if you have to get a tow, besides pay the fine.

[GlennLever]

Deleted, not getting the point

[msmith1199]

Executive wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

I was a cop in California so that's why I wrote it.

[nevadanick]

None of those sites that list length, doubles etc are ever right. The only way is to contact each state individually and even that changes so often you might not ever be right. Nv rv was 75ft, now reads 70ft, used to be needed endorsement for doubles now you dont or do you ? Might have changed today. No overall length limit here for trucks but they limit trailer lengths. Can go to 129,500 lbs with the right combo. How in the world could you ever know whats right in your own state let alone in other states.

[Kayteg1]

msmith1199 wrote:


Also, I'm pretty sure if you get a permit for an oversize vehicle, the permit will be for a specific move of that vehicle. You'll have to list the date and time and the route to be taken. Kind of hard to do with an RV.

He could buy annual oversize permit, but would it apply to RV and class B licence?
I am still scratching my head if 32' cargo trailer is rated below 10k to be pulled without CDL?

[Trackrig]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Most states 65' is MAX two vehicle length

OK is 70'

HERE is some State by State info

80' is not legal

I think the chart, at least for Alaska, is out of date. It lists Alaska's speed limit at 55 mph and it hasn't been that for 20+ years. And it lists the max trailer length at 40'. We went to 45', to 48' and now 53' trailers being legal with no permits.

The max combined length is probably wrong also. You can't stay under 65' with a 53' trailer, a tractor on a long wheel base and a sleeper. Between Anch and Fbks or Anch and the Kenai, they haul double 45' trailers. They have to be marked with over length signs on the rear but they're on the road every day especially when the freight ships arrive.

Most of the other states showing 55 mph have probably changed that also.

The chart shows trailer brakes are required on trailers over 5,000# for Alaska. Also saw another chart recently showing the limit without brakes at 10,000#. I don't know which is right. I'll have to see what DMV says the next time I go over there.

Bill

[Executive45]

msmith1199 wrote:
Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.

Not sure about other states, but I can assure you that does happen in California....Dennis

[msmith1199]

Bob, just keep in mind that one of the dangers of towing over length like that isn't just a ticket. Law enforcement could potentially declare it an unsafe vehicle and order you to unhook the trailer and make other arrangements to have the trailer towed away. Just keep that in mind and have a plan for it does happen.