New poster here! Looking for your advice before I purchase a new Motorhome. I'd like a 45' long class A that's 101" wide, but I see there are many States here in the US that you can't drive something that big in. Would I be better to get something under 40'? Even then most of the big DP's are wider that 8'. I must be missing something here? Taking my info from the web, specifically HERE. I can't believe all these coaches are built this big if you can't drive them across the US. We will have a small toad, so the parks and tourist sites are no problem. Just need to know that we can actually cross the state and get to where we can drive the toad to the places we want to see. What do all of you with the big motorcoaches do?

You might look at the chart again. Only four states prohibit 45' coaches and you probably wouldn't want to take a 45' there anyhow, like New Jersey or Maryland. The standard allowed width is 102", again per the chart you're looking at. That is the standard RV width for modern coaches. The only issue with a 45' coach is that some states require you to have a special license for a rig that long.

Our coach is 8.5 feet wide and we have pretty much been all over the U.S. with it. I have never heard of anyone getting in trouble for being over the 8-foot limit. Pretty sure our next coach will be 45 feet, and of the places we have been, we are not too concerned, although some commercial California campgrounds are a bit tight.

The federal maximum non-permit width for federal highways is 102". Access roads that lead to those highways also must allow that width for a reasonable distance. Note that even the few states where 96" is the state max, there are generally exceptions. I don't recall ever reading of any RV'er on any of the several RV forums I follow, or hearing anyone in any park or campground I've stayed in, mentioning that they've been stopped as overwide, or even knew of anyone that had been stopped for that reason. I would not be concerned about it, and I have passed through or stayed in most of the states with a 96" max without any width issues.

Federal rules define rvs as limited to 400 square feet in their traveling mode. This standard cannot be userpt by individual states under the interstate commerce provisions in our US Constitution 101" x 45' = 378.75 square feet. Search RVIA, RVPA, ICC, the answers are there. Max

Just got back from the East coast and traveled all over including New Jersey. I've never had a problem any where in the country although we've not traveled in California and don't plan on it.

Too big to travel? (45' X 101") | Good Sam Community

Passin_Thru
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
It's 102 inches wide, not including rear view mirrors in the US lower 48 on any Interstate and they have to give you a margin to access CGs and fuel stops, repair shops. Length in the US on Interstates is listed here.Wisconsin is 45 on the Interstates.

http://www.cmmonline.com/articles/231347-learning-about-agm-batteries
bluwtr49
Explorer II
Oct 06, 2014
Let's Travel wrote:
New poster here! Looking for your advice before I purchase a new Motorhome. I'd like a 45' long class A that's 101" wide, but I see there are many States here in the US that you can't drive something that big in. Would I be better to get something under 40'? Even then most of the big DP's are wider that 8'. I must be missing something here? Taking my info from the web, specifically HERE. I can't believe all these coaches are built this big if you can't drive them across the US. We will have a small toad, so the parks and tourist sites are no problem. Just need to know that we can actually cross the state and get to where we can drive the toad to the places we want to see. What do all of you with the big motorcoaches do?

It's somewhat of a moot point since there are no MH built to that size....unless of course you are going to build one from scratch!!
J-Rooster
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
First of all welcome to RV.Net! In the State of Washington you are legal at 102" and 45' and you do not need a special license. However, if your tow vehicle puts you over 65' 6" you will need a over length permit, which you can obtain at any DOT Office.
bshpilot
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
GlennLever wrote:

I have no stickers of any kind on the dragster, and I do have a CDL with doubles, triples, tank, and Hazmat endorsements.

The "Not For Hire" gets you nothing in the eyes of DOT

smart on the dragster !
i agree regarding DOT.
GlennLever
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
GlennLever wrote:

I have heard of that happening, but have not seen it YET

I'm 73 feet

apparently its happened at least once the drag strip in Ennis Texas (i wasn't there).

ive also heard stories about "private rv not for hire" coach owners who were busted for no cdl when the contents of the trailer were revealed to have contingency stickers on them.

in texas the combined limit is 65 feet....i squeak in right at 60 w/ the jeep wrangler but am over w/ the race car/trailer, in fact until now i thought the limit was 74 feet.

no one has ever bothered me....i guess we look like the amateurs that we are ;)

I have no stickers of any kind on the dragster, and I do have a CDL with doubles, triples, tank, and Hazmat endorsements.

The "Not For Hire" gets you nothing in the eyes of DOT
GlennLever
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
RayChez wrote:
I have seen 45'Monaco Signature coach towing a full size pickup pulled over for being too long. Highway patrol really watch this area for excessive length, (Tehachapi, Ca) Highway 58. They will nail you every time.

This is why I have not gone to the March meet. It is on my bucket list. I'm not sure how to get there with the dragster and motor home.
bshpilot
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
GlennLever wrote:

I have heard of that happening, but have not seen it YET

I'm 73 feet

apparently its happened at least once the drag strip in Ennis Texas (i wasn't there).

ive also heard stories about "private rv not for hire" coach owners who were busted for no cdl when the contents of the trailer were revealed to have contingency stickers on them.

in texas the combined limit is 65 feet....i squeak in right at 60 w/ the jeep wrangler but am over w/ the race car/trailer, in fact until now i thought the limit was 74 feet.

no one has ever bothered me....i guess we look like the amateurs that we are ;)
msmith1199
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2014
A few months back there was a motorhome that came upon a stopped police vehicle that was trying to close off a lane on the freeway along with a DOT vehicle. The motorhome driver didn't see it in time and ended up running over and killing the police officer. I have no idea if the MH was complying with all the size limits or not (probably was) but I can assure you if you got involved in something like that the tape measures and scales would come out and they would be going over your RV with a fine tooth comb.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2014
bshpilot wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:

Not too hard pressed because somebody posted a photo of one. And that manufacturer did make many more. I did a Google search and see they were well aware they were illegal and yet made and sold them anyway and people still drive them. I'm surprised a State Attorney General or somebody didn't shut them down. It looks like bankruptcy eventually is what shut them down.

people think my coach is rare....kingsley is even fewer in numbers ! its easy to fly under the radar when every coach is custom and your numbers are (probably) under 100 produced !

just cause you find pictures of it on the internet doesnt mean theres 100s of 'em.

i have friends that pull stackers w/ their 45' foot coaches (like mine) that are over the permissible length limits....theyve never been stopped & i know only one owner that does it properly (applying for permits & registering his route).....the manufacture (especially now that theyre bankrupt) had no liability...the owner / driver will.

left to traveling alone you'd probably never be bothered (over 45')....but go to a race event & the DOT/Troopers have been KNOWN to wait outside the track to check, weight, length & permits.

I didn't say there were hundreds of them. I said the manufacturer made many more. I'm just wondering why some government agency didn't shut them down. Car manufacturers would be stopped in a heartbeat if they tried to produce and sell a car for use on the streets that was not street legal.
RayChez
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
I do not believe they manufacture coaches that are 101"wide anymore. My coach is a 02 and it is 103" wide then. So new coaches are not going to be 101" wide. Unless he is planning on buying an older coach without slides.