Very recently I came across a Coachmen brochure which mentioned that some states restrict access on some or all roads to vehicles which are 96" or less in width. Looking into this further I found a document that listed 22 states (by my count) which restrict vehicles to 96" in width on non-designated roads. Tennessee restricts vehicles to 96" in width on all roads.My newly acquired Coachmen Freelander 30 QB is 100" in width. So I'm wondering what real world concerns I should have.Has anybody ever been ticketed for having a vehicle that is too wide? Has anybody ever had their vehicle measured? Has anybody been forced to have their RV towed out of a state where they were in violation of the law or been told to drive to the nearest border?Is this something I should be concerned about or should I not worry about it as I plan my cross country voyage?Thanks.

As you can see on my map I've been a few places. Never had a problem with my "wide-body" coach.

I see them standing on the side of the road with a tape measure all the time.Just kidding.There are plenty of other things one needs to be concerned about more so than your vehicle being a couple inches wider than allowed. I can't imagine anybody has ever been stopped. JMO

powderman426 wrote:I see them standing on the side of the road with a tape measure all the time.Just kidding.There are plenty of other things one needs to be concerned about more so than your vehicle being a couple inches wider than allowed. I can't imagine anybody has ever been stopped. JMO X 2...Who's going to notice an extra 2" on each side??B.O.

A lot of fivers and MHs are 102" wide. Our fiver is listed as 101", but that does not include the awning. Never heard of it being an issue.

The only time I have heard of this being an issue is if a side-swipe occurs. Then it becomes yet-another-citation...It would be possible for an Officer to pull you over on "X" (speeding, what-ever) and use this as yet-another-citation...As for random checks, never happens

Too wide? Legal Width Restrictions | Good Sam Community

Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Nov 03, 2013
wa8yxm wrote:
I have seen some states that restrict specific roads. And usually for good reason. I am not aware of ANY state that restricts all roads.

If you ever get a chance to park NEAR Boston.. Take a bicycle into town and look at some of those city streets that are only about 15 feet wide.. You will understand the restriction.

And yet...people thread 102" wide trucks and trailers through every day!

Note: most rental trucks built in the last 10 years or so are 102" wide!
wny_pat1
Explorer
Oct 26, 2013
rk911 wrote:
B.O. Plenty wrote:
powderman426 wrote:
I see them standing on the side of the road with a tape measure all the time.

Just kidding.

There are plenty of other things one needs to be concerned about more so than your vehicle being a couple inches wider than allowed. I can't imagine anybody has ever been stopped. JMO
X 2...Who's going to notice an extra 2" on each side??

B.O.

years and years ago a truck driving buddy of mine claimed that certain individual officers of the Ohio State Patrol would stop trucks for some miniscule PC and then measure the width of the cab including the side mirrors and would hand out tickets for that violation even if the "extra width" amounted to an inch or two. even if true your odds of winning the lotto have got to be exponentially better than running into a pinhead with a tape measure. we've been in all continental 48-states for the past 13-seasons with our 102" MH with nary an issue. worry not.
Yep, Ohio was one of the worst way back when!!! And it was not just over width and over length, it was anything they could find.

And Maryland use to love to measure trucks.

And I have been measured several times in NYS, but never in my motorhome. But my motorhome is only 96", so I'm legal.
rk911
Explorer
Oct 25, 2013
B.O. Plenty wrote:
powderman426 wrote:
I see them standing on the side of the road with a tape measure all the time.

Just kidding.

There are plenty of other things one needs to be concerned about more so than your vehicle being a couple inches wider than allowed. I can't imagine anybody has ever been stopped. JMO
X 2...Who's going to notice an extra 2" on each side??

B.O.

years and years ago a truck driving buddy of mine claimed that certain individual officers of the Ohio State Patrol would stop trucks for some miniscule PC and then measure the width of the cab including the side mirrors and would hand out tickets for that violation even if the "extra width" amounted to an inch or two. even if true your odds of winning the lotto have got to be exponentially better than running into a pinhead with a tape measure. we've been in all continental 48-states for the past 13-seasons with our 102" MH with nary an issue. worry not.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2013
For years they sold MH is California that were over 40' in length and it was illegal to operate them on the highways. They finally fixed the stupid law to allow longer 44-45' MH's. Chris

The Federal law for interstate highways width is 102 inches except in Hawaii which is 108".

Chris
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Oct 24, 2013
While it is not someplace many of us would drive our RVs, Beverly Hills is very active in enforcing size and weight restrictions. Our SIL has to transport sets for the TV industry into or thru BHs and his trucks are quite often impounded for infractions. An example of a wide street in BHs is Santa Monica and to drive any of his rigs with a trailer attached he must get a permit. That includes a pickup with a small (26') flatbed trailer. They don't sell an annual permit.

My point is that somewhere when you least expect it, some other town is at least as restrictive.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Oct 24, 2013
soos wrote:
this is one state we won't go to. we are even too long.

New Jersey Road Laws

Size Limitations: Height, 13'6"; Width, 8' (8'6" on certain federal highway systems); Trailer length, 40'; Motorhome length, 40'; Combined length, 50'. Triple towing in not allowed.

Agreed. Maybe because the state is so small?
soos
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2013
this is one state we won't go to. we are even too long.

New Jersey Road Laws

Size Limitations: Height, 13'6"; Width, 8' (8'6" on certain federal highway systems); Trailer length, 40'; Motorhome length, 40'; Combined length, 50'. Triple towing in not allowed.
mich800
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
Looks like some owe the Walmart campers an apology. It is not that they don't want to camp. They are just landlocked and cannot legally get to the campgrounds.
RussOnTheRoad
Explorer
Oct 23, 2013
free radical wrote:

I wouldnt worry about it..motorhome builders woudlnt built something you couldnt legaly drive on highways,,would be wise to avoid very narrow roads anyways imho..
btw what does Your Coachmen vehicle owners manual says...

I don't think my Coachmen manual addresses this issue at all. I couldn't find anything in it, anyway.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Oct 23, 2013
The OP question was "Too wide? Legal Width Restrictions".

Width laws are on the books so IMO if a LEO thinks you are over width the limits are there for all to see.

That anyone pulling a RV has ever been ticketed is a moot point. And just because one LEO in a Department or a department within a state doesn't check a RV for being over width doesn't mean much.

Forum Discussion

Too wide? Legal Width Restrictions

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Age restrictions

Is This Legal?

Campground motorcycle restrictions?

traveling restrictions

Booze in the RV... Legal?