Over Max Allowed Length?

[Aceffemt]

I was told today that my new 375bhfs is too long to be pulled in some states. Is there any truth to that? In Michigan I am good up to 65'.

[Jmooney]

Link to state restrictions

http://www.rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm

[NewBlackDak]

Some states are 60' max without special endorsement, or commercial. Your overall length 43'5" will have 3-5' subtracted from being over the bed. What truck do you have? My Megacab is 20'8", and they don't come too much longer.

[Jmooney]

New Jersey 50. Feet
Mississippi 53 feet
Everyone else is 60+

[RedHorse1]

Jmoo, thanks for the link!
I measured the 5th and TV and recall that I'm around 65' and see several states with a max length of 60'. Anyone ever stopped & ticketed for being too long?

[3'senough]

There are federal regulations in place on interstates, depending on how you interpret it, stating that states cannot enforce combo limits on legal trailer truck combos within the interstate system. But...the laws we are looking at apply to commercial tractor trailer combos and may not be applicable to RV trailer combos since we are private. Same thing with weigh stations, we bypass them...for now. I am sure that if someone wanted to, they could enforce something on us, especially a state or local road.

I bet that there are some bumper pulls in excess or touching close to my dimensions with not having the bed overhang that a 5'er provides.

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/FREIGHT/publ...t/index.htm#rv

[Diesel Donnie]

Most states have "Reciprical" Agreements with other states- That means if you are "legal" in your state, you are "legal" where you are- However, there are some roads which have specific restrictions in place- JMHO- DD

[351rlts]

There is a major difference between commercial law and RV rules. If you ask you don't always get the right answer. Go to the state DOT site and search RV rules for a state you may be traveling to. That's the only sure way of knowing. Even web links that show the different states are full of misinformation.

[Seann45]

Usually if your legal in your home state you are legal anywhere.. EXCEPT for towing double..

[Salsa03]

Originally Posted by Seann45

Usually if your legal in your home state you are legal anywhere.. EXCEPT for towing double..

But that's only if the State Trooper from Tennessee knows that in your Canadian Province you are legal... and even then, you can get into troubles.

Best thing is to always search ahead and enquire to the proper authorities!

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Salsa03

But that's only if the State Trooper from Tennessee knows that in your Canadian Province you are legal... and even then, you can get into troubles.

Best thing is to always search ahead and enquire to the proper authorities!

My Dad had an experience with that in the early 1980s when he had a popup. It was under 3,000 pounds and Wisconsin did not (and still does not) require a license plate for the trailer. He got pulled over and handed a ticket by a Tennessee State Trooper for not having a plate. He explained that WI did not require one but the Tennessee State Trooper did not understand the reciprocity laws. He had to go to the courthouse to have it thrown out by the judge.

[Larry G.]

Originally Posted by Jmooney

Link to state restrictions

http://www.rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm

Think that site hasn't been updated in years.

[micron]

Some states do have pacts or reciprocity agreements but not all of them and most only cover "paperwork" violations, not "moving" violations.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by micron

Some states do have pacts or reciprocity agreements but not all of them and most only cover "paperwork" violations, not "moving" violations.

Wouldn't this be covered by Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, known as the "Full Faith and Credit Clause", which addresses the duties that states within the United States have to respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state"?

I'm not a lawyer but my understanding is this law ensures that if I have a driver's license in IL I can drive to WI or IN. Otherwise I would need to obtain a driver's license in each state I wish to drive.

[clutch]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. People drive in every state every day with large camp trailers.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Scott

My Dad had an experience with that in the early 1980s when he had a popup. It was under 3,000 pounds and Wisconsin did not (and still does not) require a license plate for the trailer. He got pulled over and handed a ticket by a Tennessee State Trooper for not having a plate. He explained that WI did not require one but the Tennessee State Trooper did not understand the reciprocity laws. He had to go to the courthouse to have it thrown out by the judge.

That is kind of funny cause a guy that camps with us is from Tn and his little trailer does not have to have a plate on it..

[clutch]

Seann, you are correct. A friend of mine in Tennessee has a lawn service and he doesn't need a plate on his small work trailer. He doesn't need lights on the trailer either if you can see the lights on the back of the tow vehicle when you are following him. His trailer had no lights and no plate and he worked near Nashville.

[Scott]

Maybe I'm remembering the wrong state. I know it was on a trip from Milwaukee to Disney World but it was also 30 years ago and I was too young to remember but my Dad has told the story many times. It could have been KY or GA.