Trailer laws - Printable Version

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Trailer laws - Maxsboat - 03-04-2017

We currently tow 4 down a VW Beetle and a Traverse (when we carry our Cricket).  We have thought about enclosed trailers.  A long time ago we had a dolly to Tow our BMW but that was always a pain when we got to a place to just stay the night and had to take car off, unhook and then put the dolly somewhere. 

My question on trailers has been the laws.  We have a 40 footer now and will move up to a 45 footer.  Adding 28 or 30 feet surpasses some of the State laws.  Had a friend once bringing his race car on a stacker and Toy Hauler and was stopped due to length.  It was a few years back, has it changed now?

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RE: Trailer laws - Fulltiming - 03-04-2017

California Highway Patrol can be a stickler on overall length. I am not personally aware of other states being as stringent. However, even in California, they will typically only stop you if you are violating some other law also (think speed) then you get two tickets instead of one.

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RE: Trailer laws - ron skeen - 03-04-2017

(03-04-2017, 02:37 PM)Fulltiming Wrote:  California Highway Patrol can be a stickler on overall length. I am not personally aware of other states being as stringent. However, even in California, they will typically only stop you if you are violating some other law also (think speed) then you get two tickets instead of one.

I have been towing for 17 years and have only been ticketed one time for over length and that one was in CA. I was stop for speeding and he measured the coach and vehicle which was over. He was nice enough to write me for overlength instead of speeding which was better for me. I would not worry about length if you just obey all the other laws.

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RE: Trailer laws - Guy - 03-04-2017

What is the limit that CA has for overall length?

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RE: Trailer laws - Fulltiming - 03-04-2017

65' for motorhomes towing with a max speed of 55 mph in California.

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RE: Trailer laws - larryweikartsr - 03-05-2017

I towed a 26' trailer behind our 45' Newell and was ticketed once in 200,000 miles. Guess where? Never had any other issues!

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RE: Trailer laws - Chester Stone - 03-05-2017

Michael, if I remember correctly, the California coach measurement of 45' does not include the tow bar.

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RE: Trailer laws - Fulltiming - 03-05-2017

You are correct Chester. However the 65' overall length includes everything from the front of the RV to the rear of the tow vehicle or trailer. The CHP carry a 100' tape measure and just lay it out on the side of the road if you want them to prove you are over 65' although most of them have measured enough of them that they will pretty much know if you are over even before they measure it. A motorhome in California is referred to in their laws as a 'house car'.

California Vehicle Code 35402. (a) Any extension used to increase the carrying capacity of a vehicle shall be included in measuring the length of a vehicle. However, a drawbar shall be included in measuring the overall length of a combination of vehicles, but not the length of a vehicle.

California is a weird duck anyway since 'house cars' over 40' are only legally allowed on certain highways and on interstates as designated by Caltrans.

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RE: Trailer laws - Chester Stone - 03-05-2017

You can download a .pdf showing all of the highways in California that prohibit our 45' coaches.

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RE: Trailer laws - Fulltiming - 03-05-2017

http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/bus/bus-map.html

12 pdf's must be downloaded to cover the entire state.

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