that is because they do. GVWR is the number that matters.

 

California won't bother you either. As said above, many are overthinking this thing.

If your truck is over 80" wide, you need clearance lights. You don't need them to tow something over 80" wide.

If your trailer is over 80" wide, it needs its own clearance lights, not your truck.

 

Great argument. I asked the officer that very same question as well. He did not show me anything in writing but proceeded to recite his version of the regulation which say that any "vehicle" over 80" wide required clearance lights. His definition of "vehicle" includes what is being towed. He also noted that the lights on the trailer should be on the widest point of the trailer which would be the leading edge of the fenders (my trailer had its' lights on the frame...). He further pointed out that my boat extended about 8" past the trailer fenders on each side so the "load" was larger then the trailer could legally carry without special "oversized load" placards.

I agree that it seems silly to get pulled over for something like that but there may be more to the story than just a simple regulation. I think a deputy was run off that same road a few nights earlier and his vehicle went over the edge and he did not survive. Usually when stuff like that happens, there are checkpoints set up and they may not have liked the size of the load that I was towing through those roads. In the end, all I got was a warning so perhaps the stop didn't have any real merit...

I don't think a normal SUV or 1/2 ton truck is rated to tow the boat due to it's size and weight. An Excursion could handle it but not a smaller SUV...

 

He didn't write you up because he wasn't sure of himself. Good thing too, because he was wrong. It happens.

 

Thay look cool and real trucks have them, f150s and such dont

 

I won't own a Super Duty without them. Additionally, I liked em so much, I got my mirrors retrofitted as well with the 03+ Trailer tow marker lights.

Not only are they a great indicator of width at night, but they also provide additional safety in the middle of a bloody snow storm when Mary Jo Mid Size Sedan decides to drive right in the middle of the f'ing road...and you have a 9 ft. V plow hanging off the front.

 

The question here is...

how wide is the trailer? IF you have an 96" wide trailer and you're hanging off 8" on each side = 112" which is larger than the 102" that is allowed by most states before it is considered "oversized"

 

The purpose of roof clearance lights on personal vehicles is to leak water into the cab, to burn out bulbs, to crack the plastic lenses, and to corrode so that they can't work without replacing them. Their other purpose is to, since they don't work, ensure your state of a steady supply of equipment failure ticket revenue and extra pay for vehicle inspection stations.

But, oh yes, you look really cool with them on your Prius. If that's all worth it to you, by all means, add some. And some chrome nudie girl silhouettes to the mudflaps on your Prius, while you're at it. And truck nuts. You really should have those essential truck nuts under your Prius, too. So you look cool in your Prius.

 

Clearance lights on a truck means the engine and transmission will run an extra 120,000 miles without a rebuild when towing at the max GCVWR throughout its life compared to a truck that never tows and does not have them.

 

Dang, six years later you respond Seems to have struck a nerve with ya.

 

15 years since the original post, almost to the day.

But better than that, the topic had just been covered two weeks before that in another thread.

Not complaining, I had my fun post up above too.

 

This may be a new record in digging up an old forum post.

Thread archaeology at it's best!

 

FYI, at the end of a thread is a list of "related threads", so it is very easy to reply to an ancient thread this way without having to go finding them like 'somebody' does, (Stewart, hehehe).

 

Can't believe nobody said what they do most! Melt the snow baby!!! Provide awesome visibility during rain and snow. Gives that awesome orange glow on the hood at night! Ha Ha Ha

 

Its a good start point for rust when they put a stainless screw into the steel panel