Long Rigs
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Cabot, Arkansas
Long Rigs
I've got a F250 Crew Cab long bed and a 29' travel trailer total out at just over 50' when it's ready to roll. Has anyone ever heard of any special license required if your truck/trailer rig is over 50'?
A coworker said his dad in Florida has a truck/boat combo which is over 50' and in Florida he is required a special license. I've never heard of this before, but we will be moving from Anchorage, Alaska to Little Rock, Arkansas this summer and will be heading through Canada and a lot of the central/western states enroute. Is this a state thing? Sounds goofy to me.
Edmo
A coworker said his dad in Florida has a truck/boat combo which is over 50' and in Florida he is required a special license. I've never heard of this before, but we will be moving from Anchorage, Alaska to Little Rock, Arkansas this summer and will be heading through Canada and a lot of the central/western states enroute. Is this a state thing? Sounds goofy to me.
Edmo
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 966
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From: Crooked River Ranch, OR
Long Rigs
Good Question! Get a "Rand McNally Road Atlas" which you can purchase at large grocery stores or book stores. It contains a page that shows towing restrictions in the U.S. and yes they are all according to state laws. It doesn't go into a special driving license but it does show you need special permits if you exceed lengths. New Jersey is listed as the least with a permit needed if you exceed 35 feet total length. South Dakota is the longest with a total length allowed of 80 feet. I didn't realize it till this morning until I looked at the chart but about half the states REQUIRE you carry flares if towing including my home state...Oregon. Deen
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 281
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From: McDonough US
Long Rigs
In Georgia if you are over 8'6" wide OR 65' long OR 13'6" high, you have to have a permit. You are not allowed to tow at night or on certain holidays.
Check http://www.boatus.com/towing/towlaw.htm
for more details for your state.
Robert
Check http://www.boatus.com/towing/towlaw.htm
for more details for your state.
Robert
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Northern Va
Long Rigs
>Typically RVer's are exempt from these laws since the
>manufacturers are governed. Where we are responsible is in
>regards to being overweight, we can fined for overloading an
>RV.
I would suggest length laws apply to RVer's as well.
In the California if you have an RV over 40 feet you are required to have a class B license. See story here>>> license http://www.fmca.com/news2001/1015.asp <<<. If you live outside the state you must be licensed to drive that vehicle in your home state. Additionally, certain roads are restricted to sub 40ft units.
This might not have anything to do with towing per say, but the laws might apply to non-commercial traffic, I would check it out if you are close to the limit in the state where you are headed.
>manufacturers are governed. Where we are responsible is in
>regards to being overweight, we can fined for overloading an
>RV.
I would suggest length laws apply to RVer's as well.
In the California if you have an RV over 40 feet you are required to have a class B license. See story here>>> license http://www.fmca.com/news2001/1015.asp <<<. If you live outside the state you must be licensed to drive that vehicle in your home state. Additionally, certain roads are restricted to sub 40ft units.
This might not have anything to do with towing per say, but the laws might apply to non-commercial traffic, I would check it out if you are close to the limit in the state where you are headed.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
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Long Rigs
>In the California if you have an RV over 40 feet you are
>required to have a class B license. See story here>>>
>license http://www.fmca.com/news2001/1015.asp <<<.
This law only applies to motorhomes over 40'. Up until the end of last year, CA limited the length of motohomes to 40'. The manufacturers and RV groups got together with state legslatures and drafted this bill, later signed by Gov. Grey Davis. This law does NOT apply to towable RVs, 5er's and TT's.
>required to have a class B license. See story here>>>
>license http://www.fmca.com/news2001/1015.asp <<<.
This law only applies to motorhomes over 40'. Up until the end of last year, CA limited the length of motohomes to 40'. The manufacturers and RV groups got together with state legslatures and drafted this bill, later signed by Gov. Grey Davis. This law does NOT apply to towable RVs, 5er's and TT's.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Two Harbors, MN
Long Rigs
In Minnesota, there is an overall length limit for rvs but only if it is a 5ver pulling another tail unit. (65' I believe)
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
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Long Rigs
>In Minnesota, there is an overall length limit for rvs but
>only if it is a 5ver pulling another tail unit. (65' I
>believe)
Most states have overall length limits, but you will never reach that limit...you will be grossly overloaded before you even near the limits imposed by most states. Here's some food for thought, think about how many trucks that are already overloaded pulling 32' 5er's, their overall length might be 42' and they can't pull anymore due to the weight restrictions on the truck.
Now, if you have a medium duty truck (F550, F650, t-330, 4700, T300, FL60,) then you can approach the length limit since the truck has a higher GVWR and GCWR.
>only if it is a 5ver pulling another tail unit. (65' I
>believe)
Most states have overall length limits, but you will never reach that limit...you will be grossly overloaded before you even near the limits imposed by most states. Here's some food for thought, think about how many trucks that are already overloaded pulling 32' 5er's, their overall length might be 42' and they can't pull anymore due to the weight restrictions on the truck.
Now, if you have a medium duty truck (F550, F650, t-330, 4700, T300, FL60,) then you can approach the length limit since the truck has a higher GVWR and GCWR.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Lower 48
Long Rigs
Alot of knowledgeable answers and I'm not even going to try to dispute them since they are all exact interpretations of the law. However, I would like to point out that for the most part these laws are written for commercial trucks (Big Trucks). It has been my experience that you can usually get by with murder in a pickup. Usually nobody ever looks at them twice, and if they do plead ignorance.
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Queen Creek USA
Long Rigs
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Jul-02 AT 06:10 PM (EST)]I know a guy who has a F 250 4 door long bed and he tows a 34' fifthwheel. He has driven from here (Arizona) to 45 out of the 50 states, including Alaska, and has not had a problem with law enforcement.
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