Legal Trailer Length.

[jkwilson]

I love it. This site says Indiana restricts trailers to 40'. Wonder how they build all of these over 40' there!

Somebody (or a bot) skimmed Indiana Code. Here is what it says:

IC 9-20-3-4Maximum length limitations

“Sec. 4. A single vehicle operated under the vehicle's own motive power may not exceed a length of forty (40) feet, except length exclusive devices in accordance with 23 CFR 658.13. However:

(1) a recreational vehicle may not exceed forty-five (45) feet;”

Note, that is NOT talking about a trailer.

Later, when talking about trailers is where you see a real limit:

“ (b) A combination of two (2) vehicles coupled together, including load, may not exceed a total length of sixty (60) feet, except for the following:…”

That’s still going to let you get away with a 41’ 5th wheel even pulling with a crew cab long bed.

 

[Lostinspace]

I also have a 40 goose neck trailer, but no bumper haul,

 

[MtnGuy]

I have checked out several states that were on the 40' maximum length chart. What a convoluted mess !!

1 website stated that there was a 40' maximum for a trailer pulled by a "tow bar".....I presume that meant a ball mount. It was legal to pull a 45' trailer when using a "saddle type" connection, but a semi tractor could pull up to 53'. So if if someone puts a goose box or Andersen hitch on a 41' trailer, that should probably make it over length ??

And then there are width regulations. 102" was the maximum in several states, excluding marker lights. So what does that do to a 102" trailer with an awning hanging off or 1 side ??

GEEZ !!

In my home state of Virginia, I am breaking the law if I turn on my fog lights. I drive a 2017 F350 that has 4 headlights on at night. There is a law that you can have no more than 4 lights for illumination facing the front of the vehicle. Turning on my fog lights would give me 6. I have never been stopped for that.

 

[18CrewDually]

This is a 5th wheel question by th OP. Don't confuse tagalong campers.
For 5th wheel rv's most states have a 65 foot overall combo length max, while other states are 75 feet max. This is measured with the truck and trailer hooked up then measured front bumper to the rear of trailer. Never have I ever heard of any enforcement on that unless you're double towing and for loading on a ferry.

 

[Bungy]

This is a 5th wheel question by th OP. Don't confuse tagalong campers.
For 5th wheel rv's most states have a 65 foot overall combo length max, while other states are 75 feet max. This is measured with the truck and trailer hooked up then measured front bumper to the rear of trailer. Never have I ever heard of any enforcement on that unless you're double towing and for loading on a ferry.

In Wyoming it’s 85’! RV Size Limits, Required Equipment, Trailer Speed Laws—United States.

 

[18CrewDually]

In Wyoming it’s 85’! RV Size Limits, Required Equipment, Trailer Speed Laws—United States.

Congrats

 

[Bungy]

Congrats

???? Not sure what you mean by that, I don’t live in Wyoming….

 

[jeririgged223]

I am considering getting a Brinkley z 3610 to travel around the US. However my research has highlighted that many states restrict trailers to 40' max. As the Brinkley is 41' 9" surely this is a major downside?

MODERATOR NOTICE:
This thread was created from posts in this thread. It sort of got off track so I moved these to their own thread so the conversations could continue on track in both threads.

A single trailer or RV is limited to 45 ft by Federal law. My 5th wheel toyhauler is 45 ft. A combo of vehs. (truck, car or motorhome pulling a trailer or car (toad)) are limited to 65 or 75 ft total length depending on the state you are in .

 

[jeririgged223]

A single trailer or RV is limited to 45 ft by Federal law. My 5th wheel toyhauler was 45 ft. A combo of vehs. (truck, car or motorhome pulling a trailer or car (toad)) are limited to 65 or 75 ft total length depending on the state you are in . Delaware is the only state that limits you to a 40 ft trailer length.

 

[RV2600RB]

I guess this Brinkley discussion has digressed into a length discussion - at least for now. And I took the bait and went down this "length" rabbit hole. This is what I learned....

One needs to aware that trailers are not fifth wheels. Different rules/laws for each in most states.

For example:
as cited in Florida's laws (https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/proc/tl/tl-13.pdf) there is this...
Travel Trailer: A vehicular portable unit, mounted on wheels, of such a size or weight as not to require special highway movement permits when drawn by a motorized vehicle. It is primarily designed and constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. It has a body width of no more than 8 1/2 feet and an overall body length of no more than 40 feet when factory-equipped for the road.

Fifth-Wheel Trailer: A vehicular unit mounted on wheels, designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, of such a size or weight as not to require a special highway movement permit. The gross trailer area shall not exceed 400 square feet in the setup mode, and it is designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle that contains a towing mechanism that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle's rear axle.

A quick calculation of 400 square feet if an RV is at the maximum of 8.5 feet on the outside is about 47 feet. And that is inside, so no accounting for hitches, bumpers, etc. Since most of us have slide outs you can do your own calculations to see what your square feet are.

Does anyone really haul around a travel trailer that is 40 feet long?

My neighbor has one that is 37ft. overall. So it could be possible.
Rich

 

[justusdj]

I'm pretty sure it would have come up before if the trailer length restrictions actually were 40'. And if so, semi trailers would be banned since they are all over 40'.

State-By-State Trailer Length & Overhang Regulations | Cowtown Logistics

My guess is that "trailer length" refers to bumper mounted (travel trailer) trailers. No way it's 40' for a 5th wheel