AU N EGL

Ok guys, when does your state require commercial tags and laws regarding trailers?? what length??

If you guys could call your states DOT or look the info up we can starte a thread or Data base for all of us and make a sticky for up top.

TIA
Tom

Wicked Weasel

good idea. I was also add laws like what roads are you allowed on. I found out a bit too late that NYS doesn't allow trailers on their Parkways

yakisoba

Here's a related question: My wife and I both want to track our cars from time to time. We'd like to tow them to the track in the same rig. That means stacking, most likely. It's also heavy. Would need a dualie to pull, I'd think. Does that take me into commercial territory in Texas?

seege

Pulling a stacker with a duallie is probably doable depending on the weights and ratings of truck and trailer but... it's like pulling a big parachute... this is according to a friend who used to tow with a duallie.

When towing on California freeways, any rig with a trailer is limited to 55mph and banned from the left lane on 3 laners and the left 2 lanes on 4 lanes or greater width. The 55 thing is lightly enforced but if you get near or over the posted car limit then you're pushing it.

larryfs

you are NOT commerical, unless your running a business.
Having a race car is not running a buisness. It's for private usage only.

Do not allow any motor vechile dept employee to convince you you need commerical plates.

John Shiels

I know as of July 1st this year all trucks and trailers with a combined weight of over 10,000 lb. need DOT numbers. Federal law. So if your truck is 7,000 GVW and the trailer is 3001 you need a number even if you never leave your own state. If it is a business related trip then you are subject to interstate rules not just intra state rules. My commercial truck in my business is not subject if the trip is pleasure but numbers are still required.. If you have a race team run as a business then you are subject to intersate rules.

http://www.dot.state.ny.us/markingregsnotice100504.pdf

larryfs

John, is there any reference to your federal law information?

I recently registered my trailer, and I argured with DMV and won.
Once they hear, ENCLOSED TRAILER, all they think is landscape business, business owner, commerical lawn mowers in trailer.

There is no money making in our hobbies............

larryfs

My 102" wide trailer is illegal in some states. But I have never been bothered, or even stopped. The cops don't really know the trailer laws, and I doubt they have tape measures in their holsters.
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Delaware:

Maximum Speed Limit: 55
Maximum Dimensions for trailer: 40' L x 8'6"W x 13'6" H
Maximum Length with Trailer:60'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:4000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:Y
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:Y
Breakaway Brakes:N/A
Tiedowns:N/A
Two Trailers:N
Insurance:Y
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 302-744-2700

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District of Columbia:

Maximum Speed Limit: 55
Maximum Dimensions for trailer: 40' L x 8' W x 13'6" H
Maximum Length with Trailer: 40'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes: over 10,000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:Y
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:N
Breakaway Brakes:N/A
Tiedowns:N/A
Two Trailers:N
Insurance:Y
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 202-727-8466

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Maryland:

Maximum Speed Limit: 65
Maximum Dimensions for trailer:N/A'L x 8'W x 13' 6"H
Maximum Length with Trailer:55'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:3000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:Y
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:N/A
Breakaway Brakes:Y
Tiedowns:Y
Two Trailers:Y
Insurance:Y
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 410-582-5712 Val: 410-582-5713 Bal City: 410-396-3333

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New Jersey:

Maximum Speed Limit: 55
Maximum Dimensions for trailer:35'L x 8'W x 13'6"H
Maximum Length with Trailer:50'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:3,000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:N/A
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:N/A
Breakaway Brakes:Y
Tiedowns:N/A
Two Trailers:N
Insurance:N
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 609-633-9403 Agnt: 800-257-9003

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New York:

Maximum Speed Limit: 65
Maximum Dimensions for trailer:45'L x 8'6"W x 13'6"H
Maximum Length with Trailer:60'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:3,000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:Y
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:N/A
Breakaway Brakes: N/A
Tiedowns:Y
Two Trailers:N
Insurance:N/A
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 518-457-1155
NY STR: 518-457-4018
NYC: 718-433-3329
NYTH: 518-471-4263
Nyth Strc: 518-471-4263
Newburg: 914-831-3700
Buffalo: 716-851-5384

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Pennsylvania:

Maximum Speed Limit: 55
Maximum Dimensions for trailer:53'L x 8'6"W x 13'6"H
Maximum Length with Trailer:60'
Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:3000
Trailer Equipment Requirements:
Safety Chains:Y
Brakelights:Y
Taillights:Y
Clearance Lights:Y
License Light:Y
Turn Signals:Y
Reflectors:Y
Flares:N/A
Breakaway Brakes: Y
Tiedowns:Y
Two Trailers:N
Insurance:Y
Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number CENTRAL: 717-787-5367
DIST 1: 814-437-4314
DIST 2: 814-765-0513
DIST 3: 570-368-4274
DIST 4: 570-963-4054
DIST 5: 610-798-4169
DIST 6: 610-965-6561
DIST 8: 717-787-5918
DIST 9: 814-696-7261
DIST 10: 724-357-2832
DIST 11: 412-429-4805
DIST 12: 724-439-7343

Gordy M

Here are a couple of links regarding trailer towing. The first is to commercial trailer lengths on the interstate system.

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/sw/overview/index.htm

and this is for speed limits and minimum weights for trailer brakes

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/trailer/trailer-laws.html

and this one covers some exceptions like propane tanks, etc.

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.o...34c7d9c9570018

Keep in mind, several states have two tiered trailering speed limits, Michigan is 70 mph for combined weights under 8000 lbs and 55 mph for over that limit.

John Shiels

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

John Shiels

Larry when I raced the boat the thing was 10+ feet wide It would hardly fit through the toll booths so it was a dead give away. We never got stopped. If we went by the rules we needed permits across the country and no night towing. My partner even towed boats down the Belt Parkway passed cops to avoid dragging through RT to the Verrazanno Bridge. I would not do it he never got stopped they would just look in amazement

larryfs

John, If that were true, every motor home, or camper would have a DOT # on it.
we are not commerical, we are not doing instate commerce, no matter what that site says.

John Shiels

to me commercial means comm. plates what do RV's have?

c4cruiser

In WA and many other states, RV's even the Greyhound bus sized ones have passenger car plates. This keeps the owner/driver from having to have an endorsement on their license and they even don't have to pay weight fees. We have a series of commercial endorsements Class A, B, C, HazMat, tankers, and even one for any size truck with air brakes.

I cringe when I see guys in their 70's driving a 30 foot long Winnebago or one of thee buses, knowing that they do not have to take any sort of test or go to a school to learn to operate large vehicles.

freefall

I can't speak for WA, but quite a few RV's require endorsements - for instance, over 26k lbs I believe you need a class B.

Z11409

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/

Every state is different. Most states now require a Class B commercial lic. when over 10,000 gross.Calif. now has a Class A lic for large RV's.
Example-34 ft.Coach(2 axle) with 2 car stacker trailer,no license--cost $570 in fines.

Mikelly

I just tagged my 24 footer back in June and was told that if it was private use, I didn't require a DOT sticker... But I was told that if I get caught using it as "FOR HIRE", then the fine would be steep.

I have a permanent private use tag on it...

Now, based on what I've read in this thread, My 3500 series dodge and the 10000 capacity of the trailer would put me over the minimum... I'm gonna ignore it until I'm pulled and told otherwise.

Mike

gonzalezfj

Hey, a lot of us old geezers can drive better that most of the young whippersnappers. Cut out the generalizations.

Frank Gonzalez

Janni

We've been towing a 48' trailer, 2 cars, with a Dodge 3500 for 8 years. noncommercial - track day, amatuer racing only. We've never stopped ata weight station or been pulled over.

We both do, however, carry CLASS A Classified licenses from the state of North Carolina. A Class A Classified is a NON-CDL license that allows us to tow a vehicle with a combined GVWR of over 26,000 pounds.

Is this enough? I don't know - but it does at least say that we tried to follow the fairly VAGUE rules and that we did pass a test and are fully licensed to haul something this heavy.

We each got our permits by taking what appears to be the CDL written test on the computer - had all sorts of stuff on there that was totally irrelevant to a pickup / trailer, but that's what it was, and then had to do a road test.

More info on CLASS A Classified licenses here under regular licenses:
http://www.ncdot.org/DMV/driver_serv...cial%20License


I think this is enough for us. We probably should put the "not for hire" stickers on the trailer. We've also been careful NOT to advertise what we are doing with tons of graphics on the truck / trailer, etc.

We're thinking about getting a motorcoach and a stacker - a commerical bus type chassis - but I still don't think we'll need anything ense different, since that will obviously be an RV. I'll keep the class A license, regardless, as it's at least an attempt to be legal based solely on the weight (oh - and note that everything is gross vehicle weight RATING - not actual...)

We spoke to several folks at the DMV - many didn't even know about the CLASS A Classified (you almost always had to find an older person / long timer) and we've had differeing opinions..

FWIW.

Bill Dearborn

If you go to the federal site and look at the application for the US DOT number the first question they ask is for the business name. If you don't have a business name and are not operating as a motor carrier you cannot complete the form and the regulation does not apply to you.

Bill