Stand Back! We don't know how big it's gonna get

It's time to order a trailer to pull behind the bus, and since that's what I do for a living I know where I'll buy it. Question is, how long can I get away with? My understanding is 65' overall is the limit, but we've all seen much longer rigs on the road. I saw a bus pulling a 30' stacker on the way back from "camp prevost" in Jacksonville on Monday. How many of yall have ever been bothered by the cops or DOT? If so, where? A 16' trailer with a 4' tongue + a 45' bus = 65.' I want a tall trailer, say 12', and I'm afraid a 16' will look goofy 12' tall. 20' would be much mo stylish. On the other hand, it would be a shame to spend a bunch of money on something that can't be used legally...

There is already a pretty substantial thread on this subject -California Combined Lenght Limit-, but in short, not all states are 65FT, some are 60 :mad:

Dread,

Go to the Prevost Prouds site and read what they have about lengths. This was under the radar for quite a while, but there appear to be more and more folks talking about getting fined for length violations.

I used to pull my pickup a lot, but it puts me at 68 feet so I am a little more cautious about its use.

I think that the January issue of FMC magazine has a state by state listing of the legal length of the coach and combination coach + trailer or toad.

If you don't have a back issue just go to www.fmca.com and go to back issues, select January and it should be in it.

I have never been stopped by highway patrol or DOT. I used to tow a Yukon behind a 45' Newell so I was over the 65' limit, but not by much.

Entering California we had to drive thru a check station. They asked if we had any fruit and never mentioned the length of the coach or the toad. Other states that have a 60' limit have never bothered us either.

But, you never know. I say, do what Jeff Bayley would do - GO FOR IT! Hey, Columbus took a chance!:D

Yeah, I know about California, lets leave that state out of this. I don't plan to spend much time there. Years of trucking put a bad taste in my mouth for La La Land. By law, no state can hassle you as long as you're on the "National Network" which consists of the Interstate System and designated Federal-aid primary highways. Length limits are not allowed. The Feds attitude is, if we give the state the money to build a road the state can not limit who can use it. If you want to know which roads are considered federal buy a Rand McNally Motor Carriers Atlas. Federal roads are highlighted in orange. In some states, Arkansas, Colorado, & Wyoming for example, almost all roads are designated open access. Californication is a different matter. I-10 is Federal, but that little road that goes from Indio to Palm Springs is not. Barney Fife sees that as an income opportunity. So back to the question. Other than California, has anyone been ticketed because they were pulling a trailer and considered overlength?

I dont think anyone in this club has or we would all know about it.

I know someone got a radar detecter ticket, does that count:rolleyes:

Sounds like yer fixin ta get a long trailer!

For what it's worth, I am 73' total length. We have had several combinations over the past 20 years with the same length. Presently, we have a 45' XL with a triple axle box trailer, we have made numerous trips to and from D.C. , Florida, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, and most places in between. So far, so good. No tickets and the only time we have been stopped was for an illegal alien search deep in northern NM. By the way, have you looked at the current crop of semis? I have measured many while at our favorite truck stops and most are now between 73 and 80' . Just my previous and current experience.

When we are over length between Blythe and Indio, we drive detached for 2 reasons. !st, we are 681/2 ft, 2nd, driving detached both coach and truck can do 70. Weeeeee, easy trip to Indio. Towing anything, car/trailer, semi, coach/car, coach/trailer your speed is 55 on I-10 in California. That is a sloooow trip.

I went to the Prevost Prouds and FMCA & read both articles. The size chart is likely correct, as far as it goes.
In other words states do have the right to control length, on non federal roads. Thing is, most states have a large system of Federal roads where this chart does not apply. FYI, the reason most control length is to keep truckers from dodging interstate scale houses by ducking down back roads. The one that bothers me is the PP that got a ticket on I-10 which is clearly a Federal highway. I have personally driven this stretch with a 379 Pete pulling a
48' Van for a combined lenth of 74'. No problem. And you're right, Toy Box. With a 53' trailer, (the most popular size on the road today), a typical long nose sleeper truck would be 79' long. The only way I can figure California could control length on the Fed system is by passing a law specifically aimed at RV's since they are not commercial vehicles. OR, the folks that get the tickets don't fight them.:mad:

You can't compare your "COMMERCIAL VEHICLE" to an RV. As I am sure you know they run under 2 different sets of rules and I don't think you want to start running under the trucking laws when you have the wife and kids, oh ya, and the dog on your lap going to Outdoor Resorts. My XL45 with the 30' enclosed Bus Companion trailer is 10' over the CA length. Who cares, I cruise out of CA at 58 MPH and then have fun the rest of the time.
I am sure you have never fudged you log book!
Kevin

[SIZE="3"]Dread, I have had your same thoughts and observations and would only add one other thing. Many times a law is on the books and many flaunt it or are unknowing about etc., etc. and get away with the violation. ( I ulually get cought/ why me!! bo ho) Sometimes the enforcer will not make an issue out of minor or insignificant infractions but if you are ticketed for some other incident or infraction they will throw the book at you. This has been going on for a long time. It all comes down to attitude. Obey the law or not. ( if you would be involved in an accident with an illegal long load would your insurance cover you?):D ( I personally don't think the shorter and legal trailer you mentioned would look that bad with the right graphics to conpliment the bus. See if some trailer mfgr. could work out a 3 level stacker with a lift mechanism or some other unique way of consolidating the load. I bet they would sell a lot of them.:rolleyes:
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My 45 foot plastic coach plus a 26FT trailer and a 54inch RV tongue equals about 75FT. I have never had a problem in the Eastern half of the country. I usually stay below the radar and try not to do anything stupid to attract unwanted attention from the anyone but topless female bikers on the way to Sturgis,
John

California has way too many laws. Those that effect the Rv lifestyle is just one example. Our State is in trouble, we have no $, and the politicians keep spending. The only way different regions in California can generate money is by special Accesments or creating laws which are revenue generators. I am a pro CHP and pro Law inforcement, but those guys are told what to go out and Ticket. FMCA and others have lobbied at the State level to control and remove some of these laws but they have not been entirely successful.

I agree with Gary the spenders in charge have got us all up a tree.
The real reason for the length law is to keep you furreners out of our prune orchards. We got too many people here already and more coming in from the southern border every day. So go drive your "damn a bigga busses" somewhere else until we get our state back. Montana has lots of room.

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Originally Posted by dreadnought

It's time to order a trailer to pull behind the bus, and since that's what I do for a living I know where I'll buy it. Question is, how long can I get away with? My understanding is 65' overall is the limit, but we've all seen much longer rigs on the road. I saw a bus pulling a 30' stacker on the way back from "camp prevost" in Jacksonville on Monday. How many of yall have ever been bothered by the cops or DOT? If so, where? A 16' trailer with a 4' tongue + a 45' bus = 65.' I want a tall trailer, say 12', and I'm afraid a 16' will look goofy 12' tall. 20' would be much mo stylish. On the other hand, it would be a shame to spend a bunch of money on something that can't be used legally...

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Check out Liberty Coach Web sitewww.libertycoach.com Under used Coaches they have a Stacked trailer for Sale which is HUGE.

What about applying for a oversize permit? I wonder what the cost and restriction would be?
GregM

Mabye, but I dont think so. They are a hassle. You need one for every trip, they are only good for a couple of days and they route you. They cost, and the worst part, Ya gotta deal with a burocrat. Id really be supprised if they would even issue one for this purpose.

Permit Loads: Ditto Joe. They permit the load, if it was not over length or width they would tell you to get a shorter puller. The last oversize load permit we received from CHP required we leave @ 3:00 AM. and follow their prescribed route. California also sets all towed speed limits @ 55 MPH and now I'm seeing signs on some hyways that limit Vehicles with 3 axels or more to 55 MPH. That's our solo bus with our tag axels. They really want you to only travel in a solar powered government owned vehicle.

I think all you folks out there thinking about LONG trailers should go for it, stretch the envelope, help get law enforcement used to seeing this stuff, for the benefit for those who will come later:D
That stacker trlr. at Liberty says 24000GVW, you can see it if you look close. Not like I would ever let these things stop me from pulling something like that but-
I wonder what it weighs empty,( how much additional STUFF can we bring) and what is suggested Max. towable with the bus?
What a potentially great problem to have. Adding up the weight of all the toys and deciding what stays and what goes!

If, if you change out the engine cradle and add the heavy duty Prevost mfg. aft cross mrmber for the hitch receiver, you will then have an approved capacity of 2,000 lbs. tongue weight and a 20,000 lb trailer weight .

I can only guess on that trailer tare Wt. If its around 10000Lbs? That leaves about the same to tote. Lets see, the car the bike the jet skies the ultra-lite the golf cart. Thats all under 10000. What else?

FYI here is a state by state length limit guide.

http://www.tldirectory.com/onTheRoad/size_limits.cfm
http://www.rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm

and here is a all in one pdf if you want to print it out

http://www.ywip.com/rv07.pdf