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

[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...

[Joe Cannarozzi]

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

[Jon Wehrenberg]

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.

[merle&louise]

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!

[dreadnought]

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?

[Joe Cannarozzi]

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

Sounds like yer fixin ta get a long trailer!

[Toy Box]

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.

[Coloradobus]

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.

[garyde]

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...

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

[gmcbuffalo]

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