I am a little confused about this overall length thing. Here in Az it's 65', believe that it's the same in California, but see/hear of guys 70',80',82'. Most of the big rig class 8 are pulling 53' trailers plus another 15' to 20' for the rig, which puts them way over length also, if 65' is limit. There's no way big rigs are going down the highway overlength unless they have a permit and showing a sign "overlength". So if there is a loop hole, what,when,how is it used? and if there isn't, what happens when that officer, who's having a really bad day, pulls you over and checks with a tape measure? AND if you are over length and something bad happens, like a accident, will you get nailed just as if you were over loaded and couldn't stop in time? Insurance null and void along with all the other stuff? Just wondering if someone could please shed some light? Thanks

Same as arizona...

I have no idea..........

Click to view attachment

It is 65 feet. There is no loophole and the rigs you are seeing could be stopped, cited and impounded at any time.

Seriously?

No they would have to unhook the trailer have it hauled towed by someone ANYONE legal lenth.
They do not impound for infractions unless you work real hard at it.

Hey that's my rig...

Not true..........friend, unamed, stopped on the 86 over length. Whole rig impounded. Expensive.

tractor trailer 65 feet tractor with doubles 70 feet on sate routes and as some one said could be cited at any time depends on your attitude ive been driving 25 years they just dont push it

Tell me what he did to get impounded ? If you unhook the trailer you are legal and you can unhook the trailer and have the trailer towed.
I go throught the scales all the time people are over loaded, over length, over hight (ME) and never seen ONE impounded and towed. Over length is an infraction.

state route any ways depends on your attitude and there jealousy youd be suprised

they might not get impounded but they can not leave until they adjust the heavy or overheith load or get a permit at the scales recreational veihicles play stupid aaaaaaa i didnt know

I don't quite get it but maybe this will clear it up for someone as far as the 53' trailers. Looks like they can travel on certain highways and a certain distince on other roads

STAA ROUTES In California the STAA Network consists of the National Network (green) routes
and Terminal Access (blue) routes. STAA trucks (green trucks) are limited to the green and blue routes
and use highways "...which provide reasonable access to terminals and facilities for purposes limited
to fuel, food, lodging, and repair when that access is consistent with safe operation... and when the
facility is within one road mile of identified points of ingress and egress..." Use of unidentified local
streets and roads requires prior approval from local highway authority. See: CVC 35401.5©

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/t...ruck-legend.pdf

exactly...

Could be.......

OK, thanks guys for the input, so really anyone can do anything they want until.... someone has a bad day. I get that, but how about the accident thing. If a over length rig was involved in a accident, would the lawyers of the other vehicle have a field day. Like they say it's all fun and games until someone get hurt. Seems like a lot to lose, especially for a baller. Just wondering

Thanks guys, I found my answer on another thread! Thanks again




QUOTE (Screamin Ian @ Jan 19 2009, 08:03 PM) just keep in mind the liability factor if you decide to tow over the rating of your moho, if something happens, it more than likely gonna be your fault, and insurance wont cover it due to negligence. If someone gets hurt, good luck paying their hospital bills.

QUOTE(lacofdfireman @ Jan 26 2009, 05:09 PM)
I could be dead wrong on this and I'm not saying that it is ok to pull overweight but the argument that insurance will not pay I believe to be false. I had an uncle who was drunk and hit another driver and seriously injured the person. He figured he would lose his house and everything he owned but "INSURANCE PAID." I also know a guy who was driving well over 100mph and totaled his sports car and his "INSURANCE PAID." why would towing overweight be any different? Like I said I may be wrong but I would still bet they will pay. It's not my intention to be overweight that's shy I want to have the largest possible trailer and still be safe...

QUOTE(Bohica @ Jan 29 2009, 11:42 AM)
Yes, insurance will pay, up to your limits. The case people are referring to where the guy lost his home was simply a case of being under insured. His insurance paid to his 300K policy limit, and he was liable for the rest of the judgement. Check your policy limits and also get an umbrella policy. You'd be surprised how cheap a 2 million dollar umbrella policy is.

Ok so I got the answer I was looking for recreationally speaking, but I still wonder about all the NATIONAL TRUCKING COs. that are supposedly hauling over length rigs and "forcing" there drivers to drive. In todays lawsuit crazy environment, it just doesn't seem possible. So any highway cop could pull over any rig and stop him right on the spot, until a "shorter" truck could come and get the 53' trailer? Like I said before, I'm just wondering...

The 53’ trailer truck combos are legal in California do to the Federal Highway Commission. If California wants its share of Federal money they had to play ball and allow these truck trailer combos. Now to head of the next question, no a 70’ baller rig in no way falls into this category and is limited to 65’.

As for being involved in a collision with an over length or over weight vehicle, unless do to the weight or length causing a mechanical failure or lose of control which lead to the collision, it cannot be the cause of a collision. Can a lawyer make it an issue in a civil case, yes. They can make an issue of anything, it’s a civil court where logic and reason are not allowed.

OK guys, I found something today and wonder what your take is on it. It's a paper labeled "State and Provincial Guidlines for Towing Vehicles". It has each state listed for maximum lengths of overall towing length. Some states like Nevada, is 70' and then some like Arkansas is "no limit given". So my question is, if you had a motorhome and trailer registered in Arkansas and it was 75' long and you drove it into other states such as Arizona or California which have limits of 65', and IF you got pulled over, would they honor Arkansas length limits? much the same as I hear they do when it comes to personal class 8 trucks that have been converted into personal RVs for pulling the big and heavy 5ers and therefore do not need to stop at the scales. Supposedly very easy to do in Arkansas but a lot more difficult in California. Just wondering what you think...

To answer your question in the simplest way, NO!

Just like in Nevada you can tow triples and California you cannot. Most of the grocery store chains that run up into Nevada will tow up to trailers from CA to NV. Then pull into one of their yards on the east side of the 15 inside Nevada and either drop both trailers and pick up 2 empties and head back to CA or pick up a 3rd trailer and continue north.

Dayum! That makes complete since, now that you mention it. I've seen those triples in Nevada...
Thanks for the input!

I was thinking of the least inexpensive way to buy a trailer...my idea was to buy travel trailer 5th wheel and tow trailer behind with my commercial license....talked to several people...and commercial chp...towing with my f250 I could buy a travel trailer that is under 28.5 feet that way with the flat trailer my overall length could be 75 feet....that sure is long....too much hassle so going back to a toy hauler...just thought I would share the info.

Keep in mind that the overall length of your rig may be hard to get into camps spots other than at Glamis. In Oregon it's 65' and there are only a few spots that you can get into without unhooking at that length. And if you flaunt the law like unnamed peeps I have heard of and are a foot or three over that then there even harder to find.

That what I’ve been doing for 5 years now. I have a 28’ 5th wheel and a 20’ flat bed. Over all length with truck is 67’. I could go bigger on the second trailer but then I would need to go bigger with the truck. Some of the pros are not having your car in your living area, no need to unload to go to bed and it stays much cleaner. I also have use of a truck while I’m camped. The only real drawback is maneuverability. You can’t make a Jack knife turn like you can with a 5th wheel and backing up is something you never plan on doing. Also you have a second trailer to maintain.

Very good info in this thread! Thanks Mike!

Another item I have been informed of, regarding over all length, is total weight. Highway patrol, looking for multiple revenue streams, are looking closer at GCWR of the tow vehicle. I've got a 1 ton dually and max is about 15,100. Doesn't take much to get that heavy with 1 trailer let alone 2.
Not to mention the safety factor. I've read lots of posts at multiple websites from guys that KNOW they are pulling way over max, that THINK the trailer brakes are the most important item on their rigs. It won't take the brightest cop in the squad to realize a 3/4 ton pulling a 38' 5er is probably overloaded.

You can’t be cited for exceeding GCWR of the vehicle. The only weight issue typical Glamis RV can be cited for is exceeding the max load of the tire. If your rig is big enough to exceed the max weigh allowed per axle then you should contact your legal team for further advice. For the rest of us we don’t need to worry about that one.