Towing laws?

[APP_Racing]

Ok, so I am trying to figure out what are the actual limits on Trucks/RVs and trailers.
I believe that Missouri is 65 feet total length and Illinois is 60 feet.  Are you bound by the state law you are driving in or the law of the state you are licensed in.

Are there exceptions for situations like Race Teams, etc.....  I see alot of RVs pulling 20+' trailers and they are likely over the 60 foot, IL limit.

Can not seem to find anything online other than the limits.

Thanks for any assistance.

[Rich]

I thought you were bound by the state you live in.

However......in KS you don't have to tag trailers under 2K. I was going through IL (place that has expensive gas) and got pulled over for their 10 mph under the speed limit if you have a trailer law.

Cop gave us a lot of flack about the trailer. His actual words were "I don't care what the law in KS is, if you want to pull a trailer through my state it will be registered".

I assume I just either got a rookie or somebody having a bad day. I obviously couldn't have stopped and gotten an IL tag for the couple of hours I was gonna be in IL.

[APP_Racing]

Thats what I thought but wasn't sure and can't really find any facts online.  Someone had told me that if you had a Race Team (aka pulled a trailer carrying race vehicles) that the 60 ft rule didn't apply.  But can't find anything in writing about that either.

[Rich]

I'd call the good ole MO HiPo to find out for sure.

But I'm really more interested in what you plan to pull thats more than 60 feet.......:)

[APP_Racing]

More of a just wondering than anything.  Been looking at Toy Haulers but the garage isn't what I really want.  so if you towed a small open trailer behind it you would be over the 60ft limit (for IL) but within the 65 ft (for MO).

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Illinois law is actually anything over 8000 lbs cannot legally go over 55 MPH in the entire state, that also includes trailers and RV's of any weight. Thanks to our corrupt Governor for that one and the outragous Tolls on the toll roads now - total raquet!!! From what I heard he knows someone that was killed when they got in a wreck with a semi, he has publically admitted that he will keep the 55 MPH truck  law as long as he's in power.

Illinois 'B' plates are good up to 8000 lbs, any heavier rated plate is restricted to the 55 MPH law at all times. I have a 'D' plate (which is rated for up to 12,000 lbs) on my Dually F-350 , but when my truck is empty I'm below the 8000 lb limit but still can get busted for going over 55 because of the 'D' plate. This is the reason I generally take a route that get's me out of Illinois ASAP when I travel, the double fuel tax is another reason.

I also dug up the Florida trailer law permit thread as well and put a response in it so it's current. That looks like you have to have a permit in Forida if your trailer is over 28' long tip to tail (I have to measure mine, I think it's going to be 28' plus a few inches)! The fine on that one is $250 per foot over 28' up to a $1000 fine.

[ahastings]

why would the laws be any different for a race team? It seems if there is a length restriction in a state you would be bound by that to drive through that state .

[Burt Munro]

Maybe different application of laws for commercial vs. personal use?

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Maybe different application of laws for commercial vs. personal use?

Nope, I talked with the Illinois State Police headquarters in Pecatonica and I went to the Secretary of State Police department here in Rockford and it doesn't matter if your hauling anything considered a 'Product'. A 'product' is anything other than the trailer and it's accessories, so Toy Haulers for example can NOT fall into the RV catagory because they are hauling a 'Product' like a motorcycle, etc. There are ALOT of people in violation of that law that are using 'RV' plates on Toy Hauler RV's or Trailers, even if they do have living quarters - it doesn't matter. RV plates don't require the 'Class-A' Commercial drivers license to operate the vehicle, but if your hauling a 'Product' in or with that RV it's no longer considered an 'RV' and you can get ticketed for not having the Class-A drivers license. The Police Officer I dealt with actually showed me the laws in the law books.

Also in Illinois, if your 1 ton over weight (of your vehicles/trailers plate or your vehicles/trailers total or individual axle ratings) you get arrested. Alot of people are dancing a razors edge legally having a 'B' plate on their tow vehicle and towing a decent size enclosed trailer (especially a gooseneck or 5th wheel), the rear axle weight of the tow vehicle is where they would most likely get nailed.

But ultimately all of this is only illegal if you get 'caught'. 

[Mongo]

Federal law is 70 feet - and this is the limit on ALL interstates including Cali which is the most restrictive.  Local laws can't overrule that one (or at least they don't).  The laws can change limits on local roads so you may have some issues potentially but I've yet to hear of anyone getting in trouble to and from race tracks.

Truck speed signs, lane limitations and the like only apply to commercial trucks - however if the sign has a weight limit or says RV's or says anything pulling a trailer you are NOT exempt no matter what.

My rig is 73' or so right now and I've never been checked for length but I did buy the permit for FL.  That's the only state I know of requiring them for all vehicles even private ones, it was like $20. 

The thing about the tag was BS, the states have reciprocal agreements that cover tags and licenses.  Hell I even drove down Lakeshore Dr in Chicago in my dually because it wasn't licensed as a truck - yet a buddies S10 couldn't since he was local and IL tags are stupid like that :)

[Jamie951]

What Laws?

[Rich]

What Laws?

I was behind that rig going almost 80 in IL on the way to RA.  When the trooper pulled behind us I was scared sh!tless.

Then the cop decided to go for the bigger fish and pulled up behind the double towing semi.

Luckily for the double towing semi, its owned by law enforment.  They didn't even pull it over.