Community Forums

Stuart W · 07-25-2017, 04:09 PM

I live in California and have a DS 4369 ordered, the Newmar info states that it is 43'9" long. My lease is up on my Ford F150 and I need to purchase another vehicle. I would like to flat tow a pickup truck but I'm running out of feet when it comes to length: MH 43'9" from 65" leaves me a legal limit of difference of 21"3". I have called Blue OX and have been told that the Avail tow bar is 50 inches long when straight out pin to pin, I'm sure it gets shorter when the legs are spread out? just guessing somewhere around 40 inches
so now my 21.25 feet become 17.25 feet left for a tow vehicle to be right at the limit. My question is what are others doing in this situation? any help would be much appreciated. thanks Stuart
PS: I know this pertains to all brands of motorhomes, but feel there are a lot of Newmar 43 to 45 foot models

judgebobk · 07-25-2017, 04:16 PM

I'm running a 4369 DS motorcycle lift and extended tow bar and car making almost 70 feet. I've never been stopped nor have I heard of anyone stopped. I handled state police cases in Chicago area for about 16 years and not once was anyone cited for over length.
My guess is that not many Troopers carry a tape measure or bother with big rigs as long as your not throwing drugs out the window or acting crazy.
My solution is, I dont worry about some trooper who is having a bad day. If it happens I'll pay the fine and move on.

zman62 · 07-25-2017, 04:54 PM

I live in California 6 months a year and it has been this way for 15 years. I am 80ft long and have never had an issue. I even got stopped on I5 for speeding and nothing was mentioned about length. A few feet over would be no issue

Dale & Mark Bruss · 07-25-2017, 04:59 PM

Having been stopped once for being over-length, there is one advantage in having the extra length in a toad. (Once in 10 years) I only had to disconnect the toad and continue on with the copilot driving the toad.

I see people with 45' motorhomes and 35' trailers. If you ever get stopped, dropping the trailer isn't so easy

BBelanger · 07-25-2017, 06:17 PM

Get a 2019 Jeep pickup?

TRebel · 07-25-2017, 06:24 PM

I can only speak for Oklahoma... I have a cousin that is with OHP. Back when I was pulling a 31' fifth-wheel with a crew-cab long-bed F350 and also had a 20' boat behind the fifth-wheel, I was probably close to 75' total +/-.

I ask my cousin about being over legal length. He said that, in Oklahoma, that would never be a primary reason for a traffic stop. He also said that if I was acting like a fool and got stopped for something stupid, I might ALSO get a ticket for length.

BBelanger · 07-25-2017, 06:27 PM

Sounds like the only time it might come in to play is in an accident. Insurance might not pay and the other persons lawyer might have a clue. A ticket would be minor.

zman62 · 07-25-2017, 06:38 PM

The OP as its described would be what a foot or two over length no way this would be an issue. This would mean the 100s or 1000s of 45ft coaches pulling a toad in Ca should have issues which they don't. I think if he was going to be 15 ft over length it would be more concerning. I have many years at 80 ft and lots of that time in Ca

aether_one · 07-25-2017, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBelanger

Sounds like the only time it might come in to play is in an accident. Insurance might not pay and the other persons lawyer might have a clue. A ticket would be minor.

Why would insurance not pay? I see that comment all the time. Insurance will pay even if you do something stupid or illegal. Happens every day.

zman62 · 07-25-2017, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfryman

Why would insurance not pay? I see that comment all the time. Insurance will pay even if you do something stupid or illegal. Happens every day.

I agree. If you were drunk and hit someone your insurance will pay. If you are over length the insurance would not be an issue.

BBelanger · 07-25-2017, 07:20 PM

Ok great. I was under the impression that if you did something illegal that insurance could deny the claim. I stand corrected.

V3600 · 07-25-2017, 07:26 PM

I'd be more concerned whether or not I have my Calif non-commercial Class B driver's license for your over-40' motorhome.

tom chelbana · 07-25-2017, 07:31 PM

Live in California and have a 45 foot Essex with and tow a Dodge Durango and got pulled over on 10 about 40 miles east of Indio. He measured the length at 64.5 feet so we know that is OK.

zman62 · 07-25-2017, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom chelbana

Live in California and have a 45 foot Essex with and tow a Dodge Durango and got pulled over on 10 about 40 miles east of Indio. He measured the length at 64.5 feet so we know that is OK.

That is probably the worst area in Ca for being over length. How long ago was this. Its my understanding there was one CHP officer that hung out between desert center and indio and his pet peeve was over length issues. I was told he retired last year which is why I asked when it happend