Overall length, help

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Towing over the 55 MPH; all vehicles towing; speed limit in CA. Will get you a ticket .
I've seen 5th wheels with trailers on behind stopped in CA, but can't say if , speeding , over length or if CA doesn't allow double tow.

Got stopped for speeding in CA, about 70 miles from the border heading out of state. Officer didn't question the length, just my insurance and license please and sign here.
45' long, RoadMaster Sterling tow bar with 4" drop that add's over a foot and '05 Odyssey. Haven't measured everythings actual length but I'm pretty sure I'm close to the limit.

[luckyd]

You can go to a Hydralift to put your Canam on on pull the car....OR
you can go to a Tandem tow trailer that puts your Canam and your car on.
The Hydralift is a lot shorter, so will fall within all legal limits.

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by luckyd

You can go to a Hydralift to put your Canam on on pull the car....OR
you can go to a Tandem tow trailer that puts your Canam and your car on.
The Hydralift is a lot shorter, so will fall within all legal limits.

Hydra Lift is considered Temporary and is not considered in the length, like the new air foils you see on the big Trailers.

[NevadaNick]

R____R, other states laws dont apply when in Ca as to pulling doubles etc, otherwise you would see triples in Ca. Its legal to tow two bumper pulls in Ca if you have the right license whether you are a Ca resident or not.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by r___r

My info applies to CA residents.

For visitors passing through, I'd imagine California Highway Patrol would uphold the laws of the driver's domicile.

Rich

The officer may choose to ignore the infraction but laws about connections, length, weight, etc are not reciprocal like drivers licenses. Similar to the speed limit the local rules are the ones that are or can be enforced.

It would be so much better if there was one set of rules for all jurisdictions. It would make it less confusing and easier for everyone to know what the limits are.

[Dr4Film]

I have an Alaskan Driver's license Class D plus a M1 endorsement which allows me to also drive a motorcycle.

The Alaskan Class D non-commercial driver's license is classed for what you can drive NOT for what you can tow behind your vehicle.

The reciprocity laws throughout the states are for your driver's license only not for what's behind your vehicle.

If you are towing, it's the states laws that you are driving in that regulate what type of license you will need.

If you do not want to worry about what you are towing then I would suggest that you get a CDL from your state with the proper towing endorsements and drive on.

And PLEASE, do not confuse commercial regulations with non-commercial regulations. That debate goes on forever and ever here. It will probably raise its ugly head again sometime soon.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[YC1]

I spent many hours trying to get the legal definition of the length of my RV. I went directly to the CHP office. They said talk to this guy, he will know for sure. After fifteen minutes he gave me a name to write my question to in Sacramento.

Bumpers etc are not included so an officer technically cannot just pull the tape out and stretch it from one end to the other. Of course most of us do not have "bumpers". So how to you measure then? Ok, I am not going to get into a discourse on that but would not worry about an extra two feet. If you are towing the legal speed and staying out of the left lane except for passing you will not be bothered.

Yes you can tow doubles with the proper endorsement. Yes if you are a resident and drive a motorcoach over 40 feet you need a non-commercial class B endorsement,. You can spend a day searching this forum on that one alone.

[r___r]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

The officer may choose to ignore the infraction but laws about connections, length, weight, etc are not reciprocal like drivers licenses. Similar to the speed limit the local rules are the ones that are or can be enforced.

It would be so much better if there was one set of rules for all jurisdictions. It would make it less confusing and easier for everyone to know what the limits are.

Gordon, I totally agree with you about the Officer's choice and the same rules throughout the country.

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

R____R, other states laws dont apply when in Ca as to pulling doubles etc, otherwise you would see triples in Ca. Its legal to tow two bumper pulls in Ca if you have the right license whether you are a Ca resident or not.

I wasn't trying to get into a debate and I didn't want to hijack the OP' s thread, but, since my comments are being addressed, I hope that this info will be helpful to the OP, others, and Me.

As I have read threads about folks pulling doubles in states that do not allow it, getting pulled over by LEOs and not allowed to continue on until getting a second vehicle to tow the second trailer through that state hassle, I agree with your statement about triples in CA.

I lived in Reno for a couple of years and traveling around Nevada, I've seen triples there. This year is 20 years that I've held CA Commercial Licenses. Class B restricted to Class A License non-restricted w/Endorsements(Hazmat, Tankers, Doubles/Triples, and Mortorcycle). I'm a little familiar with the law of triples in CA.

RVer Doubles are a rare sight to see. I've seen doubles with a 5er and bumper-pull, but(and I'm not saying it doesn't happen), I just haven't seen double bumper-pulls here, in CA.

Some time ago, I asked a person(un-named on here and still active as of today) who said they towed bumper-pull doubles in CA. about it, and they never responded with an answer.

My information research include:
A) Email communication with a California Highway Patrol, Commercial Division Supervisor regarding length and type of doubles set-up
B) The California Vehicle Code 35401 (a) and (b): Law section
C) California Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/tru...al-doubles.pdf
D) California Department of Motor Vehicles.: https://dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&...s/cdl_htm/sec6
All applicable info above have fifth-wheel hitch/kingpin setups with bumper-pull converter dollies/trailers. No bumper-pull doubles.

Nick, I didn't want to put you on the spot, but, since you have verified information from your research; and I can also learn from people who are well versed in the laws.

I am, really, interested...Where is the information that you found that shows it is legal to tow bumper-pull doubles in CA.?

Rich

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Doubles in Cali...5th with a bumper OK, you can not do the 2 bumper pulls...

[Gordon Dewald]

I did a quick look at the CA rules and found a page that said the only restriction on double was the hitches had to be of sufficient capacity for what they were towing.

Other jurisdictions I looked at specify the first hitch must be a 5 wheel pin.

[NevadaNick]

I have an email saved from Valley division of CHP that answers the question i asked about pulling two bumper pulls. What Gordon said is right that hitches need to be sufficient to pull the weight and not to exceed 65ft in length. I too have a Class A cdl and try to keep up on the regs that apply to what i do.

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

I have an email saved from Valley division of CHP that answers the question i asked about pulling two bumper pulls. What Gordon said is right that hitches need to be sufficient to pull the weight and not to exceed 65ft in length. I too have a Class A cdl and try to keep up on the regs that apply to what i do.

Gordon @ CHP must not had been up on his Commercial Lengths (that is what they go by for everything) doubles max length in Cali is 75'.

[NevadaNick]

Not for RV's Also they used to limit trailer length when pulling doubles.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by DMTTRANSPORT

Gordon @ CHP must not had been up on his Commercial Lengths (that is what they go by for everything) doubles max length in Cali is 75'.

Gordon is not CHP and made no reference to length in my post. Just to keep things on track.