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06-14-2007, 07:11 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13
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I have a 39' KSDP and towing a car trailer. Trouble is...I am 68 feet long all connected. I bought it used and didn't think to ask (about legal limits)at the time. Question is, has anyone been hassled by D.O.T. or been fined or stopped. What should I be doin' about my predicament or is it a real predicament? Thanks for any and all advice.
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06-14-2007, 07:11 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13
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I have a 39' KSDP and towing a car trailer. Trouble is...I am 68 feet long all connected. I bought it used and didn't think to ask (about legal limits)at the time. Question is, has anyone been hassled by D.O.T. or been fined or stopped. What should I be doin' about my predicament or is it a real predicament? Thanks for any and all advice.
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06-18-2007, 04:25 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Crossville,TN USA
Posts: 437
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Wade and Lee Ann, first by its Federal charter, the D.O.T. only involves themselves with commercial vheicle which you are not, regardlees of your overall length. Secondly, weight and length laws for other than commercial vehicles is the responsibility of the individual states.
With some exceptions, and CA would come to mind, the generally accepted consensus is that if the vehicle is legal in the state of domicile then it likewise is legal where it travels.
My greater concern would be how your insurance company would handle a major accident or god forbid a fatality. Granted you may have had a wonderful relationship for several years, even decades. However, in today's age the insurance industry is not one to mess with. For example ask residents of FL what has happened to their homeowners coverage and rates since Katrina and many of them were not hurricane claimants.Your insurance company may very well treat you honorably; but, you nor them have any clue as to how the other parties insurance carrier will react if a catastrophe is involved.
Granted you can say that you are accident free, that you are a safe and capable driver and catastrophies happen to other people. However, that is not my style and with a behometh in excess of 16 tons rolling down the highway I tend to take a prudent course relative to any safety issues involving our coach/enclosed trailer combo.
Good luck and safe travels however you elect to proceed, Ken, '04 DSDP....
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06-18-2007, 04:28 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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It's hard to say exactly Wade. While most states limit you to 65' total length, most will not cite unless there is an accident that brings attention to yourself.
If there was an accident regardless of fault, you could be cited for illegal length vehicle. Your biggest issue will be manuvering in and around parking lots, fuel stations and campgrounds.
Sarge
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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06-18-2007, 05:10 PM
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#5
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Administrator in Memoriam
Appalachian Campers
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Buladean, NC
Posts: 8,126
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Wade,
You don't say which state your rig is tagged in but I saw in your profile that you listed a South Dakota address. If tagged in that state you should be good for up to 80' with a two unit rig. Look at this website.
__________________
'11 GMC Acadia SLT AWD
'11 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Extended Cab
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06-19-2007, 10:15 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,671
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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">by its Federal charter, the D.O.T. only involves themselves with commercial vheicle </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't think that is quite acurate, Ken. The US DOT has responsibility for all federal transportation regulation, including administration of the federal highway system and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Commercial regulation is under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, but that is only one of the FDOT's many responsibilities.
That said, it is certaily true that regulations applying to commercial vehicles do not necessarily apply to recreational vehicle in private use and this leads to a lot of confusion among RVers and on web sites such as this. However, I think the 102 inch width and 65 foot overall length limit applies to all vehicles on the "National Highway System (those designated as Interstate or US highways). Exception permits are required to exceed those parameters and are routinely granted to qualified drivers with a demonstrated need. We see evidence of that in "wide loads" and tandem trailers.
I would say that chances of being stopped and measured are slim for a private coach that is close to the 65 foot limit, but it could be a factor in liability if a accident were to occur.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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06-19-2007, 11:28 AM
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#7
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Administrator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 10,041
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It might be comforting to note that I pulled a 24' Stacker trailer virtually all over the east coast and across a lot of the northeast for several months and at 74' in length I never encountered even a glimpse from an LEO...
Now I DID receive more than a cursory glance the one time I parked it all behind a Cracker Barrel....
Other than Califirnia, the land of fruits and nuts,I can't imagine you'd ever have an issue...
__________________
2019 Grand Design Solitude 380FL fifth wheel
2017 40' Renegade Verona LE LTS (traded)
2018 F150 King Ranch Crew Cab Diesel
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06-19-2007, 12:01 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,524
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Being that i'm from the land of fruits and nuts Bob, you don't know how accurate that statement is!!
__________________
Marty and Diane, Fulltiming!
2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40 SP
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
mytripjournal.com/rvnchick2021
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