Towing Laws
 

Here in the UK we can only run an all up car and trailer wieght of 7.5 tons.

I look at you're rigs. 4 to 5 ton boat and trailers behind a 1 - 2 ton truck.

Could someone tell me please, does the U.S Law permit that, or does everyone accept it as the done thing.

Steve

Re: Towing Laws
 

Well , I know it varies from state to state. Most have overall length and width laws too. I know I've been over the length with my buddies boat and 4 dr dually but never got stopped.

Re: Towing Laws
 

Yes. I'm pulling a 15,000lbs of boat and trailer behind a 6500lb truck.

Re: Towing Laws
 

Over 26000 lbs (13 tons) gross (total weight) requires commercial drivers license.
Maximum width without permit= 102 inches (8'-6").
Maximum overall length without permit= 65 feet.
Now realize I am going by what memory I have left. :drink: :drink:
Disclaimer: This info may also vary by state as well. :D

Re: Towing Laws
 

Legally, all states have a maximum width and length for towing. All are 8.5 feet wide with the exception of Florida which is 9' and I think there is one other state with 9'. Then one or two at 8 feet. The max length varies greatly from one state to another, however the length is usually pretty long and not an issue. As for overall weight, I haven't seen any restrictions. Here is a link that let's you look at each states laws. http://www.boatus.com/towing/towlaw.htm

Re: Towing Laws
 

In my state, you buy a truck license plate for the max total weight you want to be legal to pull, including the weight on the truck's axles. The individual roads or bridges may limit the total weight allowed on them, but usually it's not an issue for boat trailers.

Car license plates can legally pull any weight trailer they want with no maximum. Guess which type of license plate my Excursion has?

Re: Towing Laws
 

26,000# max combined gross vehicle weight in FL without a Commercial drivers license. It varies nationwide though.

Re: Towing Laws
 

Chart is correct...Don't pull with commercial plates unless it is your only option.The length adds up quickly also(quad cab dually,32'boat=61').Most troopers won't mess with you unless they are having a bad day though.

Re: Towing Laws
 

Steve: While most of our pickups here on OSO are called "1 tons" that is misleading today. At some point in the past it may have meant something about the weight the bed could contain, but today it simply means the strongest pickup before getting into commercial caliber truck frames.

Most of our "1 tons" actually weigh 3-4 tons, so in your example, the rolling weight of the boat, trailer, and truck is closer to 9 tons, and that's about what my 30' boat, steel trailer, and excursion weigh.

Re: Towing Laws
 

I pulling 24,500 lbs, 58 feet long 114 inches wide with a F350 Crew cab dually. Havn't been stopped yet and hope I don't hit anything. :eek: But I have had the man pull up along side a few times look at it and then drive off or give me a thumbs up.

Re: Towing Laws
 

Commercial trucks can be used for private use also.The registration and licensing can have some hurdles tho.Creative paperwork is a plus. This rig is personally owned and was used to drag my boat around. Truck & trailer is 4" shy of 100' long.It requires a CDL license and permits. Safety is #1 in my book.I refuse to let the trailer tell the truck where its going or when its going to come to a complete stop. :eek:

Re: Towing Laws
 

My 2000 Ford F-350 has a max towing capacity of 12,500 lbs on the hitch. That means the truck is rated to pull a trailer and cargo weighing a max of 12,500. A gooseneck or fifth-wheel hookup may be rated higher.
The state is the least of your worries if you have an accident as your insurance company will not pay a claim on the vehicle if the gross towing capacity is exceeded, and the boat insurance will not pay either.

Re: Towing Laws
 

I know, I live one the water and the boat stays on the lift 99% of the time and I am in the market for a big truck, but I have pulled it about 1500 miles without a problem. It is not fun you are just kinda along for the ride when it come's to any panic stops or any other non normal moves.

Re: Towing Laws
 

CH: Your hitch may be rated for 12,500lbs, but I think all 2000 model superduties were rated for 10,000lb trailers from the factory, but only with WD bars; 5000 without them. If fear that the insurance company is going to wiggle out of a claim is your primary concern, changing up to a Titan hitch won't satisfy them. Will your truck safely pull your flatdeck? You betcha! Is your flatdeck on a trailer only 12,500lbs? Not likely.

Re: Towing Laws
 

Its best to follow laws which are enforced by the state you live in. I dont think the federal DOT includes bigger trucks and boat trailers as a commerical motor vehicles, as long as the truck is only used for that purpose, so im not sure if they all require a CDL.(again thats federal). You can research more if you need @ http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsrhome.htm

Re: Towing Laws
 

Well that explains alot of stuff , youre laws are certainly more generous in the towing area's. When you compare them to ours.

In the small land we have small things like roads. To match we are allowed a total of 7.5 tons Gross train weight on a car license and the trailer should not exceed the tow vehicle weight. Once you're trailer and boat exceed 3.75 tons you've blown it, that and the car will be 7.5 tons plus. The police dont bother with checking the brakes etc, if they think you will fail at the weighbridge then they go straight for that.

30' power boats that are trailered are rare over here. So legal trailers are not an off the shelf commodity.

Also over 3.5 tons gross trailer weight the brakes cant be hitch operated.

In 3 words YET MORE MONEY

Re: Towing Laws
 

Chart, my dually is rated at 12,500. I forget to mention the DRW. And no, without the class 5 hitch it's not legal with my boat behind it. That's why I have the class 5.
One of the local superboat teams has a toter home on a Kenworth chassis and as such a CDL is not required. The Kenworth is licensed as a motor home.

Re: Towing Laws
 

I agree 100%. We decided to go to a medium duty truck this past summer from an F-450. The F-450 handled the Gladiator really well, but we needed something a little bigger to handle this Apache safely. I don't know the length of the whole rig, but the trailer is 54' long and with the boat it weighs around 21,000 pounds. Towing that kind of weight with a pickup is just not a good idea. :eek:

Re: Towing Laws
 

my mentor.......

Re: Towing Laws
 

my rig..

Re: Towing Laws
 

I thought the F-450 is a "medium duty" truck, and anything below that was "light duty".

Michael

Re: Towing Laws
 

really anything over a 550 is medium. 550 and under is light duty....

Re: Towing Laws
 

Very nice. How is that new truck doing?

Re: Towing Laws
 

The thing I worry about the most is wind :confused: and other idiots that have no clue W.T. F. they are going or why they are in such a hurry to get there. I just feel safe out on the highway towing a trailer with a truck that is a tad bit over kill. :drink:

Re: Towing Laws
 

Hot Duck, At least you chose to use a Pete :drink: :drink:

Re: Towing Laws
 

If you are gonna do something, you might as well do it right! :D