How Long a Trailer can I Pull and Still be 65 feet Overall
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- čas přidán 23. 08. 2024
- In many US States and Canadian Provinces, there are rules that state we need to have an overall rig length of 65 feet or less. Gregg from RVHaulers demonstrates how we can choose Volvo models, and make a number of changes to the trailers and beds to accommodate some very long trailer lengths.
For more information please see our website at www.rvhaulers.ca
I pull a 41' toy hauler so I can bring more toys. I also set up my truck like an RV so I can pull my 25' fishing boat for tuna trips. I can't wait to go to the HDT rally to see all the different configurations. Like most people, my setup is a work in progress.
This is great information. Seems like there are few things you can't do. Great content.
Wow, you are really checking out my videos! Thanks for watching and commenting. I am glad you are finding them interesting.
Gregg
Very valuable general information on this subject. The problem is that different manufacturers have different front end configurations and king pin locations, so the only way to be completely accurate and know the distances is to know which 5th wheel you are going to pull. I'm of the opinion that law enforcement doesn't spend any time or energy stopping rigs just to get length measurements. Maybe the RV industry and RV Associations should work to get the distances lengthened. Keep those training videos coming!
Great comment. There are many trailer angles, lengths, and pin box configurations. However, I am quite confident that most trailers can safely be shortened a few inches. You bring up a good suggestion to check those measurements. Finding 3 inches is a certainty, but finding 24 inches might be a challenge.
My goal in a few years is to get an HDT. You make it very interesting to see what I can do. Thanks for the video
Hi Rick. You are always welcome to forward your questions! Thanks for watching.
Gregg
Very interesting and it answers many questions I had. In addition to overall length, the relocated pin box would shorten the kpra length on a long trailer like a toy hauler.
Who says you can’t be over 65’ overall, Commercial vehicle trailer are allowed 53’ trailers, tractors are not measured anymore. Further more a RV is not commercial, a few RV trailers are over 53’ and are legal.
Put a sliding hitch on it so when you're straight it shortens the whole rig and after you unload the car it can't even get shorter so you can maneuver in the RV parks easier I really like the video thanks for the information
Great information Gregg well done thank you
Hello and thanks for your feedback. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Great information Gregg. Thanks.
Hello Kyle. Thanks for watching! It is good to know someone out there finds my videos helpful. Drive Safe!
Another factor that limits most RV size is the RVIA limit of 430 sq. ft. of floor space when fully expanded. Certain manufacturers who do not care to be able to show certain floor plans at RVIA shows can build larger (Spacecraft, etc), but the vast majority must fall into this category. Wide body trailers with larger slide outs (deeper and longer) can allow for shorter trailers, but structural strength around the slide then becomes another issue. Along with weight of course.
Why should they even get involved in the extended/open size. That's just stupid over regulation by the association. IMHO
No clue as to why they do that. Maybe trying to keep the regulation "in house" as it were, and not from the government.
No doubt a government limit on the definition between a Recreational Vehicle and a House. Insurance and taxes will be different so the government is concerned that they get their money!
Interesting facts.
Glad you found it interesting and of some value. Thanks for watching.
Gregg
Gregg, Logan turned out to be a very nice looking rig. Good job of explaining as usual and interesting to say the least. Thank You
Wow, thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
Nice work, Gregg. Have you considered doing a vid like this for a longer truck scenario, maybe where a 4 door Jeep is used? Keep up the great work. We are planning on coming to the HDT Rally in the fall.
Hello Sam. Thanks for the kind feedback on our videos. I haven't personally been asked to build a longer RVHauler YET. Can I make one for you to carry a Jeep? It can be done! See you at the HDT Rally in Hutchinson KS this coming October. It is a great event.
damn i wish my truck was that short ,, mine is huge being just over 36 feet long just the truck and my trailer 44ft ,, it's kinda like towing a semi trailer with a school bus
my pinbox is the strait up and down type and it's 3 feet back from the nose , same with my hitch it's 3 feet from the rear of the truck ,, even with everything i could do to shorten it ,, it's still over 70 feet long ,,,fortunately where i go nearly all the states RVs are exempt from nearly all commercial truck regulations ,,I do have an over dimension license on my truck though because it's over 8 feet wide and nearly 13 feet tall ,,i ran into a headache in nebraska and minnesota so i had to get an over size/over length truck permit like guys pulling long lowboy loads have ,, just a little nuisance but got it fixed ,,
I actually just went out and set my RV up today at one of the local state parks ,, parked the truck in one space and the trailer in another ,, paid for 2 weeks ,, after this was all done ,, i had to argue with the stupid park ranger because i took 2 spaces ,,and i said SO ,, i paid for 2 spaces , and i already checked online , they aren't reserved for the next month
it was even funnier when he then tried telling me i couldn't drive a commercial truck into the park ,,,and it clearly says RV -NOT FOR HIRE on bottom of the doors in 2 inch letters
I had to show him my registration and insurance to prove that it's an RV
I even paid the FEEs to the DOT and did all the paperwork to have the title changed to say RV class C on it ,was a royal PITA getting that done and took 6 months
Wow, that is one LOOOONG rig!
Gregg RVHaulers yes it is ,,and it's HEAVY
too the whole unit when hooked together weighs 52,ooo pounds dry ,,add about 5-7K more if i'm carrying a full load of water and my genset and battey array
the turning radius is what's really bad ,I can't go to a park where i have to back in unless it's a 45deg slanted space ,always prefer a pull through ,,
I have noticed that most 5th wheel travel trailers are sized ,and the distances for the hitches ,like the offset pin box and the distance from the pin to the trailer body
they are sized for a full sized ,long box pickup truck this gives loads of room when hooked to a rig like yours because the hitch is clear at the back on these RV haulers
mine was built from the outset to hook onto a standard rig ,so i have just over 8 feet of overhang with the pin centered 3 feet back from the nose of the trailer
1)What is the wheel base of the truck,as shown ??
2)Did it had 2 axles before,and now too 1 axle !
Have my own to be soon for retirement !!
In California, and I think most states, added safety bumpers don't count if they add no more than one foot. The moose bumper counts as an added safety bumper.
So in an extremely jackknife, which is hard to do without backing up, you'd unload the car first, that's doable.
If they would let RVers follow the DOT commercial rules we could haul up to 53' trailers since they don't count the darn truck in the length, if I remember correctly.
My research has suggested that every state might have their own rules. Some states such as Alabama refer to length " excluding mirrors and safety equipment, and appurtenances up to 6 inches attached to a motor home, travel trailer, self-propelled camper or house car, truck camper, or RV "
However other states don't have that exclusion.
Gregg, my research has suggested that you are a little bit over 4" over width!!! The smart car you are having on the back of the truck is a "newer" generation, thise are a little bit over 106" long .... Having it sideways on there you are exceeding the legal width limit by over 4" and making the truck and trailer a wide load ...... Only the first generation smart cars were small enough to do so .... They were about 96-97" long .....
Gregg, i dont mean to pick on you from behind my keyboard and monitor - please dont take it that way - i know through first hand experience with the state troopers in multiple us staates and paying litterally thousands in fines the last 15 years ..... How they have a way to bend the laws just like they like to ..... If if they cant find nothing wrong with you after 4 hrs really close exam than they tell you how you were following too close and that is a $300 ticket ...... I have seen dot cops spotting less than an inch over width with thw bare eye .... That is all i am saying .... And the over lenghth .... Often enough you are just at there mercy no matter if you are complying wih the law or not .....
I'm new to this whole thing with the semi's. If you have a "not for hire" on the doors. You don't need a CDL? I see that alot up here in Montana
Great Idea, But why not take maybe a sleeper that is only a 24" sleeper? I can not see the need for a sleeper that long just to haul an RV. Then I think you could back load a jeep or a 4 door Honda or something similar. Ron USCG RET
We can certainly do that too. I'll do it for you! Even a day-cab (no sleeper) is an option.
Thanks, Gregg
The difference in length of VNL740 and a VNR400 is 37". If you lose the Drom box, could you get a 4 door wrangler up there?
Hello Tim,
You certainly know your numbers! Yes, we can build a bed for a 4 door Jeep - no problem. Saving those 37" of sleeper length, plus the 18" of drom allocated length is getting the length down a fair bit!
Thanks for watching and taking a moment to share your great question.
Gregg
What about state parks and/or rv parks that restrict trailer length? I have not bought anything yet but I really like your trucks and I am looking at the Forest River Riverstone 38RL fifth wheel. My concern is this too long for some parks?
PS Great info in your videos.
My question is have you made any with out a sleeper?? I personally if pulling a rv would rather not have the sleeper.
Thanks James for the question.
I have never done a truck without a sleeper called "day-cabs". The primary reason we haven't done one before, is they cannot be titled as a motorhome. As a motorhome, we have much less expensive insurance, and registration costs. Also, you don't have to have a commercial drivers license in most states when you are driving a motorhome. When we have a sleeper, we have the items that allow these trucks to be titled as a motorhome - fridge, microwave, separate sleeping area, shore power, separate heat/ac etc. I would also mention that a commercial truck will have to stop at all scales, and you would continue to have to maintain a log. Also, a commercial truck will require the commercial insurance and commercial titling. Those are quite a bit more expensive compared to a motorhome.
Another reason we don't often consider day-cabs is they are almost always setup for city use. They are not highway tractors. They are not setup to run at highway speeds - they are setup for inner city driving. They have different rear end ratios, and very very basic interiors. They are missing many of the creature comforts we appreciate in our RVhaulers such as power windows, nice seats, quiet interiors, and they often have very basic heating and ac controls.
Have you considered EU suppliers who provide diesel trucks that have engine mounted below the cab and therefore the length of the trailer would be shorter?
When DOT does their measurements do they measure bumper to bumper. I didn't think they measured safety equipment like bumpers and mirrors. I thought that the length measurment was made head light to tail light. I could be wrong my wife lets me know that a lot. LOL
It would be helpful if that was the case! I am not aware of that. I would love to get that in writing for every state and province in which we might travel. Does anyone have that information available?
The Good Sam Club yearly RV Travel Guide has a section titled, "Rules of the Road & Towing Laws" that gives some information about width, length, height, etc. A couple of internet sources are www.rvsafely.com and www.trailers.com. I'm not sure that any of these give specific information as to how the measurements are taken but at least it is a start to getting the information state-by-state.
Under DOT rules, which only count if your equipment is commercial and dot registered, you can pull a 53' trailer even if the total length goes over 65'. However you are limited to the national highway network. The other gotcha is putting the smart car on the rig which does change the rules a bit which can pull the total length back. Take a look at the DOT length chart sometime, it's interesting although doesn't matter since we don't fall under those rules.
All About RVHaulers with Gregg this “law” is called the bridge rule. That may help you narrow down the specific rules your wanting
Gregg, great video and information as usual, when pulling a
40 foot RV semi-trailer with air brakes (like Spacecraft) with one of your RV
Haulers is it still classified as recreational or a commercial setup.
Hello Mick. Great question. In almost all cases, as soon as you add air-brakes to the trailer, you become a commercial rig.
Gregg RVHaulers Hi Gregg, does this include air over hydraulic like the trailer you showed being built awhile back? I forget the couples name but you have their old truck for sale.
Great video as always.Would you guys be able to put air brakes on the trailer and if so could you make a video on the pros and cons of air vs electric trailer breaks ?
Thanks for the question. Often the consequence of having air brakes on the trailer is your rig then becomes a commercial truck and trailer. That means you have to have a commercial operators license, commercial insurance, and stop at scales.
+Gregg RVHaulers Thank you for the reply. I guess I should have thought about that haha. Rest assured once I'm ready and able I'll be coming down to you for a rv hauler. Have a good one!
Another goofy thing...air brakes are safer. If I am not operating commercially, I shouldn't be held to those standards. Now driver licensing, I can understand that.
+Gregg RVHaulers so I need a CDL because my trailer has air brakes?? I've never heard of that.
I just did a research on how long I can go in the state of California, limit is 65',, I guess I can throw my plans away😔 looking into a renegade 45' and hopefully pull a 24' stacker so much for that idea😜
There are a lot of drivers with 52' trailers running around. Just comes down to are you willing to accept a ticket for being over-length from time to time. I think most police will leave a RV alone and not even bother to try to measure it.
Good information
Thanks for watching MM!
Another very informative vid Gregg, thank you.
It should be noted that the RV overhang length varies from one manufacturer to another and even from model to model within a manufacturer's lineup. This overhang often dictates the pin box length needed. Since most RV's were designed to be pulled by standard pickup trucks and most of those now have a 6'6" bed, you end up seeing the extended pin boxes like the one on your Raptor shown in the vid.
Some individuals may want to have the option of towing the RV with a regular pickup in the future, a shorter pin box may not be an option. That is a fair concern, in my opinion. But, I believe there is an option. I'm certain you could install a different 5th wheel hitch onto the air slider that came on the HDT. Something similar to the Trailersaver 32KLP should be easy to install to the air slider and an air ride extended pin box installed on the RV for a smooth ride. This combination would give the RV owner the option of towing those short distances with a regular pickup for service or other needs if he wanted to and easily hookup to the HDT and adjust the length with the air slider to suit the load.
Thanks for your comments and idea!
legally aren't you suppose to get an oversized permit to be longer than 65 foot in length in the United States ? shouldn't the hitch be closer to the rear axle of the truck for better weight distribution?
+Wiggers garden Hello! Great question. I created a video recently that addresses the hitch placement question. Perhaps you might be interested. Here is a link: czcams.com/video/b4-xvqDtdnA/video.html
Depends on the state. Different states have different length laws. Can you be ticketed for overlength?..possibly..but most states dont mess with you if you're a private guy. I personally would take a longer truck and have a longer deck to put my car on lengthwise, like a Ford Escape or something with ramps off the back. Then hook up 5th wheel after car is loaded. Texas for example allows 110 ft...Indiana allows 65ft..but i continuously see overlength rigs triple towing and not get bothered or even looked at. I would imagine you would really have to stick out like a sore thumb to gain any attention.
I first want to say you have a great and informative channel and i check it often to see your videos. BUT in this video you are measuring the WRONG thing when talking about moving the pin back. You need to measure from the center of the pin to the front most CORNER (the diagonal of a rectangle) of the trailer. If a full width trailer 102 inches the pin is centered at 51 inches to each side. With a forward pin being 12 inches (guessing you didn't show that measurement) to the front the distance to the front corner will be around 52 1/2 inches. The 5 inches of clearance you had at 90 degrees (jackknifed) will be 3 1/2 inches at 45 degrees (half way to jackknifed). Now if you move the pin back 16 inches it will be 28 inches from the front and your diagonal (pin to front corner) will be 58 1/4 inches. That means 58 1/4 - 51 = 7 1.4, but this is more than the 5 in of clearance so bye bye smart car mirror. I used a online diagonal of rectangle calculator, but the formula is Diagonal = the square root of width squared plus length squared. Keep up the good work and i look forward to more videos. PS as soon as i hit the lottery I will be a customer.
Thanks for taking the time for that great analysis. Well said. Every rig we build is custom, and if we want to really "scrunch" at every point, we have to be careful of clearances. This particular RVHauler was designed to tow a 38 foot toy hauler. With a very minimal (approx 3") shortening of the pin box we will achieve the goal. I agree with you, if someone needs to make a great pin box change, we should consider moving the smart car a bit closer to the drom box, and using up more of the 4-5 inches of space I had available there. Also, we can consider making the drom box not quite as deep, to allow even more space for the smart to move forward. Lots of permutations and options!
Many states limit the combined length to 60-feet. (www.rvtripwizard.com/rv-info/state-road-laws.php) but you see 45' bus conversions pulling 26' stackers so I wonder
Bus have shorter limits than trucks. Just because you see it doesn't mean it's legal.
Its is posible to put a 57'' trailer to the truck?
HI, this is Dave from Sherwood Park, I work for one of the largest trucking companies in Canada. I"m not understanding where you"re getting the 65 ft over all from. Is it an RV thing? We as so do all other trucking companies run 53ft trailers with 870s with an over all length of 75ft. Could you please clairify? I really like your videos and really like to jump on the Harley and come down dto say hi.
Thanks Dave C
Hello Dave. Yes, commercial rigs are allowed to be longer. Every state and province has their own rules, but RVers generally have shorter rig length limits.
Hi Gregg. Thanks for the info.
You mean if you're registered as an RV but if you're not you can exceed the 65 ft limit.
hey Gregg, do you know if Volvo can uprate a 435hp d13 to 500hp and 1850 torque? also if so what kinda price range you think it could be, thanks
Hello Killer. I have only done the research on this activity. I am told by my favorite Volvo shop that with Volvo corporate engineering approval this horesepower change up to 500 HP can be done yes. I am not sure if the torque changes - I did not ask that question. At this point, I have not had a customer actually ask me to change it yet. It was suggested the programming time and costs are around $390.
Ok, what about doing a hydraulic slider on the hitch. Then you can suck the trailer up for straight travel and extend it back when maneuvering. Or leave it extended then if your entering a inspection area or you're being pulled over you suck it up to the shorter position. Cheating? Maybe but why not.
Thanks for your cool idea. Now we need some smart guy to build one, do the certification and testing for safety, and go into production for us. C'mon - there must be someone out there that can do this!
I take it then that trailers like the SpaceCraft 57ft would only be allowed in certain places?
Yes, you are correct. Some places have unique rules.
Can it tow a 57 foot pace craft rv fifth wheel
Absolutely, yes
@@woodystoltzfoos1755 As configured No, it would have to be returned to truck-tractor configuration to legally tow the 57' spacecraft.
Very interesting Greg, 630 or 670 it is!
build a Cabover model. .
Yeah a single axle day cab C.O.E. then you could pull a super long trailer lol.
What was the length on the hauler from bumper to bumper?
Why not a Kenworth why always a Volvo
Hello David,
We are seeing more and more Kenworths these days. Traditionally, Volvos were considered attractive for our purposes because of the quiet, and spacious interiors. The ishift transmissions were also superior. KW is now catching the attention of our RVHauler clients.
If you explore our channel a bit, and search for the word "kenworth" you will start seeing some conversions!
Great question thanks,
Gregg