I am form WA state and two years ago while driving my motorhome in AZ I got pulled over and received a ticket for no mud flaps on my motorhome. When I was told why I was pulled over, I laughed at the cop (maybe not the thing to do) but I argued and said we have owned that motorhome almost 30 years and have never been stopped. The next day I called the WA State patrol and asked if I had to have mud flaps on my motorhome in WA state and how it applies when driving in other states. The guy had to call me back but in 10 minutes he did and said RVS are like cars and have no requirement to have mud flaps installed, and the rules of the state you are from as far as equipment follows the state you are from. I then called AZ state patrol who gave me the ticket and informed them what WA state said. Then they told me the same thing that I should not have got the ticket and RVs fall in the passenger car rules in AZ too. The ticket got dropped but it seems even law enforcement have a hard time with the laws that pertain to RVs..
I am big on certainty. If your not sure, don’t cite. Even though you got it dropped, it probably was time consuming to do what you had to do. Congrats on your justice. Say it with me like Leslie Nielsen, I Was Wrongfully Accused! 😂
I think you were targeted for the ol' copper grift 🤷 ..not as bad as Oliver, GA where literally half the town's budget comes from enforced fines, but still.. Great reminder to know your laws folks! Knowledge is power 💪
Buying a road atlas at a truck stop would help figure out road restrictions and weight limits. There are a few sections in the front of them that explain what rules are different for each state. Truckers love them and they are updated annually.
Not a law in the state I learned to drive in -- Utah. conversing came up a bit in high school, but it was determined to not be a violation, however it definitely isn't the smart thing to do.
Waaaaay back when I took my driver's exam, anything that would obstruct the driver's ability to hear was prohibited, including loud sound systems. Never knew anyone that got a ticket for it, but it was on the test.
It’s against the law to cover your left ear. Cb headsets have been around since the 80’s, with the earpiece only on the right ear. As the top reply says, so you can hear horns and sirens.
Hey Frank, the RV hauler here, some of these I’ve encountered as well, but one good thing to have. If you have an RV that’s on the larger size is a GPS that allows you to put your trailer and weight specifications in this way you can avoid parkways and roads with low bridges, weight, restrictions, and length restrictions. I use the Garmin RV 890, also, gives you active campgrounds in parking areas for your RV
YES! That couple they got stranded in the mountains in their motor home, (sadly he passed away) also had a toad. They couldn’t even get to help in their car. Their dilemma could have and would have been avoided if they’d used even a truckers GPS. And please, before heading out, cross reference your route against other GPS apps. Then take screen shots of all the steps in case you lose cell service, or your device becomes incapacitated.
@valerief166 google maps lets you download map data for offline use. So long as you have gps signal, you dont need data to load the map, so you can use it offline
So many bridges and overpasses are grandfathered in to not have to meet the "new" 13' 6" height standard. The Can Opener Bridge (which has its own youtube channel) was raised from 11' 8" to 12' 4' and yet still gets hit about once a month.
Well being a N. Y. resident for 68 years I know the no rvs on parkways. Well I have been on the parkway from Niagara Falls to Hamlin beach in our car, once, and I will never drive on them again! You could get a smoother ride on an old railroad bed. I worked for oprhp office of parks,recreation and historic preservation for 38 years and my father did also for 43 in the Allegany region. Well rumor 😂😂has it that Parks believe the roads belong to DOT and DOT believes they belong to Parks so in typical New York fashion neither one does anything to fix at least this portion of the parkway. Some nice little State Parks along that Parkway but use other routes in this area!! 104 and 18 are a couple we pull our 35 fifth wheel and standard cab 8’ dually totaling 48’ oh those crazy rules. Nice informative video and you better pour yourself another cup of coffee you lawbreaker you 🤣🤣🥴
@@joemilbrandt9320 oh its more then that, remember its also no 18 wheelers and no... buses on parkways. now this is a point of contention as some claim it was for racist reasons or for keeping the poor from visiting wealthy beaches. But in reality, it was simply a cost/space issue as it took much more space, materials and such to keep a standard grade so a bridge could be raised to 15' rather then 10.
@@Mithrandyr. its whats known as a Controlled-access highway. They were a set or series of car only highways built between certain cities and certain "special" locations. They were designed for cars only, no trucks or buses, partly to keep the cost down. by limiting the size of the vehicles they could make the bridges lower, meaning they cost much much less and were quicker to build. In doing so these parkways were build faster and cheaper.
On the topic of GPS, it can be useful to use Truck/RV applications instead of ordinary/regular ones. These take into consideration height/width/weight restrictions that others do not. I have seen a couple of RV'ers in very tight situations where the Truck/RV GPS apps would have routed them around. Great topic and yes, I may have "witnessed" one or a few of the situations you mentioned.
The 'no headphones/earbuds" laws are so that you can hear emergency vehicles approaching...and CO is one of the states that allows triple towing (but I don't think I'd want to try it).
Lights mostly and some ems vehicles have things called "thumpers" which emit a very low tone that as they approach you can feel the vibrations from. Its an outside speaker/siren under the ambulance so it's not loud inside. We had one in our Flight For Life ambulance in CO.
@Tommy Ealey We had to go to CA for a horse show, with wagons. The event was 40 miles from the boarder. We timed our travel so one could drop the trailer at the AG station, settle trailer/horses, as the second person arrived, the first went back for a wagon, then the second. An 80 mile trip beats a 450 mile round trip!
@Tommy Ealey You are wrong. Legally blind doesn't necessarily mean pure darkness. Many who are legally blind can see lights or have diverse levels of low sight. The determining factor is that glasses/contacts can't correct their sight. I am sure that those who are deaf have the same spectrum. There are several channels like Molly Burk's channel who is a blind CZcamsr who educates about blindness, and she constantly talks about how it affects people differently and exposes the stereotypes that are not true either. There are also several channels that are deaf CZcamsrs who educate about living life deaf. While on the subject you can also find a number of Channels of autistic adults who do education also about being autistic. The same goes for ADHD.
Having been a Class A CDL driver I knew most of them. The 13' 6" rule is for over head bridge clearance. But in NY, Pa, De and the NE you will find overheads with less. Always check a trucking atlas (do not depend on a GPS or mapping program)to find lower clearance or call the Local fire Dept as they will know all of them. Invest in Handfree CB radios (they usually have a stick mike headset) these work great when guiding a trailer up.
I never took that much notice until we upgraded to a 13'4" fifth wheel, there are many overpasses here in PA that are not even marked with the clearance height. The ones that are marked are marked so close to the overpass, if you were traveling at speed, you could never get stopped in time. You would think there would be a warning well ahead of a low clearance overpass.
The triple tow thing, depending on where you are, also depends on what you are towing. For example, a fifth wheel is a semi trailer, not a trailer. Therefore, towing a trailer behind your fifth wheel is not the same as towing two 'bumper pull' trailers.
A bumper pull is a semi trailer also, it's not how its hooked up it's how the weight is carried, partially on the tow vehicle. A full trailer none of the weight is carried by the tow vehicle.
In our first RV experience in 1977, my wife, our three-year old daughter and myself were towing our trailer from Bremerton, WA to Keesler Air Fore Base in Biloxi, MS where I was attending a school for the military. My wife didn’t much care for the early morning starts, so, since it was legal then to ride in the trailer, we decided she and our little girl would sleep in while I drove in the morning. We did not have any walkie talkies then, so communication between the trailer and the truck was an issue. The trailer did have louvered windows and I told them to just waggle the windows in and out whenever they wanted me to stop. Since the windows were clearly visible in the rear view mirror, this seemed a good idea. I got the rig on the road bright and early, leaving the gals snoozing comfortably. I watched, or thought I did, for the waggling windows and never saw them going. After a couple hours, I decided to stop just to check on them. Apparently, the windows had been semaphoring to beat the band for quite some time. I honestly had not seen them going at all. The sleeping in had not lasted for much more than fifteen or twenty minutes before they had had enough ‘relaxing’. They reported the ride in the trailer was pretty horrible. Noisy, bumpier than was fun and very unstable. Scary was one word they used. There was no problem getting up early to get going after that, even though I told them sleeping in was still an option.
@@douglasolsen1208 Guess you never saw the 1960 (or so) Lucy & Desi movie: “THE LONG LONG TRAILER “ I saw it as a kid. My favorite movie of all time!! When I proposed to my family that we get our 36’ TT & van (we had a 23’ class C that had gotten too small with now our 4 kids)….. We had Movie night with that movie. Then popped the idea of the TT that I found to buy💁🏻♀️ My kids and hubby had a blast with the movie and never once asked to stay in the TT on travel days🤗 Thanks for your service… even though it was with the ‘Chair Force’😏 Blessings to you and your’s! Signed: NAVY wife & NAVY brat 👍
@@arbonneladyTN I didn’t see that movie before we made that trip. When we did see that film, sometime after that adventure, we laughed over that part and the part about her collecting rocks to commemorate the trip. My wife loves to collect rocks. Still does. I don’t find them in the RV, but do find them in various nooks and crannies in the truck.
Absolutely true about the parkways. Parkways are for cars. No trailers or commercial vehicles. You will sometimes see them on there, but it is supposed to only be for cars. The CA 55 MPH thing, those signs are everywhere.
I don't know about The USA, but in Australia, many of the things you pointed out are already illegal but I won't go into them. What I did want to say was that as long as your vehicle and trailer comply with the regulations in the state in which it is registered, you are free to go to any other state. I suspect the same would apply in USA. So you may be lucky enough to have registered your vehicle and rig combo in a lenient state and for that you should consider yourself very lucky. It is probably why you have not got any tickets thus far. Alls well that ends well.
There’s an app called “State Lines” which contains most of these laws. Many of the laws are determined by the state in which you live and then your state laws apply to the other states in which you drive.
Keeping up with laws while traveling from state to state can be a major pain. Especially if they decide to enforce their laws. And there is the grey area RV conversions often fall into, where various laws can seem to be conflicting. What it was, verses how it's been changed and now used, creates issues in how it's classified, knowing which laws apply to it. And this to can vary from state to state. My RV is a 34 ft Limo Bus (shuttle) that I converted. Have not had many encounters with law enforcement but found the best way to deal with them is to stay calm, be patient, while they sort out what they're dealing with. Most end up full of curiosity, with many questions about my rig. One allowed me to make a quick roadside ride-height adjustment, to what he felt was safe and legal (air-ride suspension system, easy change, no problem). None have given me an actual ticket. When looking at buses and trucks for my RV project I settled on the bus in part to avoid issues truck conversions may encounter when passing Weight Stations. Don't want to look like a Drive By and have them chase me down for a conversation. That would be a waste of everyone's time. And definitely don't want to be stopping at all Weight Stations. That would be wasting time and money. Not modifying the outside appearance of the bus (still looks like a bus) has allowed me to drive through areas where RV restrictions are enforced, overnight stealth camp everywhere that I've parked it. I see it as lightly bending, not actually breaking local laws. And we all peacefully coexist.
In California, we had a 37 ft. Colorado fifth wheel that weighted more than 15k lbs. I needed to get a "restricted 41" endorsement. I did NOT need to get a Commercial Driver's License.
In western Canada it's called a Heavy Weight Trailer endorsment for any trailer utility or recreation that has a gtoss vehicle weight rating over 10141 lbs.
@@Zamugustar no it’s not lol Ur the driver I avoid when driving 🤦♀️ If u feel unsafe, get in the right lane and all the Mario Andrettis can go around u
Todd, from NRVTA recently gave a video explaining why it is dangerous to travel with your propane refrigerator on. Because of the wind while traveling it boils down to The burn chamber not applying heat evenly and causing the metal to expand at different rates in the little burn chamber which eventually may cause it to leak. If it does leak, then hydrogen gas which is part of the process is released and with the open flame right there it could catch fire. He is about the most knowledgeable guy on CZcams about RVing and becoming a RV technician. something to think about, although I do understand having a cold refrigerator is nice. Kerry
I recently found myself feeling compelled to tow my trailer faster than I'm comfortable with to avoid indirectly causing accidents. I normally prefer a 62 MPH max when towing. But I was just driving on a two-lane highway in Nevada with a 70 mph speed limit, with no passing lanes or slow-vehicle pullouts. I was obviously delaying traffic and being passed frequently. On two occasions truckers passed me in unsafe locations, on blind curves in a no-passing zone, with oncoming traffic way too close for comfort. After the second occurrence, when the oncoming car hit the shoulder to avoid a head-on, I decided to increase my speed to 70 mph just to reduce the unsafe passing. Even at 70 mph I was still being passed frequently by drivers going 75-80. I'm going to try to minimize driving on this type of highway in the future.
I do the exact opposite. I drive 55-60 and if I'm on a 2 lane highway, I get my right tires on the white line and take my foot off the pedal. That gives the people behind me more room and gets them around me faster.
In NV the length law is 70' and you can tow a second trailer behind a TT. We did it for years with our 25' travel trailer and trailer for our two ATV's. I was a truck driver and had a Reno to SLC run. I stopped at the Wendover port of entry (to Utah) and asked the scale master if I could tow doubles like in NV. He asked how long I was. I wasn't sure but he said however long I was, just stop in and they would sell me an "overlength" permit - by the day, week, month, or year. That was that. It was about the money.
True, you are not required to stop at weigh stations. Just be aware, if you are in an accident, insurance companies will deny your claim/coverage if they can determine you were overweight/length for the state you are currently in. More money in their pocket. All those laws are for safety (and stop people/families from injury/death) and/or to protect the roads/bridges from damage. I have seen semi towing a heavy load (transformer) sink into the asphalt of the a road in triple digit temps. lol Great subject! This was a very interesting video.
Please stop spreading these fallacies, that are just plain not true. Let me guess, you know a guy, who had a friend who got denied a claim because he was 5 pounds overweight. Put it this way, if this was true, then every guy who got into an accident and was found to be legally over the limit for alcohol, every claim would be denied. But guess what, they still pay your claim. They may raise your rates astronomically, or drop you all together, but they will settle your claim.
I have seen a 45’ 5th wheel with a 25’ boat in tow behind it making the total length close to 100’ and they were traveling at 70mph. I have never seen somebody towing a RV at 55mph however, in an accident an insurance company may not cover the RV because it was traveling over 55mph if is illegal in that state. I have seen insurance cancelled after an accident because a motorhome operator did not have a supplemental brake system in the towed vehicle.
if a insurance co can say NO. then you had better be doing it there way. NO over weight, NO over length, NO propane on, NO double towing, NO anything they say.
I'm just gonna say...Yep, we've done several of these things. As far as the propane.... In our class A we used to. Our first RV, it seemed the thing to do with a 2 way fridge. Did it for a few years actually. Then one day at a gas station refueling on a trip it hit me, "I'm at a gas pump with a freaking open flame not 10 feet from the gasoline fill door. After that I'd always make sure I turn it off before we get to a station, then turn it back on away from the pumps. Most of the time now we have it cold before we leave, then just fill the fridge & freezer with those frozen and refreeze-able gel packages you get from a sporting goods department until we stop for the night or get to where we are going.
Most toyhaulers are 102” wide which is max width for interstate travel but not legal on some roads off the interstate. Most commercial trailers are 102” so I never had issue with it.
There are a few states that require a special driver license endorsement to tow/drive an RV over a certain weight class. NO state requires a CDL (commercial driver license) for a private RV rig! This is misunderstood about everywhere. In Texas if you drive a motorhome or truck/trailer with a gvwr over 26,000 you must get a "Class B non cdl" endorsement. If you are pulling a trailer 10,000 lbs and over and the total gvwr of the trailer and tow rig is over 26,000 lbs, you must get a "Class A non cdl" endorsement on your driver license. Many fifth wheel rigs will need a class A. I have a Class B to cover my motorhome and since I never tow 10,000 I don't need a Class A. All I need to do is take a driver test with a 10,000 or higher trailer to get that upgrade to class A, as the written part of the test is the same for both class A and B. Few even know about this law, even in states where it is law. This class is for Farm equipment and RV use mainly.
They will regret not paying attention if they are ever in an accident and they don't have the right license because insurance is likely to say, "we ain't paying you were not driving legally!"
@@RiverWoods111 Exactly! Lawyers would call out negligence. I hope what I wrote clears up the story that you must have a CDL ( commercial drivers license) to operate a 26,000 pound or larger RV rig in some states. I think all states should have this requirement. Not that hard to pass the written part at all. It IS based on CDL tests, but only 20 questions. Some of which you will find quite important to understand should you break down on the road or have little driving experience. You do have to take the driving test....and should you fail that it makes everyone else safe! Cost to take this test was about $20 in Texas.
Let me add this about the 26,000 pound weight. This is the GVWR of your rig! And the GVWR of the towed vehicle! NOT the weight of the vehicle like it would be at a scale!!! Every vehicle has a GVWR label on it. Say your motorhome has a scaled weight of 25, 600 pounds and you have a certificate from the scale to show that to an officer. Doesn't matter, the GVWR label of the vehicle is what the law goes by. That motorhome, unless already overloaded, would likely have a GVWR of well over 26,000 pounds! Next, if your F 350 has a GVWR of 12,000 pounds ( I have no idea how close that figure is....) and you are towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 13,000 pounds....you are legal with a Class C license. But if that fifth wheel has a GVWR of 14,001 pounds ( many are well over that..) you must have a Class A non CDL license to legally tow it. Empty weight vs loaded weight has no bearing, only the manufacturers certificate of GVWR for the chassis.
This! I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it. I would just add that you only have to meet the license requirement for your home state, even if that is a lessor license than the state you are traveling in. For instance in Idaho there is no special license for any size RV so an Idaho resident doesn't need the class A non commercial license even if driving in Texas where it is required.
Most length restrictions are called Bridge laws and it's usually measured axle from Center of axle to center of axle and they're mostly for commercial Motor Vehicles
Max width is 8.5 FT not 8 Ft. You do not need a CDL for a RV, you may need a Class A or B. CDLs are for commercial use, hence "Commercial Drivers License". Max length varies from state to state but I found generally 65FT combined. Triples are when you have THREE (3) trailers behind the tow vehicle, some states you can some you can't. If you have TWO (2) trailers behind the tow vehicle that is called doubles, legal in every state. You can only ride in a 5th wheel, you can't in a travel trailer in most states, the rest you can't ride in either.
There was once a law in California about no shoes ( like 60 years ago). The reason was the pedals had rubber covers that wore out, the metal pedal was slippery , bare feet just slipped right off, very unsafe. I know because I drove such a vehicle.
The reason is because your feet fall asleep while driving without shoes and you cannot push the brakes. I used to try driving barefoot across country and this happened a lot, I don’t do it anymore.
If you were wearing headphones to block out your rowdy children you’re also blocking out emergency vehicles and delaying them to get to somebody who needs help.
@@johnp139 kids are still loud when bored Mine get in the car and do not stop talking I’ve learned to tune them out My friends’ kids quiet down in car lol I’m like, how did u get kids like that??
Most states have reciprocity statutes where you may get a warning (or ticket if officer thinks you won't challenge it) but, since you're legal in your state of residence, you're covered in states it's illegal.
We have our rear camera screen mounted on top of the dash board with the cellphone/GPS mounted to an air vent directly below it - it’s a heck of a lot easier to monitor quickly without taking your eyes off of the road. We tried lowering it, and neither of us felt safe driving with it that low.
In 2020, my trip was meant to include a 7 night stay at the Gateway National Park in Brooklyn (NYC). In the planning stage, I noticed that the Belt Parkway would allow me to exit onto Flatbush Avenue almost within sight of Floyd Bennet Field (my destination). Imagine my chagrin when I learned about the New York Parkway rule. Instead, I had to plan to drive about 4 miles on Flatbush Avenue (in an RV with a Jeep as a dinghy tow) which did not appeal to me. I ultimately never made the trip because it was, well. 2020. Ans due to the rapidly rotting social fabric as shown in the news recently, I will allow NYC to pass me by. 💥
I recently saw a pickup truck on the highway in CA that was pulling a travel trailer with a ball hitch and lost it. His bumper got bent a bit but the trailer was literally a pile of rubble; it looked like it had been hit by a tornado and the owners were picking through it. A person would have to be crazy to ride in one of those.
Much of the laws you mention would only apply if your rv was used for commercial purposes. If used for private purposes you are the same legally as a standard automobile. In every state.
I've driven with propane ( fridge) on for 20 years... no issues.. I turn it off for fueling and tunnels. Some laws are blanket laws based on 18 Wheelers. (mud Flaps) Interior light.... I drive with it off because it takes some of your vision away at night. its like trying to look out your house window at night with all the lights on in the inside.... you cant.
Another thing (already posted one comment), if you're traveling with a firearm(s) in your RV, that's a whole 'nother sticky wicket. Every state has different laws regarding firearms, and some municipalities have their own restrictions.
Great video! This is some good content and discussion. Thanks for posting! Regarding driving with you propane on, I'm not sure of the legality of it (I think it is illegal in some states). However, the safety instructions for my trailer states in several sections that the propane tanks must be shut off while the trailer is in motion. I certainly think it's primarily a matter of safety, especially in the event of a crash. Might be worth checking with you manufacturer and/or the states you're driving through just to be sure. Personally, I would rather deal with icing the important foods versus having a gas leak and fire while towing though.
Looking at it logically, there would be very little "safety" reason to do it. If you are going to be in a wreck, you would hope you have propane valves turned off because there are multiple reasons for a propane leak, kinked lines, etc. However, I did just watch a youtube video of a trailer tech who swore up and down that you must turn your fridge off for traveling because they "require to be level for operation" for reliability. He claims to have had to fix many refrigerators because they broke while traveling. That said, I think there is a balance on food safety (cold foods preserved correctly) vs. other reasons. Something I'll be researching out more for my own peace of mind and knowledge
When you are talking about weight needing different type of license that is only for commercial use. Rv’s do not fall under that registration, UNLESS you are using it for business purposes. Many contractors have to have a class A because they have a one ton P/U with and over 10,000 GVW TRAILER. Also it is about the rating of the parts not actual scaled weight.
Driving barefoot isnt advised because it is easier for your foot to slip. Which on the brakes, especially in an emergency, that would be bad. Also your toes are contained in an accident if wearing shoes, so maybe they can be reattached.
Might want to check out which states it's illegal for vehicles with hitches to leave the receiver attached when not being used. West Virginia is one. §17C-15-47a. Vehicles to remove hitch tongues and related accessories when not in use. Any vehicle, equipped with a hitch, designed to accommodate hitching tongues with mounted hitching balls or other hitching tongues connected to luggage carriers, bicycle carriers or the like, shall not be driven or left stationary with a hitching tongue left inserted into the hitch or otherwise attached, when the hitching ball is not in use for towing or the particular device or implement for which the hitching tongue is designed to hold is not in use for the particular purpose for which it is intended.
4:23 The weight issues specific to recreational use of RVs are mainly an issue of whether you need a non-commercial class A or B (some states issue these, and therefore would require them of drivers licensed in those states). Other states do not issue non-commercial class A or B licenses. If the state issues a non-commercial class A then in order to tow a trailer above 10,000 pounds you need that class A. In order to operate a straight truck above 26,000 pounds you would need a class B. In general, if you are not using the vehicle "in commerce" and if it is registered as a recreational vehicle/ motor home, then you likely do not need a CDL. If you are driving a dually pickup "in commerce" and towing an RV then you may not need a CDL but you do need a DOT number on the side of the vehicle. If you are towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds "in commerce" with the dually then you likely need a class A CDL. That is the exact scenario of a classmate in CDL school. He was towing fifth wheel RVs to deliver them to purchasers. If he was just driving around for fun he would not have needed the CDL, and the purchasers did not need a CDL to tow it, but since he was being paid to deliver the trailer he needed it.
On Ca highways when towing you must stay to the right (2 lanes in each direction) except when passing another motorist. If 3 lanes, you cannot use the “fast”. If 4 lanes use right two lanes &!3rd lane only for passing, etc.
It's not "triple towing", it's called "towing/pulling doubles". You are only towing two trailers, not three. And it is legal in a lot of states. Follows the same rules as commercial semi-trucks.
Wrong on the CDL license.. C stands for commercial. If the camper you pull is titled to you and is not being used for commercial use, CDL does not apply. Some states have a special license like a CDL but not commercial. It only applies to the state you reside in, not the ones you travel through. …
The dog restraint surprised me. I live in Maine been here all my life. Never knew about a dog restraint in a vehicle. OMG don’t look at other cars and trucks, usually I see a mini wannabe dog sitting in the drivers lap with its head out the window. 🤣
I don't know if it's required or not in my state, but my brother bought one that clips into the seatbelt buckle in his jeep (2-door, back seat removed) for when we take the dog on the trail, and it came in REALLY handy when the jeep tipped over on it's back to keep the harnessed dog in the seat (Sort-of. He was standing on the seat-back with his nose to the seat bottom)
The issue folks seem to be ignoring is the fact that in an accident those unrestrained animals (a) tend to suffer more serious injuries and (b) become lethal projectiles aimed at the other occupants of the vehicle.
@@NoOrdinaryPath Unless the animal is doing something unsafe like moving around, interfering with the driver's vision or hanging out a window it is most often enforced when they pull you over for a different infraction or in the aftermath of an accident.
When people ask for advice for whatever reason. I tell them don't drive in sandals take them off. I've had it happen personally on a mostly empty highway. I tapped the brake and my brakes locked up even after I took my foot away. My flip flop got wedged on the brake and I fishtailed from 60mph to 20mph before I could figure out what and fix the situation
Some of the things you talked about are for commercial vehicles for hire. The mud flaps for instance…in California a pickup truck is registered as commercial in order to carry anything in the back. Also by weight. Duels have to have mudflaps. Some states the weight of the trailer or motor home having air brakes requires a commercial rated licensed. The rules apply to what state you are licensed in.
Propane on...May not be illegal but here is a tip that I use. Keep a couple of soft ice packs in your freezer. When you travel move them to you fridge to keep things cold and then put them back into the freezer once your back on power. Also, when not travelling I keep them in my home freezer. They are ready to put in the fridge and freezer when you head off on your next trip. That way you can pre-fill you fridge/freezer with your food instaed like a cooler. Aslo, once your plugged in at your site the ice packs bring you fridge to temp faster and then move them to the freezer once at temp.
Just for technical accuracy, the weight requirement for a CDL is set by federal law at 26,001 lbs or more. RVs are also exempt from CDL requirements by federal law. But many states will require a higher class of license even if they do not require a CDL. Texas, where I live will require you to have a class A license if the combination weight is over the 26000 pound limit, even if you do not have a CDL.
@@michaelburgus200 I believe you need to look into this more, there are certification bodies and just as nurses and mechanics need certification they have standards they have to obtain before they can get certification such as tests and they have to have so many hours of work and schooling and so much time working with RV's and the proof of such work before they can get their master certification. The same applies for mechanics and plumbing. It is similar and it is a certification body !
That is why you want to always use either a RV GPS system or Trucker's GPS system that allows you to put in your height, weight, and length. These GPS systems will keep you off roads you don't belong on.
There’s some tunnels you can’t go through at all even if the propane is turned off keep that in mind, I’ve never ever turned my propane off and yes on a ferry it has to be turned off
My son is a (leo) we were checking on pulling doubles he called 3 OHP officer's and they were clueless on what the law is , after digging at the Pd computer we found out in okla you can pull doubles with a 5th wheel only no gooseneck no bumper pull and you can't exceed 65' . But it's funny the Leo's dont know this so you can do what you want for know.
There are so many laws on the books. federal, state, and local that everyone of us young, middle, old, male, female, breaks at least one law practically every day. No way not to really. Sometimes in order to comply with one law, you are breaking another. That isn't to say you should set out to do so, but it is inevitable that despite our best intentions, and hopes, we will break some even pulling an RV from time to time. Mostly unknowingly.
Semi driver here... Minimum maximum size limits (!) are set by the Federal STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act) law, which applies to Interstate highways, and many (not all!) US highways. States can allow bigger within their state (like NY allowing dual 53' trailers on the turnpike). This is 13'6 high and 102" (8'6) wide. I don't believe that there's an overall length limit, but 53' single trailers or dual 26' trailers are allowed under the STAA. That said, the roads into the areas you may want to take your RV may not be STAA routes, and are subject to the laws of that state. (The STAA originally had a max trailer length of 40', so that may be where that number came from.) As for weights, your class C license allows you to drive a vehicle under 26,000 pounds, with a towed weight under 10,000. Technically, if your toy hauler has a GVWR over 10,000#, you need a class A license to pull it. Several states have noncommercial class A licenses, which are said to be much easier than a CDL-A, not that the CDL-A test is all that hard.
I am new to RVing, and in the organizing/testing phase of creating an rv based business that would partly consist of replacing the rv chassis with salvaged commercial vehicle chassis for increased GVWR. This has involved an insane amount of vehicle code research into rv vs. commercial vehicle codes. The trailer weight and several others mentioned, I am 99.9% sure apply to commercial vehicles only. A commercial truck with over 26k lb GVWR requires a cdl. An RV doesn't require cdl for any weight.
The propane in a tunnel rule is for commercial tanker vehicles. Any tank 40lbs or under are not subject to the federal hazardous and dangerous conditions rules and are not required to be turn off to go through tunnels. *According to the PA DOT inspector that I consulted when we made out trip down the coast.
The reason why some places have the towing speed limit of 55 mph is to reduce the chances of a tire blow out and some trailer tires are not rated for speeds above 55 mph and because of the terrain of the roads
Had to laugh at the barefoot law. I have always driven barefoot. I just hate wearing shoes. My Dad always fussed at me, telling me it's illegal to do so. One day, he was in the car with me, fussing as usual, when I saw a cop on the side of the road. I pulled over and asked her if it was illegal. She said "How would we be able to police it? We can't see your feet!" I laughed, proving my Dad wrong. He never fussed about my bare feet again! :)
@@johnwrigley1624 From what I understand, there is no current state or federal law against driving barefoot, because there would be no way to enforce it, but in some states like Illinois, Nevada, California and a few others, they can cite you for reckless driving if you were in an accident and they can contribute your lack of footwear to the accident. For example, if you kicked your shoes off and a shoe slid under the brake pedal and you couldn't stop. But they can't cite you if they see you get out of your car barefooted. They can't cite you at a DUI check point if they happen to look in your car and see your feet. Could you imagine going to court for that one??? 😂
A lot of people don’t even pay attention to the white signs at bridges. Maximum Bridgeway based on the distance between your axles, If you’re going to run any kind of RV with a trailer you should really be following the Rand Denali, truckers GPS. And get yourself an up-to-date road atlas.
Not illegal to use radios to talk in Canada, it’s a safety thing. No hand held devices with a screen…. We use radios to talk all day as truck drivers. It’s mandatory on many roads to be on the radio.
I am told that in Oregon, you can use the weigh scales when the station is closed. That is, you can weigh your vehicle yourself, free. Why isn't that true in all states, I wonder?
I thought that those 96 in wide and length laws had all been changed to the 102 wide and 53 foot length. RV's are restricted to real near 400 sq ft of inside space. Mud flaps on your truck and trailer go by what your home state laws are. Arkansas no mud flaps, Texas mudflaps on trucks. Enjoyed this video very much.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes laws change frequently. This was more for fun and some things like width may be outdated. But then again each state is different so it's hard to tell unless you look up laws on every state through each official website.
The federal law changed to allow 102 inch wide and 53 foot trailers in 1982 for Commercial Vehicles on the National Network which is the Interstate and most state highways. States can still have requirements of smaller vehicles on roads not part of the National Network. Also HUD no longer has the 400 sq foot rule, not sure what they made it but it is bigger now.
Before I retired I was a DOT inspector. In Wisconsin if you use your RV in connection with a commercial activities you must have a CDL of the proper class you are operating.
My husband and I own a 19.6foot full sized caravan 22 foot with the tow frame. We MUST have electric brakes controlled from inside the car for any tow over 1 tonne, we aren't supposed to wear thongs (flip flops if your American) while driving, bare feet are OK, hands free gps and phones all across Australia, dogs are supposed to be harnessed, interior lights at night within vehicles is discouraged, not sure if it's a law. Depending on your car, if your towing a large caravan you should have a weight distribution system or airbags. That one is vehicle dependant. There are truck stops and rest stops. It depends on signage and the state for overnight stopping, some you can, some you can't. A lot of servos will let you stay overnight in truck parking bays. And yes, there are weight restrictions depending on your tow vehicle and your van. You can be taken off the road if your load is over weight. Mud flaps are a new one to me, but we have them on our Patrol anyway. The kind of licence you have dictates the size of vehicle you can tow and drive. I'm sure there are laws state by state but for the most part caravan drivers are limited to 100 k/ph.
Maryland pulls trailers over all the time. I see RVs pulled over a few times a month during the summer. It’s usually because the rear is slammed from tongue weight.
As a CDL-A driver, just to clarify the one in California: You're not allowed in the left-most lane so if you're on the interstate and there's you know three or four lanes heading your direction. You can't. You can be in all of them except for the left-most, similar signs will be in other states. It'll be clearly marked in other states and on specific routes usually involving very steep, slow climbs.
Height restrictions are in place not as an arbitrary law but because of bridge heights. There still are a few bridges on interstate routes in NC that are under 13'6" but they are working hard to get them replaced.
Sizes of rigs is more focused on living in that state and buying rigs to register in those states. AND most rigs are built to basic standards to comply with the smallest size allowances of any particular state. YES, there are some random exceptions.
Putting our dogs in harnesses and securing them was the best thing we could do for them. They are safe and cannot get out. When we stop it is easy to take one out at a time. Much safer for them. In an accident they can't run away. Never going back to letting them run amuck.
If you go to Wyoming and are pulling a camper or driving a motorhome you are required to pull into all weigh stations. Don't know why but they will come after you. You don't need a special license but you have to scale. They will ticket you if your tow vehicle does not cover the weight of the combination vehicle. By the way 96 inches is 8 feet.
Horse puckey!!!!!!! I lived in Wyoming for a number of years. Pulled my 41’ 18000 lb 5er thru there multiple times…….no one ever paid any attention to me.
@@dondavidson3440 yeah when did you leave? I rolled through Wyoming just this past spring in May and they had 6 rvs pulled in the weigh station with no DOT numbers on them and car plates on the rvs and vehicles. So tell me why they were pulled in. It wasn't because they were being transported by a commercial movers. Looks like they changed the law since you left.
In other words, you “saw” the RVs at the scale and assumed that they are required to stop at all times. ANY LEO in ANY state “can” and “may” pull over a RV and require them to preoceed to the nearest scale. Also the scale “can” and “may” pujt up signage that requires RVs to stop. However, “generally” they are busy enough with comercial rigs that they don’t want to mess with RVs. Was through Big Wonderful Wyoming last year with my 3500 RAM dually pulling my 18,000 pound Raptor and rolled past all scales no problem.
the COMBINED "maximum gross vehicle weight rating" exceeding 26001 lbs requires a class A NON COMMERCIAL if you are not hauling for profit, no commercial license is required...
The barefoot thing comes from motorycles. In most states it is illegal to drove a motorcycle barefoot. Its also usually illegal to ride a motorcycle in most states without eye protection. In a car though, its actually safer to drive barefoot for the same reason everything is easier to do without gloves on. Its legal to drive barefoot in every state for that reason. While a lot of states say you can only drive up to 10K on a standard license, that does not mean you need a CDL. A CDL is a federal commercial license that comes with lots of federal regulations. There is usually an exemption for RVs burried in the state law because its not commercial. States commonly also offer an upgraded licese for larger and heavier rigs. Here in Georgia, a standard class C license says up to 10 K trailer right on the back of it. But the law actually says no, your fine in an RV. But they also offer to other state licenses. Class F is 26K+ on the truck an a 10K or under trailer. And a class E is for a 26K+ truck and/or a 10K+ trailer. You esentually have to pass the commercial class A or B written test to get one of these licenses from the state. Some states actually just call the a non-commercial class A or B license. If you check in to the laws about riding in trailers, there is sometimes an exemption of you have a way to talk to the driver. Its fairly safe to ride in a well built 5th wheel. Not a wooden one, but a good one. What is not save is being back there with no way to tell the driver if something goes wrong. If I had another driver, I would have no issue sleeping in mine for a few hundred miles at a time. Probably do it on the couch in the back though. The problem with bridge height signs is that they are put up when the bridge is built. When they come through an repave the road, the bridge is now several inches closer. Who knows when or if they ever remeasure an replace the sign. I am a retired fireman an I leave my propane on. Its only a safety issue in tunnels and on ferries. Its a gas-pooling isssue. Gointg down the highway, even a severed hose will not be a huse safety issue. Gas on the Highway floats away. Gas in a tunnel or boat collects at the lowest point and ignites. DOT weight stations are for commercial trucks only. But I believe one of the north east states require every trailer to stop no matter what. I am thinking its New Jersey but its been a while so. But generally, no one cares about how long wide or heavy you are as long as you are legal in your home state. Even pulling doubles in a state that its illegal is usually overlooked. Even if you got pulled over using a half ton truck, that weight rating is not what the law uses. Federal DOT anyway gos by how many inches wide your tires are. An axle with two 9 inch wide tires can only have a set amount of weight on it. They look at your truck, the tire width, weigh the axles an check a chart. They dont have the time to look up the weight rating on every truck. So your half ton is the same as a single wheel one ton to them. Assuming yor truck is not doing the Carolina squat anyway. What will get you though is if you get in a wreck. If its not your fault, the other persons lawyer is going to tear you apart for being over wight an make it your fault. If it was your fault, he is going to use you being over weight to claim reckless disregard an try to take everything you own. Thats a much bigger issue than a ticket. An if you drive long enough, it will happen. There are some ticket happy cops though that will try to get you. There is a youtube video floating around where a cop ticketed a guy pulling a empty flat bed trailer behind a half ton truck. The empty trailer was something the truck could easily pull, but it was a 3 axle trailer. That means the trailer was rated for something like 14K so the cop ticked him for pulling a 14K trailer with an under rated truck. No idea how a judge treated that but there is always that one ticket happy cop in some small town an I would not bet on the town judge not being his brother.
I have a 12V fridge so I don't drive with the propane on; the only propane appliances I have are the furnace and the stove. As for illegal things, I have a homemade motorcycle trailer with no fenders. Adding them would be a pain because of how the trailer is structured, so I'm kind of waiting to see if I get hassled for it before I try. The guy who built the trailer built it in 1972 and apparently has never had any issues, so I think it's gonna be fine.
For many of the laws states will let you "follow" the law of the state the vehicle is licensed. But if you are licensed (drivers licensed) in the state they may not be as forgiving. One big exception is the vehicle lengths and widths once you get off the main highways, so if you exit the Interstate and drive on a State highway to get fuel etc they let it go, but if you drive a 45 foot long 102 inch wide trailer down a city street you may get stopped because they will often have signs prohibiting it. The Federal Highway Admin has a document showing the rules and laws for CMV (commercial motor vehicles) and even though a camper is not commercial many laws apply, this is not the same as a CDL, the CDL is the persons Commercial drivers License and the rules for it. The road rules made states that might not allow a 102 inch wide vehicle to be licensed in the state but to allow the vehicle licensed elsewhere on the state highways if they wanted federal funding. That way a vehicle that is detoured from the Interstate on to a state highway is still legal to drive the state highway even though it is wider than the state allows a vehicle to be. The changes in 1982 made some things more sensible and safer. If you want a link to the doc I can send it. If you drive your 45 foot long 102 inch wide camper on a state highway to a park you probably will be fine in Alabama, but if you start driving down rural roads you may get stopped and probably just warned if you are polite to the officer.
Hey folks just to let you know yes if you are Towing in California there are signs posted that say you must remain under 55 miles an hour but let me just let you know don't nobody do 55 mph out here keep it under 65 CHP angle mess with you unless you're fishtailing all over the road or stuff is falling off your rig
Just note in Pittsburgh we have 3 "parkways" called Parkway East, South and West. They are just names not categories of roads. They are part of the interstate system.
CA Our roads are more reinforced in the two most right hand lanes. That is why in addition to the trailer speed limit we also have the lane restrictions.
PLEASE always buckle your dog. Get a crash tested harness and a crash tested seatbelt strap ( plugs into female side of seatbelt and clips onto dogs harness). So so many dogs are killed or paralyzed when hitting the back seat or windshield when in a crash. You can have it loose enough they can get comfortable and still keep them much safer than if free-flying
In the state of Pennsylvania if you’re caught running in the fast lane pulling any kind of trailer. You’re going to get a ticket. People that tow boats and small camper trailers that are out in the fast lane. You were restricted just like a tractor trailer. Or if you’re in a rental truck pulling a car. Don’t get caught in the fast lane.
Hello, there is a weight station in Maryland that requires all vehicles weighing 10'000 pounds or more to pull in. Also, it isn't legal to pump fuel in your RV with an open flame going, such as your refrigerator running on propane. However, I did find your video very interesting.
You missed a state regarding pet restraints. In New Jersey, "pets in moving vehicles must be secured in a carrier or wear a seat belt. Failure to comply can result in a fine of $250 to $1000." There are special harnesses that attach to a buckled seat belt. Do we use it? (Sips coffee) 😉
I am form WA state and two years ago while driving my motorhome in AZ I got pulled over and received a ticket for no mud flaps on my motorhome. When I was told why I was pulled over, I laughed at the cop (maybe not the thing to do) but I argued and said we have owned that motorhome almost 30 years and have never been stopped. The next day I called the WA State patrol and asked if I had to have mud flaps on my motorhome in WA state and how it applies when driving in other states. The guy had to call me back but in 10 minutes he did and said RVS are like cars and have no requirement to have mud flaps installed, and the rules of the state you are from as far as equipment follows the state you are from. I then called AZ state patrol who gave me the ticket and informed them what WA state said. Then they told me the same thing that I should not have got the ticket and RVs fall in the passenger car rules in AZ too. The ticket got dropped but it seems even law enforcement have a hard time with the laws that pertain to RVs..
Wow! What an interesting experience. Glad it got dropped. Thanks for sharing.
The lesson, states need to stop making so many flippin rules. LOL!
I am big on certainty. If your not sure, don’t cite. Even though you got it dropped, it probably was time consuming to do what you had to do. Congrats on your justice. Say it with me like Leslie Nielsen, I Was Wrongfully Accused! 😂
Ignorance of the law is no excuse...
Unless you have a badge.
I think you were targeted for the ol' copper grift 🤷 ..not as bad as Oliver, GA where literally half the town's budget comes from enforced fines, but still..
Great reminder to know your laws folks! Knowledge is power 💪
Buying a road atlas at a truck stop would help figure out road restrictions and weight limits. There are a few sections in the front of them that explain what rules are different for each state. Truckers love them and they are updated annually.
Lol road restrictions in an rv. Cmon man
What's so funny about that?@@teamdada2194
The earbud thing has always been a law ever since Walkman's came out. If you have music blaring in you can't hear ambulances or police sirens.
It was against the law in the 60's as well. Maybe earlier. But it wasn't earbuds. It was headphones.
Not a law in the state I learned to drive in -- Utah. conversing came up a bit in high school, but it was determined to not be a violation, however it definitely isn't the smart thing to do.
Waaaaay back when I took my driver's exam, anything that would obstruct the driver's ability to hear was prohibited, including loud sound systems. Never knew anyone that got a ticket for it, but it was on the test.
Yeah, I don’t know why someone would want to drive deaf anyway
Esp hauling a 44’ in back!
In NYS I used to drive with one in but I was chancing it.
It’s against the law to cover your left ear. Cb headsets have been around since the 80’s, with the earpiece only on the right ear. As the top reply says, so you can hear horns and sirens.
Hey Frank, the RV hauler here, some of these I’ve encountered as well, but one good thing to have. If you have an RV that’s on the larger size is a GPS that allows you to put your trailer and weight specifications in this way you can avoid parkways and roads with low bridges, weight, restrictions, and length restrictions. I use the Garmin RV 890, also, gives you active campgrounds in parking areas for your RV
Thanks for the tip. :) It's on our list
Is there an app for that?
YES! That couple they got stranded in the mountains in their motor home, (sadly he passed away) also had a toad. They couldn’t even get to help in their car. Their dilemma could have and would have been avoided if they’d used even a truckers GPS. And please, before heading out, cross reference your route against other GPS apps. Then take screen shots of all the steps in case you lose cell service, or your device becomes incapacitated.
@valerief166 google maps lets you download map data for offline use. So long as you have gps signal, you dont need data to load the map, so you can use it offline
So many bridges and overpasses are grandfathered in to not have to meet the "new" 13' 6" height standard. The Can Opener Bridge (which has its own youtube channel) was raised from 11' 8" to 12' 4' and yet still gets hit about once a month.
The parkway law is because there are a lot of 11' Bridges mixed in with some newer 13'6" bridges
Well being a N. Y. resident for 68 years I know the no rvs on parkways. Well I have been on the parkway from Niagara Falls to Hamlin beach in our car, once, and I will never drive on them again! You could get a smoother ride on an old railroad bed.
I worked for oprhp office of parks,recreation and historic preservation for 38 years and my father did also for 43 in the Allegany region. Well rumor 😂😂has it that Parks believe the roads belong to DOT and DOT believes they belong to Parks so in typical New York fashion neither one does anything to fix at least this portion of the parkway. Some nice little State Parks along that Parkway but use other routes in this area!! 104 and 18 are a couple we pull our 35 fifth wheel and standard cab 8’ dually totaling 48’ oh those crazy rules.
Nice informative video and you better pour yourself another cup of coffee you lawbreaker you 🤣🤣🥴
@@joemilbrandt9320 oh its more then that, remember its also no 18 wheelers and no... buses on parkways. now this is a point of contention as some claim it was for racist reasons or for keeping the poor from visiting wealthy beaches. But in reality, it was simply a cost/space issue as it took much more space, materials and such to keep a standard grade so a bridge could be raised to 15' rather then 10.
What’s a parkway?
@@Mithrandyr. its whats known as a Controlled-access highway. They were a set or series of car only highways built between certain cities and certain "special" locations.
They were designed for cars only, no trucks or buses, partly to keep the cost down. by limiting the size of the vehicles they could make the bridges lower, meaning they cost much much less and were quicker to build.
In doing so these parkways were build faster and cheaper.
As George Carlin asked, “why do we drive on a parkway, and park on a driveway?”
On the topic of GPS, it can be useful to use Truck/RV applications instead of ordinary/regular ones. These take into consideration height/width/weight restrictions that others do not. I have seen a couple of RV'ers in very tight situations where the Truck/RV GPS apps would have routed them around. Great topic and yes, I may have "witnessed" one or a few of the situations you mentioned.
The 'no headphones/earbuds" laws are so that you can hear emergency vehicles approaching...and CO is one of the states that allows triple towing (but I don't think I'd want to try it).
How do deaf people hear emergency vehicles?
Lights mostly and some ems vehicles have things called "thumpers" which emit a very low tone that as they approach you can feel the vibrations from. Its an outside speaker/siren under the ambulance so it's not loud inside. We had one in our Flight For Life ambulance in CO.
@@NoOrdinaryPath True, we heard just such a thing in Denver the other day...but I think most of those 'no headphone' laws predate that technology.
@Tommy Ealey We had to go to CA for a horse show, with wagons. The event was 40 miles from the boarder. We timed our travel so one could drop the trailer at the AG station, settle trailer/horses, as the second person arrived, the first went back for a wagon, then the second.
An 80 mile trip beats a 450 mile round trip!
@Tommy Ealey You are wrong. Legally blind doesn't necessarily mean pure darkness. Many who are legally blind can see lights or have diverse levels of low sight. The determining factor is that glasses/contacts can't correct their sight. I am sure that those who are deaf have the same spectrum. There are several channels like Molly Burk's channel who is a blind CZcamsr who educates about blindness, and she constantly talks about how it affects people differently and exposes the stereotypes that are not true either. There are also several channels that are deaf CZcamsrs who educate about living life deaf. While on the subject you can also find a number of Channels of autistic adults who do education also about being autistic. The same goes for ADHD.
Having been a Class A CDL driver I knew most of them. The 13' 6" rule is for over head bridge clearance. But in NY, Pa, De and the NE you will find overheads with less. Always check a trucking atlas (do not depend on a GPS or mapping program)to find lower clearance or call the Local fire Dept as they will know all of them. Invest in Handfree CB radios (they usually have a stick mike headset) these work great when guiding a trailer up.
Like, lots with less clearance
In NYS
As an aside, the interstate highway system was designed to allow the transportation of nuclear missiles.
Those low bridges are racist.
I never took that much notice until we upgraded to a 13'4" fifth wheel, there are many overpasses here in PA that are not even marked with the clearance height. The ones that are marked are marked so close to the overpass, if you were traveling at speed, you could never get stopped in time. You would think there would be a warning well ahead of a low clearance overpass.
We converted our fridge to work on electric only so that we wouldn’t need to keep propane on.
The triple tow thing, depending on where you are, also depends on what you are towing. For example, a fifth wheel is a semi trailer, not a trailer. Therefore, towing a trailer behind your fifth wheel is not the same as towing two 'bumper pull' trailers.
A bumper pull is a semi trailer also, it's not how its hooked up it's how the weight is carried, partially on the tow vehicle. A full trailer none of the weight is carried by the tow vehicle.
In our first RV experience in 1977, my wife, our three-year old daughter and myself were towing our trailer from Bremerton, WA to Keesler Air Fore Base in Biloxi, MS where I was attending a school for the military. My wife didn’t much care for the early morning starts, so, since it was legal then to ride in the trailer, we decided she and our little girl would sleep in while I drove in the morning. We did not have any walkie talkies then, so communication between the trailer and the truck was an issue. The trailer did have louvered windows and I told them to just waggle the windows in and out whenever they wanted me to stop. Since the windows were clearly visible in the rear view mirror, this seemed a good idea. I got the rig on the road bright and early, leaving the gals snoozing comfortably. I watched, or thought I did, for the waggling windows and never saw them going. After a couple hours, I decided to stop just to check on them. Apparently, the windows had been semaphoring to beat the band for quite some time. I honestly had not seen them going at all. The sleeping in had not lasted for much more than fifteen or twenty minutes before they had had enough ‘relaxing’. They reported the ride in the trailer was pretty horrible. Noisy, bumpier than was fun and very unstable. Scary was one word they used. There was no problem getting up early to get going after that, even though I told them sleeping in was still an option.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 great story.
Oh my! I bet that was quite a ride! Thanks for sharing 🤣
@Tommy Ealey It was an old one. 1972 Prowler.
@@douglasolsen1208 Guess you never saw the 1960 (or so) Lucy & Desi movie:
“THE LONG LONG TRAILER “
I saw it as a kid.
My favorite movie of all time!!
When I proposed to my family that we get our 36’ TT & van (we had a 23’ class C that had gotten too small with now our 4 kids)…..
We had Movie night with that movie. Then popped the idea of the TT that I found to buy💁🏻♀️
My kids and hubby had a blast with the movie and never once asked to stay in the TT on travel days🤗
Thanks for your service… even though it was with the ‘Chair Force’😏
Blessings to you and your’s!
Signed:
NAVY wife & NAVY brat 👍
@@arbonneladyTN I didn’t see that movie before we made that trip. When we did see that film, sometime after that adventure, we laughed over that part and the part about her collecting rocks to commemorate the trip. My wife loves to collect rocks. Still does. I don’t find them in the RV, but do find them in various nooks and crannies in the truck.
Absolutely true about the parkways. Parkways are for cars. No trailers or commercial vehicles. You will sometimes see them on there, but it is supposed to only be for cars. The CA 55 MPH thing, those signs are everywhere.
I don't know about The USA, but in Australia, many of the things you pointed out are already illegal but I won't go into them.
What I did want to say was that as long as your vehicle and trailer comply with the regulations in the state in which it is registered, you are free to go to any other state. I suspect the same would apply in USA. So you may be lucky enough to have registered your vehicle and rig combo in a lenient state and for that you should consider yourself very lucky. It is probably why you have not got any tickets thus far. Alls well that ends well.
There’s an app called “State Lines” which contains most of these laws. Many of the laws are determined by the state in which you live and then your state laws apply to the other states in which you drive.
Keeping up with laws while traveling from state to state can be a major pain. Especially if they decide to enforce their laws. And there is the grey area RV conversions often fall into, where various laws can seem to be conflicting. What it was, verses how it's been changed and now used, creates issues in how it's classified, knowing which laws apply to it. And this to can vary from state to state.
My RV is a 34 ft Limo Bus (shuttle) that I converted. Have not had many encounters with law enforcement but found the best way to deal with them is to stay calm, be patient, while they sort out what they're dealing with. Most end up full of curiosity, with many questions about my rig. One allowed me to make a quick roadside ride-height adjustment, to what he felt was safe and legal (air-ride suspension system, easy change, no problem). None have given me an actual ticket.
When looking at buses and trucks for my RV project I settled on the bus in part to avoid issues truck conversions may encounter when passing Weight Stations. Don't want to look like a Drive By and have them chase me down for a conversation. That would be a waste of everyone's time. And definitely don't want to be stopping at all Weight Stations. That would be wasting time and money.
Not modifying the outside appearance of the bus (still looks like a bus) has allowed me to drive through areas where RV restrictions are enforced, overnight stealth camp everywhere that I've parked it. I see it as lightly bending, not actually breaking local laws. And we all peacefully coexist.
They love to hammer out of staters
In California, we had a 37 ft. Colorado fifth wheel that weighted more than 15k lbs. I needed to get a "restricted 41" endorsement. I did NOT need to get a Commercial Driver's License.
In western Canada it's called a Heavy Weight Trailer endorsment for any trailer utility or recreation that has a gtoss vehicle weight rating over 10141 lbs.
I love some of these laws that "force" you to do something that actually compromises safety.
I must NOT have been paying attention. Which of these laws forces you to do something that compromises safety ?
@@dallasarnold8615 for one the 55mph max speed limit, when most of the highways are 70mph+ being that slow compared to the rest of traffic is unsafe.
@@Zamugustar no it’s not lol
Ur the driver I avoid when driving 🤦♀️
If u feel unsafe, get in the right lane and all the Mario Andrettis can go around u
I would love to know other unsafe laws she mentioned
@@Zamugustar I just stay in the right lane, with all the semis that are governed to 60 mph.
We’ve been driving with propane on in our campers for 40 years. We also like a cold refrigerator
@Nasty Habitz don’t open door for the 4-5 hrs u drive
Just like during a power outage at home
Todd, from NRVTA recently gave a video explaining why it is dangerous to travel with your propane refrigerator on. Because of the wind while traveling it boils down to The burn chamber not applying heat evenly and causing the metal to expand at different rates in the little burn chamber which eventually may cause it to leak. If it does leak, then hydrogen gas which is part of the process is released and with the open flame right there it could catch fire. He is about the most knowledgeable guy on CZcams about RVing and becoming a RV technician. something to think about, although I do understand having a cold refrigerator is nice. Kerry
This is why u use an inverter or 12v or a generator….
Unless you’re traveling for days, the fridge will stay cold a long time. Especially if full of cold items.
I recently found myself feeling compelled to tow my trailer faster than I'm comfortable with to avoid indirectly causing accidents. I normally prefer a 62 MPH max when towing. But I was just driving on a two-lane highway in Nevada with a 70 mph speed limit, with no passing lanes or slow-vehicle pullouts. I was obviously delaying traffic and being passed frequently. On two occasions truckers passed me in unsafe locations, on blind curves in a no-passing zone, with oncoming traffic way too close for comfort. After the second occurrence, when the oncoming car hit the shoulder to avoid a head-on, I decided to increase my speed to 70 mph just to reduce the unsafe passing. Even at 70 mph I was still being passed frequently by drivers going 75-80. I'm going to try to minimize driving on this type of highway in the future.
U Were Not Causing or Almost Causing Accidents
The fool drivers being very unsafe were
I do the exact opposite. I drive 55-60 and if I'm on a 2 lane highway, I get my right tires on the white line and take my foot off the pedal. That gives the people behind me more room and gets them around me faster.
@@markiefufu Good idea, I'm doing that from now on.
Break the law and put yourself in danger so the terrorists can win, good idea!
In NV the length law is 70' and you can tow a second trailer behind a TT. We did it for years with our 25' travel trailer and trailer for our two ATV's. I was a truck driver and had a Reno to SLC run. I stopped at the Wendover port of entry (to Utah) and asked the scale master if I could tow doubles like in NV. He asked how long I was. I wasn't sure but he said however long I was, just stop in and they would sell me an "overlength" permit - by the day, week, month, or year. That was that. It was about the money.
True, you are not required to stop at weigh stations. Just be aware, if you are in an accident, insurance companies will deny your claim/coverage if they can determine you were overweight/length for the state you are currently in. More money in their pocket.
All those laws are for safety (and stop people/families from injury/death) and/or to protect the roads/bridges from damage. I have seen semi towing a heavy load (transformer) sink into the asphalt of the a road in triple digit temps. lol
Great subject! This was a very interesting video.
Please stop spreading these fallacies, that are just plain not true. Let me guess, you know a guy, who had a friend who got denied a claim because he was 5 pounds overweight. Put it this way, if this was true, then every guy who got into an accident and was found to be legally over the limit for alcohol, every claim would be denied. But guess what, they still pay your claim. They may raise your rates astronomically, or drop you all together, but they will settle your claim.
I have seen a 45’ 5th wheel with a 25’ boat in tow behind it making the total length close to 100’ and they were traveling at 70mph. I have never seen somebody towing a RV at 55mph however, in an accident an insurance company may not cover the RV because it was traveling over 55mph if is illegal in that state. I have seen insurance cancelled after an accident because a motorhome operator did not have a supplemental brake system in the towed vehicle.
if a insurance co can say NO. then you had better be doing it there way.
NO over weight,
NO over length,
NO propane on,
NO double towing,
NO anything they say.
I'm just gonna say...Yep, we've done several of these things. As far as the propane.... In our class A we used to. Our first RV, it seemed the thing to do with a 2 way fridge. Did it for a few years actually. Then one day at a gas station refueling on a trip it hit me, "I'm at a gas pump with a freaking open flame not 10 feet from the gasoline fill door. After that I'd always make sure I turn it off before we get to a station, then turn it back on away from the pumps. Most of the time now we have it cold before we leave, then just fill the fridge & freezer with those frozen and refreeze-able gel packages you get from a sporting goods department until we stop for the night or get to where we are going.
Most toyhaulers are 102” wide which is max width for interstate travel but not legal on some roads off the interstate. Most commercial trailers are 102” so I never had issue with it.
There are a few states that require a special driver license endorsement to tow/drive an RV over a certain weight class. NO state requires a CDL (commercial driver license) for a private RV rig! This is misunderstood about everywhere. In Texas if you drive a motorhome or truck/trailer with a gvwr over 26,000 you must get a "Class B non cdl" endorsement. If you are pulling a trailer 10,000 lbs and over and the total gvwr of the trailer and tow rig is over 26,000 lbs, you must get a "Class A non cdl" endorsement on your driver license. Many fifth wheel rigs will need a class A. I have a Class B to cover my motorhome and since I never tow 10,000 I don't need a Class A. All I need to do is take a driver test with a 10,000 or higher trailer to get that upgrade to class A, as the written part of the test is the same for both class A and B. Few even know about this law, even in states where it is law. This class is for Farm equipment and RV use mainly.
They will regret not paying attention if they are ever in an accident and they don't have the right license because insurance is likely to say, "we ain't paying you were not driving legally!"
@@RiverWoods111 Exactly! Lawyers would call out negligence. I hope what I wrote clears up the story that you must have a CDL ( commercial drivers license) to operate a 26,000 pound or larger RV rig in some states. I think all states should have this requirement. Not that hard to pass the written part at all. It IS based on CDL tests, but only 20 questions. Some of which you will find quite important to understand should you break down on the road or have little driving experience. You do have to take the driving test....and should you fail that it makes everyone else safe! Cost to take this test was about $20 in Texas.
Let me add this about the 26,000 pound weight. This is the GVWR of your rig! And the GVWR of the towed vehicle!
NOT the weight of the vehicle like it would be at a scale!!! Every vehicle has a GVWR label on it. Say your motorhome has a scaled weight of 25, 600 pounds and you have a certificate from the scale to show that to an officer. Doesn't matter, the GVWR label of the vehicle is what the law goes by. That motorhome, unless already overloaded, would likely have a GVWR of well over 26,000 pounds! Next, if your F 350 has a GVWR of 12,000 pounds ( I have no idea how close that figure is....) and you are towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 13,000 pounds....you are legal with a Class C license. But if that fifth wheel has a GVWR of 14,001 pounds ( many are well over that..) you must have a Class A non CDL license to legally tow it. Empty weight vs loaded weight has no bearing, only the manufacturers certificate of GVWR for the chassis.
This! I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it. I would just add that you only have to meet the license requirement for your home state, even if that is a lessor license than the state you are traveling in. For instance in Idaho there is no special license for any size RV so an Idaho resident doesn't need the class A non commercial license even if driving in Texas where it is required.
@@projectmayhembronco5457 Correct.
Most length restrictions are called Bridge laws and it's usually measured axle from Center of axle to center of axle and they're mostly for commercial Motor Vehicles
Max width is 8.5 FT not 8 Ft. You do not need a CDL for a RV, you may need a Class A or B. CDLs are for commercial use, hence "Commercial Drivers License". Max length varies from state to state but I found generally 65FT combined. Triples are when you have THREE (3) trailers behind the tow vehicle, some states you can some you can't. If you have TWO (2) trailers behind the tow vehicle that is called doubles, legal in every state. You can only ride in a 5th wheel, you can't in a travel trailer in most states, the rest you can't ride in either.
not all states will issue a class A non commercial permit.
If I had a drink of coffee for every 'law' that was broken, I'd be high on caffeine all day.
Haha! 🙌☕
There was once a law in California about no shoes ( like 60 years ago). The reason was the pedals had rubber covers that wore out, the metal pedal was slippery , bare feet just slipped right off, very unsafe. I know because I drove such a vehicle.
Where is the freedom?
Never bothered me in a standard.
The reason is because your feet fall asleep while driving without shoes and you cannot push the brakes.
I used to try driving barefoot across country and this happened a lot, I don’t do it anymore.
Pretty sure it was in NY too
My aunt got a ticket 😁
I live in Alabama and my trailer is 102” wide. No problems registering.
If you were wearing headphones to block out your rowdy children you’re also blocking out emergency vehicles and delaying them to get to somebody who needs help.
Right, how about disciplining your children.
Agree
@@johnp139 kids are still loud when bored
Mine get in the car and do not stop talking
I’ve learned to tune them out
My friends’ kids quiet down in car lol I’m like, how did u get kids like that??
We have our propane on so the fridge will stay cold also. Need a cold beverage ready when we stop for the night
Most states have reciprocity statutes where you may get a warning (or ticket if officer thinks you won't challenge it) but, since you're legal in your state of residence, you're covered in states it's illegal.
The rainy travel day on “gravel”…mostly muddy road we had to take to our current campground in Michigan showed us how bad we need mud flaps!!
We have our rear camera screen mounted on top of the dash board with the cellphone/GPS mounted to an air vent directly below it - it’s a heck of a lot easier to monitor quickly without taking your eyes off of the road. We tried lowering it, and neither of us felt safe driving with it that low.
In 2020, my trip was meant to include a 7 night stay at the Gateway National Park in Brooklyn (NYC). In the planning stage, I noticed that the Belt Parkway would allow me to exit onto Flatbush Avenue almost within sight of Floyd Bennet Field (my destination). Imagine my chagrin when I learned about the New York Parkway rule. Instead, I had to plan to drive about 4 miles on Flatbush Avenue (in an RV with a Jeep as a dinghy tow) which did not appeal to me. I ultimately never made the trip because it was, well. 2020. Ans due to the rapidly rotting social fabric as shown in the news recently, I will allow NYC to pass me by. 💥
I avoid Maryland and every coastal state north of it for numerous reasons. But the rotting social fabric certainly is one of the top reasons.
@@AlaskaErik MDs so tiny tho
For the 3 min ur in it, it’s fine lol
In Alabama, Size limitations: Height, 13'6"; Width, 8'6"; trailer length, 40'; motorhome/RV length, 45'; combined length 65'. Triple towing is not allowed. Required Equipment: Safety chain, breakaway switch required on trailers over 3,000 pounds.
I recently saw a pickup truck on the highway in CA that was pulling a travel trailer with a ball hitch and lost it. His bumper got bent a bit but the trailer was literally a pile of rubble; it looked like it had been hit by a tornado and the owners were picking through it. A person would have to be crazy to ride in one of those.
I know in ok you can ride in a 5th wheel or gooseneck hitched only, bumper hitch is illegal.
I did once not by choice and the ride sucks lol
Absolutely insane
Anyone who’s ever seen a smashed camper would know not to!
Much of the laws you mention would only apply if your rv was used for commercial purposes. If used for private purposes you are the same legally as a standard automobile. In every state.
I've driven with propane ( fridge) on for 20 years... no issues.. I turn it off for fueling and tunnels. Some laws are blanket laws based on 18 Wheelers. (mud Flaps) Interior light.... I drive with it off because it takes some of your vision away at night. its like trying to look out your house window at night with all the lights on in the inside.... you cant.
Another thing (already posted one comment), if you're traveling with a firearm(s) in your RV, that's a whole 'nother sticky wicket. Every state has different laws regarding firearms, and some municipalities have their own restrictions.
In CA you can only ride in 5th wheel, not TT, but need to have a way to communicate with driver
Great video! This is some good content and discussion. Thanks for posting!
Regarding driving with you propane on, I'm not sure of the legality of it (I think it is illegal in some states). However, the safety instructions for my trailer states in several sections that the propane tanks must be shut off while the trailer is in motion. I certainly think it's primarily a matter of safety, especially in the event of a crash. Might be worth checking with you manufacturer and/or the states you're driving through just to be sure.
Personally, I would rather deal with icing the important foods versus having a gas leak and fire while towing though.
Looking at it logically, there would be very little "safety" reason to do it. If you are going to be in a wreck, you would hope you have propane valves turned off because there are multiple reasons for a propane leak, kinked lines, etc. However, I did just watch a youtube video of a trailer tech who swore up and down that you must turn your fridge off for traveling because they "require to be level for operation" for reliability. He claims to have had to fix many refrigerators because they broke while traveling. That said, I think there is a balance on food safety (cold foods preserved correctly) vs. other reasons. Something I'll be researching out more for my own peace of mind and knowledge
When you are talking about weight needing different type of license that is only for commercial use. Rv’s do not fall under that registration, UNLESS you are using it for business purposes. Many contractors have to have a class A because they have a one ton P/U with and over 10,000 GVW TRAILER. Also it is about the rating of the parts not actual scaled weight.
Driving barefoot isnt advised because it is easier for your foot to slip. Which on the brakes, especially in an emergency, that would be bad. Also your toes are contained in an accident if wearing shoes, so maybe they can be reattached.
Might want to check out which states it's illegal for vehicles with hitches to leave the receiver attached when not being used. West Virginia is one.
§17C-15-47a. Vehicles to remove hitch tongues and related accessories when not in use.
Any vehicle, equipped with a hitch, designed to accommodate hitching tongues with mounted hitching balls or other hitching tongues connected to luggage carriers, bicycle carriers or the like, shall not be driven or left stationary with a hitching tongue left inserted into the hitch or otherwise attached, when the hitching ball is not in use for towing or the particular device or implement for which the hitching tongue is designed to hold is not in use for the particular purpose for which it is intended.
4:23 The weight issues specific to recreational use of RVs are mainly an issue of whether you need a non-commercial class A or B (some states issue these, and therefore would require them of drivers licensed in those states). Other states do not issue non-commercial class A or B licenses. If the state issues a non-commercial class A then in order to tow a trailer above 10,000 pounds you need that class A. In order to operate a straight truck above 26,000 pounds you would need a class B. In general, if you are not using the vehicle "in commerce" and if it is registered as a recreational vehicle/ motor home, then you likely do not need a CDL. If you are driving a dually pickup "in commerce" and towing an RV then you may not need a CDL but you do need a DOT number on the side of the vehicle. If you are towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds "in commerce" with the dually then you likely need a class A CDL. That is the exact scenario of a classmate in CDL school. He was towing fifth wheel RVs to deliver them to purchasers. If he was just driving around for fun he would not have needed the CDL, and the purchasers did not need a CDL to tow it, but since he was being paid to deliver the trailer he needed it.
On Ca highways when towing you must stay to the right (2 lanes in each direction) except when passing another motorist. If 3 lanes, you cannot use the “fast”. If 4 lanes use right two lanes &!3rd lane only for passing, etc.
It's not "triple towing", it's called "towing/pulling doubles". You are only towing two trailers, not three. And it is legal in a lot of states. Follows the same rules as commercial semi-trucks.
Wrong on the CDL license.. C stands for commercial. If the camper you pull is titled to you and is not being used for commercial use, CDL does not apply. Some states have a special license like a CDL but not commercial. It only applies to the state you reside in, not the ones you travel through. …
The dog restraint surprised me. I live in Maine been here all my life. Never knew about a dog restraint in a vehicle. OMG don’t look at other cars and trucks, usually I see a mini wannabe dog sitting in the drivers lap with its head out the window. 🤣
It may be a law but there are plenty of people that 1) don't know or 2) don't bother. I doubt its enforced much. 😉
I don't know if it's required or not in my state, but my brother bought one that clips into the seatbelt buckle in his jeep (2-door, back seat removed) for when we take the dog on the trail, and it came in REALLY handy when the jeep tipped over on it's back to keep the harnessed dog in the seat (Sort-of. He was standing on the seat-back with his nose to the seat bottom)
The issue folks seem to be ignoring is the fact that in an accident those unrestrained animals (a) tend to suffer more serious injuries and (b) become lethal projectiles aimed at the other occupants of the vehicle.
@@NoOrdinaryPath Unless the animal is doing something unsafe like moving around, interfering with the driver's vision or hanging out a window it is most often enforced when they pull you over for a different infraction or in the aftermath of an accident.
When people ask for advice for whatever reason. I tell them don't drive in sandals take them off.
I've had it happen personally on a mostly empty highway. I tapped the brake and my brakes locked up even after I took my foot away. My flip flop got wedged on the brake and I fishtailed from 60mph to 20mph before I could figure out what and fix the situation
Some of the things you talked about are for commercial vehicles for hire. The mud flaps for instance…in California a pickup truck is registered as commercial in order to carry anything in the back. Also by weight. Duels have to have mudflaps. Some states the weight of the trailer or motor home having air brakes requires a commercial rated licensed. The rules apply to what state you are licensed in.
Propane on...May not be illegal but here is a tip that I use. Keep a couple of soft ice packs in your freezer. When you travel move them to you fridge to keep things cold and then put them back into the freezer once your back on power. Also, when not travelling I keep them in my home freezer. They are ready to put in the fridge and freezer when you head off on your next trip. That way you can pre-fill you fridge/freezer with your food instaed like a cooler. Aslo, once your plugged in at your site the ice packs bring you fridge to temp faster and then move them to the freezer once at temp.
Sounds like a good plan
Just for technical accuracy, the weight requirement for a CDL is set by federal law at 26,001 lbs or more. RVs are also exempt from CDL requirements by federal law. But many states will require a higher class of license even if they do not require a CDL. Texas, where I live will require you to have a class A license if the combination weight is over the 26000 pound limit, even if you do not have a CDL.
We drive with ours on and my husband said it's not unsafe. He is a certified RV tech and they are made for this and it is safe!
If you turn off the propane, the food in the refer will spoil if you are travelling in warm weather. Been there, done that.
@@michaelburgus200 I believe you need to look into this more, there are certification bodies and just as nurses and mechanics need certification they have standards they have to obtain before they can get certification such as tests and they have to have so many hours of work and schooling and so much time working with RV's and the proof of such work before they can get their master certification. The same applies for mechanics and plumbing. It is similar and it is a certification body !
@Nasty Habitz I would never consider it safe.
There may not be a law restricting the height of your rv but there are many overpasses that do.
That is why you want to always use either a RV GPS system or Trucker's GPS system that allows you to put in your height, weight, and length. These GPS systems will keep you off roads you don't belong on.
There’s some tunnels you can’t go through at all even if the propane is turned off keep that in mind, I’ve never ever turned my propane off and yes on a ferry it has to be turned off
My son is a (leo) we were checking on pulling doubles he called 3 OHP officer's and they were clueless on what the law is , after digging at the Pd computer we found out in okla you can pull doubles with a 5th wheel only no gooseneck no bumper pull and you can't exceed 65' . But it's funny the Leo's dont know this so you can do what you want for know.
Fun video! We are tent campers but it’s interesting to see all the different laws.
There are so many laws on the books. federal, state, and local that everyone of us young, middle, old, male, female, breaks at least one law practically every day. No way not to really. Sometimes in order to comply with one law, you are breaking another. That isn't to say you should set out to do so, but it is inevitable that despite our best intentions, and hopes, we will break some even pulling an RV from time to time. Mostly unknowingly.
Semi driver here... Minimum maximum size limits (!) are set by the Federal STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act) law, which applies to Interstate highways, and many (not all!) US highways. States can allow bigger within their state (like NY allowing dual 53' trailers on the turnpike). This is 13'6 high and 102" (8'6) wide. I don't believe that there's an overall length limit, but 53' single trailers or dual 26' trailers are allowed under the STAA. That said, the roads into the areas you may want to take your RV may not be STAA routes, and are subject to the laws of that state. (The STAA originally had a max trailer length of 40', so that may be where that number came from.)
As for weights, your class C license allows you to drive a vehicle under 26,000 pounds, with a towed weight under 10,000. Technically, if your toy hauler has a GVWR over 10,000#, you need a class A license to pull it. Several states have noncommercial class A licenses, which are said to be much easier than a CDL-A, not that the CDL-A test is all that hard.
I am new to RVing, and in the organizing/testing phase of creating an rv based business that would partly consist of replacing the rv chassis with salvaged commercial vehicle chassis for increased GVWR. This has involved an insane amount of vehicle code research into rv vs. commercial vehicle codes. The trailer weight and several others mentioned, I am 99.9% sure apply to commercial vehicles only. A commercial truck with over 26k lb GVWR requires a cdl. An RV doesn't require cdl for any weight.
Technically you are correct - however, allot of states require a "Non Commercial CDL" if the combined weight of your truck and trailer exceed 26k.
The propane in a tunnel rule is for commercial tanker vehicles. Any tank 40lbs or under are not subject to the federal hazardous and dangerous conditions rules and are not required to be turn off to go through tunnels.
*According to the PA DOT inspector that I consulted when we made out trip down the coast.
The reason why some places have the towing speed limit of 55 mph is to reduce the chances of a tire blow out and some trailer tires are not rated for speeds above 55 mph and because of the terrain of the roads
The part of CA I live in has a lot of grades of 6% or more. I feel like I'm doing pretty good if I manage to hold 55 mph up those. ;)
I've been ticketed for driving barefoot in Colorado
Had to laugh at the barefoot law. I have always driven barefoot. I just hate wearing shoes. My Dad always fussed at me, telling me it's illegal to do so. One day, he was in the car with me, fussing as usual, when I saw a cop on the side of the road. I pulled over and asked her if it was illegal. She said "How would we be able to police it? We can't see your feet!" I laughed, proving my Dad wrong. He never fussed about my bare feet again! :)
It was illegal in Illinois in the 70s and early 80s. Even in the driver handbook. I don't know when it changed, if it did.
@@johnwrigley1624 From what I understand, there is no current state or federal law against driving barefoot, because there would be no way to enforce it, but in some states like Illinois, Nevada, California and a few others, they can cite you for reckless driving if you were in an accident and they can contribute your lack of footwear to the accident. For example, if you kicked your shoes off and a shoe slid under the brake pedal and you couldn't stop. But they can't cite you if they see you get out of your car barefooted. They can't cite you at a DUI check point if they happen to look in your car and see your feet. Could you imagine going to court for that one??? 😂
A lot of people don’t even pay attention to the white signs at bridges. Maximum Bridgeway based on the distance between your axles, If you’re going to run any kind of RV with a trailer you should really be following the Rand Denali, truckers GPS. And get yourself an up-to-date road atlas.
How many laws are broken everyday ... and the people don't even know it .... Wow ... Thanks for sharing and caring ....
Not illegal to use radios to talk in Canada, it’s a safety thing. No hand held devices with a screen…. We use radios to talk all day as truck drivers. It’s mandatory on many roads to be on the radio.
I am told that in Oregon, you can use the weigh scales when the station is closed. That is, you can weigh your vehicle yourself, free. Why isn't that true in all states, I wonder?
I've done so in several states, WHILE CLOSED! (No harm no foul) I think they leave the systems on for this purpose.
I thought that those 96 in wide and length laws had all been changed to the 102 wide and 53 foot length. RV's are restricted to real near 400 sq ft of inside space. Mud flaps on your truck and trailer go by what your home state laws are. Arkansas no mud flaps, Texas mudflaps on trucks. Enjoyed this video very much.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes laws change frequently. This was more for fun and some things like width may be outdated. But then again each state is different so it's hard to tell unless you look up laws on every state through each official website.
The federal law changed to allow 102 inch wide and 53 foot trailers in 1982 for Commercial Vehicles on the National Network which is the Interstate and most state highways. States can still have requirements of smaller vehicles on roads not part of the National Network. Also HUD no longer has the 400 sq foot rule, not sure what they made it but it is bigger now.
Before I retired I was a DOT inspector. In Wisconsin if you use your RV in connection with a commercial activities you must have a CDL of the proper class you are operating.
So is creating CZcams videos with your RV considered a commercial activity?
My husband and I own a 19.6foot full sized caravan 22 foot with the tow frame. We MUST have electric brakes controlled from inside the car for any tow over 1 tonne, we aren't supposed to wear thongs (flip flops if your American) while driving, bare feet are OK, hands free gps and phones all across Australia, dogs are supposed to be harnessed, interior lights at night within vehicles is discouraged, not sure if it's a law. Depending on your car, if your towing a large caravan you should have a weight distribution system or airbags. That one is vehicle dependant. There are truck stops and rest stops. It depends on signage and the state for overnight stopping, some you can, some you can't. A lot of servos will let you stay overnight in truck parking bays. And yes, there are weight restrictions depending on your tow vehicle and your van. You can be taken off the road if your load is over weight. Mud flaps are a new one to me, but we have them on our Patrol anyway. The kind of licence you have dictates the size of vehicle you can tow and drive. I'm sure there are laws state by state but for the most part caravan drivers are limited to 100 k/ph.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Maryland pulls trailers over all the time. I see RVs pulled over a few times a month during the summer. It’s usually because the rear is slammed from tongue weight.
Interesting. We stayed in Maryland for three months at the very start of our adventures. I never noticed anything but I also wasn't looking. :)
Good to know! Thanks!
Turtle, my little Class B, is only 8' 1" high, which is great. I have yet to find a drive through that we don't fit under.
Propane - that is why I went with 12 volt refrig, with 2 100 amp lithium solar powered batteries.
As a CDL-A driver, just to clarify the one in California: You're not allowed in the left-most lane so if you're on the interstate and there's you know three or four lanes heading your direction. You can't. You can be in all of them except for the left-most, similar signs will be in other states. It'll be clearly marked in other states and on specific routes usually involving very steep, slow climbs.
Interesting! Every state is a little different.
Height restrictions are in place not as an arbitrary law but because of bridge heights. There still are a few bridges on interstate routes in NC that are under 13'6" but they are working hard to get them replaced.
Weigh stations are for commercial vehicles. Even the smaller utility and delivery trucks are required to stop at those in some conditions.
Sizes of rigs is more focused on living in that state and buying rigs to register in those states. AND most rigs are built to basic standards to comply with the smallest size allowances of any particular state. YES, there are some random exceptions.
Putting our dogs in harnesses and securing them was the best thing we could do for them. They are safe and cannot get out. When we stop it is easy to take one out at a time. Much safer for them. In an accident they can't run away. Never going back to letting them run amuck.
Agree. The chances of a loose dog in the car seeing a cat or other animal it wants to chase, the minute you open the door - is a recipe for danger
If you go to Wyoming and are pulling a camper or driving a motorhome you are required to pull into all weigh stations. Don't know why but they will come after you. You don't need a special license but you have to scale. They will ticket you if your tow vehicle does not cover the weight of the combination vehicle. By the way 96 inches is 8 feet.
??? We have been through Wyoming. You mean all those RVs are breaking the law? Seems off.
@@NoOrdinaryPath check the law. You seem smart enough to know how to do that. The scales on I 80 stop all rvs.
Horse puckey!!!!!!! I lived in Wyoming for a number of years. Pulled my 41’ 18000 lb 5er thru there multiple times…….no one ever paid any attention to me.
@@dondavidson3440 yeah when did you leave? I rolled through Wyoming just this past spring in May and they had 6 rvs pulled in the weigh station with no DOT numbers on them and car plates on the rvs and vehicles. So tell me why they were pulled in. It wasn't because they were being transported by a commercial movers. Looks like they changed the law since you left.
In other words, you “saw” the RVs at the scale and assumed that they are required to stop at all times. ANY LEO in ANY state “can” and “may” pull over a RV and require them to preoceed to the nearest scale. Also the scale “can” and “may” pujt up signage that requires RVs to stop. However, “generally” they are busy enough with comercial rigs that they don’t want to mess with RVs. Was through Big Wonderful Wyoming last year with my 3500 RAM dually pulling my 18,000 pound Raptor and rolled past all scales no problem.
the COMBINED "maximum gross vehicle weight rating" exceeding 26001 lbs requires a class A NON COMMERCIAL if you are not hauling for profit, no commercial license is required...
The barefoot thing comes from motorycles. In most states it is illegal to drove a motorcycle barefoot. Its also usually illegal to ride a motorcycle in most states without eye protection. In a car though, its actually safer to drive barefoot for the same reason everything is easier to do without gloves on. Its legal to drive barefoot in every state for that reason.
While a lot of states say you can only drive up to 10K on a standard license, that does not mean you need a CDL. A CDL is a federal commercial license that comes with lots of federal regulations. There is usually an exemption for RVs burried in the state law because its not commercial. States commonly also offer an upgraded licese for larger and heavier rigs. Here in Georgia, a standard class C license says up to 10 K trailer right on the back of it. But the law actually says no, your fine in an RV. But they also offer to other state licenses. Class F is 26K+ on the truck an a 10K or under trailer. And a class E is for a 26K+ truck and/or a 10K+ trailer. You esentually have to pass the commercial class A or B written test to get one of these licenses from the state. Some states actually just call the a non-commercial class A or B license.
If you check in to the laws about riding in trailers, there is sometimes an exemption of you have a way to talk to the driver. Its fairly safe to ride in a well built 5th wheel. Not a wooden one, but a good one. What is not save is being back there with no way to tell the driver if something goes wrong. If I had another driver, I would have no issue sleeping in mine for a few hundred miles at a time. Probably do it on the couch in the back though.
The problem with bridge height signs is that they are put up when the bridge is built. When they come through an repave the road, the bridge is now several inches closer. Who knows when or if they ever remeasure an replace the sign.
I am a retired fireman an I leave my propane on. Its only a safety issue in tunnels and on ferries. Its a gas-pooling isssue. Gointg down the highway, even a severed hose will not be a huse safety issue. Gas on the Highway floats away. Gas in a tunnel or boat collects at the lowest point and ignites.
DOT weight stations are for commercial trucks only. But I believe one of the north east states require every trailer to stop no matter what. I am thinking its New Jersey but its been a while so. But generally, no one cares about how long wide or heavy you are as long as you are legal in your home state. Even pulling doubles in a state that its illegal is usually overlooked. Even if you got pulled over using a half ton truck, that weight rating is not what the law uses. Federal DOT anyway gos by how many inches wide your tires are. An axle with two 9 inch wide tires can only have a set amount of weight on it. They look at your truck, the tire width, weigh the axles an check a chart. They dont have the time to look up the weight rating on every truck. So your half ton is the same as a single wheel one ton to them. Assuming yor truck is not doing the Carolina squat anyway. What will get you though is if you get in a wreck. If its not your fault, the other persons lawyer is going to tear you apart for being over wight an make it your fault. If it was your fault, he is going to use you being over weight to claim reckless disregard an try to take everything you own. Thats a much bigger issue than a ticket. An if you drive long enough, it will happen.
There are some ticket happy cops though that will try to get you. There is a youtube video floating around where a cop ticketed a guy pulling a empty flat bed trailer behind a half ton truck. The empty trailer was something the truck could easily pull, but it was a 3 axle trailer. That means the trailer was rated for something like 14K so the cop ticked him for pulling a 14K trailer with an under rated truck. No idea how a judge treated that but there is always that one ticket happy cop in some small town an I would not bet on the town judge not being his brother.
FYI you only go thru weight scales if you are a corporate transporting RV company
That would make sense. A regular person towing their RV should never stop there.
I have a 12V fridge so I don't drive with the propane on; the only propane appliances I have are the furnace and the stove.
As for illegal things, I have a homemade motorcycle trailer with no fenders. Adding them would be a pain because of how the trailer is structured, so I'm kind of waiting to see if I get hassled for it before I try. The guy who built the trailer built it in 1972 and apparently has never had any issues, so I think it's gonna be fine.
Fingers 🤞 for you. 😊
For many of the laws states will let you "follow" the law of the state the vehicle is licensed. But if you are licensed (drivers licensed) in the state they may not be as forgiving. One big exception is the vehicle lengths and widths once you get off the main highways, so if you exit the Interstate and drive on a State highway to get fuel etc they let it go, but if you drive a 45 foot long 102 inch wide trailer down a city street you may get stopped because they will often have signs prohibiting it. The Federal Highway Admin has a document showing the rules and laws for CMV (commercial motor vehicles) and even though a camper is not commercial many laws apply, this is not the same as a CDL, the CDL is the persons Commercial drivers License and the rules for it. The road rules made states that might not allow a 102 inch wide vehicle to be licensed in the state but to allow the vehicle licensed elsewhere on the state highways if they wanted federal funding. That way a vehicle that is detoured from the Interstate on to a state highway is still legal to drive the state highway even though it is wider than the state allows a vehicle to be. The changes in 1982 made some things more sensible and safer. If you want a link to the doc I can send it. If you drive your 45 foot long 102 inch wide camper on a state highway to a park you probably will be fine in Alabama, but if you start driving down rural roads you may get stopped and probably just warned if you are polite to the officer.
Hey folks just to let you know yes if you are Towing in California there are signs posted that say you must remain under 55 miles an hour but let me just let you know don't nobody do 55 mph out here keep it under 65 CHP angle mess with you unless you're fishtailing all over the road or stuff is falling off your rig
Just note in Pittsburgh we have 3 "parkways" called Parkway East, South and West. They are just names not categories of roads. They are part of the interstate system.
CA Our roads are more reinforced in the two most right hand lanes. That is why in addition to the trailer speed limit we also have the lane restrictions.
How interesting!
PLEASE always buckle your dog. Get a crash tested harness and a crash tested seatbelt strap ( plugs into female side of seatbelt and clips onto dogs harness). So so many dogs are killed or paralyzed when hitting the back seat or windshield when in a crash. You can have it loose enough they can get comfortable and still keep them much safer than if free-flying
In the state of Pennsylvania if you’re caught running in the fast lane pulling any kind of trailer. You’re going to get a ticket. People that tow boats and small camper trailers that are out in the fast lane. You were restricted just like a tractor trailer. Or if you’re in a rental truck pulling a car. Don’t get caught in the fast lane.
Hello, there is a weight station in Maryland that requires all vehicles weighing 10'000 pounds or more to pull in. Also, it isn't legal to pump fuel in your RV with an open flame going, such as your refrigerator running on propane. However, I did find your video very interesting.
You missed a state regarding pet restraints. In New Jersey, "pets in moving vehicles must be secured in a carrier or wear a seat belt. Failure to comply can result in a fine of $250 to $1000." There are special harnesses that attach to a buckled seat belt. Do we use it? (Sips coffee) 😉
Good to know!! :)
The earbud thing is funny. I have hearing aids, and my cell phone bluetooths into my hearing aids, so - cops can’t say anything.
Nice! Sometimes I need the earbuds to hear over the road noise in my Jeep. Haha.
Get a Jackery, to plug your frig while you drive. Propane can explode if for some reason the seals get loose.
7:55 mainly because if an emergency vehicle is trying to get through it makes it harder for you to hear them!