Trailer Cruiser summary

[FAST FRED]

That's an easy to trailer load, no permits throughout the USA.

It is as long as the LOA , front of tow vehicle to end of tow is 65ft or less.

Commercial trucks are dirt cheap, you should be able to get a fine air ride truck for well under $10K , and with proper selection get 8 -9 mpg while not towing , less with the air drag of a boat on a trailer.

FF

[bowland]

whats this boat

[u4ea32]

FF, the trailering laws across this great country of ours are rather, um, poorly written and inconsistent. A couple of years ago, when I started trying to figure out what the maximum trailerable boat would be, I found some listings, for example one published by Trailer Boats Magazine, that gave a simple table by state for the maximum length, width, height, weight, brake requirements, and so on. It was rather inconsistent, to the point that it looked impossible to tow, say, a 42 foot Fountain powerboat across the country. Yet it happens all the time.

So I actually went to the department of motor vehicle sites for several states that I could imagine driving through, from California to the East Coast.

Turned out that they all had extensive inconsistencies. They might have thirty or more regulations that would contradict each other, with limits like the one you quotes (65 feet LOA from the front of the truck to the back of the trailer) but then the legal directions for measuring the load was measured from king pin to last axle, not overall, or that additions (mirrors, ladders, spare tires, ...) were not counted, overhangs could be a maximum of 50 feet, and on and on and on.

The state laws are simply not consistent at all within a state, or between states.

So its up to US highway laws to enable interstate commerce. These laws are very simple, and are the result of international treaties, not just the whim of some local bureaucrat. These laws enable those long, long semi trucks with sleeping compartments to tow 53 foot containers. The overall length of these rigs is about 80 feet. Yet the US law explicitly states that they must be legal to transit all states, with exceptions allowed only for local routes due to, for example, historical purposes (wood covered bridges, narrow lanes in ancient city centers, etc). And even these local restrictions are disallowed for terminal routing -- e.g., from your house to and from the highway.

So the actual limit is 53 feet, not including such things as awnings, outboards, light boards, bumpers, ...

[FAST FRED]

They might have thirty or more regulations that would contradict each other, with limits like the one you quotes (65 feet LOA from the front of the truck to the back of the trailer) but then the legal directions for measuring the load was measured from king pin to last axle, not overall, or that additions (mirrors, ladders, spare tires, ...) were not counted, overhangs could be a maximum of 50 feet, and on and on and on.

True enough , if you need OVER 65 ft , the LAW dance begins , and you need to check the measurement rules for each and every state you attempt to get through.

But at 65 ft , 8.6 , there is no need to check your fine on every states portion of the interstate , and only local rules might apply on the road to the launch ramp.

Bigger than 65loa will require loads of computer time to download all 57 (Obamas count) State laws , and attempt to figgure them out.

The 18 wheel truck route alminac has a fairly simple rundown.

"So the actual limit is 53 feet, not including such things as awnings, outboards, light boards, bumpers," HOWEVER this is foe towing with a commercial vehicle with baseplate used as the hitch.

A private vehicle with tow ball is a different can of worms.

FF

[u4ea32]

FF, I bet you are correct.

[FAST FRED]

For folks with an interest a used commercial vehicle is a good cheap way to tow.

Most states will re Title a vehicle as an RV , if it has a bunk , stove and porta potty.Of course its different in each state , but usually easy. RV insurance is quite cheap, unlike commercial, and in most states no special license is needed to drive an RV , even a 50,000 GVR RV.Some will require an Air Brake endorsement on your license ,a 10 min test.

Next time you stop for gas , do it a a truck stop , and pick up one of the many free truck for sale papers.

A truck frame CAN EASILY be shortened and the last set of axles removed to shorten the LOA and ease the tolls (charged per axle).

Most have Air cond , some air ride chassis and cab , automatic tranny , power steering and are easy to drive.

FF

[FAST FRED]

For US folks with a yen to tow,

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

Is a chart of the various state laws.

FF