| Author | Message | ||
| tony denny (Papatony)
Registered Member Username: Papatony Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2010 Posted From: 74.206.82.239 Rating: N/A |
About a mounth age I asked :: how long a trailer you could pull with a 4106. I got a lot of good replies but no lengths. The answer in NC is 53' over all. I guess that would apply toother states also. | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 358 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.161.109  Rating: N/A |
Not to California! | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 118 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 184.36.242.102  Rating: N/A |
Tony, It varies from state to state. I'm not sure where your 53' number comes from, although that is the federal limit for commercial trailers. All the lists I've seen show NC at a combined length restriction of 60'. Here's one: http://www.readybrake.com/state_laws.html Bob | ||
| tony denny (Papatony)
Registered Member Username: Papatony Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2010 Posted From: 74.206.82.239 Rating: N/A |
Bob this came from the Dept of Moter Vehicles Raleigh NC | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 120 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 184.36.242.102 Rating: N/A |
Tony, OK. I still think they were referring to the maximum length of a semi trailer. I copied and pasted this from Publication L-14; "North Carolina Laws relating to Commercial Vehicles": (d) Maximum Length. – The following maximum lengths apply to vehicles. A truck-tractor and semitrailer shall be regarded as two vehicles for the purpose of determining lawful length and license taxes. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a single vehicle having two or more axles shall not exceed 40 feet in length overall of dimensions inclusive of front and rear bumpers. (2) Trucks transporting unprocessed cotton from farm to gin, or unprocessed sage from farm to market shall not exceed 50 feet in length overall of dimensions inclusive of front and rear bumpers. (3) Recreational vehicles shall not exceed 45 feet in length overall, excluding bumpers and mirrors. (e) Except as provided by G.S. 20-115.1, no combination of vehicles coupled together shall consist of more than two units and no such combination of vehicles shall exceed a total length of 60 feet inclusive of front and rear bumpers, subject to the following exceptions: Motor vehicle combinations of one semitrailer of not more than 53 feet in length and a truck tractor (power unit) may exceed the 60-foot maximum length. Perhaps whoever you spoke to misunderstood what you were asking? Bob | ||
| tony denny (Papatony)
Registered Member Username: Papatony Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2010 Posted From: 74.206.82.239 Rating: N/A |
I hope your right I found a 26 ft. trailer for a good price but thought if it was to long it wouldn't work . After reading the piece you quoted they were talking about the trailer only. We were in trucking for several years and I thought it was 60'. Thanks for the info papaT | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1419 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.162.16  Rating: N/A |
FMCA this month has the list. The most common (but NOT the shortest) is 65 ft from front to rear. The few states that are shorter might be avoided , and I'm not sure the State list is valid for the interstates in the state. THe usual problem with any monocoque GM is the tongue weight . Over 300 lbs is not recommended , tho some folks have gone 10X that. FF (Message edited by FAST FRED on January 15, 2011) | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 276 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
We live in 48 different countries with each state having a different rule about trailers. For instance in California your overall length is 65ft. If you live in a 75ft rated state and bring that rig into California, you can be sited for over length. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| tony denny (Papatony)
Registered Member Username: Papatony Post Number: 29 Registered: 10-2010 Posted From: 74.206.82.239 Rating: N/A |
I will be o k on the tounge weight. not hauling any thing heavy, plus i have a good weight dist. system. We are trying to find a place in fla. to spin the winter and need to take stuff. I cant imagine anyone putting that much weight on a gm. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1767 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.124.20  Rating: N/A |
Tony - A weight distribution hitch doesn't really do much on a bus. FWIW & HTH. . . | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 243 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213  Rating: N/A |
why is tongue weight so critical on a bus? you would think with all the frame and suspension in the back that 500 or even 600 lbs wouldn't be a big deal | ||
| C. K.. Sparks (Kozycade)
Registered Member Username: Kozycade Post Number: 51 Registered: 7-2010 Posted From: 71.161.56.6 Rating: N/A |
Length of trailer is not the defineng factor. It is the combined length of the trailer and tow vechicle. For non conmercial/non advertised coaches- In most cases if you are well mannered toward the official and you have written proof with you that your combinations are legal in the state you are registered in you will be let go without even a warning. In the few cases where I have gotten a ticket issued, I have gotten off without a fine and even had a dismissal when the judge/justice of the peace saw the "proof". So needless to say carry proof of the state limits you are registered through in your map compartment. As an FYI: If what ever you are towing, or the coach advertises a business/commercial use, the law enforcement agencys are MUCH less lenient than if there's no advertising and it looks like a "personal rig. I have a private coach with a DOT number and it is gone over 100 to 1 or more compared to my coach not advertising Owner Operator. Heres what I keep in a plastic sleve in the Map Compartment. Legal limts of combined towing lenghts in states and Canada 85' Wyoming 85' 75' ALAska,Idaho,Minnesota,Montana,North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington 75' 70' Colorado,Nevada,Oklahoma 70' 65' Alabama,Arizona,Arkansas,California,Flordia,Hawaii,Kansas,Kentucky,Lousiana,Maine,Missouri ,Nebraska,New Mexico,New York,Ohio,Tennessee,Texas,Utah,Virginia,West Virginia 65' 62' New Jersey 62' 60' Connecticut,Delaware,District of Columbia,Georgia,Illinois,Indiana,Iowa,Massachusetts,North Carolina,Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,Wisconsin 60' 59' Michigan 59' 55' Maryland 55' 50'max length =60'special permit Oregon 50' max length =60'special permit NO LIMIT Mississippi,New Hampshire, South Carolina NO LIMIT Rule of thumb- Stay under 65' feet. For those going North of the border most all of Cananda is 23 meters with the exception of Ontario being 21 meters,Alberta and British Columbia being 20 meters, and Yucon being 16.5 meters.NW Territories No limit Just my two cents worth of a wooden nickel Kade (Message edited by KozyCade on January 15, 2011) | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1422 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.75 Rating: N/A |
why is tongue weight so critical on a bus? The question is why is tongue weight so critical on a GM MONOCOQUE bus? With a frame , who cares? That's why we are rebuilding a FLX VL 100 to tow a 10,000 boat trailer. ON a GM the entire drive , engine and tranny are really just hung off the coaches roof. Tongue weight simply adds to the load. Sadly stoopid engineering CAN destroy a GM, there is a great senicruser in Arcadia that has a broken back, from a huge window cutout. There should be a license required for Saws All's! FF | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 292 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.197.33  Rating: N/A |
Just to add to what Fred said, It's not just the tongue weight from the back end, but the shock loading of that tongue. Imagine how much force is generated by the heel of a woman's high heel shoe. She may only weigh around 100 pounds, but her heel generate over 1000 pounds of downward force, or think of the force of a hammer when you drive a nail. Now, think about the rapid up and down movement of the rear of the bus as it goes down the road. All of the force of the trailer tongue weight is transferred to the hitch, which is then transferred to the roof - all the way to the windshield and the engine bulkhead. I would bet the force is many many times the weight of the tongue weight. GM's, MCI's and others have no frame, so there is no support to relieve the stress of those forces. | ||
| tony denny (Papatony)
Registered Member Username: Papatony Post Number: 30 Registered: 10-2010 Posted From: 74.206.82.239 Rating: N/A |
I think I have solved my problem of pulling a trailer. I have a Dodge strech van and a tow dolly. I can connect or disconnest a drive shaft cheaper than buy a trailer. Therefoe having transportion if needed. papa T | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1768 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.124.20 Rating: N/A |
Tony - Here's something else to consider: http://www.trailertoad.com/ Takes the tongue weight completely off the coach, so you're in essence pulling like you would a toad "four down." Very, very popular with the racing crown, btw. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 459 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 173.166.209.1  Rating: N/A |
RJ, But wouldn't that be considered a separate trailer? Then you would be pulling 2 and driving 1 that would equal 3 and in some states that would be illegal. . | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1974 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.91.146.103  Rating: N/A |
I expect that the trailertoad would be thought of the same as a dolly for a semi-trailer, or as an accessory axle to the towing vehicle. No problem. Law Enforcement for the most part only know safety chains and lighting. Be sure they look good! happy coaching! buswarrior |