Overwidth trailers

[bdog]

May or may not be a concern for most on this forum. Low profile between the fender style trailers are typically 81-82 between the fenders. A lot of equipment like my skid steer is 84 wide leaving your only option as a deck over to haul it which means steep ramps. Legal load width is 102” A couple manufacturers are making low profile trailers that are 106 inches wide and give you 86 between the fenders to load this type of stuff. Technically they are illegal without overwidth permits but a lot of guys run them under the radar. What are the odds the DOT is going to think a trailer is 4 overwidth or even think to measure it or notice it just by looking? Curious everyoneç—´ thoughts on this. I have no idea what the overwidth finds are but have been thinking of buying one.

 

[4570Man]

I have no advice on the question but the unload angle on my big tex trailer isn’t nearly as steep as my previous trailer or others I’ve seen.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Eh, I'd run it. But I'd take the name off the trailer just in case the dot has gotten wise. They do make drive over fenders although I don't know how it would work with a heavy skidsteer. Maybe one of those with some 4x4 dunnage secured down would be a good option?

 

[terryknight]

try it and see, i do like th eidea of removing the name/model from the trailer.

there are local guys with boats that are 9 or 9.5 ft wide who run up and down the road without permits, i have no idea how often/far they go. i know some only go from the ramp to where they keep the boat. i'm sure other run to the inlets to go fishing.

 

[s219]

I remember getting pulled over when I was working in my Dad's construction business as a teenager -- we had loaded a large pallet of wall panels slightly off-center on a trailer in order to get it strapped down better, but in the process the net width of the trailer+cargo was slightly over 8'6". We had good intentions, but were not even thinking about being over-width. State police pulled us over and measured, and made us park the trailer on the side of the highway until we could fix the problem. We had to hand-unload and then re-load that pallet to correct the problem. I think that mistake cost my dad at least a day's labor for several workers because of the lost time, never mind the ticket/fine, plus some damage to the wall panels that had to be fixed.

Around here, state troopers really scrutinize trailers. I don't take any chances.

I am not sure what the deal is with boats. My fishing boat is 8' beam, plus a few inches each side for the trailer guide posts, so I am right at 8'6". Plenty of similar fishing boats have an 8'6" beam or 9' beam, plus trailer guide posts, so they are definitely over 8'6" overall width. And I know I have seen even larger boats being towed routinely. Are the regulations different for boats?

 

[terryknight]

not that i know of anything over 102 requires an over width permit... the only thing i can think of is DOT is looking at boats like they look at equipment, landscapers, or contractor trailers

 

[CincyFlyer]

Bear in mind that the 102" is the federal limit for interstate highways. In other words, you can travel anywhere with that 8-1/2 foot wide thing, if you stay on (and likely near) the interstate. But as soon as you are off of the federal highway, you may be in for a surprise—twenty minutes south of me, across the Kentucky border, 96" is the law, except on federal highways. It's that way in several states. I know we picked up a car in KY with a trailer that was a full 102". Nobody looked at us. So it's likely not used as a primary offense. But YMMV.

 

[TMGT]

What manufacturers are making the trailers, any links to them?
Curious to see if there's some way they are getting around the 102" limit.

I know I've seen some 84"+ between fender trailers that still met the 102" max width.

 

[Jcoon]

DOT truck inspector here in NY, here an inch is an inch. Your parked until u fix it.

 

[PILOON]

What manufacturers are making the trailers, any links to them?
Curious to see if there's some way they are getting around the 102" limit.

I know I've seen some 84"+ between fender trailers that still met the 102" max width.

They probably list them as 'highway trailers' and quote 'meeting all federal regulations'.

 

[fried1765]

Bear in mind that the 102" is the federal limit for interstate highways. In other words, you can travel anywhere with that 8-1/2 foot wide thing, if you stay on (and likely near) the interstate. But as soon as you are off of the federal highway, you may be in for a surprise葉wenty minutes south of me, across the Kentucky border, 96" is the law, except on federal highways. It's that way in several states. I know we picked up a car in KY with a trailer that was a full 102". Nobody looked at us. So it's likely not used as a primary offense. But YMMV.

Maybe NOT!
Check: drivinglaws.AAA.com/tags.trailer-dimensions
Trailer limitations for ALL STATES are posted!
Kentucky width limit is listed as 8'-6" (102")
No additionally restrictive limitations are given for KY. state/city, and/or county roads.

 

[bcp]

Maybe the mfg expects you to buy an annual overwidth permit.

Bruce

 

[Jstpssng]

I wouldn't go out and spend that kind of money unless I was 100% sure that I could use it.

 

[bdog]

I am not sure who manufactures them but they are definitely over width and they make them with heavy 10,000lb axles and 17.5" tires as an option. People haul full size backhoes on them.

The law is the law but the reality is most law enforcement gets really suspicious when a load is protruding past the trailer. With a trailer like this, hauling equipment, everything will be way inside the fenders so I doubt they will even get suspicious.

This picture isn't one of the trailers in question but similar style. If you saw this going down the road would over width even cross your mind? I don't think just looking at a trailer anyone could eyeball it being a few inches too wide.



Worst case if you did get caught I think an annual overwidth permit is like $300.

 

[Fallon]

I liked my old 16' gravity tilt, well except for it being to short. I was going to replace it with a 22' gravity tilt, but ended up with a deckover power tilt. I knew it would be marginally harder to load a tractor on, but everything else loads over the side so much easier. No fenders to work about either when I have the wide flail mower on too. The full 102" width of usable deck is nice.

It's all trade-offs, but the deckover compromise is overall better for me. A lot steeper loading the tractor, but not to bad. So much easier for wide impliments & everything else.

 

[RandyT]

Maybe NOT!
Check: drivinglaws.AAA.com/tags.trailer-dimensions
Trailer limitations for ALL STATES are posted!
Kentucky width limit is listed as 8'-6" (102")
No additionally restrictive limitations are given for KY. state/city, and/or county roads.

that website shows the 8'6" width limit for my state but then the IL rules of the road non-cdl publication shows this

Width The maximum width for most vehicles is 8 feet, except on designated Class I and II state high ways and designated local roads where a width of 8 feet, 6 inches is allowed. Exemptions to maximum widths are:

✗Loads of farm products or implements of husbandry being transported during the period from one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset in times of good visibility. These vehicles are not exempt when there is not enough light, during bad weather conditions, or when persons or vehicles on the roadway cannot be clearly seen from 1,000 feet away.
✗Buses operating within the limits of cities and villages located in counties with populations of 500,000 or more. Maximum widths may be up to 9 feet; however, no vehicle wider than 8 feet, 8 inches may be operated on interstate highways in those counties.

 

[civilian]

I am not sure who manufactures them but they are definitely over width and they make them with heavy 10,000lb axles and 17.5" tires as an option. People haul full size backhoes on them.

The law is the law but the reality is most law enforcement gets really suspicious when a load is protruding past the trailer. With a trailer like this, hauling equipment, everything will be way inside the fenders so I doubt they will even get suspicious.

This picture isn't one of the trailers in question but similar style. If you saw this going down the road would over width even cross your mind? I don't think just looking at a trailer anyone could eyeball it being a few inches too wide.

View attachment 539553

Worst case if you did get caught I think an annual overwidth permit is like $300.

I think the possible problem width the over width trailer would be the overall width compared to the tow vehicle. Looking from behind, one would realize it looks wider then most trailers against a normal pickup. Now a dually pulling it might have a better chance of not looking over width. Just a thought, Jon

 

[Rock Crawler]

I have a 1999 flatbed equipment/car hauler trailer that is... lets just say a little wide. No, wider than that. NO, add more.

I've pulled my off-road truck and Jeep all over the country and even been pulled over for lights being out but no one has ever thought to pull out a tape measure to notice that I am 110" wide.... I do not know how this monster came to be, and I did not know it was illegal until a few years back I went to trade it in on a shorter trailer and the dealer measured it and refused to have anything to do with it.

Looking at it, you can see what was done. The base trailer frame is the max legal width of 102", then they ripped some 2x6 to 4" width and added angle sticking out to cradle it. Then the axles were cut in the center and opened up wider and a pipe/sleeve was used to cover the gap.

No one will get me axles made this wide. No one will take it in trade. And I'm a bit reluctant to sell it for fear that the next owner may not be as lucky as I have been. It's been a great trailer, but I no longer need to haul a full size truck with a 4'Tx4'Dx8'W shed built on the front of the trailer to house generator, compressor, tools and spare tires.

 

[BLSXJ]

just don't. if the above post doesn't turn you off of buying a trailer over 102", the possible fine should.

there are a few manufactures that are building deck over's with a 30" deck height, and a 102" width.

I'm currently using a "car trailer" that is a 102" wide. I would like my next trailer to be a deck over that is 96.375" wide (3/16 rub rails) why? cause 102" is a big fat trailer, and none of my stuff is wider then my 1/2 ton.

 

[fried1765]

I have a 1999 flatbed equipment/car hauler trailer that is... lets just say a little wide. No, wider than that. NO, add more.

I've pulled my off-road truck and Jeep all over the country and even been pulled over for lights being out but no one has ever thought to pull out a tape measure to notice that I am 110" wide.... I do not know how this monster came to be, and I did not know it was illegal until a few years back I went to trade it in on a shorter trailer and the dealer measured it and refused to have anything to do with it.

Looking at it, you can see what was done. The base trailer frame is the max legal width of 102", then they ripped some 2x6 to 4" width and added angle sticking out to cradle it. Then the axles were cut in the center and opened up wider and a pipe/sleeve was used to cover the gap.

No one will get me axles made this wide. No one will take it in trade. And I'm a bit reluctant to sell it for fear that the next owner may not be as lucky as I have been. It's been a great trailer, but I no longer need to haul a full size truck with a 4'Tx4'Dx8'W shed built on the front of the trailer to house generator, compressor, tools and spare tires.

I think it would be a good idea to get that license tag off the fender, and mount it properly, on the rear of the trailer, with the required light for it as well.
You might get stopped for the tag location/no tag light, and then be questioned and measured for width.