Pick up cab clearance lights - required?

[MechE1]

Members, I've been searching high and low for an absolute answer to this. I'm getting ready to order a new F350 SRW. Personally, I do not care for the look of the cab clearance lights. My intention was to not order them. However, after reading all kinds of posts, from all kinds of sources I think I may be required to have them. But yet, there's nothing definitive out there to answer.

Let's keep it to REQUIRED and not desired please.

Any vehicle over 80 inches wide are required to have them. This is why F150/Raptors come with them and also DRW trucks. Fine. Understood. Stock Super Duty is 80 inches wide, thus, not required.

What if:
1. I extended the wheels 1 inch out? Then it makes them required doesn't it?
2. What if I tow a boat or equipment trailer? Low profile, but wider than 80 inches. So then are they required?

This seems to be a very murky area which has no definite answer. My intentions are to tow tractor and implements in the near future so I'm only talking about an equipment trailer that will be over the requirement for clearance lights and vehicle weight. Likely also it will be a GN trailer. For size and weight reasons I'll likely, but reluctantly, choose the clearance light option. Reason, the clearance lights are supposed to alert the oncoming traffic that you are a wider/heavier vehicle. I suppose that makes sense enough for me to choose the option now.

In the future I would likely entertain a high profile RV in which case it seems logical to have them as some RV's do not have clearance lights.

Any feedback from experiences or links to sources (fed/state) would be appreciated.

 

[RickB]

There’s an active thread about CDL licensing here with commentary from a NYS DOT cop that seems to know everything. Take that however you wish.

 

[prof fate]

I've never understood why some pickups have them and some do not.

I have a SRW F350, pretty base model, and it has them. My friend has a '17 Denali and it has them (and a whole lot more toys on it too).

I thought it was based on weight rating...more so than size. My silverado 1500 didn't have them (7000 gvrw) and I pulled campers and such that are 80in and such. The F350 is GVWR of 10,500.

And it's a federal law you cannot run around with a hitch ball on the back and NO trailer..yet I don't know anyone that's ever been busted for it (crash issues is the reason)

 

[MechE1]

Thanks guys. Prof fate, is your friends '17 Denali a 1/2 ton rated truck? I have not kept up on Chevy and the Denali model. If so, from what I read, 1/2 ton in some states it is non-compliant to have cab lights. But then again, if it's over 80 inches and 1/2 ton then.....(Rapter) Murky.

 

[oosik]

You know - the answer seems sooo obvious. The poster is in Illinois - he should call DOT-Ill and get the correct answer straight from the horses mouth. It will do him NO GOOD, at all, when stopped by a state trooper - and his response - "Well, that's what I was told on TBN".

 

[RickB]

That’s good advise. He could call 3 times and get 3 different answers then do as he wishes. About the same as asking here. ��

 

[Reb954]

I can't point you to any laws but my understanding has always been the cab lights and 3 center lights in the back of a trailer are to indicate a combination vehicle. I have never heard it had anything to do with weight or size of vehicle. Most travel trailers have the 3 lights in the center, front and back, so the pulling vehicle doesn't need the cab lights.

 

[oosik]

You having a particular bad day Rick or do you just need to use the restroom.

 

[RickB]

You having a particular bad day Rick or do you just need to use the restroom.

Actually my experience trying to get an accurate interpretation of DOT regs goes a lot like that. The answer depends on who you ask, and the amount of grief you get depends on whether the guy with the badge agrees with what you were told.

 

[Ritothebull]

Clearance lights are on the sides of the truck or trailer to show the width, I think the lights on the cab roof are just to show oncoming traffic that it's a large vehicle.

 

[MechE1]

Sure I can call IDOT. Perhaps I already have? Typically, TBN'ers are more friendly. Typically. But somehow I doubt IDOT can answer this question for any of the other 48 states I might find myself in. ****. I can drive from one end of the great state of Illinois no tie downs, no lights and I might get stopped. Maybe. Depending on the day. Depending on the road. Depending on how the LEO feels that day. Honestly, from what I see around here, the LE community pays little or no attention to pick up trucks and regs until something bad happens then they throw the book at them. Point is, I'm not worried about getting stopped around here (Illinois). It could be a safety issue with towing/trailering and I might find myself not in Illinois one day.

 

[RickB]

If you drive a new vehicle that doesn稚 meet lighting requirements that liability should fall back on the manufacturer.

 

[wolfpack2]

Your new truck should meet all FMVSS 108 requirements. The clearance lights are options for those who like the look or plan to modify their vehicle in such a way as to require them by adding fender flares, wider wheels and tires, flatbed, or some other modification that puts if over the 2032 mm width limit. Any trailer you pull will also have to meet the FMVSS 108 requirements. The combination is not required to both meet the requirements. i.e you truck has to meet its own requirements as does the trailer.

eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations

 

[atsah]

Why not just order it with them, the truck looks better with them anyway and you will be covered in any state so you won't have to worry about what state you in without cab lights..

 

[timswi]

I know people that put clearance lights on 1500's and never an issue. The manufacturer is on the hook as far as I'm concerned. If it needs them they will be there if not, oh well, their problem. Personaly, I like them if needed or not.

 

[blackdog2086]

As a former P.O., If you're good in the state it's registered in you're good anywhere. In many states you need a front and rear license plate. In Michigan you only need a rear. I'm not breaking the law if I travel through a state requiring a front plate if I'm not driving a vehicle registered in that state. Does anybody really believe that clearance lights (or lack of) are a safety issue on a light duty pickup?

I understand your wanting to be compliant, but it kind of seems like a non issue. Get what you want. If it was required you wouldn't have an option from the dealer.

 

[MechE1]

Thanks for the input guys. Wolfpack2, thanks for the link. I talked with my SIL yesterday and he's a P.O. at the city level. He basically had no idea what the rules, if any, were and said that the State Troopers would be the only ones he knows of that would think to look at that. Which is what I suspected in Ill. Ditto on the comment "..if it's legal in your state.." as blackdog2086 stated.

 

[jwstewar]

I'm looking at the regulations and it looks like anything over 80" needs clearance lights. I'm looking at the specs for my 2017 2500HD and it says it is 80.5" wide. It does not have clearance lights....ironically that is one of the items I negotiated in. The dealer is supposedly getting them in for me. Been 2 months now and still waiting.

 

[Reb954]

Just to be sure, are you asking about cab lights or clearance lights? They are two different things.

Cab lights, mainly the 3 center closely spaced lights are to indicate a combination vehicle.

Clearance lights are to mark the outer perimeter of a vehicle.

 

[MechE1]

Hi Reb954. Thanks for the question. Ford does not distinguish between the two inside/outside. If you order the cab clearance lights you get both. So the answer is both or either, depending on how you want to phrase it. But, if there is information on either, it is welcome.