SMV Sign on Trailer

[94BULLITT]

Why do people put a SMV sign on their trailer? It drives me nuts plus it is illegal if they drive faster than 25MPH. They do make things called reflectors to make it more visible.

 

[George2615]

Around here trailers have to be registered, inspected, and have a license plate. I'm sure someone figured a SMV sign is cheaper than registration and inspection fees. Its just not legal above 25 which they probably don't realize.

 

[94BULLITT]

People run a a SMV sign with a tag. Trailers have to be registered in VA and anything over 3k gross weight has to be inspected.

 

[George2615]

Then I have no idea why they would have a trailer that is tagged and has a SMV sign.
My neighbor has a small homemade trailer he tows behind his car that only has a SMV sign and no tag. I mentioned to him it isn't legal if he goes over 25. He says he doesn't when towing it.

 

[tessiers]

here in Maine speed has nothing to do with it. SMV emblem is required on farm trailers and equipment regardless of speed, they are registration and inspection exempt. This only applies to farm equipment, no personal use. Of course farm plates on the tow vehicle helps if questions arrise.

 

[930ck]

I have a smv sign on my tractor but was told to remove it from the tractor when hauling it on a trailer, then it is not a slow moving vehicle.

 

[LD1]

Cant say I have ever seen that.

Only trailers I have ever seen a SMV sign on are our wood hauling trailers we tow behind the tractors. Which top out at 23MPH if behind the 8n

 

[tessiers]

23 is pretty fast for an 8n with a load of wood on back. I got a couple or old n's, the gears were cut pretty tall.

 

[94BULLITT]

Cant say I have ever seen that.

Only trailers I have ever seen a SMV sign on are our wood hauling trailers we tow behind the tractors. Which top out at 23MPH if behind the 8n

With a Sherman Step up?

I have a smv sign on my tractor but was told to remove it from the tractor when hauling it on a trailer, then it is not a slow moving vehicle.

I guess technically you should. I always take it off cause I don't want it blowing off.

here in Maine speed has nothing to do with it. SMV emblem is required on farm trailers and equipment regardless of speed, they are registration and inspection exempt. This only applies to farm equipment, no personal use. Of course farm plates on the tow vehicle helps if questions arrise.

People here put a SMV sing on utility trailer and woods splitters and go flying down the road. The trailers they are pulling have tags on them.

 

[DT86]

A couple of years ago there was an article, I think it was the Virginia Farm Bureau magazine, about the misuse of the SMV emblem.

EDIT-->
Not the one I was thinking of but....Big, red, orange and not meant to mark your driveway

 

[Oliver1655]

Some of us have a trailer which spends most of it's time behind a tractor but on occasions is pulled behind a truck. I am guilty of having a SMV permanently fixed to one. The trailer is also licensed & I am very generous with the reflective tape.

 

[94BULLITT]

A couple of years ago there was an article, I think it was the Virginia Farm Bureau magazine, about the misuse of the SMV emblem.

EDIT-->
Not the one I was thinking of but....Big, red, orange and not meant to mark your driveway

I hate when people do that too.

 

[LD1]

23 is pretty fast for an 8n with a load of wood on back. I got a couple or old n's, the gears were cut pretty tall.

It handles it allright. But it does take awhile to get up to speed

With a Sherman Step up?

Yep, Sherman over/under
I actually bet it is closer to 25mph. Hard to tell exactly following with a truck. But tractordata lists 23.1, and I am betting thats with 11.2-28's. It as 12.4-28's on it....

Either way, yea its fast. Which is why it stays around. Cause our wood cutting involves up to 3 miles of road travel, and that is almost brutal on my 13mph kubota:mur:

 

[tessiers]

I have clocked my NAA at a hair over 30, empty. What scares me are the N brakes suck in general, I am always nervous in road gear with a load. Maybe yours has better brakes than mine.

 

[JasG]

Why do people put a SMV sign on their trailer? It drives me nuts plus it is illegal if they drive faster than 25MPH. They do make things called reflectors to make it more visible.

I do because I use the same trailer behind both my truck and my tractor. If I'm below 25, which that would be my tractor, it's the law in NY, yet I've never heard about over 25 being illegal. There are tractors that go as fast as 40 and I still see them on those too.

 

[94BULLITT]

It handles it allright. But it does take awhile to get up to speed



Yep, Sherman over/under
I actually bet it is closer to 25mph. Hard to tell exactly following with a truck. But tractordata lists 23.1, and I am betting thats with 11.2-28's. It as 12.4-28's on it....

Either way, yea its fast. Which is why it stays around. Cause our wood cutting involves up to 3 miles of road travel, and that is almost brutal on my 13mph kubota:mur:

Use your phone to clock GPS it. I like the Ulysse Speedometer app.

I have clocked my NAA at a hair over 30, empty. What scares me are the N brakes suck in general, I am always nervous in road gear with a load. Maybe yours has better brakes than mine.

Here I thought the 4240 was fast. It will do 20MPH.

I do because I use the same trailer behind both my truck and my tractor. If I'm below 25, which that would be my tractor, it's the law in NY, yet I've never heard about over 25 being illegal. There are tractors that go as fast as 40 and I still see them on those too.

http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/dmv28.pdf

 

[jagyzf]

Why do people put a SMV sign on their trailer? It drives me nuts plus it is illegal if they drive faster than 25MPH. They do make things called reflectors to make it more visible.

Just what is the big deal with this anyway? As others have said some of us use the same items behind several vehicles, some may need it some don't.

I would much rather worry about people who don't have them that should. Or texters/cell phone/smart phone users, paper readers, tailgaters, non-stoppers. Or people who have nothing on after dark, no reflective parts, lights or anything on tractors, bikes, etc.

Or what are farmers supposed to do with the newer tractors that do 30-34MPH. Take them on and off depending on what tractor is connected to the item?