Are there general road restrictions due to Airstream width?

[barrettjl]

Hi All,

Are there restrictions on some types of roads due to the 8' 5" width of our 25FB?

I seem to recall from years gone by that some states restrict the width of trailers on some types of roads or require special permits.

Thanks,
Jeff

[wkerfoot]

Jeff,

I doubt it, or the RV makers would not build them 8 1/2 feet wide. The large Class A motorhomes are 8 1/2 feet wide. I believe that the limits were changed some years ago and the RV manufacturers increased their widths from 8 feet to 8 1/2 feet.

Bill

Originally Posted by barrettjl

Hi All,

Are there restrictions on some types of roads due to the 8' 5" width of our 25FB?

I seem to recall from years gone by that some states restrict the width of trailers on some types of roads or require special permits.

Thanks,
Jeff

[moosetags]

I have a 25FB that I have towed 90,000 miles in all of the lower 48 states, and have never had any problems or seen any restriction.

Brian

[MrUKToad]

Looking at a random selection of State RV regulations, they all give an 8' 6" width maximum, not including things like mirrors and awnings on the outside of the unit.

[Kamiak]

In California, the "general rule" is a 102" maximum, though there is a provision for localities to restrict vehicles in excess of 96". On the Interstates, it is a nonissue, and many states, though not all, have adopted the 102" rule. Having said all that, I have never been stopped for excessive width in any state (knock on wood). I suspect the only time it would realistically arise is in the event of an accident and fingers were being pointed relative to fault.

Happy trails!

[barrettjl]

Great! Thanks for the replies.

[Jimz]

According to the 2012 Boating Magazine towing guide, all but three states have a maximum trailer width of 8 1/2 feet. Hawaii has a 9 foot max and Kentucky is listed at 8 feet. Washington DC is NS (Not Specified).

I presume these regulations apply to travel trailers as well as boat trailers.

[moosetags]

The 8' limit shown for boat trailers in Kentucky probably does not apply to other trailers as a the standard width of a semi trailer is 102"/8.5'.

Brian

[CanoeStream]

I don't recall ever seeing roads where a restriction has been posted over this 6" difference.

Sometimes in heavy traffic/switchback areas you'll see restrictions posted for length. There's one restricting total length to 22-24' just north of Two Medicine lakes area on the east edge of Glacier N.P.

Maps for Custer State Park in the South Dakota Black Hills are marked for narrow tunnels up around the Needles area (all trailers prohibited). You can't even have your towing mirrors extended through these ...


No doubt many other examples exist. The final decision is up to the Pilot in Command.

[Protagonist]

Can't speak for any other state, but in Louisiana, maximum width is 8 feet even, EXCEPT on Interstate highways and US highways where it's 8½ feet. So, if you get on a State highway or a city street, the maximum width is only eight feet unless you want to get an oversize permit. Note: The width restriction does NOT include mirrors or other safety equipment, that can stick out farther.

Oversize permits are relatively easy to get, and you don't need an escort vehicle unless you're over 10 feet wide, but you are limited to "daylight hours" and you may be limited to a route specified on the permit.

Here in Louisiana, there are plenty of BIG trailerable boats that supposedly need an oversize permit just to leave the owner's driveway. Usually no one makes an issue of it, but you are subject to additional fines if you break some other traffic law and the officers find out you don't have a permit.

[Jammer]

I believe that the general width limit was widened to 102" some years ago and the federal highway funds were tied to the change. It's possible that any sources still reporting statewide 96" limits are out of date.

There are isolated examples of roads with height, width, and length limitations due to bridges, tunnels, or tight turns. Most of these are in mountainous areas or in the New England area where the roads are older. It is also possible to encounter width limits due to construction.

But as a practical matter most people will never have the occasion to take an Airstream down a road where a 96" trailer is allowed and will fit but a 102" is not.

[InsideOut]

Check this out:

Towing Laws by State

Shari

[Jammer]

InsideOut,

The information on the towingworld.com site you linked is badly out of date.

For example, in my home state, Minnesota, the weight limit for trailers without breakaway brakes was lowered from 6,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds in 2001. Check the statute itself:

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.67

If you click on the history links you can see the change in 2001.

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/...9.67&year=2001

[InsideOut]

Sorry Jammer...I didn't create it, just linked to it.

I would say as a "first pass" for most states it's probably still good - but if you have particular questions, it's always going to be better to check with the laws in the individual locales. Seems it's still a pretty good guideline to be used as a "better than nothing" quick reference - but not gospel.

Shari

[eubank]

Kind of like Hwy 434 entering Angel Fire from the south. No problem with a modern Airstream. Well, sort of not. The road is wide enough for the Airstream, just not quite wide enough if a vehicle happens to be coming from the opposing direction. A seven mile stretch of paved road through a ranch with no center stripe, and warning signs at either end.

That said, and against our advice, one of our rally wagonmasters brought a caravan up that direction, complete with a couple of the big-rig Airstream motorhomes. Most chose to go a different route on departure.


Lynn

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Sorry Jammer...I didn't create it, just linked to it.

I would say as a "first pass" for most states it's probably still good - but if you have particular questions, it's always going to be better to check with the laws in the individual locales. Seems it's still a pretty good guideline to be used as a "better than nothing" quick reference - but not gospel.

Shari

Shari,

I respectfully disagree.

There has been ongoing change in towing laws throughout the history of, well, motorized travel. A resource that is out of date and has errors is unhelpful.

In general there have been three trends over the last 10-15 years:
- Limitations on length, width, and towing triples (tandem trailers) have been gradually relaxed.
- Braking requirements have gradually become more stringent with the minimum weight where trailer brakes are required, and the minimum weight at which breakaway brakes are required, both trending downward.
- Equipment requirements have become somewhat more stringent with a few states requiring V-5 approved equipment that did not do so previously and regulations on safety chains having fewer exceptions.

There have also been a few outliers, like a clarification that surge brakes are permitted in one or two states where it was unclear, and a requirement for a CDL for unusually large RVs in one or two places.

But to the thread at hand, I don't believe that there is, at this time, a width limitation narrower than 102", in any of the 48 contiguous states.

[barrettjl]

Inspired by InsideOut, I did a search for "trailer laws by state", and found that link and this one which claims to have the 2008 trailer laws by state. I just did a quick check, but there are a few that say 8'. Perhaps that is out of date, but if I were traveling to/through one of those states, I might consider checking the state laws specifically.

In the end, though, it is good to know that folks have not had any issues in their travels!

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Can't speak for any other state, but in Louisiana, maximum width is 8 feet even, EXCEPT on Interstate highways and US highways where it's 8½ feet.

Time for me to eat crow. I just checked with the definitive source for Louisiana, the Louisiana Transportation Authority. Since 2011, the maximum legal width for all vehicles in Louisiana, for all roads, is 102 inches, exclusive of safety devices such as mirrors. Appurtenances to recreational vehicles (such as awnings) cannot extend more than 6 inches beyond the body of the vehicle.

[urnmor]

Don't feel alone I have eaten a lot of it over the years.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by barrettjl

Inspired by InsideOut, I did a search for "trailer laws by state", and found that link and this one which claims to have the 2008 trailer laws by state. I just did a quick check, but there are a few that say 8'. Perhaps that is out of date, but if I were traveling to/through one of those states, I might consider checking the state laws specifically.

In the end, though, it is good to know that folks have not had any issues in their travels!

It lists Arizona, D.C., and New Jersey.