Sitting in MOVING Airstream... LEGAL?

[Ray Eklund]

Are there actual LAWs forbidding anyone to be within a Travel Trailer while traveling? Two or more people, exempt? Pets? A Rock Band with drummer? Paved roads? Unpaved roads in the National Forest, exempt?

How would anyone know if someone was in the trailer when moving?

Maybe... there is a reason if this is true to keep witnesses... figuring out why a trailer can take itself apart, without tools when being towed. The 'squeaking and squawking' probably quits... while moving. Our Airstream 'Squeaks and Squawks' when stationary.

Would you need 'Trailer Seat Belts' if sitting at the table?l Can you take a nap on the Bed?

Can you Bake a Cake while moving... or stationary but attached in a Parking Lot?

"Yes, Some US states like Minnesota, Kansas, Maryland, Iowa, Indiana, Arizona, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Nebraska allows you to ride in the back of your travel trailer legally. But there are some US states that require you to install safety glass in the trailer to transport the passengers legally." Bing Search

Why are the listed States not arranged A to Z? But random?

Oh... maybe this is why our trailers have or do not have Safety Glass? Do Airstreams? Tempered... but 'safety glass'?

[ZeGermans]

Someone hand me a Drink, double, and a large popcorn! This will be a great one [emoji2357]

[Dennis C]

I don't understand why someone would want to ride in a trailer while towing. I would imagine it would be an uncomfortable ride. When we tow, we put the dinette table down, put some things on the bed (camping chairs, foldable screen tent, etc.) and on the dinette. There wouldn't be a comfortable place to sit in our Airstream.

[waninae39]

if you had an accident. you would lose all claims if someone was inside.
'
my uncle was an adjuster. he was told my the big boss to find any reason to not pay out a claim.
people inside a trailer while driving is and easy claims to reject

[Dennis C]

Yeah, no seatbelts!

[Ray Eklund]

State Legal?
Alabama No
Alaska No
Arizona Yes
Arkansas No
California No
Colorado No
Connecticut No
District Of Columbia No
Delaware No
Florida No
Georgia No
Hawaii No
Idaho No
Illinois No
Indiana Yes
Iowa Yes
Kansas Yes
Kentucky No
Louisiana No
Maine No
Maryland Yes
Massachusetts No
Michigan Yes
Minnesota Yes
Mississippi No
Missouri Yes
Montana No
Nebraska Yes
Nevada No
New Hampshire No
New Jersey No
New Mexico No
New York No
North Carolina Yes
North Dakota No
Ohio No
Oklahoma No
Oregon No
Pennsylvania No
Rhode Island No
South Carolina No
South Dakota No
Tennessee No
Texas No
Utah No
Vermont No
Virginia No
Washington No
West Virginia No
Wisconsin No
Wyoming No
Is It Legal to Ride in a Truck Camper?

Now, let’s talk about a truck camper – Can you ride in a truck camper? Luckily, if you have a truck camper, you are allowed to ride in it in almost all the US states except Mississippi, Maine, New Hampshire, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. Some US states require you to install a safety glass and access to the truck’s cab section. At the same time, some US states also require you to transport passengers aging 14 or more.

Towing laws handed down by the federal government are a bit fuzzy. However, most of the laws are concerned with RV construction and how it is being towed. It means it will be an arduous task to find information when it comes to passengers riding in the back of the trailer. Each US state has its own laws on the type of RVs that can transport the passengers.

Moreover, since US states have different rules for travel trailers regarding their weight, length, height, width, hitch type, lighting mirror, etc., it is essential to thoroughly research the requirements to make sure you are following the rules.

Moreover, since US states have different rules for travel trailers regarding their weight, length, height, width, hitch type, lighting mirror, etc., it is essential to thoroughly research the requirements to make sure you are following the rules.

It is legal to Sell Coffee in Cortez, Colorado in an Airstream!

[Ray Eklund]

OK... I feel much better, now. Are States that allow people in a moving trailer... have safer drivers?

What about Canada? Can you travel with Geese?

The previous photo was in Colorado. No passengers were seen.

Cortez, Colorado... get a coffee, park in lot... bring a picket fence... Pop your own Pop Corn and sit back and aaaaah

[Dennis C]

State laws (or lack thereof) don't always relate to common sense.

In Indiana, it's illegal to back into a parking space. In Maryland, it's illegal to use profanity while driving in the vicinity of another person who might hear you swearing. In Oklahoma, it's illegal to make glue out of dead skunks. In Oregon, it's illegal to throw poop out of a moving vehicle. In Wisconsin, it's illegal to sell cookies baked at home.

Sometimes, common sense supersedes the law. It doesn't make sense to ride in a travel trailer, even if it's legal to do so.

[ITSNO60]

Originally Posted by waninae39

if you had an accident. you would lose all claims if someone was inside.
'
my uncle was an adjuster. he was told my the big boss to find any reason to not pay out a claim.
people inside a trailer while driving is and easy claims to reject

Insurance companies are always looking for ways to get out of paying, or making someone else pay. I guess that's what lawyers are for. If you have insurance and you have an accident I don't see how they could legally deny your claim unless it was spelled out in the policy beforehand and the only valid reason I have seen for denial is deliberate or criminal acts. People do stupid things and make stupid mistakes all the time, that's what insurance is for.

[urnmor]

Originally Posted by ZeGermans

Someone hand me a Drink, double, and a large popcorn! This will be a great one [emoji2357]

I have mine out already but having salsa instead of popcorn

[Mike1997]

If its legal to ride inside an RV there will be seatbelts. I LOVE riding in my Airstream....in fact just got it out of the shop and they told me I need to ride in it more often!!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Hop in a nice big Class A. Chug down the typical unpaved interstate . Try to do something basic ( putting away dishes .... ). I doubt you will try that a second time. A trailer in motion is even worse. Popcorn? salsa?.... only if you think it improves the look of the flooring

The interesting feature of the "ride back there" debate is seatbelts. My *guess* is that somehow someway the law wiggles around and forces you to put them in that trailer you are riding in. Not a lawyer, so it's only a suspicion.

Bob

[Ray Eklund]

Audree was the passenger in a previous photograph. She was NOT wearing a seat belt...

Nancy was checking things out to decorate our Airstream when parked Off the Grid. Hunters and Boondockers love coffee and doughnuts. I do, as well.

She was not a passenger. We checked the other Silver Bean and it was unoccupied. Legal, I suppose.

[ZeGermans]

Originally Posted by ITSNO60

Insurance companies are always looking for ways to get out of paying, or making someone else pay. I guess that's what lawyers are for. If you have insurance and you have an accident I don't see how they could legally deny your claim unless it was spelled out in the policy beforehand and the only valid reason I have seen for denial is deliberate or criminal acts. People do stupid things and make stupid mistakes all the time, that's what insurance is for.

Oh im dead certain that insurances will twist it any ways they can. And end up saying a travel trailers aren’t meant to be used for passenger transport in the first place so they’ll get out of a claim easy even if it wasn’t your fault and or technically legal to ride in a trailer according to state laws. Insurances employ armadas of attorneys to reduce their payouts anywhere they can not for no reason.

[carl2591]

I have ridden in my trailer on a back road to see how stuff moves about.. tried a go pro but you are not able to get the actual movement.. (don't have gimbal mount)

with my tires are at a normal 65 PSI and in mostly loaded state its not that bad sans the extreme dip and such in the road but that was the exception.. i was alerted by walkie talkie about such condition so i could be ready..

if you wonder why your drawers or cabinets door fly open take a ride in the back and do tire adjustments.. if you are inflated at MAX psi do that.. then reduce to the tire manf suggest pressure and use same stretch of road .. the difference can be great.. or it was when I did the test. ( you can feel the difference in your feet something a camera can not relay. )

[Trowbridge]

When I was young, a family whose sons were in my Boy Scout troop took a vacation in their Ford pickup with cabover slide-in camper. Back in those days it was legal to ride in the camper (in our state). There was a bad accident involving several vehicles. Their truck rolled completely over. Their oldest son was in the camper area over the truck cab. He was instantly crushed and killed. Their other two sons in the lower part of the camper were each badly crippled and mentally incapacitated for life.

Can't imagine what would happen to someone inside an Airstream if it rolled, fishtailed, or was t-boned by another vehicle. Even something just as simple as a passenger standing when the towing vehicle driver hits the brakes to stop at a sudden yellow traffic light or avoid something.

In modern times, my family sometimes transports our horses to different shows in a well-designed horse trailer. But my pulling a trailer with horses inside requires much more planning than pulling our Airstream. Acceleration, braking, and cornering have to be done with much more care. And you've got to be willing to intentionally-sacrifice (partially or more-fully) your towing vehicle in an emergency. Completely different strategy in play...and horses are far less important than people!

Don't do it. Better safe than sorry!

[cegardner]

Originally Posted by dennis c

yeah, no seatbelts!

long long trailer!

[Bob Peahl]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Are there actual LAWs forbidding anyone to be within a Travel Trailer while traveling? Two or more people, exempt? Pets? A Rock Band with drummer? Paved roads? Unpaved roads in the National Forest, exempt?

How would anyone know if someone was in the trailer when moving?

Maybe... there is a reason if this is true to keep witnesses... figuring out why a trailer can take itself apart, without tools when being towed. The 'squeaking and squawking' probably quits... while moving. Our Airstream 'Squeaks and Squawks' when stationary.

Would you need 'Trailer Seat Belts' if sitting at the table?l Can you take a nap on the Bed?

Can you Bake a Cake while moving... or stationary but attached in a Parking Lot?

"Yes, Some US states like Minnesota, Kansas, Maryland, Iowa, Indiana, Arizona, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Nebraska allows you to ride in the back of your travel trailer legally. But there are some US states that require you to install safety glass in the trailer to transport the passengers legally." Bing Search

Why are the listed States not arranged A to Z? But random?

Oh... maybe this is why our trailers have or do not have Safety Glass? Do Airstreams? Tempered... but 'safety glass'?

I think Lucy and Ricky aptly addressed this issue in The Long Long Trailer.

The movie is required watching for all camping couples.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

I don't understand why someone would want to ride in a trailer while towing. .

Well.... I wanted to confirm or disprove that tire pressure greatly effects the ride in a moving AS.
I won't say 'cuz I don't want to deflate a lot of folks balloons.
I still run at 74 minimum.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Dennis C]

I actually just lowered my tire pressure to 70 PSI for our upcoming trip to see how it impacts ride quality. I'll report back when we get back!