CA issues with 6" lift :hillbilly:

[clownmidget]

Got pulled over by the CHP today and he pulls out a tape measure and informs me that I'm "well over the 23-inch maximum frame height for a passenger vehicle". Issued me a ticket that will require me to go to court...

First, you have to realize that I'm in southern CA where my truck with Slee's 6" springs, 1.5" spring spacers, a 1" body lift and 37" Toyo's is absolutely lost among the giant Ford, Dodge, Chevy, GMC full-size quad-cab monsters on 20"+ rims and 40" + tires. I must regularly see trucks that have a frame height in excess of 30".

Second, anyone have any idea what the best approach would be?

Third, Sam and you other fools running around on big tires - better get some fake drop frame rails Guess LX_Treme had the right idea after all...

edit: Mods feel free to move this to chat but wanted the 80's folks to be aware of the issue

edit x2: you got to be kidding me I can't edit the title

 

[cruiserdan]

Where, exactly, did he measure?


I wonder if "trucks" are treated differently?




The officer prolly owns a Jeep and a Cruiser bested him and he's got a chip...............

 

[cruiserdan]

Kidding aside, I think I would start with whatever regulation the citation says you voilated. I would read all of it and see if the Cruiser falls under the legal definition. If it doesn't all you have to do is point that out to the Judge. If it does I guess you need to let the air out of your tires.

 

[semlin]

maybe you need to get yourself a commercial GVW rating?

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Put the stock tires back on and drive it to the courthouse...

 

[cruiserdan]

I just went out and measured my bottom-of-rear-bumper-to-ground.............



It's 22 and 15/16 inches..................



Does that mean I can plate it in Californiacate?

 

[semlin]

Dan, how many ammo cases on the tailgate?

24" here so i guess I'm hooped.

 

[clownmidget]

He measured it in the middle of the frame, just about where the rear output from the xfer case is. He said the lowest part of the frame is where it is measured from and mine was just under 25".

Guess I'll dig into the vehicle code and will be "borrowing" some 285's for a day.

 

[smittycrusher]

absolutely lost among the giant Ford, Dodge, Chevy, GMC full-size quad-cab monsters on 20"+ rims and 40" + tires. I must regularly see trucks that have a frame height in excess of 30".

I lived corona for about 6 months and was amazed by the soccer moms driving around brand new excursions/expeditions/tahoes/f350's/etc. that I thought I could walk under. I am from atlanta and I had never seen such nice new trucks that high off the ground. I was amazed at the sheer # of them I saw each day too. I remeber seeing yours coming down Big Bear when I was going up and if I remember correctly I grossly underestimated the lift on yours based on the brief sighting. That CHP officer could make a living writing these tickets to all of the fore mentioned rigs if he/she so chose......although I saw some hotties in a lot of them and I am sure they are "better" at "getting out" of tickets than you. Never even have to see a judge .

Smit

 

[NorCalSam]

LOL good one Smit.

I think he is a Fing flat lander!

that is BS

 

[Wrench]

In Massachusetts it's measured from the bottom of the drivers door to the ground. And the max is 26". I'm at 25" with 35's.

 

[AMMO]

He measured it in the middle of the frame, just about where the rear output from the xfer case is. He said the lowest part of the frame is where it is measured from and mine was just under 25".

Guess I'll dig into the vehicle code and will be "borrowing" some 285's for a day.

Dam Mike...

Seems I left CA just in the nick of time... I would have to venture that it has to do with pick-ups in CA are reg'd as commercial V.S. our cruisers are classified as a "wagon" even though we all know these frames are fully boxed and built like tanks when compared to even today "super duty’s"... Yet another strike on the CA leg that just makes ya scratch your head sometimes...

Aloha.
Matt

 

[Stevemcnash]

Sucks to hear that man, CHP can be a major pain. Here's a copy of the law for everyone to have a look at, not sure if there is any wiggle room but the law is always open for interpretation. Good luck

Frame and Floor Height

24008.5. (a) No person shall operate any motor vehicle with a frame height or body floor height greater than specified in subdivisions (b) and (c).

(b) The maximum frame height is as follows:
Vehicle Type Frame Height

(1) Passenger vehicles, except housecars


23 inches

(2) All other motor vehicles, including housecars, as follows:

Up to 4,500 pounds GVWR


27 inches

4,501 to 7,500 pounds GVWR


30 inches

7,501 to 10,000 pounds GVWR


31 inches

(c) The lowest portion of the body floor shall not be more than five inches above the top of the frame.

(d) The following definitions govern the construction of this section:

(1) "Frame" means the main longitudinal structural members of the chassis of the vehicle or, for vehicles with unitized body construction, the lowest main longitudinal structural members of the body of the vehicle.

(2) "Frame height" means the vertical distance between the ground and the lowest point on the frame, measured when the vehicle is unladen on a level surface at the lowest point on the frame midway between the front axle and the second axle on the vehicle.

(3) "GVWR" means the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating, as defined in Section 390, whether or not the vehicle is modified by use of parts not originally installed by the manufacturer.

 

[taccruiser97]

Sucks to hear that man, CHP can be a major pain. Here's a copy of the law for everyone to have a look at, not sure if there is any wiggle room but the law is always open for interpretation. Good luck

Frame and Floor Height

24008.5. (a) No person shall operate any motor vehicle with a frame height or body floor height greater than specified in subdivisions (b) and (c).

(b) The maximum frame height is as follows:
Vehicle Type Frame Height

(1) Passenger vehicles, except housecars


23 inches

(2) All other motor vehicles, including housecars, as follows:

Up to 4,500 pounds GVWR


27 inches

4,501 to 7,500 pounds GVWR


30 inches

7,501 to 10,000 pounds GVWR


31 inches

(c) The lowest portion of the body floor shall not be more than five inches above the top of the frame.

(d) The following definitions govern the construction of this section:

(1) "Frame" means the main longitudinal structural members of the chassis of the vehicle or, for vehicles with unitized body construction, the lowest main longitudinal structural members of the body of the vehicle.

(2) "Frame height" means the vertical distance between the ground and the lowest point on the frame, measured when the vehicle is unladen on a level surface at the lowest point on the frame midway between the front axle and the second axle on the vehicle.

(3) "GVWR" means the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating, as defined in Section 390, whether or not the vehicle is modified by use of parts not originally installed by the manufacturer.

Doesn't the Land Cruiser GVWR fall within the 4,501 to 7,500 pound weight rating and as such frame height cannot exceed 27" from the ground? If so, and the trooper wrote you for 23" then he cited you wrong (maybe grounds for dismissal of the ticket). Also, this would give you another 4" breathing room according to how the statute is written, right?

 

[Taz]

uh oh! What is a "housecar"?

 

[Darwood]

I just measured. At the transfercase crossmember I'm 19.5 inches. At the frame rail I measured 21 inches. Looks like I'm good for 35's.

Now what does "All other motor vehicles" mean? I guess one needs to find out what "Passenger vehicles" means first.

 

[ginericLC]

I've been there. I've been pulled over in both of my 80s for no mudflaps, tires exceeding the fenderwell, and no bumper. Once in my 40 I got ticketed for no mudflaps, tires exceeding the fenderwell, and not wearing a seatbelt. I had harnesses on. Guess what? Harnesses aren't DOT approved seatbelts so in the eyes of the law they do not count. Why don't they go harass the guy blowing oil out his exhaust running on bald tires? Good luck!

 

[dclee]

Mike -

My `94 has a GVWR of 6525 pounds. But I guess it depends if the statute just lumps all vehicles classified as "passenger" vehicles (which the Cruiser is) into one category regardless of weight rating. In which case you'd better get those 31's back on... ;p

I also have the Slee 6" heavy lift and 35's but my frame rail sits at exactly 22" at the T-case. Must by my "small" 35" Goodyears...

Good luck with the bastards!

 

[Clutchee]

I would move from CA.

 

[clownmidget]

I've been there. I've been pulled over in both of my 80s for no mudflaps, tires exceeding the fenderwell, and no bumper. Once in my 40 I got ticketed for no mudflaps, tires exceeding the fenderwell, and not wearing a seatbelt. I had harnesses on. Guess what? Harnesses aren't DOT approved seatbelts so in the eyes of the law they do not count. Why don't they go harass the guy blowing oil out his exhaust running on bald tires? Good luck!

yeah, I failed to mention he did quite a bit of measuring of my fender flares and the tire width - thank god those flares are still on Also took a mirror on a pole out and did a full under carriage inspection. I don't know what he was expecting to see or not to see. Spent some time looking around the Hanna cat skid plate so I guess he was thinking maybe I had removed my cats (meow!). It stopped short of him asking me to turn on all my lights, turn signals, etc. but he obviously had "issues" with just the way the truck looked. I was pretty confused when he pulled me over - thought maybe I was blowing coolant, oil or both out of my tail pipe from the recent headgasket work

Court is Aug 16 so I'm hoping I'll have a solid case built by then...and have stock springs, 275 michelins

And a big thanks for the info on the GVW specs. that sounds promising