Rules on fenders for trailers? Tires sticking out?

[e9999]

from what I can tell, the California DMV rules state that a trailer that has an unladen weight of less than 1,500 lbs is not required to have fenders or flaps. Otherwise, there has to be something that effectively minimizes water spray to the rear, or some language to that effect. There is also apparently a (poorly?) written blurb in the VC that says that the fender has to be as wide as the tire tread (although one could interpret that in different ways as a technicality, but is probably understood to cover fully the tire).

Anyway, seems like with a small trailer one can get away with tires sticking outside of the fenders in California.

I'm wondering, though, what happens if I were to take a trailer like that to other states while travelling.

Those of you familiar with such things in other states, especially in the West, is that sort of a standard state of affairs or are there states that are much stricter on this issue of "sticking out tires"?

 

[Dell]

why not just modify the fenders to make coverage ?

 

[ntsqd]

Usually in the west those sorts of things are left to the state where the trailer resides. For instance, Oregon doesn't even give out plates for light utility trailers. I towed one nearly the N-S length of KA without issue. However I did it with a OR plated pick-up. Had I tried that with a KA plated vehicle it probably would have been a different story. & boy was getting that trailer in my name in KA a PITA, DMV wanted the old plates and were insistent that it must have had them.

 

[e9999]

Usually in the west those sorts of things are left to the state where the trailer resides. For instance, Oregon doesn't even give out plates for light utility trailers. I towed one nearly the N-S length of KA without issue. However I did it with a OR plated pick-up. Had I tried that with a KA plated vehicle it probably would have been a different story. & boy was getting that trailer in my name in KA a PITA, DMV wanted the old plates and were insistent that it must have had them.

if that were a sure thing, it'd be easy. Counting on professional courtesy (?) "reciprocity" may be iffy though, as you're probably at the mercy of the LEO's good will. Or is that a given?

I'm pretty sure every State has the ability to apply their own laws unilaterally if they so desire. (And that is a good thing in many people's eyes no doubt.)

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

In Kalifornia, a trailers tire must be kept within the parameters of the fender on whick it is installed. The CHP, and now even the Park Rangers have got the bug to cite any violation of this nature, CAUTION, it is not only for overspray but also the chance of the tire going catastrophic and grenading into traffic, Like the fender is going to help right?

 

[e9999]

In Kalifornia, a trailers tire must be kept within the parameters of the fender on whick it is installed. The CHP, and now even the Park Rangers have got the bug to cite any violation of this nature, CAUTION, it is not only for overspray but also the chance of the tire going catastrophic and grenading into traffic, Like the fender is going to help right?

are you saying that this is true also of trailers that are less than 1500 lbs unloaded? if so, can you provide a source?

 

[Mace]

What is the issue with not providing coverage?

 

[Mark W]

these sort of issues are always a matter of state or even locality. there is no federal standard for this kinda stuff. no one can provide you a definitive answer unless they have current knowledge of and from the places you plan to take the trailer.

in any case, why would you not want your tires covered. As a matter of courtesy to others on the road with you who will be on the receiving end of any gravel your throw, and for your own sake )gravel can be and often is thrown forward onto the towing rig. I have lost rear window glass to gravel that has bounced off the front of a trailer while driving the Alcan.

Put fenders on it and move on.


Mark...

 

[ntsqd]

if that were a sure thing, it'd be easy. Counting on professional courtesy (?) "reciprocity" may be iffy though, as you're probably at the mercy of the LEO's good will. Or is that a given?

I'm pretty sure every State has the ability to apply their own laws unilaterally if they so desire. (And that is a good thing in many people's eyes no doubt.)

It's not necessarily about reciprocity, it is that what is legal in your home state may or may not be legal in another state. It would be rare for an officer to know what is and isn't legal in neighboring states, there's too much to know about their own state's laws.

It's true that the CHP could probably have written me a ticket for no plate on that OR trailer, but since the both the truck and the trailer appeared to be visitors to KA, what would be the point? Now if I'd been pulling that trailer with a KA plated vehicle it's a whole different story. The guy at the DMV told me this when I asked about moving the trailer to their office for the inspection. He gave me a temporary moving permit for the trailer because the truck no longer had OR plates on it.

In the West, at least, if your trailer is legal in your own state then you shouldn't have anything to worry about in the other states. This is true of vehicles too. Something gross that every state would require, like headlights or tail lights, would and should earn you a ticket but unless the officer witnesses a safety hazard caused by a lack of equipment why would he or she bother with a trailer from another state?
I've no experience with the Mid-West or the East, so no idea what goes on in those regions.

I'm guessing that the problem isn't a lack of desire to meet the Vehicle Code, but the logistics of how to go about doing that.

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Kalifornia has a fee for any trailer, a PTI is good for 5 years and covers all trailers regardless of GVW, The only trailer not required to display a plate is a TOW DOLLY which is considered to be a part of the vehicle towing it. If you own a tow dolly you may register it but it is not required. Other than that in Kali ya gotta pay to play.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

A gray area exists when the tread is covered by the fender but the tire width is not. My trailer tires project enough that an anal retentive cop could cite me, but the tread is completely covered. At some point I'll put skinnier tires on it to get around this. In the meantime, the cops in Oregon appear to have better things to do.

 

[The Jade Bean]

There may be written laws but it's completely up to the officer/s that pull you over as to whether you receive a ticket or not. I personally am going to try to meet as many laws as possible with fender/flares and mud flaps so as to possibly avoid issues. Just my 2 cents.

-Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.

 

[fj40charles]

What is the issue with not providing coverage?

It will cost $$$ which is a problem for THE cheap bastard.

 

[Mace]

Stock cruiser front fenders are cheap and wide as heck...