Over 65' in BC?

[CrazyCooter]

Planning a trip to British Columbia next year and wondering if anyone has had an issue with being over 65' combined? Sure would hate to have it be common practice to break out the tape at the border crossing...... That would be a drag!

[Chad Heiser]

I think RickS takes his rig to BC and I know he is over 65'. Maybe he will chime in.

[Darryl&Rita]

No bigger danger of law enforcement there, than anywhere else. The border guard has more to worry about than your overall length, and isn't tasked with vehicle code enforcement. The LEO on the street is solely responsible for that.

[Grassy]

For BC..other provinces vary..

 

Maximum lengths for Recreational Vehicles
• Maximum total length for a motorhome is 14.0 metres (45.93 feet).
• Maximum length for a towed recreational vehicle is 12.5 metres (41 feet).
• Maximum overall length for a combination is 20.0 metres (65.6 feet).

 

I think as long as you are following your own state laws, you are ok.... for instance, in my proving you are not allowed to double tow but I have seen this here...

 

I am hoping so because what is legal for our rig here may not be where we travel...

[Bobi and Dick McKee]

We have been in Canada for a month now. Before we came a Canadian warned us they are pulling over rigs weighing them a measuring overall length. In a month we have hardly seen a Canadian LEO on the road and have seen no RVs pulled over. At the boarder the agent only commented "nice rig".

[noteven]

BC will not permit double towing with light duty / rv's / personal vehicles regardless of your home place of registry.

 

What the interweb says:

 

Generally driver licensing / endorsements have reciprocity throughout the US and Canada - if you are legal in your home jurisdiction to drive your unit that's good everywhere.

 

Vehicle weight / dimensions / configurations permitted are subject to local regulations.

[Grassy]

That that is contradictory..

 

BC will not permit double towing....if you are legal in your home jurisdiction to drive your unit that's good everywhere...

[Asross72]

That that is contradictory..

 

BC will not permit double towing....if you are legal in your home jurisdiction to drive your unit that's good everywhere...

No, it's not, your licence has reciprocity in US and Canada, your vehicle doesn't. The vehicle is subject to local rules

[Grassy]

OK, so I need to know the rules in every state and province I drive in just to make sure I am legal ?

 

I need to add to this. Where I live double towing is not allowed but I see them on the highway....

 

BTW, we are allowed a max length 75 feet 5 inches...so if I went to BC and I was max length for our regulations, I would be breaking the law ?

 

Interesting and informative thread..

[Asross72]

Planning a trip to British Columbia next year and wondering if anyone has had an issue with being over 65' combined? Sure would hate to have it be common practice to break out the tape at the border crossing...... That would be a drag!

We did our trip to BC from Alberta in May to visit my family. We're 65' 58" (). It was a long weekend, lots of enforcement on the highways. Other than the usual double-take looks, including a couple of commercial inspectors, no problems. Bypassed the open scales, no problems.

[CrazyCooter]

OK we have nothing more to worry about than here is sounds like.

 

I'm working on a back up plan for another temp hitch position that would make us legal to drive away if not allowed to , but the gap between the front cap and Jeep/SXS would likely be too small to make a sharp turn and the trailer would be nose high a few inches.

[Chad Heiser]

OK, so I need to know the rules in every state and province I drive in just to make sure I am legal ?

 

I need to add to this. Where I live double towing is not allowed but I see them on the highway....

 

BTW, we are allowed a max length 75 feet 5 inches...so if I went to BC and I was max length for our regulations, I would be breaking the law ?

 

Interesting and informative thread..

 

I know this is off topic, but registration and licensing are the only things that are reciprocal between jurisdictions. Length, weight, width, doubles, triples, etc are set jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You may be perfectly legal in one state, but as soon as you cross the border to the next state/country/province you are completely illegal. You do need to know the laws of all the jurisdictions you travel through to make sure you are legal and then decide if you want to take the risk if you are not.

[Grassy]

Chad,

 

I know I wondered off topic but I suspect that the question would interest most non seasoned RV'ers that will be driving through many states / provinces. WE will be driving a great distance in the near future.

 

You have corrected an assumption I have had..

 

Thanks..

[Imurphy907]

My 5th wheel is 45' and my OAL is 67'8". I have never been stopped in B.C. it would take a bored cop, or you doing something stupid to get their attention.

[CrazyCooter]

 

I know this is off topic, but registration and licensing are the only things that are reciprocal between jurisdictions. Length, weight, width, doubles, triples, etc are set jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You may be perfectly legal in one state, but as soon as you cross the border to the next state/country/province you are completely illegal. You do need to know the laws of all the jurisdictions you travel through to make sure you are legal and then decide if you want to take the risk if you are not.

You mean Canadia won't accept any of my CCW's?

[Brad & Jacolyn]

Hey Cooter, let us know how it goes with those CCW's. We would like to know where to send cards and letters to keep you cheered up while they keep you in Canada.

[CrazyCooter]

LOL! My friends told me they had plenty to loan when I get there.....

[Jack Mayer]

 

I know this is off topic, but registration and licensing are the only things that are reciprocal between jurisdictions. Length, weight, width, doubles, triples, etc are set jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You may be perfectly legal in one state, but as soon as you cross the border to the next state/country/province you are completely illegal. You do need to know the laws of all the jurisdictions you travel through to make sure you are legal and then decide if you want to take the risk if you are not.

EXACTLY right. Do not assume what is legal in YOUR state is legal elsewhere...it may or may not be.....

[budeneighe]

I could go crazy trying to make a cross country trip with my rig if I really tried to be "legal" in all states I might pull through. http://www.goodsamcamping.com/plan/sizelimits.aspx

 

[Broncohauler]

 

I know this is off topic, but registration and licensing are the only things that are reciprocal between jurisdictions. Length, weight, width, doubles, triples, etc are set jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You may be perfectly legal in one state, but as soon as you cross the border to the next state/country/province you are completely illegal. You do need to know the laws of all the jurisdictions you travel through to make sure you are legal and then decide if you want to take the risk if you are not.

X2

[Grassy]

Damn, at 52 combined feet ..I am not legal in NJ.... a 40 ft 5th is but I guess you have to pull it with a smart car..

 

 

[I'mdonewiththis forum]

I could go crazy trying to make a cross country trip with my rig if I really tried to be "legal" in all states I might pull through. http://www.goodsamcamping.com/plan/sizelimits.aspx

 

That chart is behind the times for Minnesota. You are currently allowed to be 70' in length and no length restriction for the first trailer (used to be 28' max).

Mn Statute 169.81 subd 3c

Subd. 3c.Recreational vehicle combination.

Notwithstanding subdivision 3, a recreational vehicle combination may be operated without a permit if:

(1) the combination does not consist of more than three vehicles, and the towing rating of the full-size pickup truck or recreational truck-tractor is equal to or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed;

(2) the combination does not exceed 70 feet in length;

(3) the operator of the combination is at least 18 years of age;

(4) the trailer is only carrying watercraft, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, off-highway motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorized golf carts, or equestrian equipment or supplies, and meets all requirements of law;

(5) the vehicles in the combination are connected to the full-size pickup truck or recreational truck-tractor and each other in conformity with section 169.82; and

(6) the combination is not operated within the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.

[rickeieio]

(1) the combination does not consist of more than three vehicles, and the towing rating of the full-size pickup truck or recreational truck-tractor is equal to or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed;

 

That looks like a pretty big "gotcha". We'd be okay with the big trucks, but pick-ups are rarely rated to tow what a double would weigh.

 

And then there's that next state........which ever way you might be going.

[noteven]

Damn, at 52 combined feet ..I am not legal in NJ.... a 40 ft 5th is but I guess you have to pull it with a smart car..

 

 

Hi Grassy,

 

Wouldn't this mean the trailer length alone?

 

Usually regulations refer to "vehicle combination" or similar language when they mean the overall length of the combination...

[Darryl&Rita]

New Jersey combined length is 50', according to the link posted. 40' trailer max, 40' motor-home max, with 50' 2 vehicle combined total. That also rules out towing a crew-cab pickup behind your motor-home.