DOT and towing race cars
 

I was going through some old paperwork and came across a couple letters that I received in response to my disagreement with the Iowa DOT and pulling racecars. In this case, it was a friend pulling an unlettered 24 ft enclosed race trailer with his personal pick up truck. He was travelling from Earville Iowa to home in Nebraska. The first letter shows the initial response and the second one after several lengthy discussions with a very helpful Iowa State Trooper. I know that there are a lot of discussions on this topic, but I thought some printed correspondence would be interesting for many of you. Jim.
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Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

When stopped. If asked. You say it's a car. If pressed you say it's a show car. You participate for trophies not cash.
If you blurt out "that's my race car". You might be in trouble.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Don't place decals on your trailer...out of sight, out of mind.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

James,
I applied for and received an "oversize annual permit" for Iowa and I have one for Florida as well. About $25 ea.
In Iowa I am good for 80', 24 hours a day with no escort car needed. Same for Florida.
I have the name of my company on the trailer 6' x 2' and the company owns the trailer. It is not commercial and it is not for hire. If I win any money it is claimed on my personal income taxes and is no way to be confused with a "commercial enterprise". So far no issues with the decals but I got measured this Spring so I got the Permit. The DOT officer did NOT know they offered such a thing.

Be safe out there and have a great Holiday Season.

Jok

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Jok, do you have to live in Iowa to get that? My brother got pulled over in our RV tag trailer combo once when we were on the wayhome to Illinois. If I could get a permit, we might get a 26 ft trailer next time. We are at 64 feet but anything over 65 in Iowa would have been an issue. How does a person apply or purchase this?

In the case above that I posted about,mthere was nothing that would idenify this truck and trailer as a racecar. No stickers, not over length. They were just trying to take advantage of their position of power to steal some money. At least the Governor's office allowed for some thoughtful follow up. Don't trust them just because they work for the DOT. They may be wrong in their interpretation of the regulations.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

I have plenty of experience with DOT officers. We move oversize boats all the time. You have to keep in mind that right or wrong He is the law on the side of the road. Most trucking companies just pay the fines rather than travel to fight it in court several times. Jeff Teuton has excellent infornmation we all need. Our Associations should put forth some effort like was done in North Carolina a few years ago. The overlength permits are a good idea where available. Florida's annual overlength is only $20.00.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Yes. And you can apply for it and do the whole thing online. Plus you don't have to be a Florida resident.
I had one when I had the 48' trailer. It was 68' end to end.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

I would say that is lying and could possibly get you in a heap more trouble than telling the truth. Especially with Law Enforcement personnel.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

You mean revenue enforcement

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

More like Revenue Enhancement! If you claim racing as a business you should declare it as such and pay the appropriate fees if they are different. I also believe that there should be some changes to the regulations. My main point was that the local DOT does not always know what they are talking about. If you get stuck, and don't agree, you can at least follow up afterwards and try to, make it right. The federal regs have exemptions that apply to 99.9 percent of sportsman racers, and the DOT is not always aware of this. In this case, I was able to find some good people in Government that listened and made corrections.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

One of these days going to have a trailer.
Where is a good site to view the rules.
Also get the feeling some States have more rules than others.
FWIW do not plan to go much toward the Mississippi from Maryland.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Try these:
http://www.readybrake.com/state_laws.html

http://www.rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm

http://www.trailerlifedirectory.com/...izeLimits.aspx

This ons has some good tips and links
http://camping.about.com/od/rvfullti...egulations.htm

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

lots of info here. only problem is , each website shows a different combined length allowed for my state . which one do you believe?

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Have a safe rig , other than that don't waste your time because they make up the rules as they go along . Show me two dot guys that can give the same answer to 10 questions ...

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

We have had our issues in MN too. The MNDOT told me not to decal the pickup or the trailer. He says that he does not stop people if the entire rig looks safe and that you look like you know what you are doing and are not breaking existing laws.

Most safety checks are for license, break away working, crossed safety chains, load secured including fuel barrels and NOS jugs and the usual tires and lights. If you require the CDL they check logs, DOT inspections and health cards.

I have been told that 1/2 to pickups pulling over their GCVW is on the radar. They also have checked the fuel color on diesels.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Jim,
I can't find the download but Barb just told me she started by Googling Iowa DOT oversize permits. That is how we also found the Florida one a couple years ago.
When I get some spare time I am going to start searching the states I normally drive through. Seems like an hour and $20-$30 is better than being taken out of service or fined several hundred dollars.

Jok

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

What good does a over length permit do if your over 10000gvw

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Yeah, I always thought the class A rule was 26001lbs. and above?

Sounds like some of these states are making up their own rules.

Or, are the rules different from a state highway to Interstate??

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Nationally 10,000 + makes you subject to DOT regs. If you have a pickup and trailer, I suggest you license the truck to cover the weight of both. That will probably get you out. Over 26000 is another subject, but most aren't that heavy. A dualie has about 11,000 GVW and most two axle trailers are between 10000 and 14000. License for what you weigh, not for combined GVW. That makes you legal as far as weight and it's cheaper. Length is state to state and so the confusion. I carry a copy of the DOT regs that clearly says cars, boats, horses not for commercial use are exempt. Most officers don't know this. The reg book is about 1 1/2 inches thick, and the exemption is one paragraph. 390(F) (3). You can race for money as long as you (if you win any) declare it as ordinary income ususlly a 1099 from where you won it. Most motor home licenses have no weight attached to them, but a motor home titled as ABC Racing, LLC is a commercial vehicle. You have no leg to stand on. Also an issue is that toters (w/fifth wheel) are not recognized in some states. The fifth wheel triggers all sorts of things. Remember, a gray area allows you to drive off. Have enough to create a gray area. Just so you know how screwed up this is, there are three different functions. DOT, Weights and Measures, and CDL. Don't you just love it.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Well Jeff , please help a dummy out ( since you have a understanding ) I have a 27` class c and pull a 32` triple for a lenght of 64 1/2 ft. I have 1 dragster and a golf cart or at times 2 dragsters.... no cart.

Which regs, or rules would cover the above .
And I have a non-cdl b.

THANK YOU SIR !

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Thanks.
Great information...
Think I will stick to driving to the tracks for a while!!

Dan

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Well Jeff , please help a dummy out ( since you have a understanding ) I have a 27` class c and pull a 32` triple for a lenght of 64 1/2 ft. I have 1 dragster and a golf cart or at times 2 dragsters.... no cart.

Which regs, or rules would cover the above .
And I have a non-cdl b. Illinois

THANK YOU SIR !

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Just curious, does all states require a brake tag for ur trailer. in Louisiana there is a law that has been around for a while and they have been cracking down on people, especially the boaters.:cool:

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Each state has its own laws. Iowa is unusual in combining truck and trailer when they set the break point at 10,001 pounds. Most places, either can be up to 10K. Florida gets upset with a trailer over 28' long. NJ has a 45' combined length limit, iirc.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

What is a brake tag?

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

I think its like a state inspection but not a very through one from what I have been told.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Ed, like rob mentioned it is an inspection sticker. and yes he is right it in some cases is not a thorough process. some cities or parishes require u to bring ur vehicle to the inspection station, and in others u just roll up to a gas station and roll on out.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Hoping out of state rigs are OK?

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

In Nebraska weigh station sighns say "pickups with trailers" must stop.I got pulled over and warned with a 28' enclosed that was empty.Emailed them before a trip from Idaho to Indy once and responce was you have to stop,doesn"t matter commercial or not.Have stop and wieghed on occasion and they usaully look at me like like WHAT'S THIS GUY DOING.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Good thing I tow with a van. Wonder how they would handle that if the sign really does say Pickups with trailers must stop.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Rick, if your motorhome is in your personal name and maybe your trailer also, you are probably subject to length and at less than 65' probably nothing. I assume your home state (or state from which your title is issued) has no weight stipulation attached to a motor home. The prize money is negated by Federal DOT which allows for winning and if you get a 1099, you claim it (not that you can get around it) from 390(3) of DOT manual. Now if your motorhome is in a Rick's Winning Racing LLC, then you are subject to DOT which starts @ 10000. Even if it has an RV plate, you are still DOT, and depending on the trooper it could be as bad as 1. You should have a truck tag with a weight stipulation, 2. DOT applies, 3. state provisions for DOT length (which might not be so bad Indiana has no length for DOT and 65 ft for RV). You can purchase a DOT manual from LabelMaster try 1-800-621-5808 Federal Motor Carrier Regulations. Not very expensive. They are from Chicago. If that don't work, there are some other companies that print them.

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Thank You Jeff ..................... Merry Christmas !

Re: DOT and towing race cars
 

Around here in some locations a pickup requires truck plates, truck city sticker and cannot be parked in your drive at $205 per year (55 sticker/150 plates)
Yet a Suburban is titled as a car, can be parked in your drive at $131 per year (30 sticker/101 plates)

And a Dodge Magnum Wagon is titled as a truck yet has car plates...

???

Re: DOT and towing race cars