Towing a race car legally with an RV

Old 08-04-2012, 05:41 PM
  #1  
qtrmile2
Senior Member
DYNO OPERATOR
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Moscow Mills, Mo.
Posts: 533
Default Towing a race car legally with an RV

I'm sure this has been talked about before but can anybody tell me about the law cracking down on RV's towing race cars in enclosed trailers. Recently I heard some guys were pulled over and some got warning tickets and some had to drop their trailer at the nearest weigh station. I heard it is illegal to tow a race car in some states with an RV. I also heard they leave you alone if you do not have your trailer lettered with your racing name on the sides. Another rumor is you have to have truck plates on your RV when towing a trailer. Would it help to have not for hire on the RV ?
I just want to make sure I'm legal towing with the RV. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
qtrmile2 is offline  
Old 08-04-2012, 05:43 PM
  #2  
TheYellaBrick
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheYellaBrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Emmett, Idaho
Posts: 7,334
Default

Not even a sniff in the air about that here out West.....They might be cracking down on RV's if there are no brakes on the trailer that work when applied in the RV.
TheYellaBrick is offline  
Old 08-05-2012, 07:06 AM
  #3  
shawnp
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 936
Default

If it is registered as an RV you are good but may have length laws that apply depending upon state. If you notice some of the JEGS trailers that haul the bracket and sportsman cars have removed the decals so they are just black and yellow. I guess they got popped either in CA or MI. The officer said that it was commercial as they were advertising their business. This is why I have never lettered up a trailer.
shawnp is offline  
Old 08-05-2012, 08:05 AM
  #4  
TheRabbit
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheRabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Augusta, Ga.
Posts: 2,276
Default

I hear all kinds of crazy stuff about dot and pulling trailers.
I spent some time at the dot office a few months back and talked two officers about all this.

1. If you have sponsors that pay you to advertise for them you are "For Hire" That means you are "For Hire" and all commercial laws including dot #'s and a cdl would apply to you. You would also have to claim taxes for this. If you advertise you personal business or the tow vehicle is registered to your business it is "For Hire".

2. If you race for money you are " For Hire". That means .....

Now they both told me that lettering on a trailer is putting a bullseye on yourself and asking for attention from them.

Above info is what the law is or could be used to give you a fine, but
they were not being butt heads just explaining to me what it was.

Now here is where they were really nice and helpful to tell me how avoid any issues.

1st Simply don't put decals on your truck or trailer to bring attention to myself.

2nd IF A VEHICLE IS USED FOR PERSONAL USE TO HAUL PERSONAL PROPERTY you do not have to have a cdl or dot #'s or any of the other bs you hear about all that. You can tow more than 26,001lbs combined with a truck and trailer combined and not have to have a cdl.

3 You do have to have the proper tag to tow the weight you are towing. Tag office will help you on that.


The officers told me if I was pulled over to never tell an officer on the side of the road that I won any $. The officer has no way to prove you did or did not.


4 A vehicle can not tow more than it's tow capacity no matter if it's private or commercial.
This is probably what the guys in the RV are having problems with.

Different state have different requirements for driving RV's. You would need to find out what your state laws are.


The best thing for you to do is go into a scale house on the interstate and talk to the guys in there. They have no problems talking to you and will HELP you with any questions you have. They are actually there to help you, but once they have you pulled over on the side of the highway most are not going to give you any slack.


I have a friend that got stopped in NC last year with a dullay pulling a 40' enclosed trailer with 2 trucks in it. He was over weight on front axle of trailer and rear axle of his truck. He tried to explain to the officer that he was not for hire and the girls at the tag office told him to put that on his trailer and he did. (I've laughed at him for years and told him this ticket was coming) Officer told him exact same thing I did, it doesn't matter if you are commercial or not you can NOT be overweight combined or per axle. His ticket was $840.
He went to court and again just like I told him it was going to be $840 after he pleaded to the judge.
TheRabbit is offline  
Old 08-05-2012, 08:11 AM
  #5  
TheRabbit
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheRabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Augusta, Ga.
Posts: 2,276
Default

To add to Shawn's post. Anybody like Jegs that races like they do is 100% commercial. Any and every law that applies to a big truck applies to those guys. IFTA, log book, etc. They may not do it, but they are suppose to.
TheRabbit is offline  
Old 08-05-2012, 08:13 AM
  #6  
TheYellaBrick
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheYellaBrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Emmett, Idaho
Posts: 7,334
Default

All good info and it makes sense why I'm seeing less and less 'racing teams' and more blank haulers.
Now, what happens when you're towing an open trailer with a signed/logoed up race car on it ?
TheYellaBrick is offline  
Old 08-05-2012, 08:19 AM
  #7  
TheRabbit
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
TheRabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Augusta, Ga.
Posts: 2,276
Default

Originally Posted by DrivingMissDD
All good info and it makes sense why I'm seeing less and less 'racing teams' and more blank haulers.
Now, what happens when you're towing an open trailer with a signed/logoed up race car on it ?
Cover it or put it in an enclosed trailer :wink:

Seriously, just never mention $. If asked they are stickers from where you bought parts. No law against stickers (yet)
TheRabbit is offline  
Old 08-06-2012, 05:20 AM
  #8  
qtrmile2
Senior Member
DYNO OPERATOR
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Moscow Mills, Mo.
Posts: 533
Default

Thanks for all the info.
qtrmile2 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell My Personal Information -