Trailer hitch laws and towing regulations by state
There will come a time in your life when all your hard work will pay off and earn you the means to tour across the country with a camper, boat, or that jet ski you've always wanted to have at your family getaways. When the time comes that you need to use your vehicle to tow a camper or trailer from one place to another, you'll want to know how to tow safely, what the laws and regulations are to keep you out of trouble, and what the best way to tow is. Though you may want the best and biggest camper or caravan, boat or trailer, there are many safety requirements you'll have to consider and many different laws and regulations that vary from state to state to take into account before making a purchase.
In the USA, the laws and regulations around towing are complicated and vary depending on which state you're in. There are several rules that you can follow, however, that are standard in every state. So, if you are towing a trailer behind your vehicle, make sure the following is in place:
Some of the trailer laws that differ by state require that you have even more safety equipment and adhere to other limitations such as:
Contrary to popular belief, it isn't illegal to have a ball hitch if you're not towing anything, and while there are no specific laws for trailer hitches in the United States at the time of writing, there are laws that you may be breaking by leaving a trailer hitch exposed. For example, the law in most states specifies that you may not cover up any numbers or letters or the state of origin on your vehicle's license plate - if you aren't towing anything and your trailer hitch obscures your number plate, you are in contravention of the law.
一个s an example. here are just some of the specific trailer length, height, and width limits by state, followed by some of the trailer towing speed limits by state: | New York | California | New Jersey | Florida | Oklahoma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lenth | 48-feet | 40-feet | 40-feet | 40-feet | 40-feet |
Height | 13.5-feet | 14-feet | 13.5-feet | 13.5-feet | 13.5-feet |
Width | 8.5-feet | 8.5-feet | 8-feet | 8.7-feet | 8.5-feet |
Speed Limit | 65 mph | 70 mph | 65 mph | 70 mph | 75 mph |
Now that you know some of the regulations for towing, here is an easy guide for learning to drive with a trailer in tow for the first time:
Vehicles like the Ram 3500 are able to pull up to 37,000 lbs with a fifth wheel at the time of writing, but there are many more on our list of thebest trucks for towingwith such impressive towing capabilities.
You also get different types of hitch receivers, ranging from bumper hitches, front hitches, weight-distribution hitches, and pintle hitches. Always ensure you use the right application for your needs.
The general rule of thumb is that towing speed limits are usually around 10 mph lower than the speed limit that applies to motorists who aren't hauling anything. This applies to freeways too. Pay attention to the differences in various states, though, as these may differ across borders and depend on the type of trailer you've hitched.
This will depend on the vehicle you're renting and the vehicle rental company's policy. Some companies may even specialize in hiring out such vehicles to assist you with towing. In general, however, it is not advised to use a rental car for anything you have not discussed, clarified, and agreed upon with the rental agent themselves.
Towing with an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle is possible, but due to weight, regenerative braking systems, and decreased range when towing, EVs aren't often given a tow rating in the US. EVs were not designed with this capability in mind, but you can read more abouttowing with an EV or hybrid here.
Once you're on the open road, driving with a trailer is relatively easy-going if you stick to the speed limits. Maneuvering through tighter roads, parking, and reversing with a trailer can be rather difficult, however. It is a skill you need to practice and should always be taken seriously - driving at high speeds and losing control will be disastrous.