DOT Camper Towing Length

Summertime is vacation time. Millions of Americans hit the road to visit the country this time of year, and a lot of them attach their vehicle to a camping trailer to take a little bit of home along with them and to have a place to stay wherever they go. Camper towers must be aware of certain rules of the road wherever they go.

  1. U.S. DOT

    • The U.S. Department of Transportation says that camper length and other dimensions are left to the various states. Municipalities might require special licenses or permits for you to tow your camper within their jurisdictions, so it is best to check with the various agencies that may control the specs before you set out with your camper. Canada also has special regulations you might want to explore.

    State Rules: Trailer Lengths

    • The length of allowable trailers varies among the states. Allowable lengths range from 30 feet in Louisiana to 53 feet in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Washington. Maryland allows 33 feet and North Carolina 35 feet.

      A 40-foot length is allowed in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. Arkansas permits 43.5 feet. Maine, Minnesota, New York and Virginia allow length of 45'. Idaho, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wisconsin all permit trailers up to 48 feet. Wyoming allows up to 60'.

      Eleven states -- California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania as well as the District of Columbia -- do not specify a maximum trailer length, but they do have a limits on combined vehicle/trailer lengths.

    State Rules: Combined Vehicle/Trailer Lengths

    • Mississippi, New Hampshire, and South Carolina specify no combined length maximum. Oregon tops out at 50 feet (60 feet with special permits), with Maryland at 55 and Michigan at 59.

      Connecticut has a 48-foot maximum in some instances, but its general maximum is 60 feet, the same as Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. New Jersey's top number is 62 feet.

      Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia all limit maximum combined to 65 feet. Colorado, Nevada, and Oklahoma top out at 70 feet. Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington have a maximum combined length of 75 feet. Wyoming allows a top combined length of 85 feet, the greatest of any state.

    General Safety Tips for Towing Campers

    • The California Department of Motor Vehicles stresses that an inspection of camper towing equipment should be done before hitting the road. Checklist:

      - Make sure the ball mount/receiver securing pin is intact.

      - Secure the hitch coupler.

      - Verify that all spring bar hinges are tight and safety clips in place.

      - Properly attach all safety chains.

      - Properly install electrical plugs.