Wide Load Towing

[Grain of Salt]

I have a boat and trailer that is 9 feet overall width...I believe 8'6" is the maximum according to the DMV site.
Is it possible to license this trailer and use it without trip permits? The DMV site was a bit overwhelming and before I sit on hold all day I was just wanting to gather some info.

Thanks

[Chesapeake]

I dont have a legal opinion, but several of the aluminum sleds sold today have a 9 foot beam. They are licensed and towed all over with out any special permit. My guess is that the DMV goes off the dimensions of the trailer for licensing and never considers the boat.

[PBR Streetgang]

8'6" is the legal maximum width. The easiest way to do this is license it and forget that it is 9' wide. I cannot think of a reason a cop would actually stop you and get a tape measure out and measure it.

My two cents.

Tim

[Grain of Salt]

Thanks for the responses, the trailer itself is 9 feet wide overall...and I am just guessing that when I take it to DMV they will measure it...but I could get lucky.

[Moldy Mike]

I named mine "WIDE LOAD" and painted that on the back. It has worked OK so far! Fish ON!! MM

[Grain of Salt]

As expected, the call to DMV was entertaining.

The operator with the "Overdimension permit division" (can you believe we even have one of those?) Stated that in a recent meeting, it was declared that they will no longer issue wide load permits on boat trailers where the "trailer is wider than the boat". Huh? says I? I assumed she had it backwards, but she repeated it 3 times.(so it must be true)
So I say, how about I add something to the boat to make it 10 feet wide (hence 1 foot wider than the trailer) and she merrily says...oh that would be fine, they could permit that.

So according to The State of Oregon...it is better to have a load beyond your trailer than inside it. And oversized to boot.

[Riverliver]

Hauling oversize loads rather length, height, or width is what I do for a living.
Every state in the union has a Oversize permitting department that is rather extensive including permitting officers, bridge height inspectors, routing officials and many many more; In fact we have a couple of Ifishers that work for the Oregon Oversize permitting departments..
If you have any other questions about hauling over-dimensional moves feel free to send me a pm and if I don’t know the answer I can tell you who will. Sounds great concerning the new ruling about 9’ wide boat trailers I know its been debated b4 with the state.. Even if you had to get a permit you could be issued a Oregon Annual permit that you would only purchase annually and be good for the whole year, except during Holiday restrictions. If you are required to get a permit don’t forget to purchase a Oversize load sign for the front and rear of the truck and trailer as well as red flag the widest portion of the load (boat) during daylight transit. During night transit the widest portion of the load (Boat) should be marked with a amber light for the sides and if it over hangs the rear of the trailer should be a constant burning red light. (We used battery operated magnet mounted LED lights now for marking the rear and side of out oversize loads)

I understand how you feel… Dealing with Oversize issues at the very least can be overwhelming and confusing.. Be glad to help if you need it..
Tight lines
Greg

[Beer Waggin]

I'd bet they won't measure the width when you take it in for inspection. They didn't measure mine and never asked how wide it was.

I know guys that buy the annual permit (about $35??) and I know guys like myself that hook up and go.

[Grain of Salt]

Riverliver...excellent response...thanks and will be pming specifics...the annual permit is what I was hoping for...had the trailer designed to perfection but then the wheels dished abit more than I planned..oops...added 3 inches per side.

thanks again all

[Riverliver]

your welcome. I sent you a PM by the by


If it was me and only 9 feet wide...
I'd let that Big Truck Roll 10-4

But that's just me...

[Hoghunter]

BT, I tow a 30' with a 10'7" beam. I have permits for Washington, Oregon and Canada. The overwide permit for Oregon costs me $8.00 a year. In fact I just got the renewal notice. You don't get the permit from the DMV. You get the permit through WorkSafe. Their number is 503-391-9363. When I applied they sent me a whole packet of info that lists the restrictions for widths and highways at certain times of the day. I tow down to Garibaldi every fall and back. Put my overwide sign on and go. Same goes for Washington and Canada. Except the permit in Washington is about $150 for 6 months. When towing I follow the procedures outlined by Riverliver above and would ditto what he said above though. If I was towing a 9' wide load I wouldn't think twice and would go. I truly doubt anyone is going to stop you.

[fortywinks]

Riverliver knows of what he speaks. Yes the annual permit is a scant 8 bucks per year. It comes with all the pertinent info and what is "required" when running under permit.

What a lot of folks don't know is that it is by rule illegal to tote an over width load on holidays and summer holiday weekends, and after noon on Saturday and all day Sunday during daylight hours during the summer months in Oregon. This is the short story rather than getting into more technical aspects of the rules. It has been that way for many years. I'm not justifying it, just saying that is how it is written. The problem here of course is that if you follow the rules, and display the required signs, you should not be on the road during these times. Then you say what good is having a boat if I can't drag it around when I want to. Indeed.

Enforcement is a different story. Motor Carrier Enforcement focuses on trucks. Trucks are required to pull into an open scale if over a certain weight, and must deal with officials who know and understand the rules that apply to trucking. Private vehicles are not under the same requirements for stopping at a scale, and OSP and most county mounties are not going to be that familiar with general over size rules and regulations. They are not likely to be carrying a tape measure to measure your boat width and probably won't look twice at you as long as you are not drawing attention to yourself by doing something else un-road-worthy. Therefore you are apt to be able to skate by this without any problem, especially if you are only 9 feet wide. I would think your biggest worry would be in the event you caused an accident, or a sharp lawyer at least could make it seem that way, and that you either, one, did not have a permit, and two, if you did have a permit, you were not following the terms and requirements of the permit.

As for the legal width load on an over width trailer, under most circumstances this is a no-no, but there are exceptions to almost every rule, and it is sometimes open to some interpretation too. The rules are many and often complex. They have been developed over time, to changing conditions and economic and technical circumstances in an effort to provide some degree of safety and regulation on Oregon's highways. Don't kill the messenger. The Over Dimension Permit Unit issues about 300 single trip truck permits daily, and this does not include the cookie-cutter annual permits. These are over size loads only, that are either heavy, wide, high, long or generally a combination of all of these.

Thanks for bringing it up.

[Grain of Salt]

Thanks to all who responded...great information as always.
Hope I didnt come off as glib as this was not my intention...was just surprised to be lumped in with all the lowboys and house movers, but I guess that makes for a more efficient government system.
Wow, 300 per DAY? I had no idea. Will make me think twice when I see a mobile home roaring down the road.
Thanks again all.