DOT. "Do as I say, not as I do"

[NIsaacs]

When I bought my Quad in '04, It come with a permanent plate, good for any Quad trail in the state. Now it requires a regular license for any public land, insurance and to make it legal, rear view mirror, brake light and horn. Yet the tires say "off road use only" The highways here are crawling with them???



Mine stays on the property with it's original permanent plate, kinda useless



Nick

 

[TFucili]

When I bought my Quad in '04, It come with a permanent plate, good for any Quad trail in the state. Now it requires a regular license for any public land, insurance and to make it legal, rear view mirror, brake light and horn. Yet the tires say "off road use only" The highways here are crawling with them???

Mine stays on the property with it's original permanent plate, kinda useless

Nick

It is my understanding that you only need the mirror/brake light/tag light/horn,etc. , if you are going to "street legal" it. You then get an MC plate. You still need the OHV sticker, though. The advantage is that if you "street legal" it and check the box for primarily off-road use, you save the VLT when you renew. If you are not going to use it on the road, you need only an RV plate with the OHV sticker. If you have a third party title outfit nearby go there instead of the state MVD office. You will get better information and less hassle. We are a dealer, and do all of our title work at a third party office.

 

[NIsaacs]

Thanks for the info TF, I might check into it when I get over my mad I know it is "Childish" but I can't help it. An agency that controls how I use the tires on my truck and trailers based on what the sidewall says, looks the other way with highway driven quads. Same thing with some states, the new truck the dealer sells as street legal now requires mud flaps when it hits the street.



Sorry, I woke up gripping this morning



Nick

 

[RustyJC]

Same thing with some states, the new truck the dealer sells as street legal now requires mud flaps when it hits the street.

All the dealers I've dealt with in Texas install mud flaps on duallies before they are delivered to the customer. Otherwise, they can't legally affix an inspection sticker.



Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

I think mudflaps on duallies is a standard DOT requirement in all 50 states. I think the reason is the possibility of a large rock being picked up between the dual tires and thrown back at a following motorist.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I am not sure it is in Arizona but could be WRONG. I don't have them on right now as I recently tore them off. I like to back into parking spaces and they was to low and the bumper barrier took them off at different times. First one then the other. FYI when I purchased the truck new it did not have mud flaps on either.

So far have not been stopped for not having them in any State. Is that because I am not commercial?

 

[MMeier]

I am not sure it is in Arizona but could be WRONG. I don't have them on right now as I recently tore them off. I like to back into parking spaces and they was to low and the bumper barrier took them off at different times. First one then the other. FYI when I purchased the truck new it did not have mud flaps on either.



So far have not been stopped for not having them in any State. Is that because I am not commercial?

Probably just lucky ! AZDPS has a seperate quick check box on their tickets for things such as flaps, window tint and so on . Harveys great state tried to nail me for having "defective" flaps a few summers back on the '03 , after a search, I got a warning slip.

 

[NIsaacs]

I think like Rusty and Harvey said, the duallies are considered more "truck like" so maybe they are looked at more, so mud flaps are included more. I don't think it's the dually configuration so much as bumper height. A flat bed is a given, however with a pickup bed, some may qualify without. In Montana, 1/2 ton pickups are required to have them



Nick

 

[Bill Stockard]

I think like Rusty and Harvey said, the duallies are considered more "truck like" so maybe they are looked at more, so mud flaps are included more. I don't think it's the dually configuration so much as bumper height. A flat bed is a given, however with a pickup bed, some may qualify without. In Montana, 1/2 ton pickups are required to have them



Nick

In Texas mud flaps are required on all dual rear wheel vehicles. There is an exception based on bed height and length behind the rear wheels. For exapmle, long school buses and some rear loader solid waste trucks. Most truck dealers install mud flaps on exepmt vehicles to avoid hassles later.



Bill

 

[gtoli]

Here is the title under ARS (AZ Revised Statutes)... Note section C. 1 in red.



28-958. 01. Rear fender splash guards



A. A person shall not operate a truck, trailer, semitrailer or bus on a highway unless the vehicle is equipped with rear fender splash guards that comply with the specifications provided in this section.



B. The splash guards:



1. Shall be attached in a manner that prevents the splashing of mud or water on the windshield of other motor vehicles.



2. Shall extend to a length of not more than eight inches from the ground.



3. Shall be wide enough to cover the full tread or treads of the tires being protected.



4. Shall be installed close enough to the tread surface of the tire or wheel to control the side throw of the bulk of the thrown road surface material.



5. May be constructed of a flexible rubberized material.



6. Shall be attached in a manner that, regardless of movement either in the splash guards or the vehicle, the splash guards retain their general parallel relationship to the tread surface of the tire or wheel under all ordinary operating conditions.



C. This section does not apply to:



1. A vehicle commonly known as a pickup truck with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or less, except that this section applies if the pickup truck has been modified from the original bumper height design to raise the center of gravity of the pickup truck.



2. A truck tractor or converter dolly when used in combination with another vehicle.



3. A single, tandem or triple axle trailer with fenders that are wide enough to cover the full tread or treads of the tires being protected and that extend to a length of not more than fourteen inches from the ground.

 

[gtoli]

I think TF is right about the ATV registration. I'll check and post later.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Thanks I know I see a lot of dually vehicles without mud flaps and right now mine does not for the reason stated. I know I have been trailed several times by DPS and not stopped. Now 2 of these times it was just me and DPS so it was not that he did not stop me because he had other fish to fry!! For our trucks it would be hard to maintain 8" from the ground towing and not towing. On commercial HDT air ride it will adjust height to keep it the same adjusting for the weight. Honestly had mine to low and when towing they would almost drag the ground. I think next time I will fabricate my own steel brackets and not have the flaps as low as i had before.



Anyway thanks for the Arizona law on this subject.

Here is the title under ARS (AZ Revised Statutes)... Note section C. 1 in red.



28-958. 01. Rear fender splash guards



A. A person shall not operate a truck, trailer, semitrailer or bus on a highway unless the vehicle is equipped with rear fender splash guards that comply with the specifications provided in this section.



B. The splash guards:



1. Shall be attached in a manner that prevents the splashing of mud or water on the windshield of other motor vehicles.



2. Shall extend to a length of not more than eight inches from the ground.



3. Shall be wide enough to cover the full tread or treads of the tires being protected.



4. Shall be installed close enough to the tread surface of the tire or wheel to control the side throw of the bulk of the thrown road surface material.



5. May be constructed of a flexible rubberized material.



6. Shall be attached in a manner that, regardless of movement either in the splash guards or the vehicle, the splash guards retain their general parallel relationship to the tread surface of the tire or wheel under all ordinary operating conditions.



C. This section does not apply to:



1. A vehicle commonly known as a pickup truck with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or less, except that this section applies if the pickup truck has been modified from the original bumper height design to raise the center of gravity of the pickup truck.



2. A truck tractor or converter dolly when used in combination with another vehicle.



3. A single, tandem or triple axle trailer with fenders that are wide enough to cover the full tread or treads of the tires being protected and that extend to a length of not more than fourteen inches from the ground.

 

[NIsaacs]

Good post on the AZ. mud flap laws, thank you.



Nick

 

[DennyDay]

I think mudflaps on duallies is a standard DOT requirement in all 50 states. I think the reason is the possibility of a large rock being picked up between the dual tires and thrown back at a following motorist.

Yes - mud flaps should be manditory on duallies - - but I think Texas is the only state that requires them for inspection - - many states don't have inspection any more.



And you are right Harvey - - a sixteen inch dual wil pick up a stone and flip it just like the big trucks. We're in South Texas now and you'd be suprised and the number of duallies with no flaps ( Florida is famous for it)- - you'd also be suprised at the number of 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton trucks dragging 5th wheels in to the park each night - - - headed for the valley next AM

 

[HBarlow]

Denny,

You know my political views and know that I am not in favor of curing every problem with more government and more regulations but occasionally I wonder if regulations to prevent uninformed or misguided owners towing huge fifth wheels with 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups wouldn't be a good idea for the safety of all.

 

[DennyDay]

Denny,



You know my political views and know that I am not in favor of curing every problem with more government and more regulations but occasionally I wonder if regulations to prevent uninformed or misguided owners towing huge fifth wheels with 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups wouldn't be a good idea for the safety of all.

Yes I do understand not wanting government involvement - - - and I used to think that most people had enough common sense not to do some things - - but I'm really beginning to wonder - - as an example a guy (Senir Citizen) from Iowa came into the park with a 3/4 ton Chevy Saturday PM with a large 5th wheel - - probably 2800# pin weight- - - both drive wheels had a ground contact of between 7 and 8 inches long - - -In talking with him, I suggested he might want to check his rear tire pressure - - He allowed thats the way they were when he left home so they would make it to the RioGrande valley - - just another RVer with no common sense - - - the problem is - - there are more and more of them, and these people won't just hurt themselves if something goes wrong, but when they have a blowout or a wreck they will effect and possible hurt those of us around them.

 

[Bob Cochran]

You would not believe the size rock got pitched out from a single rear wheel van. Dang it messed up the windshield. Other than a huge rock stuck between the duals I on see a slightly better chance of pitching rocks because of larger contact patch of 2 tires. For what it is worth absolutely nothing. You have to do what your state law requires like it or not.