Is it legal to ride in a 5th wheel in transit?

[Gary - K7GLD]

In CA its legal with a two way communication device. But after rolling my fith wheel and truck last summer in AZ, Iwill never let any one ride in mine. My two kids and my wife and I came through a little sore, but not much. If we had been in the trailer i dont think we would have survived. The trailer was destroyed and in a huge pile of rubble.

I really don't think it's one of the smarter things to do - temptation is to get up and move around while underway - WAY too easy to fall and get hurt, possible even thru a window. We've traveled with our brother and sister in law in their motorhome, and it requires LOTS of caution just to get up and back to the John - and pretty good balance when you DO get there! :-laf



"HEY, don't worry Mert - I'll clean that up when we get stopped... ":-laf

 

[midlife crisis]

Probably the most heated & emotional thread I can recall on the TDR was this very topic some time ago- a search should bring it up-

 

[Cummins724]

Cool!

Ahhh yes... the good ole days--back when accidents were rare or we just didn't hear about them as much.

We thought it was cool too, but now it just seems dangerous..... or maybe I'm just getting old! Memories last forever! I'm not trying to steal this thread, but this post just gave me a "remember when" kinda feeling.

 

[AKaiser]

The Army used to do it all the time with "cattle cars" which were nothing but what looked like a gooseneck horse trailer crossed with the back 3/4 of a city bus chassis cut off, being pulled by a single axle tractor. Of course, they only did this "On Post," at speeds under 45.

 

[Jeepinjason]

I would not put any people ride in the back, but I do throw the dog back there.



I can imagine if my parents had a 5th wheel when I was a kid we would have been back there. It would have been much better than hearing "do you want me to pull this car over, or I'll give you something to cry about" every ten minutes when my brother and I would fight!



How many remember riding in the back of pickups on a mattress? Or laying out in the back of a station wagon? Did not even think twice about it when we were kids... .

 

[CRuth]

Yeah, we had a thread about riding in campers. Got pretty heated. I know when I was a kid (if we had had a trailer) theres no way I would have just sat down. I'd have been running all over the place. And back then the brakes weren't very good either

 

[JDubien]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Its so cool to have the resource of such a great group of people!

 

[MChildress]

Texas ammended the law a few years back. It used to state just house trailers which was defined as a trailer set up with living quarters was illegal to ride in while being towed. I know a couple of Game Wardens that were pulling their hair out when they saw folks pulling their kids around the lakes in the boat trailers. The new law states all trailers here now.

 

[DogDiesel]

Arguing the wrong thing

States made these laws with considerable research and consultation of safety experts. The majority of lower 48 allow occupants in fiver RV with communication.



But the real issue is a lot of us have seen serious RV accidents in recent year.



Why?



Failure to signal, abrupt lane changes, running with traffic, that is speeding, and staying in center and left lanes. Outruning brake potential. Not to mention that boomers are buying RV but untrained and lacking temperament to pull this load laden of responsibility.



Most accidents were preventable, and most caused from error or pattern of errors, it'd be interesting to find actual data of the # ( I predict low) caused from faulty equipment or saftey deficiencies in RV equipment.



Stupid does as Stupid is - when we can figure out who is before they start driving accident rates will lower . When I see an RV switch lanes abruptly, or without signals, or speeding, I change lanes away from it. File it away as another too stupid to be driving.



We can make laws in our states. We can fix equipment, but we cannot fix Stupid.



Wayne

 

[Grizzly]

Last I knew, it was legal in a 5th wheel, but required some form of communication between the 5er and the tow vehicle in case of emergency - a FRS radio or similar handi-talki works just fine...

This is wrong information. It is not legal in any state except maybe Arizona, communication or not between the tow vehicle and the RV. Even if it was legal, I would never let anyone ride in any tow vehicle.

 

[Babyfat]

Question: Is it legal to ride in a pickup camper secured to the bed of my pickup or in a tow behind camper?



Answer: Michigan Law does not prohibit this type of action; however, in accordance with MCL 257. 710e, children under the age of 16 would be prohibited from doing so if there were passenger seats available in the pickup or vehicle towing the camper. The Michigan State Police does not endorse this type of action because a camper, whether it is the type secured in a pickup bed or a trailer type is not designed and manufactured for such use. The operator and/or registered owner could be held liable both criminally or civilly if a passenger is injured or killed while riding in the camper.





"from Michigan State web site"



I would not suggest it either, myself being a retired firefighter have seen what a 55 mph crash does to a camper not pretty at all

 

[DogDiesel]

Opinion and Law

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm



Numerous sites list the summary to various limitations and allowances for towing, by type and by class. The above site is but one that provides such summary.



Many laws are dated:

For example, in Virginia, the only thing that can come out of a vehicle that will not be considered polluting -"trash" is WATER and FEATHERS. Little dated.



Many have seen bad accidents. From campers, to horse trailers, and state-by-state- some of these laws will change. As passionate residents lobby and succeed. One state by one state.

DOT regulates new requirements. States change limitations.



Wayne

 

[Grizzly]

Whether it's legal or not, I will not let anyone ride in a 5er or camper. Back in the 80's I did allow my kids to ride in the cab over camper provided they were seated at the dinette booth only because I had a single cab Ferd and because I didn't know better. Now I do know better and I have a Quad cab.