North Dakota Trailer Laws and Regulations

If you often find yourself towing heavy loads around your state you probably have some idea of the state laws and rules that apply to do this. Some people may not be aware however that sometimes laws can differ state by state. This can mean you might be legal in one state but crossing the border you might well get pulled over for an infringement you were not expecting.

In this article we are going to look at the laws for North Dakota which may vary from the state you might be driving in from. There may also be regulations you were not aware of as a native to the state which might catch you out. So read on and let us try to keep you from costly tickets.

Do Trailers Need to Be Registered in North Dakota?

The state of North Dakota requires all trailers, semi trailers and farm trailers to have both a title and a license plate. There are some exceptions to this and these are as follows:

• Trailers that weigh less than 1,500 lbs. as long as they are not being hired out or used for commercial purposes.
• Trailers that are hauling non-registered recreational craft such as motorcycles, ATV’s boats and snowmobiles do not have to be registered. If however the recreational craft are to be used in a competitive event a title and license plate are required.
• Car towing dollies with just one axle do not count as trailers so they do not need a title or a license.
• Pup trailers do not require a title or license.
• A trailer being towed by a motorcycle with the exception of one containing sleeping quarters does not require a title or license.
• Combine trailers that are over the legal width do not require a title or license but may need a special permit.

North Dakota General Towing Laws

These are general rules in North Dakota regarding towing that you might come foul of if you were not aware of them. Sometimes you may get away with an infringement of these rules because you did not know them but you can not assume this will be the case.

There are no rules in this category but in the absence of this we must assume that general rules of the road should be adhered to. If it is something that would be illegal without a trailer the high likelihood is that you should not do it with a trailer.

North Dakota Trailer Dimension Rules

It is important to know the state laws governing the sizes of loads and trailers. You may need permits for some loads while others may not be allowed on certain types of roads.

• You can not ride in or live in a trailer while it is being towed along public roads in the state.
• The total length of tow vehicle and trailer is 75 ft.
• The maximum length of the trailer is 53 ft. (unless it was registered in the state prior to July 1st, 1987)
• The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches with an appurtenance extending no more than 6 inches beyond the body of the car.
• The maximum height of a trailer and load is 14 ft.

North Dakota Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in North Dakota that relate to the trailer hitch and safety signals displayed by the trailer. It is important to be aware of these laws as they are safety based so may carry potentially large fines.

• A vehicle towing another vehicle must have a safety chain attached as well as the primary form of connection.
• All drawbars coupling devices and safety chains have to be designed and built strong enough so that they will not become detached accidentally.

North Dakota Trailer Lighting Laws

When you are towing something that will obscure the rear lights of your tow vehicle it is important to be able to communicate your upcoming and present actions in the form of lights. This is why there are rules regarding trailer lighting.

• Per North Dakota state law all vehicles must have operational working tail lights, brake lights, license plate lights, turn signals and reflectors.
• If the lights of the tow vehicle are obscured by the trailer and load then secondary lights will be required on the trailer.

North Dakota Speed Limits

When it comes to speed limits this varies and depends on the posted speeds of the specific area. You obviously should not exceed the posted speed limit in any area. When it comes to normal towing there are no specific different limits but it is expected that the speed is kept at a sensible level.

If your trailer is being caused to sway or lose control due to speed you may be pulled over even if you are within the posted limits. This is because the trailer may be posing a threat to public safety and you will be asked to slow down.

North Dakota Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in North Dakota are not specified although they are likely required and you may be pulled over if you do not have any or they are unusable. If your view is compromised by the width of your load you may want to consider extensions to your existing mirrors. These can be in the form of mirror extenders that slot onto already existing wing mirrors.

State law says that the driver must be able to see the highway behind them up to at least 200 feet. If the load obstructs this then mirrors must be configured in such a way as to affect this.

North Dakota Brake Laws

The brakes on your tow vehicle and potentially on your trailer are important to the safety of any towing operation. Ensure that they meet state guidelines and adhere to the stated rules for use on the road with a trailer.

• State law says that any trailer that is traveling at more than 25 mph must have safety chains and sufficient brakes to control and stop said trailer.
• Trailer brakes must be operational from inside the tow vehicles cab and should also be fitted with a break away system which will initiate the brakes if the trailer breaks free of the tow vehicle.

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in North Dakota that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. In this state there are several types of trailer and towing styles that are exempt from the requirement for licensing.

The general rules in North Dakota are all very common sense but not too prohibitive. As a rule of thumb the most important aspect is that the connection between tow vehicle and trailer must be secure and strong enough for the task.

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