South 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 South 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 South Dakota?

In the state of South Dakota any trailers under 6,000 lbs. that are being towed by automobile, pickup truck or van must have a license plate which is renewed annually. Once the trailer has been licensed there is no weight limit beyond that of the vehicle's gross weight license.

Trailers being pulled by truck or commercial vehicles are allowed to have an identification plate rather than a license if they are registered under the declared gross weight.

South Dakota General Towing Laws

These are general rules in South 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 also should not do it with a trailer.

South 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.

• The total length of the tow vehicle and trailer is 75 ft. (including bumpers and excluding all safety and energy conservation devices)
• Overall length can not exceed 75 ft when combined with a second trailer that itself does not exceed 24 ft in length.
• The maximum length of the trailer is not listed.
• The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches. (excluding all safety and energy conservation devices)
• The maximum height of a trailer and load is 14 ft.

South Dakota Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in South 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.

• For every trailer you wish to tow on a public highway at speeds exceeding 20 mph, in addition to the regular hitch or coupling device, you must also connect it to the tow vehicle with either chain, cables, or another equivalent safety measure.
• The only exception to the above rule is if your semi trailer has a connecting device that consists of both a 5th wheel and kingpin assembly which abides by Interstate Commerce Commission standards.
• A ball hitch can be mounted to the bumper or frame but will need a safety chain regardless.

South 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.

Older trailers and semi trailers (manufactured before July 1^st 1973) are only allowed to have one red tail lamp on the left side. This light must be visible from 500 feet away.

South 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.

South Dakota Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in South 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.

Drivers who are towing must be able to see at least 200 ft of the road behind their vehicle. If the trailer and load obscure this view then mirrors must be configured in such a way as to allow this.

South 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.

• Trailers and semi trailers must have a braking system that can be controlled with one device.
• Trailers that weigh less than 3,000lbs and semi trailers that weigh no more than 7,000lbs do not have to be equipped with brakes on all wheels if:
• The weight of the trailer's wheels does not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the vehicle pulling it when connected.
• The vehicle-trailer combination can meet all other performance requirements.

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in South Dakota that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. You are likely to need a license plate to tow with a trailer in this state and regarding tow connections are relatively strict.

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