Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?

In the state of Tennessee not all trailers need to be registered. In fact, boat, farm and utility trailers do not require registration at all. All other trailer types however need to be registered and require a title.

Tennessee General Towing Laws

These are general rules in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee 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 65 ft.
• The maximum length of the trailer is 40 ft.
• The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches. (This excludes clearance lights, rearview mirrors, other accessories, and safety devices.)
• The maximum height of a trailer and load is 13 ft 6 inches.

Tennessee Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in Tennessee 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.

Regardless of what the primary coupling connection between tow vehicle and trailer you will require a safety chain as well. This acts as a secondary form of connection between the lead vehicle and the load.

Tennessee 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.

All vehicles being towed by another vehicle must have a lamp at the rear that emits a yellow or red light. This light should be visible under normal weather conditions from 500 feet away.

Tennessee 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.

Tennessee Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in Tennessee 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.

If your internal rear view mirror is obstructed by the load you will require side mirrors to compensate.

Tennessee 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.

• Any trailer or semi trailer weighing more than 3,000 lbs. must have brakes that the driver of the tow vehicle is able to activate from their cab.
• Brakes must be designed in such a way that if the towed vehicle breaks away accidentally, the brakes will apply automatically.

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in Tennessee that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. When it comes to towing rules and regulations the volunteer state is not overly harsh.

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