Texas 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 Texas 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.

Texas General Towing Laws

These are general rules in Texas 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.

Texas 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.

  • It is illegal to ride in a house trailer while it is being towed.
  • The total length of the tow vehicle and trailer is 65 ft including bumpers.
  • The maximum length of the trailer is not specified.
  • The maximum width for a trailer is 102 inches. (This excludes rearview mirrors and safety devices.)
  • The maximum height of a trailer and load is 14 ft.

Texas Trailer Hitch and Signal Laws

There are laws in Texas 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.

  • The drawbar or other connection between a vehicle towing another vehicle and the towed vehicle must be strong enough to pull all weight towed.
  • The connection between vehicle and towed vehicle may not exceed 15 ft except for when 2 vehicles are transporting poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a structural nature that cannot be taken apart.
  • If you're towing another vehicle with a chain, rope, or cable, make sure there's a white flag or cloth measuring 12 inches square visible on the connection.
  • You may not tow a trailer, semi trailer, house trailer, or another motor vehicle without safety chains as approved by the Department of Public Safety.

Texas 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.

Trailers being towed at the end of a combination of vehicles must be equipped with electric turn signal lamps, 2 tail lamps, 2 stop lamps, and at least 2 red reflectors.

All trailers that are at least 80 inches wide must have the following:

  • 2 Front clearance lamps (1 on each side)
  • 2 Rear clearance lamps (1 on each side)
  • 4 Side marker lamps (1 on each side near the front and 1 on each sideline of back)
  • 4 Reflectors( 1 on firsthand of both sides in front, firsthand of both sides in back)
  • 1 Hazard removal lamp

All trailers that are 30 ft or more in length must have:

  • 2 Side marker lamps- one centrally located on each side
  • 2 Reflectors- one centrally located on each side, and operational hazard lamps.

Pole trailers require 2 additional safety apparatuses:

  • 1 Front-mounted combination lamp emitting an amber light to the front and a red light to the rear and sides of the trailer as well as indicating the maximum width of said trailer.
  • 1 Reflector that is placed at or near the load's frontal area.

Texas 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.

Texas Trailer Mirror Laws

The rules for mirrors in Texas 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 must be able to see the road behind the vehicle for at least 200 ft. If the trailer and load obscure this then mirrors must be adjusted in such a way as to allow this.

Texas 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.

  • If a trailer or pole trailer's gross weight exceeds 4,500 lbs., then brakes are required.
  • If the gross weight is between 4,500 lbs. and 15,000 lbs., brakes are not necessary if the trailer will be towed at a speed less than 30 mph.

Conclusion

There are a number of laws in Texas that pertain to towing and trailers which are designed to keep the roads and road users safe. You might imagine Texas might not have heavy laws when it comes to trailers but they do have some very common sense regulations in place.

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