Quote:
Originally Posted by jimepting
Phil, I wonder if you have additional references for this. It is a question of some concern to those building boattails.
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I just called Washington D.C. back in the 1970s.The Energy Research & Development Agency had an understanding with the US dept of Transportation that arbitrary length limits could be violated if the extra length had to do with fuel efficiency.
And yes it was intended for commercial vehicles.
Since DARPA has let millions for R&D of 'longer' more efficient 18-wheelers it implies that the understanding remains.
As to passenger vehicles,I would limit the length to that of a 1-ton crew-cab dualie pickup.
If somebody wants to make an issue of it,they'll have a discrimination lawsuit.
Highway Patrol and Police and such are authorized and expected to intervene when they suspect an unsafe vehicle.
Only one time was I almost stopped,it was in the CRX,and maybe it had to do with not removing the racing numbers from the car between Bonneville and Los Angeles.At Inyokern,California,a Chippy came up close from behind out of nowhere,tailed me for a time,then faded,did a u-turn and sped away in the opposite direction.
I've displayed my vehicles at energy events around Texas,with plenty of the constabulary represented on site,non that I visited with even brought up the topic of the extra length.
Same,coast-to-coast.I just don't think it's an issue,especially with two oil wars going on.
Last December,Midland Police tailed me through the downtown area for awhile.They no doubt had never seen a trailer like mine,and after a few blocks they just turned off on another street.
I'll follow Teddy Roosevelt's lead and 'take the mods and let Congress argue!'