So now I know... Do you?

[LoBuck]

This past Sunday, driving home on Ogilby Road from the night ride at Glamis I got pulled over by a CHP. I was towing the Jeep on my trailer behind my Suburban doing about 62mph on a posted "55mph with trailer" road when I passed him, so I thought that would be the discussion we'd be having as I saw him pull up behind me with lights flashing.

Nope, one of the first things he said was "you weren't speeding". The second thing he said was that California law states that towing a vehicle on a flatbed trailer requires 4 individual straps, each to within the weight capacity of the vehicle on the flatbed, on 4 individual attachment points on the vehicle to the trailer. I had 2 straps. The 1 on the front was attached to 2 points on the vehicle and 2 points on the trailer, not good enough; the rear had 1 strap attached to 1 point on the vehicle and 2 points on the trailer, again not good enough. Now I've driven past many CHP's in California pulling my Jeep on my flatbed trailer and never got a second look, so I was rather surprised this was happening. I've got to admit though that I've considered buying 2 more straps just to cross tie them, you know, just for that added safety. The straps I have are each rated for the full weight of the Jeep. Guess I will be buying 2 more.

My son's friend was pulling an enclosed trailer behind me and there were 2 straps in there so I could tie the jeep down and move on. Still got the ticket though, and the CHP waited for me to tie them down before he left.

The CHP also told me that this wasn't a requirement for an enclosed trailer, because he can't see inside, and the hopes are that if there are less than 4 straps, the sides and the rear door of the enclosed trailer will keep whatever vehicle that's in there inside.

...so now I know. What I don't know is how much the ticket is going to cost. I will find that out sometime between now and September 3rd.

This is a pic from 2004, but I had it strapped the same way.

[like2bcrazy]

Never heard of that. What CVC section did he cite you for?

[Glamisbound]

Now I've driven past many CHP's in California pulling my Jeep on my flatbed trailer and never got a second look, so I was rather surprised this was happening.

Some cops know the cvc better than others. I was pretty sure there was a four point requirement but couldn't cite the section without spending 10-15 minutes trying to find it.

I am surprised you wouldn't have four seperate straps to begin with though...especially on that heavy of a vehicle

Bummer. Hopefully ticket won't be too much. [-o<

[like2bcrazy]

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d13/vc29004.htm


29004. (a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), every towed
vehicle shall be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety
chain, cable, or equivalent device in addition to the regular
drawbar, tongue or other connection.
(3) Any vehicle transported on a slide back carrier or
conventional trailer shall be secured by at least four tiedown
chains, straps, or an equivalent device, independent of the winch or
loading cable. This subdivision shall not apply to vehicle bodies
that are being transported in compliance with Sections 1340 to 1344,
inclusive, of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations.
(b) All safety connections and attachments shall be of sufficient strength to control the towed vehicle in the event of failure of the regular hitch, coupling device, drawbar, tongue, or other connection. All safety connections and attachments also shall have a positive means of ensuring that the safety connection or attachment does not become dislodged while in transit.



While I tend to agree with the 4 straps, there are a couple of problems if he cited you for the above code.

1st, it would appear that this section was written for tow truck operators as it's in a section written for them, and this section references CVC section 615, also relating to tow truck operators.

2nd and more to the point, CVC 29004 uses the phrase "conventional trailer", but nowhere in the CVC is a "conventional trailer" defined. There is a definition for "semitrailer", "fifth-wheel trailer" and for "trailer" but the word "conventional" is never used in the defintion of a trailer.

Note that hooks with safety clips or some other type of a positive connection are required on the straps. No plain hooks.

[LoBuck]

What he wrote on the citation is "29004 (a) 3 Vehicle transport on flatbed RQ 4 sep points of securement only had 2". He also checked NO so as it would not be a Correctable Violation, even though I corrected the violation while he watched.

I was ready to unload the jeep and drive it home if I wasn't able to get a second set of straps.

As far as why I didn't have 4 straps to begin with, like I said, I'd thought about it. Just never did it because I never had a problem with it. Although I do recall Sloppy mention that the Jeep was moving a bit when I drove up a the June night ride. Must have been those rolling hills on Hwy 78. Seriously though, every time I've unloaded, the straps have been secure. that time included.

Looks like I will be getting 4 new straps as the 2 I have now have open hooks, not the kind with a clip or latch.

[Sloppyduner]

Would you have gotten off if you just had two more 800lbs quad tie downs to seperate points?

For the longest time my father-in-law only ran two chains and binders, one in the front and one in the back. If I remember right I remember atleast one flat bed driver who only chained down the rear of our car against the winch that pulled it on.

I couldn't imagine you giving the cop a hard time but dang seems a little harsh. Hope the ticket isn't that much. [-o<

See you just might have to drive it out to Glamis next time.

[LoBuck]

No, he said each of the straps have to be rated for the weight of of the vehicle. Although he did say he's seen just about everything being used, including old seat belts. And he said a winch can not be counted as a point of attachment.

The officer was very polite and civil, as was I. Getting mad doesn't do anyone any good.

[MattV]

Look into the E-Track stuff for the trailer. Makes it very secure and it's easy and fast to tie down.

[crash]

Just as an aside along these lines. In the past I have used small "motorcycle" tie downs to hold full size vehicles down on a trailer.......but only on the front. Think about what the dynamics are if, haven forbid, a person gets in a head on accident. I sure as heck don't want that towed vehicle coming through the back window. My suggestion, put the biggest straps you can find on the rear of the vehicle being towed. Make sure they have seperate attachment points, and that they are STRONG!!!

[Glenn]

I understand about the 4 strap requirement, every time I load my race car I use 4 straps, go 5 miles to the track and the car will be loose. It is in an enclosed trailer, but the straps are loose. The track required the 4 point setup.

It happened to my Jeep on the one time I loaded it up. Had to let out all the air in the tires to make it fit... They also came loose just by moving around. Having 4 attach ponts might be the requirement, but it will not assure the load stays put.

Having the 2 straps run the way they were in the photo allows the Jeep to move some and find it's "happy place" and stay there. I use 2 straps on the front of my rail, and one centered in the back pulling stright back. It stays put, but dosent meet the law. Again having an enclosed trailer helps. It keeps the toys in place at night, and at the race track and on the road.

Please let us all know the damages when you get them. I wanted to drive my Jeep out fo the night ride but had to work. It would have been fun to go.... We do still need to have a "Jeep Run" in the dunes sometime.

[Washroad]

They passed this law a few years ago. Four point tie-down.

I used to haul heavy construction equipment back in the '80s. Never put more than 2 chains and binders on anything, even earthmovers (we called them "scrappers"). Many times I only put 1 chain and binder on. I never lost a piece of equipment in all that time.

I even was stopped on El Toro Road in Lake Forest early one morning by a CHP rookie. He was giving me crap about being on a posted street (I was there during the legal hours). He walked around the truck several times, wrote down stuff. I asked him to get his sargent out as I knew I was legal. The sargent told him to let me go. The doofus never noticed I only had 1 chain and binder on a 12 ton roller! Yep! I was illegal but not what he stopped me for and I sure wasn't going to tell him!

I did have some get a little loose, but I always kept an eye on the stuff and would drive accordingly.

One of my drivers was stopped a couple years ago as he only had 2 chains/binders on a forklift he was hauling. I had to grab 2 more and go out and meet them on the 91 freeway and the CHP stayed until it was finished.

So, while the law may say it's for tow-truck drivers, it applies to all.

Also, to keep a vehicle from coming loose (like a Jeep or other "suspended" vehicle) use webbing over the wheels/tires. Get all 4 secure and the vehicle can rock and roll a bit but won't move.

Gotta go...

[jhitesma]

Wow, had no clue about this. Kind of think it should be posted somewhere more people will notice it. I only found it because I'm looking at buying an RV today and was checking in this forum for some info...

I used to tie my rail down with 4 1,500lb test tie-downs (1,300lb rail) but they were always coming loose and/or snapping. I finally broke down and bought two of the big heavy duty 10klb tie downs from sams club. With them the rail stays put and they don't work loose.

But I guess I'll have to pick up two more to make sure I don't run into any troubles. Or I may just start adding some of those old 1,500lb ones back in for "decoration" since they don't really do much to hold the car down.

Surprised that if the Jeep wasn't moving that the officer didn't let you go with a warning. Being from out of state and that close to the border to your home state. I've been pulled over on the way home from Buttercup for broken trailer lights (can't seem to get them to last more than 2 trips it seems) and always just been given a verbal warning to get home and get them fixed. But I also know people who've been given a REAL hard time by CHP officers for having tint which is legal in AZ but not CA. One friend even had a CHP officer pull out a razor blade and say "So are you going to remove it or am I going to have to?" - thankfully he eventually let my friend drive home with his windows rolled down and a promise to not drive his car into CA again.

With that kind of stuff I sometimes seriously wish AZ would just stop accepting CA registrations/plates as legal and stop them at the border. The people with CA plates here in town seem to have some of the worst maintained cars with the most horrible drivers in them - how they get licensed in a state with laws like CA's I still can't figure out. Must be some real crooked inspection shops is all I can figure.

[RichB]

Leave it to CA, that's more strict than the Fed Motor Carrier Regs call for.

393.128 What are the rules for securing automobiles, light trucks and vans?

A. Applicability. The rules in this section apply to the transportation of automobiles, light trucks, and vans which individually weigh 4,536 kg. (10,000 lbs) or less. Vehicles which individually are heavier than 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) must be secured in accordance with the provisions of & sect;393.130 of this part.

B. Securement of automobiles, light trucks, and vans.

1. Automobiles, light trucks, and vans must be restrained at both the front and rear to prevent lateral, forward, rearward, and vertical movement using a minimum of two tiedowns.

Tough break man. Hope your ticket isn't too much. Seems like the police aren't giving out too many breaks with the State's in fiscal trouble.

[r erfert]

I wonder if they would give me a second look with my trailer?
It has 1 foot side rails and I usually chain up the front VW beam to the front rail....No rear straps.

[Washroad]

I wonder if they would give me a second look with my trailer?
It has 1 foot side rails and I usually chain up the front VW beam to the front rail....No rear straps.

If they see you doing that and they aren't currently engaged in going after someone else, yep! they'll write you.

Here's an easy way to do it....4 straps/tie downs, each corner. You may have to purchase more straps, but you avoid a ticket.

I have seen tied-down vehicles move and it isn't pretty.

[LoBuck]

The ticket was $108. Ouch.

Could have bought 4 nice ratchet straps for that.

[azsandrider]

The way I read that CA law is for "any vehicle" to have "four" straps....that would include sandrails, ATVs, and MCs.....wow !!!

Of course if you have an enclosed trailer, they can't see inside....


I have an eclosed trailer and four point every vehicle. I want it to go through a wreck and still be secured....


The interesting quote in that CA passage posted is the 'safety chain' requirement, which Arizona does not have. There are a lot of Az residents who tow trailers with out safety chains going to the dunes.....

But its hard to argue or complain when the laws being enforcemd are for safety....We've had at least 3 fatals in the past 5 years in the East Valley (Phoenix area) with trailers breaking loose from the tow vehicle. One was a 4yr old child. A break-a-way device and safety chains would have prevented all the deaths from the trailers breaking off the tow vehicle.

[jhitesma]

The interesting quote in that CA passage posted is the 'safety chain' requirement, which Arizona does not have. There are a lot of Az residents who tow trailers with out safety chains going to the dunes.....

Seriously? We don't have a safety chain requirement? I always kind of assumed it was kind of a federal thing but I suppose that would only apply to highways.

To be honest though I don't know anyone here who doesn't have safety chains, and other than the goofy little "4x8" trailers I wouldn't tow a lawn mower on from Harbor Freight I can't remember ever seeing a trailer for sale that didn't have them.

I even know a couple of friends who only have their trailers today because they had and used safety chains. And can point to a few big gouges in various highways and tell you how they got there

[Larry Jowdy]

You also want to be aware of subsection c of the same law which reads:

(c) No more slack may be left in a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device than is necessary to permit proper turning. When a drawbar is used as the towing connection, the safety chain, cable, or equivalent device shall be connected to the towed and towing vehicle and to the drawbar so as to prevent the drawbar from dropping to the ground if the drawbar fails.

[Woodglue]

I assume the 'draw bar' reference is applicable to Equilization or Load Distribution bars....?
If so, Yikes, how would you go about securing a your safety chain to the trailer, the truck AND the bar?

[Larry Jowdy]

In our case, they are refering to a Tow bar such as would be used to tow a car with 4 tires on the ground however, Traffic wasn't my specialty prior to retirement so, I have a call into CHP and will post an answer as soon as I speak to a Commercial enforcement officer.

[Woodglue]

I see, thanks for the clarification.
I've seen EQ bars dragging along the ground under the tounge of a trailer before, and I thought this is what the rule was trying to prevent.

[Larry Jowdy]

I spoke to CHP and they inform me that if you have a draw bar (used to tie 2 commercial trailers together) or a tow bar (used to tow a vehicle) the chain, cable etc. must be secured to the draw bar or the tow bar to prevent it from falling to the ground. Also pay close attention to the length of your safety chains as stated in 29004 Vehicle Code and make sure to cross them under the cut to keep the trailer from pole vaulting should the cup become loose from the ball.