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08-26-2021, 04:48 PM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,690
M.O.C. #12947
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Registering a fifth wheel over 40 ft in California
I got a panic call from Becky's cousin this afternoon while trying to register her new 2021 Montana 3760FL at the Red Bluff, CA DMV office. They were telling her that she couldn't register a fifth wheel trailer over 40 feet long in California. I won't post the conversation, as it would not be appropriate on this forum  After much searching, I finally found the California Vehicle Code section that applies to fifth wheel RV's, so any one in the future that has to do this in California will have the information.
35400.6
(a) Subdivision (a) of Section 35400 does not apply to a fifth-wheel travel trailer that does not exceed the following lengths:
(1) Forty-eight feet in length from the foremost point of the trailer to the rear extremity of the trailer.
(2) (A) For a fifth-wheel travel trailer with a single axle, 38 feet in length from the kingpin to the rearmost axle.
(B) For a fifth-wheel travel trailer with two or more axles, 40 feet in length from the kingpin to the rearmost axle.
(b) A manufacturer of a fifth-wheel travel trailer described by subdivision (a) shall include in the delivery documents the information necessary to register that fifth-wheel travel trailer, including its overall length pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) and a declaration that its length is in compliance with subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). The dealer may reject acceptance of the fifth-wheel travel trailer if this documentation is not provided.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 548, Sec. 1. (AB 64) Effective January 1, 2014.)
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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08-26-2021, 07:45 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
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If I read this right the 40' is kingpin to rearmost axle. And a restriction of 48' overall. A 41 footer should be ok.
__________________
2016 3160, Legacy, Sailuns, Splendide 2100 xc vented, 1 1/2" axle lift blocks, disk brakes. 2014 Ram 3500 SRW SWB 4X4 6.7 Aisin Mega Cab, EBC slotted disks and brakes, Titan fuel tank.
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08-26-2021, 07:51 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,690
M.O.C. #12947
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They were telling the cousin that the total length was restricted to 40’. They supposedly even called Sacramento and were told it was 40’. I think it was the main supervisor there that was the problem. The cousin gave the one fellow who had been helping them, the CVC number so he could look it up. They finally did get the trailer registered. Sounded like quite a circus, outside measuring it.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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08-26-2021, 08:29 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,359
M.O.C. #4831
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These are the same people who have difficulty finding and administering the CA RV Test. You need to know what is required before you go in.
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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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08-26-2021, 09:50 PM
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#5
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: GLENDALE
Posts: 35
M.O.C. #29286
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When registering a 5th wheel in AZ with an out of state title the person helping me said that the old title could not be accepted since was not correctly filled out... the odometer reading was missing!!!
Just like Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew", it was the beginning of a 3 hour farce.
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08-29-2021, 07:15 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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This type of garbage is the main reason I've never even wanted to visit CA.
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2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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08-29-2021, 08:00 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,658
M.O.C. #9969
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I guess if I was in that situation I would tell them that mine was 39 feet as it's model number is 39MB, meaning 39 feet, wouldn't tell them it's actually 43 feet tip to tail.
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Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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09-01-2021, 01:11 PM
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#8
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LAKE ELSINORE
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #15942
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From the kingpin to the rear most axle (2 axle) no more than 40 feet. That's nowhere near the total length of the rig.
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09-01-2021, 01:46 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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I've visited CA twice in the 80s. Beautiful state, but I can't imagine ever living there.
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2016 Montana 3711FL
2005 Ford F350, 6.0 diesel, short bed
Demco Hitchiker Auto Slide hitch
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09-01-2021, 02:29 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,547
M.O.C. #2283
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(1) Forty-eight feet in length from the foremost point of the trailer to the rear extremity of the trailer.
This is what it says. Whoever said not over 40 feet either can’t read or is full of bovine fertilizer.
Lynwood
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09-01-2021, 10:32 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,690
M.O.C. #12947
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I think part of the problem with the misunderstanding of the length restriction is, in the CA Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook. This is copied from a description of a fifth wheel RV trailer in the handbook on page 13. This doesn't justify why the problem exists, just shows that Calif can't seem to maintain current info between the actual law and these 'handbooks'.
"Fifth-wheel—is coupled to the towing vehicle (usually a pickup truck) with a hitch centered over the vehicle’s rear axle. Fifth-wheels vary in length from 17 to 40 feet."
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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09-02-2021, 12:43 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2013
Location: PORT ANGELES
Posts: 80
M.O.C. #13434
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Lived in Ca for five years, that was enough. Hawaii for three and much the same as Ca. Registered a '57 Chevy PU in Hono I shipped from Ca, took better part of month to get it done. Each time I visited Hono DMV they wanted another form. Now in Wa where $30 car tabs cost $90, go figure.
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09-02-2021, 03:34 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,043
M.O.C. #5329
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Affirmative Action at work?
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09-03-2021, 10:49 AM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Mount Shasta
Posts: 107
M.O.C. #18143
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The different DMV offices in our state each have a different personality. There is no consistency. We happen to have a good one here in Mount Shasta and I had no problem registering my rig (3810MS) which is listed as 40' 9". But when asking about the drivers license endorsement and or test in another office (Yreka), I was told that I didn't need it (which I know is incorrect).
__________________
2017 Ram 3500, Aisen Trans, Short bed Crew Cab. B&W OEM Slider,
2018 Montana 3810MS
Russ & Nancy Porterfield
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