Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

[minuteman62-64]

...... for boat transporting/launching trailers less than 80 inches in width?

I was thinking that the DMV would have the these requirements all wrapped up in a handy info sheet or booklet - no such luck (at least I can't find it on their web site). The actual requirements seem to be all over the place in the Motor Vehicle Code and I'm having trouble pulling it all together.

I know I need tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and a light for the license plate, and that they can be combo units. What I don't understand are the requirements for reflectors and side marker lights as they apply to trailers under 80 inches in width. What, if anything do I need w/regard to these items.

My trailer (1982 vintage) is currently equipped with rear facing stop/turn/night-light units, with a license plate light on the left side. It also has amber side lights, located on the trailer frame at about mid-point. but no reflectors.

I don't mind exceeding the minimum requirements (within reason), but don't want to be caught short.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

The way i read it and it is pretty standard throught the country. You must have 3 light assy.on the rear of trailer centered between the brakelights mounted on cross member so they can be seen from the rear. You also need red lights mounted on the sides extreme rear (marker light).Your yellow marker should be center of trailer unless and you dont mention how long trailer is. If trailer is over 28ft the yellow markers should be closer to the front of trailer and a set near the center right and left side

 

[roscoe]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

The way i read it and it is pretty standard throught the country. You must have 3 light assy.on the rear of trailer centered between the brakelights mounted on cross member so they can be seen from the rear. You also need red lights mounted on the sides extreme rear (marker light).Your yellow marker should be center of trailer unless and you dont mention how long trailer is. If trailer is over 28ft the yellow markers should be closer to the front of trailer and a set near the center right and left side

No, you do not need the centered 3 light assembly on a trailer under 80" in width, these lights are used on wider trailers, they are known as wide vehicle marker lights.




You need:

tail lights, brake lights, and signal lights, if the loaded trailer obscures the tow vehicle's lights.
The tail light should be visible from the side also.
You ned the license plate light.
You need side reflectors. Your side marker light count if the lens is reflective. Correction: You DO NEED amber side marker lights near the front of the trailer.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

If you have/need reflectors/side marker lites they need to be Amber in front of the axle, Red behind the axle.

If you really want to get confused read up on mirrors.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

etrailer has some good information on lights.

It seems lighting rules are federal as opposed to state. DOT requirements are what I follow.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

rosco. Courious as to where you got your info. I have a class 7 insp lic.Unless i am reading the Fed. Laws wrong.547.326 Minimum Lighting Equipment Required
A vehicle not specifically required to be equipped with lamps or lighting devices shall be equipped with one lamp that emits a white light visible at 1,000 feet from the front, one lamp that emits a red light visible at least 1,000 feet from the rear, and two red reflectors visible when illuminated at all distances from 100 to 600 feet from the rear.
547.352 Additional lighting for large equipment:
Trailers that are at least 80 inches wide shall be equipped with two front clearance lamps ? one on each side, two rear clearance lamps ? one on each side, four side marker lamps, one on each side on or near the front end and rear end, four reflectors, one on each side on or near the front end and rear end, and hazard lamps meeting the specifications of 547.331.
Trailers that are at least 30 feet long shall be equipped with two side marker lamps, one centrally mounted on each side, two reflectors, one centrally mounted on each side, hazard lamps that meet the requirements of section 547.331.
547.333 Color Requirements: Front or center clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps or reflectors must be or reflect amber, rear clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps, or reflectors must be or reflect red.
547.334 Mounting requirement:
Reflectors ? at a height from 24 to 60 inches, or as high as practical if less than 24 inches, Clearance lamps ? mounted to indicate the extreme height and width, clearance and side marker lamps may be mounted in combination.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

Was at the Shelter Island launch ramp yesterday and paid particular attention to boat trailer lighting. The smaller trailers like mine (appearing to be less than 80 inches wide) were all over the map w/regard to lighting. Ranged from a single red light dangling by its wires over the license plate to one that was festooned with lights like a tow truck.

Closer inspection of my lights revealed that the rear combo lights also have red reflectors attached to the sides.

After reparing (I hope) the ground connection I'll be testing my lights today. If they work, I'll go with them as is. If not, I'll replace the entire package - then I'm back to the original question - what exactly are the requirements for a boat trailer less than 80 inches wide. Based on the posts to date, and the way most of the boats at the launch ramp were configured, I think the existing set up is OK. I'll keep monitoring this thread for new info.

I'd hate to end up with a "fixit" ticket - it would be a real pain in the neck towing the boat around to various doughnut shops looking for a cop to sign off on the repair

 

[roscoe]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

rosco. Courious as to where you got your info. I have a class 7 insp lic.Unless i am reading the Fed. Laws wrong.547.326 Minimum Lighting Equipment Required
A vehicle not specifically required to be equipped with lamps or lighting devices shall be equipped with one lamp that emits a white light visible at 1,000 feet from the front, one lamp that emits a red light visible at least 1,000 feet from the rear, and two red reflectors visible when illuminated at all distances from 100 to 600 feet from the rear.
547.352 Additional lighting for large equipment:
Trailers that are at least 80 inches wide shall be equipped with two front clearance lamps ? one on each side, two rear clearance lamps ? one on each side, four side marker lamps, one on each side on or near the front end and rear end, four reflectors, one on each side on or near the front end and rear end, and hazard lamps meeting the specifications of 547.331.
Trailers that are at least 30 feet long shall be equipped with two side marker lamps, one centrally mounted on each side, two reflectors, one centrally mounted on each side, hazard lamps that meet the requirements of section 547.331.
547.333 Color Requirements: Front or center clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps or reflectors must be or reflect amber, rear clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps, or reflectors must be or reflect red.
547.334 Mounting requirement:
Reflectors ? at a height from 24 to 60 inches, or as high as practical if less than 24 inches, Clearance lamps ? mounted to indicate the extreme height and width, clearance and side marker lamps may be mounted in combination.

No wide vehicle lights required.

He is under 80" wide.

And he is less than 30' in length.

But yes, he does need a side marker light near the front of the trailer, as corrected in my post above.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

here is a link for federal requierments with some pictures.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/trlrpstr.html

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

Damn, just when I was thinking I was understanding all this. Based on my casual observations more than half of the boat trailers at San Diego's Shelter Island launch ramp don't comply with the Federal reqts. - mainly w/regard to all of the reflectors.

How do these Federal reqts. relate to me towing my boat down the road and getting stopped by a local cop or a CHP officer? Aren't they the requirements for a manufacturer selling trailers in the US? I can't see local cops or CHP guys enforcing anything but the DMV regs.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

Most trailers up here dont comply either with the reflectors. i would just stick with yor major lights, tail, license, front amber markers and red rear markers along with the 3 light id bar if your over 80'' and i would believe youll be ok. most up here dont have half of that on there cuddy cabin trailers.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

Damn, just when I was thinking I was understanding all this. Based on my casual observations more than half of the boat trailers at San Diego's Shelter Island launch ramp don't comply with the Federal reqts. - mainly w/regard to all of the reflectors

Most of the lights you're seeing also act as reflectors and thus satisfy the requirements.

 

[Av8nBill]

Re: Does Anyone Understand the California DMV Trailer Lighting Requirements

I think it's interesting that the document in the link says Front Side Marker LAMPS/Reflectors (4a, 4b) are required. My trailer and most of the small, older trailers that I have seen only have reflectors installed up front. I've noticed the newer ones at Bass Pro, Cabela's, etc. all seem to have the lamps too. I guess I need to splice in some lamps for now and fix 'er up right when I tear it down for stripping and painting this winter.