Pennsylvania Trailer Laws & Regulations Look-Up - Trailers.com - Shop Cargo, Utility, Equipment, & Enclosed Trailers

Every vehicle or combination of vehicles, except a motorcycle, operated on a highway shall be equipped with a parking brake system adequate to hold the vehicle or combination of vehicles on any grade and under all conditions.

Every vehicle and combination of vehicles operated on a highway must be equipped with a service brake system adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle or combination of vehicles on any grade and under all conditions of loading, and adequate to meet the braking performance standards established by PennDOT regulations.

Of every combination of vehicles operated on a highway, the towed vehicle which is equipped with brakes or which has a gross weight in excess of 3,000 lbs. shall be so equipped that, upon breakaway of the towed vehicle, the towed vehicle shall be stopped and held automatically, and the towing vehicle shall be capable of being stopped and held by use of its own service braking system.

Total length: 75 feet (includes bumpers); trailer length: not specified; width: 102 inches (mirrors and sun shades may extend up to 6 inches on each side of vehicle); height: 13 feet 6 inches.

Whenever 2 vehicles are connected by a ball-and-socket type hitch, or pintle hook without a locking device, they must also be connected by 2 safety chains of equal length, each safety chain having an ultimate strength at least equal to the gross weight of the towed vehicles. The safety chains must be crossed and connected to the towed and towing vehicle and to the towbar to prevent the towbar from dropping to the ground in the event the towbar fails or becomes disconnected. The safety chains must have no more slack than is necessary to permit proper turning.

All trailer and semitrailer vehicles operated on a highway must be equipped with a rear lighting system including but not limited to rear lamps, rear reflectors, stop lamps, and a license plate light.

Mirrors may extend on each side a maximum of 6 inches beyond the width of the vehicle or load, whichever is greater.

As posted. Fixed maximum limits as follows: (1) rural interstate highways – 65 mph; (2) residential districts on most local highways – 25 mph; (3) urban districts – 35 mph; and (4) in other locations – 55 mph.

When 1 vehicle is towing another, the connection must be of sufficient strength to pull all of the weight towed and the distance between the 2 vehicles must not be more than 15 feet.

If the distance between the vehicles is more than 5 feet, a red flag or cloth at least 12 inches square must be displayed on the connection between the vehicles. During the hours of darkness a red light shall be displayed at the same location in lieu of the flag or cloth.

Every trailer must be attached to the towing vehicle so that the path of the trailer’s wheels are no more than 6 inches from the path of the towing vehicle’s wheels.

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