Hauling a load or towing a trailer changes how your vehicle speeds up, stops and passes. Minnesota sets exact limits on overhang, warning flags, trailer size and brakes.
Know the rule
It's illegal to drive with a load, or more than three people in the front seat, that blocks your view to the front or sides or interferes with control of the vehicle.
Handbook p. 82 ↗Projecting loads
- No more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels or front bumper
- Extends 4 feet or more off the rear: red, yellow or orange flag at least 16 inches square
- At night: a red lantern or lamp on the end, visible from at least 500 feet
- Passenger vehicles: nothing past the left fender line, nor over 6 inches past the right
Following distance to keep when pulling a camper or trailer
Handbook p. 82 ↗Share of a loaded trailer's weight that should rest on the hitch
Handbook p. 82 ↗Towing habits
- A correctly loaded trailer's floor is level
- Check hitch, tires, lights and load after the first few miles and at every rest stop
- Drive slower — small trailer wheels heat up and wheel bearings can fail
- Your brakes may not be built for heavy loads; a sudden stop at speed could flip both
- Speed up carefully, in a lower gear if needed, and leave room to avoid sudden stops
- Remember your extra length when passing — acceleration is reduced
- Slow down more than usual in wind and rain; trailers swing closer to the road edge on turns
- Watch the cooling system — engines overheat in hot weather, at high speed and on hills
Trailer limits
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Trailer length | 45 feet maximum |
| Width | 8 feet 6 inches (102 inches) |
| Height | 13 feet 6 inches |
| Tail lamps / reflectors | Two red / two red |
| Rear license plate lamp | One white |
| Brakes required | Trailers of 3,000 lbs gross weight or more |
| Type A, B or C motor homes | 45 feet maximum |
| Single-unit vehicles (general) | 40 feet |
Know the rule
Use trailer stop and turn signals at night and whenever the tow vehicle's signals can't be seen. A trailer may not be wider than the tow vehicle's exterior mirrors. A safety chain must be permanently attached to the trailer and fastened to the tow vehicle, and recreational trailers need a visible, current registration plate.
Handbook p. 83 ↗Recreational vehicle combination
- Pickup or recreational truck-tractor pulling a camper trailer, which may pull one more trailer
- The extra trailer may carry boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, golf carts or horse gear
- Driver must be at least 18
- Towing rating must equal or exceed the total weight being towed
- No more than 70 feet long
- Not in the Twin Cities Metro Mon–Fri, 6–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.
Put it into practice
Lumber sticks 5 feet out the back of your pickup. In daylight, tie a red, yellow or orange flag at least 16 inches square to the end. After dark, you need a red lantern or lamp visible from 500 feet.