A 4-minute lesson from the Texas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Loads that blow or spill onto the road cause crashes and damage. Texas sets rules for truck beds, covers, safety chains and tow connections. Carbon monoxide from your exhaust is a silent danger inside the car.
A vehicle bed carrying loose material must:
Have no hole, crack, or other opening that lets material escape
Be enclosed by side panels, and on the front by a panel or the cab
Be enclosed on the rear by a securely closed tailgate or panel
Have the load covered securely at front and back, unless fully enclosed or it doesn't blow or spill
Loose material such as dirt, sand, gravel or wood chips (except agricultural products in their natural state) may not be hauled on public highways unless fully enclosed on all sides and covered with a canvas or tarp firmly secured front and back.
A passenger car or light truck towing a trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer on a public highway must have DPS-approved safety chains attached to the towing vehicle. This doesn't apply to agricultural trailers or trailers complying with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Don't tow more than three vehicles attached by mounting their front wheels on the bed of another vehicle (rear wheels on the road). This limit doesn't apply to trailers hauling poles, pipes, machinery or structures that can't easily be taken apart.
You're towing a friend's car with a tow strap. Keep the connection no longer than 15 feet, make sure it can pull the full weight, and tie on a white flag at least 12 inches square so other drivers can see the link.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What is the maximum length allowed for a tow chain, rope, or cable between two vehicles?
5 feet
30 feet
15 feet
50 feet
Answer: 15 feet
The connection between a towing vehicle and the one it's towing may not exceed 15 feet.