Towing permit for wide loads in WA state?

[WT1J]

Hi all. I'm new here. I posted an intro but it hasn't yet appeared. I'm guessing it's in the moderation queue.

I noticed that in WA state the max width of a trailer is 8ft6in. The Rangers are 10ft wide. Do you folks get a wide permit when towing? Sounds like they're valid for 3 days, so does one get a wide permit every time you tow?

Also I'm curious if anyone has towed cross country and what that was like in terms of permitting.

Thanks,

Mark.

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping post from moderation queue.

I'm sure experienced owners will respond, but you'll find several discussion on permits using search. Here are some examples.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[scross]

Mark,
Welcome to the group!
I see you are referring to the R31CB when you say Rangers have a 10 ft beam. Yes, that’s correct. All variations of the R29 and R31 have 10 ft beams. All variations of the R23, R25 and R27 have the 8’ 6” beams and don’t need any permits for towing. The big R41 has a 14 ft beam - I’ve wondered how they get that model from the factory into the water!
Lots of folks tow up to and including the R29s all over the country. The R29s and R31s require wide load permits. Each state has different wide load permit requirements. You can get the permits yourself or hire companies to get the permits for you.
Lots of posts on the forum about what kind of truck it would take to tow a 17,000 pound R31 and how to get wide load permits. A search result on those two topics could keep you reading all day!
Oh, are you thinking of keeping the boat at Deer Harbor or Rosario’s? Not too many other marina options on Orcas.
Again, welcome to the forum!

 

[WT1J]

Mark,
Welcome to the group!
I see you are referring to the R31CB when you say Rangers have a 10 ft beam. Yes, that’s correct. All variations of the R29 and R31 have 10 ft beams. All variations of the R23, R25 and R27 have the 8’ 6” beams and don’t need any permits for towing. The big R41 has a 14 ft beam - I’ve wondered how they get that model from the factory into the water!
Lots of folks tow up to and including the R29s all over the country. The R29s and R31s require wide load permits. Each state has different wide load permit requirements. You can get the permits yourself or hire companies to get the permits for you.
Lots of posts on the forum about what kind of truck it would take to tow a 17,000 pound R31 and how to get wide load permits. A search result on those two topics could keep you reading all day!
Oh, are you thinking of keeping the boat at Deer Harbor or Rosario’s? Not too many other marina options on Orcas.
Again, welcome to the forum!

Thanks. We're taking delivery of a Dodge Cummins 3500 2021 model in January which will tow 35,000 pounds, so should do nicely for the roughly 17,000lbs R31 and trailer. Not planning on doing much towing, but I may use the convenience of it to bring her up on the hard over winter and park her on my property or at a facility on Orcas or the mainland.

Yeah I kinda poked around at the marina options a few months ago when we were considering a keel boat and it looks like the approach is to get your foot in the door and go from there. I'm on the north shore of Orcas, so a spot at Brandt's would be ideal because it's a mile from my place. Our house should have a mooring - just sorting out some details which I won't bore you with. I'm in the process of moving to Orcas, so lots up in the air right now.

 

[MV Toujours]

I did a lot of research on towing limits before I bought my F350 DRW to tow my 31CB. Class IV bumper pull (3 inch receiver) limit is 21,000 on any truck. Still plenty for any Ranger Tug.

The 35,000 Lb rating might be for Gooseneck and/or fifth wheel.

Happy boating and motoring!


Patrick

 

[JSoup]

Yes, we have gotten permits each time we towed in Washington and other states. Washington is easy to self issue once you register here https://wsdot.wa.gov/commercial-vehicle ... self-issue. It costs $10 per trip and, like you mentioned, is good for 3 days. Oregon is even easier and less expensive where an annual permit costs $8. When we towed through Montana, Idaho and California we paid a permit service. It was more expensive but worth it it avoid the hassle for one time trips. We have towed our 11’ sailboat and 31CB thousands of miles (mostly the sailboat, we’ve only had the tug a year) and never been asked to show the permit but I wouldn’t consider towing without it for liability reasons. We have the appropriate signage and pay attention to the road and travel time restrictions.

 

[WT1J]

I did a lot of research on towing limits before I bought my F350 DRW to tow my 31CB. Class IV bumper pull (3 inch receiver) limit is 21,000 on any truck. Still plenty for any Ranger Tug.

The 35,000 Lb rating might be for Gooseneck and/or fifth wheel.

Happy boating and motoring!


Patrick

Thanks Patrick. I had not actually thought that through, and that's a great point. I think the max capacity is achieved with a gooseneck, if I recall correctly and then a 5th wheel. Not not sure what receiver it comes with so I'll find out and may need to upgrade or figure something out to get a comfy 16,000 lbs tow.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[WT1J]

Yes, we have gotten permits each time we towed in Washington and other states. Washington is easy to self issue once you register here https://wsdot.wa.gov/commercial-vehicle ... self-issue. It costs $10 per trip and, like you mentioned, is good for 3 days. Oregon is even easier and less expensive where an annual permit costs $8. When we towed through Montana, Idaho and California we paid a permit service. It was more expensive but worth it it avoid the hassle for one time trips. We have towed our 11’ sailboat and 31CB thousands of miles (mostly the sailboat, we’ve only had the tug a year) and never been asked to show the permit but I wouldn’t consider towing without it for liability reasons. We have the appropriate signage and pay attention to the road and travel time restrictions.

Great stuff! Thanks for the advice. Sounds very doable.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[Alpina]

I did a lot of research on towing limits before I bought my F350 DRW to tow my 31CB. Class IV bumper pull (3 inch receiver) limit is 21,000 on any truck. Still plenty for any Ranger Tug.

The 35,000 Lb rating might be for Gooseneck and/or fifth wheel.

Happy boating and motoring!


Patrick

Thanks Patrick. I had not actually thought that through, and that's a great point. I think the max capacity is achieved with a gooseneck, if I recall correctly and then a 5th wheel. Not not sure what receiver it comes with so I'll find out and may need to upgrade or figure something out to get a comfy 16,000 lbs tow.

Regards,

Mark.

Mark,

It’s mostly about payload. I have a Ford F-350 4x4 SRW 176” wheel base rated at 11,400 GVWR. I weighed my truck at a scale and it weighs 9,000 with me and a half tank of fuel. A lot heavier than the sticker suggests. I have an aluminum deck where I can place two atvs above the bed which adds several hundred of lbs to the truck, plus the running boards, etc.... That gives me 2,400 available payload. With 3 additional adults that is reduced to 1,900 lbs. Assuming a hitch weight of 1,200lbs that leaves me with 700 lbs to spare for gear, full fuel, additional/heavier passengers. Seems like a lot but gets gobbled up quickly. I haven’t weighed my trailer tongue yet so I am guessing there. I have a R29 CB.

GAWR of the rear axle is usually next near capacity
Check your tires weight rating also.
Towing capacity is usually not limiting factor in a SRW truck.

I’ve done a lot of research on this and in hindsight I would have purchased a DRW truck for the extra cushion in payload capacity. I didn’t because at the time I was living up north and the SRW had a locking rear differential and they do better in snow and I wasn’t so in tune with all this info.

I should be OK, will take to a scale within the next couple weeks to know for sure. I can lighten up the truck if need be but the point being that all the truck company advertising towing capacity but that’s one piece of the puzzle.

Good luck. Franco


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