WashingtonLaw measures fifth-wheel trailer length from hitch pin to rear
People towing fifth-wheel camping trailers on Washington highways use the distance from the hitch pin’s center to the trailer’s rear to check the 46-foot limit.
What it does
For Washington’s 46-foot highway limit, fifth-wheel travel trailers are measured from the center of the hitch pin to the farthest rear point, usually the rear bumper.
Argument forA clear measuring point could help trailer owners check whether their trailers fit Washington’s highway length limit.
Argument againstLeaving out any trailer overhang ahead of the hitch pin could make the measured length understate the space the trailer occupies.
More detail
The law measures fifth-wheel travel trailer length from the center of its hitch pin to its farthest rear point. This rule covers trailers mainly designed for recreational camping or travel, without their own motor, that are primarily mounted on or hitched within a pickup truck’s bed. Certain safety, energy-saving, or other necessary devices do not count toward length if they are neither designed nor used to carry cargo and Washington’s transportation department lists them in its rules. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 16Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 16Chapter 65, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 16Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 9President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 6Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#28). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 27TRAN - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 27Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 2:30 PM.
- Feb 16First reading, referred to Transportation.Minor
- Feb 12Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#12). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 121st substitute bill substituted (TR 26).Major
- Feb 11Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 5TR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 5Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 1:00 PM.
- Jan 26Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 14First reading, referred to Transportation.Introduced
Transportation