Towing with a motorcycle in California...

[berth]

Sometimes it is the only way to travel

for 2 Hawk Content.

for 2 V-Max Content.

For Gymkhana while trailering

 

[Kornholio]

Awesome!

 

[Cincinnatus]

So, just for the sake of debate or whatev'.... Ural sidecars are not considered being towed? Three axles would seem to make it limited to 55, no?

 

[Kornholio]

Urals with sidecars have three wheels, not three axles.

 

[Junkie]

Is the rear wheel lined up with the sidecar wheel? If not I could see the argument that it's 3 axles

 

[Outlaws Justice]

Is the rear wheel lined up with the sidecar wheel? If not I could see the argument that it's 3 axles

We are talking a Ural right? Will it go over 55?

 

[Cincinnatus]

Recent Urals will get close to 70 with a tailwind.

This is the Ural from the back, I'm not sure if the shaft connecting the two rear wheels is technically an axle. Experts are welcome to contribute expertise.

 

[Kornholio]

The two rear wheels are driven through a common driveshaft.

 

[Trapperdog]

Not all Urals are two wheel drive, and yes, the hack wheel is offset

 

[Kornholio]

But they're still connected through a single drive shaft, are they not?

If you're going to use the literal definition of an axle, then every single HMMWV would be a four-axle vehicle. Shit, most cars would technically be three or also four-axle vehicles depending on the setup since the front wheels typically don't use a full axle shaft and some also have independent rear suspension which means no singular live axle.

I would say in literally all cases, the following example explains how the axle number is determined...

Therefore, when viewed from one side, since only two wheels are visible, the Urals (and all other sidecar-equipped motorcycles) have two axles.

 

[Trapperdog]

Ha, good point. Ours is two wheel drive and therefore has two axels. I would assume the single wheel drive, as with other add on hack bikes, do not have a connecting drive axel and thus have three axels. At least technically in motorcycle terms

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

So, just for the sake of debate or whatev'.... Ural sidecars are not considered being towed? Three axles would seem to make it limited to 55, no?

Sidecars are not trailers - they pay the same toll as motorcycles on the local bridges. They are limited to 55 by their engine, not the number of axles!

 

[Kornholio]

Sidecars are not trailers - they pay the same toll as motorcycles on the local bridges. They are limited to 55 by their engine, not the number of axles!

Maybe the Ural's are.

 

[antidote]

Expounding upon Alan and Kornholio's correct posts...

If you guys are being serious....



2015 Vehicle Code definitions from DMV:

Trailer
A “trailer” is a vehicle designed for carrying
persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn
by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight
rests upon any other vehicle. As used in Division 15
(commencing with Section 35000), “trailer” includes a
semitrailer when used in conjunction with an auxiliary dolly,
if the auxiliary dolly is of a type constructed to replace the
function of the drawbar and the front axle or axles of a trailer.
Amended Ch. 542, Stats. 1984. Effective January 1, 1985.

Motorcycle
(a) A “motorcycle” is a motor vehicle having a
seat or saddle for the use of the rider, designed to travel on not
more than three wheels in contact with the ground.


I gather then, that since side cars/trikes rest weight upon the vehicle, they therefore are not trailers, and fully meet criteria of motorcyles and then, are...motorcycles.





Also...

Bridge Toll info:
MULTI-AXLE VEHICLES

All Bridges

Effective July 1, 2012:
3 axles regular toll of $5.00 times 3 axles - $15.00
4 axles regular toll of $5.00 times 4 axles - $20.00
5 axles regular toll of $5.00 times 5 axles - $25.00
6 axles regular toll of $5.00 times 6 axles - $30.00
7 axles or more regular toll of $5.00 times 7 axles - $35.00

Toll is based on the total number of axles on the roadway in a vehicle combination. Tolls that vary by time of day are determined by the time clock or time keeping device at the toll collection point.
Motorcycles are classified as 2 axle vehicles.
Tolls are collected eastbound only on Antioch Bridge, Benicia-Martinez Bridge, and Carquinez Bridge and westbound only on Dumbarton Bridge, Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.

Bold Added. Well, since CVC motorcycles are anything up to 3 wheels that bear the weight of the vehicle, it seems side cars/trikes should ONLY pay regular motorcycle tolls. Motorcyles being counted as having 2 axles by bridge toll authority by their definition. Only when towing should they be bumped up to 3 axle toll. I guess a better way to say it is, all motorcycles have 2 axles...some have 3 wheels.

 

[RRR70]

But they're still connected through a single drive shaft, are they not?

Not all of them.