Adding Signs & Lights ??

[Magicman]

In a couple of other threads, I have voiced my concern about my perceived "depth perception" issue with the back of my sawmill.  I realize that sawmills, etc. have been towed safely many times around the world, and also, I have never heard about a sawmill being rear ended.


 
I first added this.  I only attached it when I knew that the customer's location was in rural areas.


 
I added a flasher for the times that I would be traveling at night.


 
The flasher can be attached with or without the sign.


 
The SMV triangle was an item of concern, so I made this rectangular sign with reflective orange and white tape.


 
And of course, it could also incorporate the flasher.

There are concerns about using an auxiliary flasher or even a sign which might be used legally to indicate that the OEM lights were insufficient.   

[julio]

dot said that loads that over hang must have a flashing lite .That would be like a log truck with over hang on long logs. But I don't know about a flashing lite used with tail lights. I would think the sign by itself would be enough

[two tired]

Magic, maybe you could put the red and white reflective tape (dot)  on the  trailer?

[beenthere]

Are you planning to be running at night on this trip?

[barbender]

Alright, how did you make that light flash in the picture?

[Chuck White]

Alright, how did you make that light flash in the picture?

A light can be made to flash simply by adding a regular flasher inline with the light!

The flasher will charge up, then discharge just like your signal lights do!

[red oaks lumber]

don't the factory lights on your trailer/mill work?

[Magicman]

This little flasher is what is sold for loggers to attach to the log end when transporting at night.  It is orange and in no way could be confused with the tail, stop, or signal lights on the sawmill.  It is just a caution light that blinks rather fast.

Are you planning to be running at night on this trip? 

Not going there because we plan to leave at 9:00 Sunday morning.  Coming home, I have no idea.

Alright, how did you make that light flash in the picture?

:D  It works good doesn't it.  You gots to know someone in "high places" to make that happen.   :D

[Magicman]

don't the factory lights on your trailer/mill work?

Yes, absolutely.  My concern has been that when being overtaken, would the driver realize that the right tail light is ~8' behind the left tail light and sawmill head.  That is the depth perception issue that I was concerned about.

[julio]

why don't you make a bar to hold left side lite even with factory rite one. That way you have a light on both sides at the end.

[beenthere]

One gets depth perception by how far apart (horizontal) the lights are.

Ever notice when approaching oncoming traffic how easy it is to meet a jeep and be thinking it is farther away than it is actually. All related to the jeep headlights being closer together than say a normal truck or car. Nowadays Jeeps are more normal, IMO.

Coming up behind cars are the same way. Two tail lights close together would appear to be farther away if one is used to approaching normal size cars. Trucks have tail lights a bit further out so likely appear closer than they really are which is not a bad thing.

Just my take...

[beenthere]

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It's a .gif file.  ;)

Like I use in my avatar.  A series of different pics in rotation to appear as movement.

[GDinMaine]

Is that orange light powered by batteries or you have to wire it to the trailer lights? Can you post a link to where you got that light?

[jmouton]

hey magicman  the   smv  sign should be more than good enough  , even when traveling at speed ,  I think the yellow blinking light might be a bit much,,  and the orange and white  reflective tape  is  dot legal ,  but not legal in place of the smv sign ,  not really sure if you need any of that since you  have tail lights,  maybe switch them out with led lights , way brighter and last longer  , but whatever works for you .   

                                                                                                                               
                                                                                            thats just my 2 cents worth    jim

[Brian_Rhoad]

SMV triangle is not legal over 25 mph.

[jmouton]

I thought there was  a speed limit with a smv ,,  thanks for clearing that up    brian  rhoad

[SawyerBrown]

When I get lumber/etc that hangs out the back of the truck, a lot of places have red plastic "flags" that you can tie on to alert folks that you've got an overhung load.  What about doing the same thing here?  Just tie on a red flag of some type.

Seems to me you just want to get people's attention that you've got a long tail.  Unless you drive really slow, you're normally pretty well keeping up with traffic anyway, right?  I've towed my mill at 65+ and it behaves extremely well ...

[Magicman]

Is that orange light powered by batteries or you have to wire it to the trailer lights? Can you post a link to where you got that light?

Mine has 4 rechargeable AA batteries, but I do not see it listed now.  I got mine from here:  LINK

[21incher]

I thought that any lights on the rear of a trailer had to be red and lights on the front amber.

[Magicman]

The actual trailer lights are as you stated.  In Mississippi, any caution lights are amber.

[beenthere]

This link might help...
Amber appears to be for the sides and forward. Only red to the rear.
      But a caution light may be another thing altogether... didn't see it mentioned.

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/trailer-lighting/

[AnthonyW]

The most interesting part of this discussion is the fact the 'rules of the road' are applied on a slant, so to speak. As you move from private passenger to commercial and from typical load to unique load, meeting the standards of a state through which you are passing as more stringently based. I mentioned in another thread that a friend of mine was stopped in Virginia for his 'passenger' registered (ie., non-commercial) vehicle and trailer being over length. Over length for Virginia but not for his state of registration, Massachusetts. Upon appearing in the Virginia court, the judge tossed the ticket for just that reason.

Each state has their own twist on the laws. The length law difference above being one, another would be Michigan vs. New Hampshire according the AAA link. Michigan requires only one red light at the rear of the trailer and New Hampshire requires two. If I lived in MI and traveled to NH, I would still be legal (although possibly questioned while in NH).

I once asked a trucker about this next situation. There is a modular home manufacturer based in NY state. When they transport a home they must have escort vehicles, whether in or out of NY state, because the trucks have NY registration. When the NH modular home manufacturer transports a home, they don't need escort vehicles. They are not required by NH law. Until they get into NY state, then they need the escort to get through NY. Once in PA, they don't need the escort any longer.

As a passenger registered vehicle being used for personal use, you are bound by the regulations of the state in which the vehicle is registered more than the state in which you are traveling in or through (per the director of the NH DMV station when I registered my mill last week). However, Vehicles registered for commercial use (<26K GVW) fall under a different set of rules. Vehicles over 26k GVW, semi or tractor trailers, fall under yet another set. Specialty and/or permitted loads fall under another set. In regards to when you need to contact the visiting state and follow their rules.

I, too, don't care for the offset in the stop lights. I noticed it the day I picked up the mill. I would contact MS DMV and perhaps a visit with the trailer or pictures and see what they recommend and to make sure you aren't breaking any of the rules in your home state.

[Chuck White]

Seems like I read here in the Forums quite some time back that someone from Canada posted that the taillights on the mill had to be at the same depth.

That means one cannot be further forward than the other, therefore a bracket attaching to the rear end of the main beam (on a Wood-Mizer) and extending to the left, the width of the mill and a taillight is mounted on the end of thebracket!

Seems like there was a picture of the setup posted as well as just the rule/law!

[Brian_Rhoad]

Here in PA it is illegal to add lights that were not available on the vehicle from the manufacturer. That law is not enforced very often. An inspection mechanic can refuse to pass a vehicle if the lights are not factory or a factory option.

[GDinMaine]

I put a bunch of those red/white reflective strips all along the sides of the mill and it is bright as bright can be when a light shines on them.  However towards the back there are very small surfaces that one could put any reflective material on.  I contamplated adding a temporary plate just like Magicman did, but put red and white reflective strips on it.  It is the same highly reflective stuff you see on the side and back of all semi-truck trailers.