Legal bumper height?

[chvss65]

Heh vtach
id talk to a Illinois trooper or better yet one of their truck inspection troopers
ie "truck detail"
They are gonna be the ones stopping ya, the SOS Police deal mostly with titles n registration and generally know little about equipment violations
In Illinois ya only need a CDL for over 26000 lbs and endorsements for air brakes,dual trailer etc, If I remember the weight right. sorry if I don't, and Plates over 12000 or "D" requires an vehicle inspection every 6 months anyway
the bumper height varies on GVW and I thought the main concern was difference in front and rear height, mated up to the GVW requirements, so different weights require different heights, so I planed on double stacking the front bumper (fish mouth) and my lower Reese hitch would be like the "DOT Bar" on the back of semi trailers or dump trucks. Dump trucks don't have a "bumpers" but are more or less like the deuce
But anyway Id ask a State Trooper Truck Detail officer to get at least the local opinion, cause thats the one who's gonna stop ya if anybody. at least on my area local police don't even blink at bigger trucks, unless they are messing around
just a suggestion on direction, the antique plates wouldn't work because of the GVW, unless your bobbed and titled under 12,000 like mine, but I have "D" plates on mine, just so I can use it anytime

 

[docfarmall]

If you all keep asking some of these dumb questions none of us are gonna have trucks if you have a question read the post if you dont see anythink about what you wanna no then look and see who may best help you and ask them the only dumb question is the one not ask but make sure you ask the right person

 

[firebuilder]

Here's the relevant text from vtach's link:

(625 ILCS 5/12‑607) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑607)
Sec. 12‑607. Suspension System.
(a) It shall be unlawful to operate a motor vehicle on any highway of this State when the suspension system has been modified from the original manufactured design by lifting the body from the chassis in excess of 3 inches or to cause the horizontal line from the front to the rear bumper to vary over 3 inches in height when measured from a level surface of the highway to the lower edge of the bumper, except that it is unlawful to operate a street rod or custom vehicle when the suspension system has been modified from the original manufactured design so that the horizontal line from the front to the rear bumper varies over 7 inches in height when measured from a level surface of the highway to the lower edge of the bumper.
(b) Nothing in this Section shall prevent the installation of manufactured heavy duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs, nor shall anything contained in this Section prevent a person to operate a motor vehicle on any highway of this State with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear does not affect the control or safe operation of the vehicle. This Section shall not apply to motor vehicles designed or modified primarily for off‑highway racing purposes while such vehicles are in tow or to motorcycles or motor driven cycles.
(Source: P.A. 92‑668, eff. 1‑1‑03.)
(625 ILCS 5/12‑607.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑607.1)
Sec. 12‑607.1. Frame and floor height. (a) No person shall operate upon a highway a first division vehicle which has a clearance between the frame and ground in excess of 22 inches. The lowest portion of the body floor shall not be more than 4 inches above the top of the frame. No such vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation.
(b) No person shall operate upon a highway a second division vehicle which has a clearance between the frame and ground which is in excess of the limits specified within this subsection for its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) category. For the purpose of this section, GVWR means the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating whether or not the vehicle is modified by the use of parts not originally installed by the manufacturer. The stacking or attaching of vehicle frames (one frame on top of or beneath another frame) is prohibited. No portion of the body floor shall be raised above the frame.
(1) The frame height of second division vehicles, whose GVWR is under 4,500 pounds, shall be no more than 24 inches.
(2) The frame height of second division vehicles, whose GVWR is more than 4,500 pounds and less than 7,500 pounds, shall be no more than 26 inches.
(3) The frame height of second division vehicles, whose GVWR is more than 7,500 pounds and less than 10,000 pounds, shall be no more than 28 inches.
(c) Under subsections (a) or (b) of this Section, measurements shall be made when a vehicle is unladen on a level surface at the lowest point from the bottom of the original vehicle manufacturer's longitudinal frame rail between the front axle and second axle on the vehicle.
(d) This Section does not apply to specially designed or modified motor vehicles when operated off the highways. Such motor vehicles may be transported upon the highway only by use of a trailer or semitrailer. The specially designed or modified motor vehicle may also be transported upon another vehicle, providing that the entire weight of the specifically designed or modified vehicle is resting upon the transporting vehicle.
(e) Any violation of this Section is a Class C misdemeanor. A second conviction under this Section shall be punished with a fine of not less than $500. An officer making an arrest under this Section shall order the vehicle driver to remove the vehicle from the highway. A person convicted under this Section shall be ordered to bring his vehicle into compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 90‑89, eff. 1‑1‑98.)

(625 ILCS 5/12‑60 (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑60
Sec. 12‑608. Bumpers.
(a) It shall be unlawful to operate any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less or any motor vehicle registered as a recreational vehicle under this Code on any highway of this State unless such motor vehicle is equipped with both a front and rear bumper.
Except as indicated below, maximum bumper heights of such motor vehicles shall be determined by weight category of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) measured from a level surface to the highest point of the bottom of the bumper when the vehicle is unloaded and the tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure.
Maximum bumper heights are as follows:
Maximum FrontMaximum Rear
Bumper heightBumper Height
All motor vehicles of the first

division except multipurpose

passenger vehicles:22 inches22 inches Multipurpose passenger vehicles

and all other motor vehicles:

4,500 lbs. and under GVWR24 inches26 inches 4,501 lbs. through 7,500

lbs. GVWR27 inches29 inches 7,501 lbs. through 9,000

lbs. GVWR28 inches30 inches It is unlawful to operate upon any highway of this State any vehicle with a front bumper height that exceeds 28 inches or a rear bumper height that exceeds 30 inches, regardless of the GVWR of the vehicle, except those vehicles covered by Chapter 18b of this Code.
For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components which have been modified or altered from the original manufacturer's design in order to conform with the maximum bumper requirements of this section, the bumper height shall be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the frame rail. The bumper on any vehicle so modified or altered shall be at least 4.5 inches in vertical height and extend no less than the width of the respective wheel tracks outermost distance.
However, nothing in this Section shall prevent the installation of bumper guards.
(b) This Section shall not apply to street rods, custom vehicles, motor vehicles designed or modified primarily for off‑highway purposes while such vehicles are in tow or to motorcycles or motor driven cycles, nor to motor vehicles registered as antique vehicles when the original design of such antique vehicles did not include bumpers. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any motor vehicle driven during the first 1000 recorded miles of that vehicle, when such vehicle is owned or operated by a manufacturer, dealer or transporter displaying a special plate or plates as described in Chapter 3 of this Code while such vehicle is (1) being delivered from the manufacturing or assembly plant directly to the purchasing dealer or distributor, or from one dealership or distributor to another; (2) being moved by the most direct route from one location to another for the purpose of installing special bodies or equipment; or (3) being driven for purposes of demonstration by a prospective buyer with the dealer or his agent present in the cab of the vehicle during the demonstration.
The dealer shall, prior to the receipt of any deposit made or any contract signed by the buyer to secure the purchase of a vehicle, inform such buyer, by written statement signed by the purchaser to indicate acknowledgement of the contents thereof, of the legal requirements of this Section regarding front and rear bumpers if such vehicle is not to be equipped with bumpers at the time of delivery.
(c) Any violation of this Section is a Class C misdemeanor. A second conviction under this Section shall be punishable with a fine of not less than $500. An officer making an arrest under this Section shall order the vehicle driver to remove the vehicle from the highway. A person convicted under this Section shall be ordered to bring his vehicle into compliance with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 92‑668, eff. 1‑1‑03; 93‑702, eff. 7‑9‑04.)

 

[BEASTMASTER]

don't think there is a limit if it is factory

 

[vtach]

Here is the problem;
"It is unlawful to operate upon any highway of this State any vehicle with a front bumper height that exceeds 28 inches or a rear bumper height that exceeds 30 inches, regardless of the GVWR of the vehicle, except those vehicles covered by Chapter 18b of this Code.
For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components which have been modified or altered from the original manufacturer's design in order to conform with the maximum bumper requirements of this section, the bumper height shall be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the frame rail."
Chapter 18b states commercially registered vehicles only, which requires a CDL, and not because of the weight.
I am keeping my trucks and I will play dumb should I get poped. But I am not going to mount 1400x20 on my bobbed deuce (which screams I am not stock).
And S.of S. police do pull trucks over and do patrol interstates.

 

[jth3rd]

if you get a ticket just make the deuce a lowrider

 

[BEASTMASTER]

some states make their own rules. in texas, if a motor home has 3 axels you need a class b license to drive it. i think they picked that law up from cal. it's just legal robbery of law biding citizens.

 

[firebuilder]

Any more word on this?

 

[vtach]

Will give him a call monday. Last I heard, they are illegal in IL. (deuces) and it is a criminal offense, not just a ticket. However, there may be a loop hole as long as you have a D plate or higher on your truck. This does mean semi-annual safety inspections, 55mph max speed on interstates, and possibly a class B CDL. I have all except the later, and that is what he is looking into for me (the definition of "commercially registered" per set 18b. It may just mean a D plate and up. You have to pay to play I guess.

 

[dburt]

Why not just add "temp" lower bumper extensions? You could use another deuce bumper with brackets to add it below your stock bumper, add it when you hit the hiway, make it removeable when you go to shows or off road. There is always a way to get around the murky legal stuff. Plus it could keep a small wedgie car from going under your front end and making you to be a hiway menace in your big mean green truck!

 

[vtach]

Dburt,

Because of this:

"For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components which have been modified or altered from the original manufacturer's design in order to conform with the maximum bumper requirements of this section, the bumper height shall be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the frame rail."

This would not meet standards either. My lawyer is still checking i guess.

 

[firebuilder]

Any new insight in to this issue?

 

[tm america]

i have mine plated as an antique which it says the law does not apply if it didnt come with bumpers and since it didnt come with a rear bumper i think ill use that part of the law if i ever get stopped

 

[50shooter]

IL is getting a bit crazy on stuff. I registered three M35s in the past month. One we went w/ 25999 plates so we can "use" it. The other two are reg. as antigue. The DMV guy (not a legal authority) said as long as I am stock and play by the antique rule that I should be fine. Asked directly about bumper height and was told if it is stock as is OEM, good to go. Anything reg. over 16,000 is required to have a class C license which is NOT a CDL. You have to take a 15 ? test and a road test in the truck.

As Vtach has covered, the GVW rule is mute as w/ bumper height of a deuce is over the max regardless of height or weight Take a look at a semi on the road, they've got the lowest bumpers on the road. Half the time they look like drag drags and couldn't strattle a frog.

I have three cop friends and all said the same thing, " you know the laws better than I do regarding military vehicles, don't do anything stupid and no one will investigate"

Long story short, under most circumstances in IL if you remain polite, the cop will not jack you in a stock MV and should it get heated, you are most likely going to end up with a warning according to the DMV and cop friends. Subject to availablility, attitude and location.

We had the MV convoy roll through IL last w/e and to my knowledge no one ended up in the slammer overnight including the guy in the HET. If you are a member of SS and drove the HET, I've got some nice pictures from the Clinton Iowa stop.

 

[tm america]

also if you are worried about it make sure you wear green when driving the deuce in ill.alot of cops dont know the weather you are in the military or not by looking at the truck if they see green they think military no need to pull him over he's just serving his country

 

[swbradley1]

All this just serves to remind me why I never wanted to live in Illinois. Hassle people in MVs and no concealed carry.

It is bad enough with some of the stupidity in Ohio.

 

[firebuilder]

Can the IL SOS issue a title, registration, plates, and tags, for a (stock) vehicle that does not meet the legal requirements to be driven on the state's roadways?

 

[Midnight Rider]

Can the IL SOS issue a title, registration, plates, and tags, for a (stock) vehicle that does not meet the legal requirements to be driven on the state's roadways?

They probably would because they wouldn't know what the vehicle looks like. I've never had them want to look at a vehicle that I was registering.

 

[chvss65]

Can the IL SOS issue a title, registration, plates, and tags, for a (stock) vehicle that does not meet the legal requirements to be driven on the state's roadways?

As long as you have a title and and correct plates for the GVW , SOS isn't gonna care what the truck looks like. Ive been driving mine for over a year with D plates and a Safety Inspection sticker, not a blink from any Officer, In Illinois the GVW for Antique plates is 8,000 lbs, most SOS offices don't know that and so Antique plates on Deuces in Illinois is improper registration
The bumper height section that vtech referred to is concerning commercial vehicles. one that have "cab cards" and registered with Dept of Transportation as a business and have an Illinois "Authority to Operate" in Illinois inter-state or intra-state, the "fuel tax" stamp only applies if you are operating "commercially" inter-state. Buying weight plates does not make the truck a commercial vehicle, the use and being registered as being in "business" does , so that being said for the GVW of deuces, being over 8,000 lbs in the 2nd division of vehicles (vehicles over 8,000 lbs) and not being a "commercial" vehicle the legal bumper height is 28 inches, both front and rear.
Thanks all

 

[99dodge1500]

You can make your own bumpers to legal height, they just need to be 4.5 inches in height, and need to cover the path of your tread, the only thing you need to worry about then is the frame height which I believe is only 28 inches.