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Bonesberg55
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012
Posts: 1270
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 Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:20 am Post subject: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| I've seen bumper height forums on here for specific VWs but this forum is for specific bumper height requirements by state. I lived in northern Wisconsin for about one year back in the 70s and have been curious about this since I was pulled over in 1974 by an elderly county cop who questioned my bumper height. To this day, I'm convinced that he just pulled me over because I was 19 and had a hot car. He stated that front to back bumper variance could not be greater than 4". I was in compliance but I was still bent out of shape because I was singled out. Today I looked up the state requirements and couldn't believe what I read. Wisconsin says that bumper height for cars must be within 2" of stock height measured at the highest point of the bottom edge of the bumper to the road surface. That's where the cop got the 4" from so I understand that. What I don't understand is that trucks are allowed a 9" height variance from stock so front to back difference can be as much as 18". That's absolutely ridiculous! What are other states requiring? |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4111
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:33 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Bonesberg55 wrote: |
| I've seen bumper height forums on here for specific VWs but this forum is for specific bumper height requirements by state. I lived in northern Wisconsin for about one year back in the 70s and have been curious about this since I was pulled over in 1974 by an elderly county cop who questioned my bumper height. To this day, I'm convinced that he just pulled me over because I was 19 and had a hot car. He stated that front to back bumper variance could not be greater than 4". I was in compliance but I was still bent out of shape because I was singled out. Today I looked up the state requirements and couldn't believe what I read. Wisconsin says that bumper height for cars must be within 2" of stock height measured at the highest point of the bottom edge of the bumper to the road surface. That's where the cop got the 4" from so I understand that. What I don't understand is that trucks are allowed a 9" height variance from stock so front to back difference can be as much as 18". That's absolutely ridiculous! What are other states requiring? |
I would say unless you have to have a correct bumper height to pass inspection to get a car registered and on the road I would not lose sleep on it. I have not heard of anyone in my circle of enthusiasts getting checked for bumper height.....ever.
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scottyrocks
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2016
Posts: 2661
Location: Long Island, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:51 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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Trucks are completely different animals, especially since the word truck encompasses such a large variety of vehicle sizes.
Large trucks, including tractor trailers, have a high rear platform where a bumper would normally be. The front bumper on the cab is considerably lower. Trucks of this size also have something referred to as a Mansfield Bar (Underride Guard), which is a steel extension mounted under the rear to prevent lower vehicles, such as cars, from having their roofs sheared off should they strike the rear of the truck.
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If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them on some level there's no rational grounds for it.
D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch' |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:21 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Bonesberg55 wrote: |
| I've seen bumper height forums on here for specific VWs but this forum is for specific bumper height requirements by state. I lived in northern Wisconsin for about one year back in the 70s and have been curious about this since I was pulled over in 1974 by an elderly county cop who questioned my bumper height. To this day, I'm convinced that he just pulled me over because I was 19 and had a hot car. He stated that front to back bumper variance could not be greater than 4". I was in compliance but I was still bent out of shape because I was singled out. Today I looked up the state requirements and couldn't believe what I read. Wisconsin says that bumper height for cars must be within 2" of stock height measured at the highest point of the bottom edge of the bumper to the road surface. That's where the cop got the 4" from so I understand that. What I don't understand is that trucks are allowed a 9" height variance from stock so front to back difference can be as much as 18". That's absolutely ridiculous! What are other states requiring? |
Are all the slammed and lifted cars thereby running equipment violations?
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34003
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:41 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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Q-Dog
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010
Posts: 8699
Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Emily's Owner
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004
Posts: 977
Location: Canby, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:47 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| scottyrocks wrote: |
Trucks are completely different animals, especially since the word truck encompasses such a large variety of vehicle sizes.
Large trucks, including tractor trailers, have a high rear platform where a bumper would normally be. The front bumper on the cab is considerably lower. Trucks of this size also have something referred to as a Mansfield Bar (Underride Guard), which is a steel extension mounted under the rear to prevent lower vehicles, such as cars, from having their roofs sheared off should they strike the rear of the truck. |
A car could easily slide in under my school bus if tailgating, thankfully it never happened when I drove.
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Xargaret
ITMC - OG Den Mother
What (and I cannot stress this enough) The Actual Fuck?!
1974 Transporter
2023 Subaru Outback |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4111
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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The best HWV cover ever!!😎
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"Depression is a malfunction of the instrument we use to determine reality.
Mike Gerson
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cbeck
Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2014
Posts: 2495
Location: high ridge, mo
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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Too many variations to list. My build bible for my street legal tube frame buggy. Kind of a moot point since both of my boys are mo state inspectors. If your going to ride around in a cop magnet....
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My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779 |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76909
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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Tell the people that drive pick 'em up trucks and jeeps. Even a bone stock has bumpers way higher than my stock Subaru.
My 74 compared to an original low mileage 74.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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scottyrocks
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2016
Posts: 2661
Location: Long Island, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:47 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Emily's Owner wrote: |
| scottyrocks wrote: |
Trucks are completely different animals, especially since the word truck encompasses such a large variety of vehicle sizes.
Large trucks, including tractor trailers, have a high rear platform where a bumper would normally be. The front bumper on the cab is considerably lower. Trucks of this size also have something referred to as a Mansfield Bar (Underride Guard), which is a steel extension mounted under the rear to prevent lower vehicles, such as cars, from having their roofs sheared off should they strike the rear of the truck. |
A car could easily slide in under my school bus if tailgating, thankfully it never happened when I drove.
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I don't recall seeing a M-Bar on a bus. Maybe it's not required? I have, though, seen a few pictures of cars/SUVs that have rear ended school buses. None of them slid under.
_________________
If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them on some level there's no rational grounds for it.
D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch' |
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Emily's Owner
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2004
Posts: 977
Location: Canby, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:45 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| scottyrocks wrote: |
I don't recall seeing a M-Bar on a bus. Maybe it's not required? I have, though, seen a few pictures of cars/SUVs that have rear ended school buses. None of them slid under. |
I've seen a couple of sedans that had rear ended school buses (both Thomas like mine in photo) here in the Portland area - slid under and ruined the whole front end, luckily both were low speed strikes. Pickups are taller so they just get munched in. I've never seen an M-Bar on a bus either. usually the transit style buses sit much lower, the conventional's are higher. Of course if their car is as low as my son's Corolla, they'll get bonked in the forehead by the bus bumper by the time they stop moving 
_________________
Xargaret
ITMC - OG Den Mother
What (and I cannot stress this enough) The Actual Fuck?!
1974 Transporter
2023 Subaru Outback
Last edited by Emily's Owner on Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:51 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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wheel607
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 1847
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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This is lost on him!!! |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:52 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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Probably ticketed for indecent exposure for that outfit. We had some seriously bad fashion in the 70s
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Bonesberg55
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:32 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| Probably ticketed for indecent exposure for that outfit. We had some seriously bad fashion in the 70s |
You've got that right! I wouldn't be caught dead in something like that! I'm still living in the 60s man! |
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babysnakes
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2008
Posts: 7106
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Florida has no minimum, pan scrapers abound but we have maximum heights. vehicles under 2000 GVWR front 24" rear 26", 2000 to 2999 GVWR front 27" rear 29", 3000-5000 GVWR front 28" rear 30", over 5000 GVWR exempt |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 5475
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2022 9:26 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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We have that same 24 inch headlight law in WA too (lower is OK if stock), but I've never heard of it being enforced. The Bug starts out stock just barely over 24 inches. The F body Camero has lower headlights stock.
I see in WA we don't have a bumper lower height law, but the upper limit is 22 inches for passenger cars to the bottom of the bumper. Bumpers are not required on "kit cars" or "street rods" but then 22 inches the maximum height to the bottom of the frame. Trucks have a higher minimum but nothing over 30 inches. (WAC 204-10-022)
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| Wildthings wrote: |
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 7624
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2022 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Emily's Owner wrote: |
A car could easily slide in under my school bus if tailgating, thankfully it never happened when I drove.
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Dang
..If my bus driver looked like you. Id always be on time to class. Maybe perfect attendance  
Link
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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| Damn that Xevin... |
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I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
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My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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vwfreek61
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2004
Posts: 350
Location: Green Bay, WI
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| Bonesberg55 wrote: |
| I've seen bumper height forums on here for specific VWs but this forum is for specific bumper height requirements by state. I lived in northern Wisconsin for about one year back in the 70s and have been curious about this since I was pulled over in 1974 by an elderly county cop who questioned my bumper height. To this day, I'm convinced that he just pulled me over because I was 19 and had a hot car. He stated that front to back bumper variance could not be greater than 4". I was in compliance but I was still bent out of shape because I was singled out. Today I looked up the state requirements and couldn't believe what I read. Wisconsin says that bumper height for cars must be within 2" of stock height measured at the highest point of the bottom edge of the bumper to the road surface. That's where the cop got the 4" from so I understand that. What I don't understand is that trucks are allowed a 9" height variance from stock so front to back difference can be as much as 18". That's absolutely ridiculous! What are other states requiring? |
Just take the bumpers off. In Wisconsin vehicles built before 1972 aren't required to have bumpers...or seat belts. I got out of a seat belt ticket because I was driving a 1970 Squareback.
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Kenneth
1964 Bug with Saxomat
1976 VW/Harley Trike Autostick
1987 Vanagon Westy w/Subaru EJ25 and reversed 4EAT |
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Bonesberg55
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012
Posts: 1270
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2022 7:13 am Post subject: Re: State Bumper Height Requirements |
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| I solved the problem by moving out of Wisconsin. Illinois is another story. |
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