Eh also any tips on gas or lodging availability or anything else that might be relevant is appreciated. Been a while since I traveled that route--don't want to provide outdated info.
Thank you.
It’s why you have mirrors on the doors
Purchase one of those “rear’ cameras that goes (I believe) just above your license plate. Probably not too expensive anymore..
Why would you? Cargo vans and box trucks etc can’t see out the back..
As far as I know no such laws exist. Or if they do they aren’t enforced.
I don’t think this is regulated. I guess a random cop with a ticket quota can always find something.
If it were illegal to fully pack your vehicle then how can commercial windowless panel vans be legal?
Enjoy paying $20+ in tolls to just drive past Chicago.
As long as you have side view mirrors that’s all you need.
Look at map and figure out way to avoid or at least give wide birth to Twin Cities. Otherwise, should be fairly smooth sailing. Outside mirrors on both sides should be good to go.
Be careful of thieves when traveling with a vehicle full of gear. Unless you can unload it all into your room for the night, a vehicle, visibly full of stuff, in a motel parking lot is a juicy target.
I’ve driven a trailer around the country. I had zero rear window visibility. There are plenty of reasons for cops to pull you over. This is pretty low on the list.
Never heard of a law against that. Side view mirrors are required and that is their purpose. Rear view mirror is a luxury.
Hol’ up, friend- take a look at this before you head there. You and your family don’t want to be anywhere near there until this settles down IMHO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJCewMYHEFA
Pack it to the roof. Center mirror is not required
If you have side view mirrors then it doesn’t matter even if you paint your back glass black.
None. But you must have both side mirrors.
(Was a commercial driver many many moons ago.)
(e) No person shall drive a motor vehicle when the windshield, side or rear windows are in such defective condition or repair as to materially impair the driver's view to the front, side or rear. A vehicle equipped with a side mirror on each side of the vehicle which are in conformance with Section 12-502 will be deemed to be in compliance in the event the rear window of the vehicle is materially obscured.
That's from Illinois. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K12-503
I googled the search term 'view clearance for rear window law (insert state name)'. Yes, you'll get a lot of info about window tinting, but should help. Maybe replace the word clearance with obstruction.
One tip, last week I saw a mid 2000s 4runner packed to the top in back, and also had a receiver hitch rack loaded to the max.
As it came up from behind me in the daylight I thought the moron had bright lights on.
Turns out the back end was so loaded down that the front end was basically floating high, tires barely touching, and the headlights were shooting high.
Of course they were flying along passing me standing still and I was going 80. If they would have needed to maneuver, I think they would have been screwed.
Distribute that load for the heaviest portion to go over and forward of the rear axle, not behind it.
I have packed full loads from Chicago to CT and Missouri to CT many times. Never given a problem even if stopped for some other reason. This was many years ago, so I don’t know if cops have gotten stricter on that, but I rather doubt it.
I traveled out west many years ago and the best advice I got about gas was to never let your tank get below half full, if at all possible.
There were some pretty desolate stretches with no gas stations. By planning on keeping it at least half full, it gives you wiggle room.
The last thing you want to see on a nearly empty tank is *No gas, food, lodging, or services for the next 102 miles.*.
I was so glad I heeded that advice to keep topped off.
You’re carrying too much ammo. Given the itinerary, just stay out of Chicago, Minneapolis and Seattle. You won’t need so much along the rest of the route.
Reading your post, I came to realize that I have never seen an SUV without tinted windows in the last few years. Usually darker than driver/passenger side tinted windows. Hard to see what is inside.
A gas tip would be to keep it under 2000 rpms. A little slower, but you will maximize fuel mileage.
I had a state police officer in Nebraska pull me over years ago because I did the same thing. Told me I was speeding (lie). I asked how fast he had me going, and I knew immediately it was BS, he just wanted to check out what was going on in the fully loaded down vehicle. Let me go with a verbal warning that I may want to get my speedometer checked out. LOL. Other cars were passing me the whole time.