What can you legally remove from our trucks?

[72ranger]

I know you can remove the radio antenna, and fill the stake pockets, but can you legally remove the side marker lights and fill those as well? how about the little reflecters under the rear taillights? by law are they required? ive seen some trucks with out them, alot in the magazines but those are mostley show trucks, so how about the ones that actually get driven.

[theskytoucher]

I dont believe you have to have them!!! But you probably check in your area to see if they are needed!!!

[72hiboy4x4]

I know you can remove the radio antenna, and fill the stake pockets, but can you legally remove the side marker lights and fill those as well? how about the little reflecters under the rear taillights? by law are they required?

legally? probably not
can you do it and get away with it? probably


Side markers and reflectors are a requirement by law. its a safety thing so we can see you at night or in the ever-present misty fog we have here.

WA RCW as applicable:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.37

[ezernut9mm]

although it's not legal to remove safety items like reflectors or lights, where i live in kansas city and with the age of my truck, i wouldn't be the least bit afraid to do away with all the side markers. heck, my friend has an 00 lightning and hasn't run a front tag in a couple of years and that's a pretty blatent infraction and he has never been pulled over for it.

[flyboy2610]

I know you can remove the radio antenna, and fill the stake pockets, but can you legally remove the side marker lights and fill those as well? how about the little reflecters under the rear taillights? by law are they required?

If any safety equipment came on your truck when it was new, then legally you are required to have them to drive you vehicle on the street. If the truck is going to be a show item, or only driven off road, then I believe you can remove them.
While you may get away with driving without them on the street, the fine for getting caught is pretty high.

[69bumptruck]

Considering most custom rods have shaved emblems, and are street legal, I would assume removing a few things would be ok. But, you should always check. I do know that if it was an option, or was never there, you don't have to have it. For example, I had a '56 Chevy truck that only came with one tail light (brake light). Since this was the way it could've come from the factory, it was legal. Just look and see what lights were optional on your year.

[averagef250]

Most cops have no clue what actually came on such and such old truck. I utterly refuse to wear lap seat belts. I had a good friend killed wearing one in his CJ-5 whereas he likely would have lived without it. I've been pulled over countless times for bumper height, mudflaps, license plate light, etc. and when the cop asks why I'm not wearing a seatbelt I explain the truck didn't come with them. I know it actually did, but they weren't there when I got it and I'm not about to put them back in. Only one cop actually new when seatbelts became mandatory, he called my BS so I told him the story of my friend. He agreed 100% and told me he couldn't argue with that.

[ezernut9mm]

what was the first year for seat belts? i know my 64 f100 didn't have any and my 65 continental didn't have any in the back seat. maybe this would make a good "did you know".

[averagef250]

Believe it was '67 model year for seatbelts.

[wt4speed#2]

Depends if you run a state that requires yearly safety inspection to make it street legal.In Texas you can register it as an antique vehicle. Run vintage year tags, a one time license fee 50-70 bucks depending on county, good for 5 yrs and be exempt from safety inspection . Unlike the classic tag, also available for vehicles 25 yrs and older, Classic fee is annual and in addition to regular registration fee cost an extra 15.00 to 20.00 antique tags are suppose to be limited use ie non-daily driver, but I know lots of people who use em any how. I know I got my '69 Texas truck tags in the filing cabinet and as soon as she running I'll be saving about 100 buck a year for the next 45 yrs at least

[mrsnicks]

Since the 67-69 didnt not have side marker lights in the bed, but did have reflectors I think you could remove them.

But I would have 1 or the other so a vehicle at night could see you in a T-Bone situation.

Since most taillight/brakelight covers have built in reflectors you could probably do away with the rear reflectors under the light assemblies.

Just think about safety whenever you do any mod/removal and use common sense. If you don't have any ask a buddy, if he doesn't have any, ask another. If the 3 of you have none, ask your mom/wife she'll let you know.

Patrick

[xxxtina63]

My 67 has no side markers, no reflectors at all, and no seatbelts. While seatbelts may have been an option, all motor vehicle regulations that I've been able to find state "are required in all vehicles made in 1968 and newer". I checked cause I didn't want to get in trouble for not having them.

Removal of other stuff does indeed vary from state to state. Here in northern MN, land of mud, salt, and snow, it's ridiculous what you can get away with. Without vehicle inspections or smog testing, it can get quite out of hand.

1. Everyday I see vehicles that shouldn't be on the road due to lack of lights and or proper lighting. As long as it's during the day, they get away with it.
2. The law is pretty strict on seatbelts.
3. A lot of vehicles have broken exhausts or an exhaust that ends under the seat with no mufflers.
4. As long as you wear your seatbelt, you can drive almost anything without the doors.
5. There's a fair number of trucks with less than 25% of the original fenders due to salt. As long as you still have the inner fender, you can remove the outer front fender. Removal of the box does require something over the tires, but it can be anything.
6. Bumpers...No one seems to care.
7. No hood? No problem.
8. Too much lift and tires too big? Again, no one cares. Seen a lot of trucks running 40" swampers under a huge lift with no fender flares, and some with hardly any fenders left at all.

I guess it sounds like a hillbilly, redneck, Mad Max world. For some, I guess it is as many of these vehicles have no business being anywhere near a public roadway.

[390Nut]

Here in northern MN, land of mud, salt, and snow, it's ridiculous what you can get away with....I guess it sounds like a hillbilly, redneck, Mad Max world. For some, I guess it is as many of these vehicles have no business being anywhere near a public roadway.

Having lived there for 4 years (just east of Moorhead) I can believe it. I can also believe they don't want to force people to buy new vehicles every year, so there's some "leniency" involved.

[19674x4]

Most cops have no clue what actually came on such and such old truck. I utterly refuse to wear lap seat belts. I had a good friend killed wearing one in his CJ-5 whereas he likely would have lived without it. I've been pulled over countless times for bumper height, mudflaps, license plate light, etc. and when the cop asks why I'm not wearing a seatbelt I explain the truck didn't come with them. I know it actually did, but they weren't there when I got it and I'm not about to put them back in. Only one cop actually new when seatbelts became mandatory, he called my BS so I told him the story of my friend. He agreed 100% and told me he couldn't argue with that.

Ha i do the same thing. I can't stand to wear lap belts. My mother made me put one in, so i took the bottom half of a 5 point harness and bolted it in, but i hide it under the seat and never wear it. you can see the threaded holes on the passenger side and driver side, but most cops around here are to dumb to look, or don't even say anything to me. Ive gotten pulled over for my windshield, bumper height, and brake lights, along with noise level. and i had to get out to hook my license plate light back up and left the door open with the seat belt holes exposed....He didn't say anything, just gave me a warning on everything. eventually i plan to put a roll cage in the cab and put in 4 point harnesses on both sides.

[averagef250]

Old trucks are alot different safetywise from new stuff. There are no crumple zones in the body or the frame of a 67-72 ford 4x4. The 73-79's front clip is designed with crumple in mind, but the frame is the same. You hit something at 60 in one of these trucks and seat belt or no seat belt one of two things are going to happen: You go through it or it stops you and your dead. A shoulder harness isn't going to help you much when the truck's frame and body isn't built to compress. I'd rather take my chances eating the steering column and going through the windshield than getting cut in half by a lap belt.

I've been stopped from around 40 MPH in a 77 highboy by a power pole, went through the windshield, got back in the truck and drove it home. Also was in a '75 highboy cruising 70 or so when a little red geo metro pulled right out in front of us. Went right through that car. It fealt like we hit a curb, not an entire car. There was nothing left of it. I'm sure the driver of the geo would have a different perspective on how it fealt, but she isn't here to talk about it.