Hail Call - Long Islanders - what route?

Dave Diefenderfer

Dave Diefenderfer

Well-known member
Sponsor
Headed to LI tomorrow for the weekend, pulling my duckboat on a trailer. Coming up form the south, Virginia. How can I get out to Garden City and Wantagh trailering a boat without getting ticketed, and without breaking any gun laws!!!! Soft cased shotguns behind the rear seat in my truck is how I normally travel... across state lines.... just cased in the backseat locally!

Normally I would use the Outer Bridge crossing and Verazanno to Belt Parkway to Southern State. Looked on-line and see no commercial vehicles on parkways, but no mention about pleasure trailering?

TIA,
 
Dave... your shotgun and ammo needs to be stored in the vehicle separately. Both should be locked boxes if possible, if not at least put a trigger lock on the shotgun. When going through NYC I always err on the side of caution, the more things are locked up the better. I don't believe you can legally stop with a firearm while in NYC (that includes the 5 boroughs).

As for your trailer, keep in mind that the toll bridges will end up charging you for the extra axel. Trailers are not allowed on any parkways in NY. Once you get close to Wantaugh, the only exception is south of Rt 27 you are allowed to be on parkways.

I am not sure of the best way to get onto LI from the south without hitting any parkways, but here are two ideas. You can take Rt 95 to the George Washington Bridge then the Cross Bronx Expressway to the Throgs Neck Bridge and then the Long Island Expressway, but that would take you all the way to the north side of Manhattan and would cost you some time. Another alternative is to go over the Verazano and then take the Bronx Queens Expressway north to the Long Island Expressway. Either way, be prepared for typical NYC traffic. If you come through the area after 10am most of the rush hour traffic should be over, but you never know. Make sure you are through the area no later than 3pm to avoid the evening commute traffic.

John told me you are coming up for the weekend. My uncle and I are friends with John as well and are hunting the same area Saturday with our boats, so I will probably see you at the launch ramp Saturday morning. Best of luck on your drive and be safe.
 
Dave dont know if you can tow on the belt might have to get off and go on south conduit [service rd] to sunrise hwy{27} to wantagh hope this helps!
 
Last time I was on Long Island towing a boat, I drove on the parkways and said "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" until I was off and it worked, so keep that in your bag of tricks. I was also towing on dry rotted tires, so it works for that too.

Coming through NJ/NYC you can rack up some impressive tolls with a third axle - wow. I went with a friend to pick up a boat and took the same route down and back. This was a while back, so the memory is a little foggy, but it was something like 10-12 bucks down and several times that on the way back with the trailer. One bridge was $32 or $36 if I remember right with the 3rd axle, but just a couple bucks without. I have no idea what route that was, though.
 
Dave,

The info Chris posted is spot on. I usually go out of my way and take the GW Bridge. If you can time it right it's not too bad. If your in heavy traffic, it's hours either way. I just hate trailering through Brooklyn, it can be a royal pain...but and option.
Give me a call if you have any questions.
 
Dave~

I do not recall if you can trail on Route 440 (it is not a "parkway" so you probably can) on Staten Island (as from Outer Bridge) but I 278 (from Goethals Bridge) becomes the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (aka the BQE) once you cross on the Verrazano. The BQE/I 278 takes you up to !-495 (EAST), the Long Island Expressway (LIE).

I have used this route to get to/from NJ for gunning.

Others on this site will have better local knowledge.

All the best,

SJS
 
Oh, by the way.... make sure you bring enough shells. NY State in all it's wisdom last January made a requirement that all ammunition purchases in NY were subject to a background check after January 15th, 2014. Well, that date has come and there is no background check system in place for ammunition purchases (government at its finest). So nobody knows if you can legally purchase ammo right now.... FUBAR.
 
Tod -

Last time I towed my tripple axle trailer with the F350 they asked for the truck and trailer registrations. Then charged me for the full weight of the trucks carrying capasity and the trailers plus three additional axles.
Boy did that one hurt. I din't even see it coming.
 
Oh, by the way.... make sure you bring enough shells. NY State in all it's wisdom last January made a requirement that all ammunition purchases in NY were subject to a background check after January 15th, 2014. Well, that date has come and there is no background check system in place for ammunition purchases (government at its finest). So nobody knows if you can legally purchase ammo right now.... FUBAR.
Click to expand...


Chris,

I have already filed for the my NY State ammo sales permit. The applications also had to be postmarked before Jan 15th.
As per the NY State Police officer that is handling the permit/ license process, I was told the Feds will not let NY use the NICS system. It violates the laws that the NICS system was founded on. It is for firearm purchases only.

So, for now, NY will not be doing the background checks as they wanted to until they can figure out how they are going to do it and pay for it.
Stay tuned for more......
 
Dave take the GW bridge route, if you go by Verazano bridge you'll be getting on BQE to get to LIE, that run is horrible.
Farrukh
 
Hey Dave

Totally off topic (not that I have a problem with that):

#1). Thanks for stopping down in Culpepper and having a Yuengling with me.

#2) .best of luck to you and Rufus in North Jersey. ;)

Best
Chuck
 
I keep (2) boats in northern NJ and trailer them to LI all the time to hunt. GW to 87 South(Deegan) to Triboro. Grand Central to Southern State to Wantagh. Or Triboro to LIE to exit 38(Northern Pkwy) to Wantagh. I have never rec'd a ticket. They're too busy pulling over drunk drivers and speeders at the hours we travel out to hunt. Good luck in NY.
 
Have been both ways. As others have said, none are easy. I travel to south jersey and use both ways. I've been stuck in traffic at all hours. I try to be through NY by 5-6 am.
Will be out with you and John, with Chris.
 
Damn you guys have to deal with a lot of rules and regulations out there. Out here nobody would care if you were towing a 4-axle flatbed with a flaming dumpster mounted on it down the road, with a "loaded" (empty chamber, full mag) pistol on the seat next to you.
 
Damn you guys have to deal with a lot of rules and regulations out there. Out here nobody would care if you were towing a 4-axle flatbed with a flaming dumpster mounted on it down the road, with a "loaded" (empty chamber, full mag) pistol on the seat next to you.
Click to expand...

Yes, NY land of many rules made by "rulers". It must be nice to live in a free state!
 
"One bridge was $32 or $36 if I remember right with the 3rd axle, but just a couple bucks without. I have no idea what route that was, though." Is this true? Two years ago when I took the boat down, I think the most I paid was $18 to cross the George Washington Bridge (which in itself was a shock to me then). All in all, I think I paid about $30 in tolls going down and $20 coming back. I'm inquiring because I will be towing the boat down tonight and I'd like to know what I'm in for. I plan on crossing the GW and the Throgs Neck. Should be passing through there around 9 PM, traffic is usually not too bad at that time.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
OMG, I was thinking the same thing!
We don't even have to have a tag on our boat trailers unless you take it out of state. Lights seem to be optional as well. :)
Toll road? Parkway? What the heck is that?
Gun locked up and locked separate from the ammo? Heck, mine are uncased on the front seat on the way home. If I get stopped, I imagine the first questions out of the cops mouth would be "what are you shooting and how's it handle?"
In Alabama, your vehicle is considered part of your domicile, as long as its not loaded, you can transport your guns in it 24/7. If its loaded and concealed, then you have to have permit. Employers cannot prohibit you from keeping an unloaded gun in your vehicle (loaded if you have a CWP, can only prohibit you from bringing into the work area.
 
Holy crap, no stopping in NY with a gun in a vehicle, background checks for ammo, $50 tolls, no driving on parkways with trailers - time to move. I don't even need to license my duckboat if it is only used for duck hunting. Actually had more than one cop stop me just to ask what kind of boat is that I'm trailering and where did I get. Ends up being a decent discussion on favorite hunting days.

Mark W
 
Capt. Rich G. & Chis G.
Good luck with hunting your boats tomorrow, you sould have the wind with you & cooler temps.

Good Hunting
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top