Double Towing Laws In Your State?

[Ron Duncan]

I had a hitch installed on my 30' fifth wheel and towed the fiver and my Jeep from Moab Utah to Southern Nevada. I was surprised how easy it was and would like to haul this way more often. I can't seem to find the State by State laws on the internet. Are fifth wheels towing the same as trailers towing? Any web sites?
Thanks a bunch,
Ron

------------------
'99 Quad long bed, 4x4, 5 speed, 3. 55 limslip, DD stage IIs/boost module and elbow, US Gear D-brake, Mag-Hytec, 4" exhaust, gauges, stock filter, air bags and a bunch of other stuff. Pull a 30' Wildwood
fifth wheel.

 

[Thomas]

This may help:
http://www.rvsafety.com/state.htm

 

[Tom C]

Ron, This may have some info for you.
http://www.truckwebusa.com/HTML/stateinfo.htm

 

[Dieselnerd]

In my state, Minnesota, the only thing you are allowed to tow behind your fifth wheel is a boat. Nothing may be towed behind a travel trailer.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Usually you will see the Green STAA sign. STAA stands for Surface Transportation Assistance Act and is the standardization of towing laws. If you see STAA with the red circle and cross bar that means no doubles. For instance if you look at one of the above sites such as Georgia, they allow doubles on the interstate and within one mile of the interstate thus allowing you off to fuel and service. Otherwise in Georgia on almost all the two lanes you see the red STAA indicating double trailers are not allowed. This is federal marking and should be consistant throughout the US.

 

[ARARAR]

I believe most states require you have a commercial licence for double towing.

 

[Runaway]

Wisconsin is 60' and Michigan is 65'

 

[Eric_77]

Doubles don't require a CDL federally unless you go over 26K. State to state there are varyinf overall length laws like Texas is 65' unless CDL then two 28' pups behind unlimted length tractor strange eh?

 

[Alan Reagan]

I believe Eric is right on the CDL. From what we could reasonably determine last time on towing and CDL requirements it is all weight based. I see people pulling a camper followed by a boat or flatbed on I-75 and I've never seen any stopped by DOT. Since you are private and this is recreational I doubt the STAA would apply. The only rise you will get out of DOT is if you look like you may be going over the GVCW.

 

[Ron Duncan]

I took the rig to California and Arizona last week. In Cal it's legal but you have to have a class A license (which I don't). In my research I found it is required the tow bar not be able to hit the grund if it disengages. I did a double chain hook up to be real safe.
Any how I got looked at real hard by a couple CHP but they didn't pull me over. No probable cause? I don't know.
Lots of AZHP never gave me a glance.
All is well, so far.
These trucks are awesome!
Ron

 

[Andy Perreault]

Originally posted by Thomas

This may help:

http://www.rvsafety.com/state.htm

I wonder how accurate that website is? I know I've seen two trailers in Michigan, but this website says "no". Nevada is a "no"? Washington says "no", but I could have sworn I've seen guys towing two trailers here!

And then there's the column that says "max weight" Most states in that column say 3,000 lbs. Are they talking about tongue weights? California says "1,500" in that column. Surely they can't be saying "the maximum weight for a trailer in California is 1,500 lbs. "

Am I reading this chart wrong? And what happened to Wyoming?

Andy

 

[weber1048]

I'm with you Andy, I drive the I-82 from Oregon to the Tri-Cities a couple of times each week. I have seen both 5th wheels pulling boats and camper, travel trailer, boat combinations. Have never seen one stopped by WSP or at the weight station about 2 miles inside Washington. The last one I saw was from Wyoming.



Doug

 

[Ethdee]

Originally posted by Andy Perreault





And then there's the column that says "max weight" Most states in that column say 3,000 lbs. Are they talking about tongue weights? California says "1,500" in that column.

I believe that's the maximum trailer weight allowed without trailer brakes. I know it's 1,500 in California.



Jim

 

[Ethdee]

Speaking of trailers

I just copied this from the California DMV website.

If you install brakes on your motorcycle trailer, be sure the brakes do not brake harder than the motorcycle or the motorcycle may flip backwards over the trailer when the brakes are applied.

The mind boggles.



Jim

 

[Dieselnerd]

Ethdee:

HUH???? Does California law supercede the laws of physics?

 

[Dbonzi]

dieselnerd

In my state, Minnesota, the only thing you are allowed to tow behind your fifth wheel is a boat. Nothing may be towed behind a travel trailer.





I too am from MN, do you know what the max lenth is. I have heard as of june 1st it is 65 feet. What do you know?

 

[Doc Tinker]

You might try this site for towing laws in your state:



http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/laws.html

 

[Benc]

One thing to be careful of is braking. Here in WA the big rigs can tow duals, because they are equipped with progressive braking systems. Electric brakes are not progressive as far as I know. Switching our trucks over to a progressive braking system would be a pretty expensive undertaking. Just one more thing to think about. Weigh-masters can write some really expensive tickets.

Ben

 

[JohnE]

Trailer brakes must supplement your main vehicle braking. The same rule of vehicle dynamics (physics) applies to the front and rear rear braking on your pickup as well as combination units. If trailer rakes lock up the entire unit will try to pass the puller (front end). If you lock rear wheels the back end will try to pas the front end. A locked & skidding tire has less road friction than a rolling tire. It is also the same reason you need a (trailer) brake controller. A motorcycle trailer can slam the motorcycle. It will try to skid under the bike instead of hopping around it as would your pickup with locked trailer brakes.



Minnesota allows <em>recreational</em> vehicles <b>towed</b> behind a fifth wheel. This allows only a trailered boat, ATV, snowmobile, or motorcycle. The maximum length is 60 feet. The combination length is why you see a glut of used 25+' fifth wheels on the market. Personally, I feel it is a bad rule that allows complete morons on the highway with lethal potentials.



John

 

[Texas Diesel]

Wow, it must be cool to live in a place where trailer brakes can cause the towing vehicle to do a backwards flip?!?!?!?!?!

Anything is possible in commiefornia I have an example of the laws of gravity being tested in ca, email me and I'll send it to you.

-- email address removed --