Double towing

[TFlewitt]

Any of you have experience with double hauling? I am looking into towing a small utility trailer behind a 36' 5th wheel RV, to haul an atv and motorcycles. The CHP said that if I got a class A commercial license, I could haul this combination. Does anyone do this, and what are the ramifications of doing this as we travel through other states than CA? I am also concerned about being continually stopped by highway patrols along the way, because they have no way of knowing I have a commercial license to make double hauling legal. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[johnsogw]

I have several trips from north idaho to L. A. and Yuma with a 32 ft 5th wheel and a dune buggy tied to it and never have been stopped and never had any trouble with the pull... .....

 

[RHamner]

I have towed a boat behind my fifth for years with a Calif CDL Class A with a doubles endorsement. Some places in the Cal veh code indicate the fith should not be over 28', and a max length exists. You can not do this in Or, Wa,or Bc though. The campground guides ,like trailer life, give a state by state indication.



I have never (since 1992 or so) been stopped by the CHP but I have been stopped once by local police who exclaimed "can you do that"

 

[jwduke]

I have been stopped once by local police who exclaimed "can you do that"

:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[DIESELMAN]

Hi, you responded a while ago to a post saying that you double tow with a 29' 5th and 20' utility trailer. Is double towing still legal in AZ? It used to be in CA, but it was only for a boat, and was phased out a year ago. You can only do it now if you have a class A commercial license. What has your experience been towing doubles? Any pitfalls to watch out for? Have you towed this way in other states? Does the Highway patrol ever stop you because of this, or because you are a couple feet over max length? Thanks for your info!

Arizona rules are as follows, and yes, I carry a copy because local and county cops think they 'got ya' and become real aholes trying to prove a point, Arizona DPS knows better, I had to call DPS to get a Gila County SO deputy straightened out once.



28-1095. Vehicle length; exceptions; permits; rules; definition



A. A vehicle, including any load on the vehicle, shall not exceed a length of forty feet extreme overall dimension, including front and rear bumpers. This subsection does not apply to any of the following:

.....

5. A recreational vehicle if used in combination with two units and if the combination does not exceed sixty-five feet in length... .....



... .....



3. A recreational vehicle may pull two units if all of the following conditions are met:



(a) The middle unit is equipped with a fifth wheel and brakes and has a weight equal to or greater than the rear unit.



(b) If the rear unit has a gross weight of three thousand pounds or more, it is equipped with brakes.



(c) The total combined gross weight of the towed units does not exceed the manufacturer's stated gross vehicle weight of the towing unit.



H. For purposes of this section, "recreational vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is designed and customarily used for private pleasure, including vehicles commonly called motor homes, pickup trucks with campers and pickup trucks with a fifth wheel trailing device.



Now, yes, I am 21" over when towing the ATV's on the utility trailer or the boat, the jeep is legal. Gross Combined Weight, I can stay under, but I usually go a bit over.



It is really stable, however, be paranoid, if the rear trailer was running on the rims you wouldn't know it. Check often. I always drive under the speed limit but navigating isn't a problem.



The only interesting thing is that when turning, right for instance, the rear of the fifth wheel, and thus the tounge of the rear trailer, travels left of your line of travel, you need to allow for clearance on the OUTSIDE of a turn, as well as the inside.



Other states, what others? Arizona has everything , no, I haven't been anywhere but Utah and New Mexico double and never checked the rules.



I just returned from a hunting trip double towing, and have another this year, it is really convienent.



Just make sure you have a good hitch on the RV and be as cautious as you should always be.



DM (I am posting this reply on the board too)

 

[RHamner]

I finished a full post last night a midnight, then hit the wrong button and lost it all.



Dieselman I was stopped towing double in AZ, warning ticket, AAA said I was legal,copied the big book but I never saw the "turkey" patrolman again.



TFlewitt you are CA driver right? You need to get a copy of the 135 page Ca Comm.

Driver Handbook, in the lobby of the DMV.



Page 1 Endorsements Double trailer combination- T

Page10 A combination..... can not be longer than 75 feet, providing the length of either trailer does not exceed 28' 6"

Page81 The endosement for doubles is given by written test. Do not bring doubles for the driving test.

"A doubles/Triples endorsement is Needed" Some Ca drivers tow triples in other states where legal



You also need medical exam every 2 years, and need to carry current proof.



You might note my current fifth is a little long ,but may not be noticed, yours might be.



When I took my test in 92 the only written covered air brakes, they said thats all they had. It covered a lot I wasn't familiar with, but I passed. The driving tester asked who drove you? I said I drove myself and pointed at the truck and fifth. She said you don't need a comm. lic. I said I need a trailer endorsment,

she said Oh I've never done this before.

 

[DIESELMAN]

RHamner - What was the violation listed on your warning ticket? Written by DPS?



I think its just envy on their part that makes them stop us in the first place

 

[RHamner]

Dieselman It's been a long time, but with the numbers he wrote down he just said you can't tow doubles with out a wheel on the ground under the tongue. AAA said he was just wrong.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It probably varies from state-to-state - it's supposedly illegal here in Oregon - gotta check the subject more closely, I just got a 12 foot aluminum fishing boat I'd sure like to pull behind our 24 foot fiver...

 

[RHamner]

Gary it's not legal in Or WA or BC

 

[DIESELMAN]

Dieselman It's been a long time, but with the numbers he wrote down he just said you can't tow doubles with out a wheel on the ground under the tongue. AAA said he was just wrong.

He must be a Lucy and Ricky fan (remember the Long Trailer?), and an idiot, duh, you gotta put a fit' wheel under da' tounge dude



DM

 

[Short Stack]

Doubles

I have a 28. 5 5er and a 14' fishing boat behind it, I am 66' long from front bumper to the prop on the motor. I asked a CHP Sargent he said the length limit was 65' but excluded any attatchments (such as the boat motor). You do need a class A and doubles endoursment in Ca. Some how I have heard 65' & 75' as far as total length??

 

[CLAYTON]

Towing doubles

I've had no problems towing tandem. Here's a pic of my truck in the back and my father in-law (red) truck in the front. We were on our way back from Moab.

#ad

 

[RHamner]

Gettn R Done Page 10 of the current Ca veh code ... . Truck and trailer 65' ... Combination, truck, semitrailer,and a trailer cannot be longer than 75' providing the length of either trailer does not exceed 28' 6"



You win!

 

[Short Stack]

Gettn R Done Page 10 of the current Ca veh code ... . Truck and trailer 65' ... Combination, truck, semitrailer,and a trailer cannot be longer than 75' providing the length of either trailer does not exceed 28' 6"



You win!

I guess that means I need a bigger, faster boat. :-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[mbadger]

I have pulled two trailers for over 14 years in Montana. My boat, utility trailer and now a car hauler. We can be 75 feet. We do not need a Commercial license. There is good information at AAA and Trailer Life Directory that lists where it is OK to do this, how long you can be and a lot of other information. You need brakes on the other trailer. I just had a car hauler trailer made with hydraulic brakes for this reason. Here in Montana you need at least a one ton rated vehicle to do this but I have seen 1/2 ton pickups pulling and not being stopped? If you can't see the second trailer it makes an uncomfortable feeling so I rig up a flag so I can see that it is still back there. Once I had a vehicle come up beside me telling me I had a flat tire on my boat trailer and I didn't even know it. Get the info for different states and Good luck.



Mike

 

[puebla]

This is a great post. I have wondered about towing doubles for years. I hold a California Commercial CDL, class A license. I have always wanted to tow my utility trailer behind my 5er. The problem I may have is that my 5er is a 35 footer. I think my 5er exceeds the legal max length.



Any info is appreciated!

 

[RHamner]

hazw8st I've towed double in Utah(to Powell) with my Ca. lic. I notice they seem to be a litle more flexable. With a Ca lic they extend reciprocity and usually assume you can do what your doing. I would check their Veh code, and if you would be legal with a Utah lic they would accept you doing it with your lic. .



If you are legal to tow double in Ca. ,and I assume you have the doubles (T) endorsement, and if Utah allows your size rig to tow doubles it may work. I once saw a 35' or so fifth with a 23' or so boat behind it in Green River .

 

[puebla]

Thanks. I travel to and from Green River all year. On my weekends off I usually pull my 5er with me. I'd like to pull something else behind the 5er.

 

[puebla]

Any more pics of pulling "double"?