People in towed vehicle

[Motorhead]

I am wondering if you can ride in a towed bumper pull trailer in Calif. I thought that it was legal to ride in a 5ver in Calif. Chris

 

[PRout]

I checked this out last year (out of curiosity).



In Calif, it is legal for passengers to ride in a 5th wheel as long as there is some kind of communication to the driver (walkie-talkie, intercom, etc. ) It was not legal in a bumper pulled trailer.



I wouldnt let anyone ride in the back of mine though, just doesnt sound safe.

 

[f.boyle]

I think shortshift's got it by the horns sounds like a bad Idea:--) Frank

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks... When you have two teenage girls barking at each other :-{} in a TIGHT Quad Cab,(are you listening DC), my wife and I were wondering if it was legal. Chris

 

[LarryB]

This should give you the answer. http://www.rvadvice.com/rvtowlaw.html

 

[Fireman Dave]

I did it once when I was a kid in my parents' '66 Shasta. It was not a fun ride. No suspension!:{ :{ The ride leaves a lot to be desired, and it really isn't safe. A trailer has no safety features to protect occupents in a crash.



Gags or muzzles for the kids may solve the problem. :-laf

 

[D. Showan]

I sometimes let my wife and 2 boys go in the back of our fifth wheel. In PA you need 2 way communication and safety glass. I drive extra slow and careful when they are back there. I know it is not the absolute safest thing to do but there are many, many motor homes traveling across the country with people walking all around in them and that is even more unsafe. They always stay in the front bed area and either sleep(late at night) or watch movies(on a 12V TV). My wife said adding shocks helped the ride some. I also have a reese 15K hitch with the double pivot. I bought a lock-out device so I can eliminate the side to side pivoting when traveling. That also helped the ride back there. When hooking back up I can move a lever and allow the hitch to povot again to help in alignment.



I remember when I was a kid riding in the back of our family station wagon on family trips. We lounged back there on sleeping bags and had a great time. Those cars didn't even have seat belts. Now, when we get in our cars the first thing my wife and I do is check (every time) that our kids have there belts on. Times sure do change.



Mostly for the better but not allways... ... ... ...



I know one thing... They won't be in the back again until I get new load range D tires on.

 

[klenger]

The new vehicles are not only safer, but are cleaner too.

 

[RJOL]

A few years ago, I came across a trailer that had been rolled, on the freeway. Wasn't much left to even identify it as a trailer... That convinced me I'd never put anyone in the trailer while towing...

 

[Bug Out]

5th wheel riding

The wife sometimes sleeps in the 5th while I drive. I only do it when traffic is not heavy, on main divided roadways.



And of course i drive within the laws etc.



Anything less then the above, she snore's up front while I drive and count the logs she saws.....

 

[midnight1black]

Riding in the 5er

:--) I think it is not in the best intrust to let anyone ride while driveing. If you love them , Keep them in the cab with you.

 

[D. Showan]

I can't disagree with any of the advice to keep people out of the back of campers. It is not 100% safe, what is. I'm sure every one out there wants to be extra careful when our family is with us on the road.



We also shouldn't do things that would endanger our lives when they are not with us. Where would our families be if one of us died or was seriously injured because we were doing something that was not the safest or smartest thing to do. Ever have a couple beers(or more) somewhere and drive home?- thats real safe. Ever drive a little to fast (there are lots of good reasons to do that right ? - (Not many). Does every out there eat the right foods and exercise regularly? Any one out there that is 10-20-30 or more pounds over weight? Thats not the safest way to live your life. What happens to our families if we die or become disabled before our time from a heart attack or stroke because we didn't take care of ourselves? My main point is that when we take chances with ourselves we are actually taking big chances with our whole families.



Having said all that, I think I'm going to keep my family in the truck cab. No question- it is safer. Dave S.

 

[Dkevdog]

This topic does seem to come up from time to time. I have done it a few times. My neighbor being in to the wrecking business tells me that the reason its legal is becuase of the type of connection the fifth wheel makes with the tow vehicle. He says he has responded to a good deal of accidents involving RVs and told me he had only seen one incident where rolled trailer didn't take the truck with it- it broke the hitch clean out of the bed after it bent the frame. While the truck offers additional protection for the occupants, maybe I should offer a reminder that towing an unoccupied trailer at 70mph (as some have admitted and I have personally seen) isn't any safer. I'm not trying to defend the practice, just making a point.



Kev

 

[f.boyle]

Must agree with every one who said no. but dave s has a good point nothing is safe some however are better than others

as the song goes "you're still gonna' die" sorry for the harsh reality of life

Frank

Cheer up live it to the fullest :--) Oo.

 

[Cobra]

well guys I like living life on the edge. I ride a mc, I drive a Jeep, and I like to go fast. In todays world all you hear is don't smoke, don't eat fatty foods, drink diet pop etc etc etc.

Having said that I don't like to take chances with my family, but I do get tired of hearing how unsafe every thing is. Some people should stay at home and wathc TV

 

[Bug Out]

Hmmmmm

As an unknown man once told me, "none of us are getting out of here alive anyway"... . Not that it means I want to leave sooner then later. .



I don't do anything with wreckless abandon, as I drove for a living for 10 years, and dodged car wrecks as low as 5 MPH to well in excess of 100MPH.



I don't put any of my family members at any undue risk, yet I'll ride my Harley on the freeway at 75MPH with the wife on back, next to knuckleheads driving 2 tons of steel, who don't deserve to have a license... . I have enough confidence in my ability to avoid wrecks 99% of the time. . The other 1% will get me some day.



I kinda think being in the back of an RV that is being driven correctly and safely with caution, is probably safer.



I know this will draw many a posts, but Cobra's last sentence says a whole lot.



My last post on the topic. :-{}

 

[Dkevdog]

Bug- Well Said. I again for the sake of:-{} should interject that the people who feel this such an unsafe practice are often the ones that blow past you doing 75 pulling more weight than they could safely stop. If they want to kill themselves and their passengers, that's fine with me. Just don't take me and mine with you .



Kev

 

[f.boyle]

I agreee

Frank

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

I'd say its no more dangerous than riding in the back of a pickup and who hasnt done thaT. :-laf :-laf . You wont find my family or my pointer in my trailer though.

 

[Todd T]

we ride in the living quarters of our horse trailer quite a bit. even in our friends chevy crew it gets crowded quik in there. we usually watch some TV and most of the time sleep. whats good for my horses is good for me



I think it was said before, its probably not the safest thing in the world but hey, I jump out of perfectly good airplanes for fun