Too Heavy? Too Long?

[steamboatinn]

We are considering pulling a Chevy Tracker behind the fifth wheel when we go south for the winter. Our tow vehicle is a 2006 Dodge DRW with a GCVWR of 23000#. The combined weight of the tow vehicle, the fifth wheel and the Tracker will be about 29000#. The combined length of the 3 will be about 68'. The Dodge has new tires and new brake pads. The fifth wheel has 3 axles. Each axle has 8K disk brakes. Maximum speed limit would be 55 mph because that is the fastest the Tracker should be towed. We drive slow anyway. Do you think it is unreasonable for us to do this? Have you or anyone you know been stopped for towing a rig too long or too heavy per states' rules of the road? If yes, what were the consequences? Thanks, Bruce

 

[LRutigliano]

We are considering pulling a Chevy Tracker behind the fifth wheel when we go south for the winter. Our tow vehicle is a 2006 Dodge DRW with a GCVWR of 23000#. The combined weight of the tow vehicle, the fifth wheel and the Tracker will be about 29000#. The combined length of the 3 will be about 68'. The Dodge has new tires and new brake pads. The fifth wheel has 3 axles. Each axle has 8K disk brakes. Maximum speed limit would be 55 mph because that is the fastest the Tracker should be towed. We drive slow anyway. Do you think it is unreasonable for us to do this? Have you or anyone you know been stopped for towing a rig too long or too heavy per states' rules of the road? If yes, what were the consequences? Thanks, Bruce

This months Trailer Boat magazine gives state by state regs for towing triples. Unfortunately, no two states are the same with some allowing triples and the other not allowing.



Also, I don't know if towing triples thru a state that doesn't allow it even though your home state does will allow you to travel thru it without a problem by the local authorities.

 

[kenny61]

In NY you would be ticket, fined and at least the third vehicle would be impounded

 

[JDiepstra]

Sounds risky. I'd do it if I wasn't worried about getting caught!

 

[CUMMINZ]

The DRW and tripple axles are going good for you BUT... The fact your third vehicle has two pivot points. The front and rear axle. This would get hairy real quick.



Don't do it. #@$%!

 

[JDiepstra]

There are a lot of safety sticklers here, no offense!

 

[steamboatinn]

The third vehicle would have 2 pivot points. The front and rear axles. I can see the ball hitch where the third vehicle is attached to the fifth wheel being a pivot point. I don't understand how the third vehicle's front and rear axles would be pivot points. Please explain. Thanks, Bruce

 

[kenny61]

I have seen it done in states where it is legal. The third trailer as my bother who is an otr driver calls them wiggle wagons due to the swaying. I would not do it in a state where it is illegal. All you need is an idiot unlicensed driver to cause an accident in front of you and it will become your fault because your vehicle is overloaded. you will then face the liabilty of everyone elses damages and injuries. Thank the lawyers for that

 

[The patriot]

Nobody got the answer right.....

Have the old lady follow you in the tracker.

Problem solved. :-laf

I've driven class 8's for most of my adult life and I wouldnt do it.

 

[HBarlow]

I wouldn't do it either.

Some states, definitely not all states, permit towing a trailer behind a fifth wheel but I've never seen anything in writing that allowed a car to be towed behind a fifth wheel. I'm not sure DOT enforcement officers would accept a car, particularly one without brakes, to be substituted for a trailer with brakes.

I am not an ultra cautious guy but this is one I woulld not do. If you are determined to try it I'd call or write to each state in your route and ask if it is legal. My guess is it is not.

 

[icman95]

Gotta go on the safe side here and say no. When I was out west last year I saw lots of setups like this, but none pulling anything as heavy as another motor vehicle. They were all utility trailers with motorcylces on or even some smaller boat trailer. I know here in CT you'd get pulled over in a heartbeat, but the further away from New England you get the more you'll see doubles, just I'm not sure with that heavy a load. Also, some states have a 65' overall limit on rigs.



Seems risky to me, but if you insist upon doing it, at least install an exhaust brake to make it a bit safer.

 

[JCasper]

I'd try it if it were legal and if the truck had an exhaust brake.





I would first though try it on a local trip around home before planning a long trip that way.

 

[MMeier]

Here we go again, what states do you plan on going through. . and when?

 

[AClayton]

I wouldn't hesitate at all if it were 2 trailers in tow behind your truck. A towed vehicle adds a different dimension that a hitch welded or bolted onto a trailer frame may not be able to support. Side to side tension when negotiating a turn adds alot of stress to a tow-bar and also the hitch. The tow-bars are designed with this tension in mind... . the hitch and frame of a trailer may not be. The over-hang of your 5th wheel intensifies this stress many times over and can cause erratic handling even on a relaxed towing situation. Couple a harsh braking or avoidance manuever to the equation and you may lose control easier than you think. I am saying this only because I have logged several thousand miles of towing behind a MH and consider myself to be an experienced opinion and not to be a worry-wart... . !!! Good luck with your decision.



Alan Clayton

 

[CUMMINZ]

STEAMBOAT



Real simple. The pivot at the ball connect which would be the same as towing a utility trailer. The second pivot would be the turning capability of the steering axle of the front of the vehicle, which you don't have with a utility trailer.

 

[AClayton]

There are a lot of safety sticklers here, no offense!

Ah yes, here it is... . the voice of inexperience!! The 'sticklers' as you wisely stated,have towed thousands of miles before and can offer an educated opinion and can substitute a 'good judgement call' for a cocky,mis-understood statement that you probably cannot back-up through actual experience. I'm confident that you have towed a trailer before but the differences in towing a trailer and flat towing a vehicle are far from the same. And compounded with flat-towing a car behind a very large 5th wheel further exemplifies that : let members that actually know and can offer up good advice handle this situation..... Thanks! No offense!!!

 

[robertyoke]

its not a tripple

its not a tripple! its a double. the tractor (truck) and saddle mount (fifth wheel, gooseneck) and trailer is one unit in colorado and can pull a trailer(second unit) just not a third! utah wy and other states you can pull a tripple. i see bumper pull trailers pulling trailers all the time and that is way more out of control then a 5er pulling a trailer and in some states it legal just not in colorado and that is a tripple!!

i would check with your dot and ask them for the state rules and regs. or just look them up on the internet. your gcwr and towing cap that is set forth from dodge isnt the law! the law is the gvwr and gawr that is located on the door of your truck and the neck of you trailer! just make sure you are not over your total alowed length!

here is a quote from the fmcsa.

LCV Double means an LCV consisting of a truck-tractor in combination with two trailers and/or semi-trailers.



LCV Triple means an LCV consisting of a truck-tractor in combination with three trailers and/or semi-trailers.



there is a limit for each unit and a total length also.

 

[steamboatinn]

This poll was posted last weekend. There have been 500 views. No one has reported being ticketed and fined. 1% of views indicated that they have pulled loads > than their tow vehicle's GCVWR. Mathematically that means 99% havenot towed loads that exceeded their vehicle's GCVWR. Thanks for the responses to the poll.

 

[GAmes]

I wouldn't hesitate for a second with a double setup like that EXCEPT for the weight. In Tx any combo is allowed. I towed a car with the front tires on a tow dolly behind my 5er from Lubbock to Austin. Even with the extra pivot point there was no sway, and no problem. I double tow my boat behind my 5er on a regular basis and have also pulled a flatbed trailer loaded with furniture behind it a few hundred miles. The real problem, besides the weight, is the different state laws regarding recreational doubles. Do not confuse them with the commercial laws that allow doubles in nearly every state and triples in most of the western states. Only about 17 states allow rec doubles, and even then the rules are not uniform. Allowed lengths vary fron 55 to 75 ft, some only allow 5ers and boats, some allow two ball hitches, some require an endorsement on your drivers license, CA requires a CDL, etc.

You need to do some research and don't rely on intenet experts to tell you what the different state laws allow.

 

[Mhannink]

ok well i know for ca you HAVE to have brakes on the back trailer and you cant be over length i think it would be 75 feet since its doubles. and it cant be over the vehicals weight rating. now for your set up you need a custom brake controler so that it engages the rear brakes first or surge brakes on the rear trailer. oh and also you need a doubles endorsement on your drives liecence