Towing Doubles Bad idea with this setup or?

[kbond]

Well I know this is going to spark some controversy but I'm ready to take the good with the bad. .



I have a 3500 mega cab 4x4 and a 22' tournament ski boat. It sure would be nice to be able to tow that boat with a 5th. Biggest obvious problem is meeting the AZ 65' max since the truck is 20. 5' and the boat is 23'. Doesn't leave for much of an RV in between. I figure the boat/trailer weighs right @ 4500lbs. Would this just be way too dangerous of a setup to find a small 5th wheel, slap a hitch on the back and tow it all to the lake? I'm not against beefing up the framing on the 5th. Also I have my class license so please don't hound me on that. Really looking for some honest insights preferably from some folks who have towed doubles. I’ve seen this combo quite a bit with fisherman which I know some of those boats have to be similar in length and weight. Also for reference the boat trailer has inertia brakes. Thanks for the insights.

 

[MMeier]

You single wheel or dually?

 

[EricBu12]

Remember the Overall Length is including the overlap of the RV on the truck so measure the total Length of the Trailer hooked up then add the length of the Boat.



I would say a 25-27' 5th plus your boat might get under the length.

 

[Stranger]

Also the boat TRAILER length is what matters, not the boat. If you need to and can cut your bunks, well... .



I've looked very seriously into this, to the point of getting a slider hitch for the bed of the truck and mounting it in reverse so as to shorten it to make length if needed.



And, using an extended stinger for the boat and sucking it up under the 5th if needed.



Scenario is, your pulled over for length and you are over length but, IF you can shorten everything and make the length, I guess you just FORGOT to shorten up after making some TIGHT maneuvers at that last fuel stop.

 

[kbond]

You single wheel or dually?

Single. Thanks,

Ken

 

[kbond]

Remember the Overall Length is including the overlap of the RV on the truck so measure the total Length of the Trailer hooked up then add the length of the Boat.



I would say a 25-27' 5th plus your boat might get under the length.

When you say the overall length is including the overlap are you saying if I have 3 feet in the bed of the truck, it is considered length to the overall trailer? as in if I where measured by DOT they would capture the truck length, then measure the 5th from pin to tail, then measure the boat trailer. Or would they just walk the length from the bumer of the truck to the tail of the last trailer in tow? if the first is the case, I'll be looking for a really short 5'ier. Thanks for the help. Ken

 

[MMeier]

From what I've heard, they walk bumper to bumper and measure.

 

[kbond]

What's crazy is I really think there are a lot of guy's towing well over length. I see long bed fords towing 28' plus 5'iers with a 20' bass boat in tow fairly regularly out here. I know those LB fords have to be at least 20' in length then you have the 5'ier that is registered as a 28' that is really 32' pin to bumper, and finally the 20' bass boat that is probably 22' trailer hitch to bumper. Not to forget you've likely got close to a foot on the hitch for the tag. That's well over 70'. I just wonder if guy's are chancing it or is it measured differently then I am thinking. I want to say I've seen somewhere that certain states have longer allowable tow lengths but I know for sure here in AZ it's 65'. Guess I should feel lucky @ that as my buddy in GA can't tow doubles at all since it illegal.

 

[GAmes]

I double tow an 18 ft Ranger bass boat (single axle tlr). Ball to prop is 24 ft, but I read somewhere that the measurement is to the back of the trailer, not the back of the load. If that is the case, it would be 20, maybe 21 ft. Behind my club cab, long bed duelly, 29 ft 5er, front bumper to prop was 67 ft. Behind my current 32 ft 5er bumper to prop is 72 ft. Tx has a 65 ft limit, but I have never been stopped. Boat and tlr weigh about 2200 lbs and the tlr has no brakes. I did install a friction sway bar on it, but not sure it is absolutely needed. With your heavier tlr I'd assume you have hydraulic brakes in which case you couldn't use a sway bar anyway. I also ran a separate harness from the truck for the tlr lights so as not to overload the RV wiring. You should be fine with a 27 or 28 footer, and don't skimp on the hitch. Depending on hitch weight you might have to slide your boat rearward so as not to overload the rear of the 5er, just don't get too light. Might be a good idea to check with local authorities about where the length is measured to.

 

[Boondocker]

Why not look into a cab-over camper and forget towing double all together?

 

[kbond]

Why not look into a cab-over camper and forget towing double all together?

too small. too much weight on the truck for my liking.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I got 4 words for 'ya.





Dot Exempt Recreational Vehicle.

 

[kbond]

I got 4 words for 'ya.





Dot Exempt Recreational Vehicle.

do tell... so does that mean I have no worries regarding length?



thanks,

Ken

 

[ThrottleJockey]

When you check your state's regs, check 'em for an RV. NOT a commercial vehicle.



Your'e just a guy tring to have a relaxing weekend, not a DOT regulated trucker.

 

[MMeier]

That scenario may start to change come next year!

 

[lcrawford]

I tow a 21 foot car hauler with a jeep and a 16 foot Casita I was told by DPS 65 was limit for tx roads without some type of special permit or something

 

[surfbeetle]

In California, you can tow doubles as long as no trailer exceeds 28', and you have a comerical class A with doubles and triples endorsement. The other thing that you have to take into consideration is that some states have a limit of 60' total length and others are 65' and 70'. TrailerLife magazine's website had a chart with what states had what. I don't have the link. Some states don't allow doubles at all.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

kbond,



Go to a truckstop and pick up a commercial driver's road atlas. They have all the nationwide DOT regs you can look at on the front pages. Pretty good info.

 

[MMeier]

kbond,



Go to a truckstop and pick up a commercial driver's road atlas. They have all the nationwide DOT regs you can look at on the front pages. Pretty good info.

Better yet, when you go to the truckstop, pick up a copy of the truckers lil' green "bible". That is what you want if you have any questions about anything and everything out there. Every "trucker" is required to have one in their possession.

 

[AMink]

I'm not much into more gov't regulation, but stuff like this should be consistent all over the country. Some states you can pull a train, others, only 40', others not at all. What a pain! Allow 70', two trailers, as long as you're not over weight. Call it good.