Towing max

[Dale]

I have a 1996, 2500. I have engine upgrades. My truck was 180 horses new and 440 ft. lbs torque stock ( California ). I now have approx 275 horse and 500 ft. lbs torque. I also have air bags and an exhaust brake. I tow a 30ft fifth wheel approx 10,800. The cummins is a great motor. This is my question? regardless of power I own a 3/4 ton chassis. I want to downsize the trailer to a 27 footer and hook a motorcycle trailer to the rear of the fifth wheel. The bike trailer is 5000 lbs and the average weight of a 27 footer is GVWR of 10000. This will keep me under the length limit also. Anybody do this and how much max can I tow ? Thanks for any input. Dale

 

[JohnCooper]

I was researching this about 2 weeks ago on the California DMV web site. Quote from DMV web site "No passenger vehicle regardless of weight, may tow more than one vehicle. " I take this as California doesn't allow pickup trucks to tow doubles. If you find any other information, I would also be interested.



John Cooper

 

[CLAYTON]

That's not a problem here in Utah... I will tow my 31 ft 5th wheel and a jeep behind that when we go to Moab. Other then that a utility trailer with a couple of dirt bikes on it... Guess I won't be pulling tandum in Cali Here are a couple of pics. The Red Dodge is my father in law and the Graphite gray truck is mine...

 

[macdaddy]

Dale

I have a friend that has been towing doubles in California for quite some time now PM me if your interested in talking with him, and yes it is legal in Calif. His current set up is a 32' Alpinlite and behind it is a 12X8 enclosed used to haul dirtbikes. You should talk with him he has already done all the research.



PS The wingnut is back in time about 25 years and has no email

 

[bnbrown]

I took a look at the dmv website, best i could find is you can tow doubles but no trailer in that set can be over 28', but that is for commercial drivers... I did find at one time when i was searching their site that you could tow a smaller trailer behind a fifth wheel type trailer, but havent been able to find it again, although I am not sure if you would have to have an endorsement for being over 35', or upgraded license? I know you can do it, see guys heading down the hiway running two trailers on occasion. The thing i find difficult to figure in CA is if we fall under the regulations of commercial vehicles (since we pay for a commercial registration and weight fees) or under the standard Honda and soccer mom rules? Used to have a friend who was buddies with the local CHP Commercial enforcement officer, that would have made it easy to figure out, you could always call the CHP and ask... I have asked my DMV some interesting questions, never had them give me the third degree or anything, just answered the question, and added the info of how far you could push it before anyone would notice (our DMV is an exception to most CA DMV offices I have visited, they rarely have a line, are friendly, and very informative).

 

[Beast2B]

You are not under commercial rules unless the driving you are doing is in a commercial situation. If you ain't getting paid, you ain't towing commercial. Ever see the big pickups and medium duty trucks with race car trailers or multiple vehicle trailers with the words "NOT FOR HIRE" ? Excludes them from commercial issues (mainly scales)

 

[lawdog]

CLayton, How does the truck do with the 315's towing all the weight? Any problems with the back end wanting to wiggle around on the tires???



Also any EGT issues... ... .

 

[Eric_77]

You are not under commercial rules unless the driving you are doing is in a commercial situation. If you ain't getting paid, you ain't towing commercial. Ever see the big pickups and medium duty trucks with race car trailers or multiple vehicle trailers with the words "NOT FOR HIRE" ? Excludes them from commercial issues (mainly scales)

Actually the "Not for Hire" is a different issue we run "Private Carrier" " Not for Hire" and have to have USDOT numbers, must stop at weigh stations, carry log books etc; difference is our insurance/licensing is for our product only we do not carry freight for any third party, or anything that does not belong to us(it is all product that is owned or sold by us)

 

[CLAYTON]

CLayton, How does the truck do with the 315's towing all the weight? Any problems with the back end wanting to wiggle around on the tires???

The airbags seem to help with the wiggle but there is little to none of that. The BFG's are good and I don't mind towing with them. They are just a little soft and while towing they seem to wear more quickly.

Also any EGT issues... ... .

Only when I turn the attitude/juice up past level 2... on level 1 and 2 I can keep my foot to the floor and keep the temps around 1250 while still gaining speed up a hill. That's also with the Edge Ez on level one. More power then I need but it's sure is nice to have

 

[lawdog]

Thanks, I put my stockers on to tow my new trailer because I was unsure on clearance issues, but I have a ton of room. I know the BFG AT's are great in snow and not sure about the Rugged trails that came stock.



I also tok the EZ off because I did not have gauges and was thinking of selling, but the extra power would be nice at times towing... ... We arer pulling a 40 ft Featherlite race trailer

 

[Dale]

Thanks for the information. How much weight are you pullin and your father also. I have a 29' Arctic Fox and it's 13000 lbs gross. I also have a 16 x 7 Carson enclosed , Im guessing 4000 lbs with everything in it.

 

[Dale]

Hi John you can tow doubles in Ca. and I believe the length is overall about 90' with some exemptions as to not need a class A. Thanks Dale

 

[JAlford]

I have a 29' Arctic Fox and it's 13000 lbs gross.

Dale,

Which axle are you running? I have a '04 Arctic Fox 29-5 that grosses 14,000. I weigh in at 20,000 total combined. My '99 (see sig) has a tough time with the new trailer if I get out West. Seems to do O. K. here in Ohio, if I don't pull hills. Last trip was to Mt. Rushmore, and I was running the interstate at 55-60mph full throttle, with a little headwind, on the way out. Couldn't get enough speed/power to get into 5th gear and stay. Plus my mileage dropped to 8mpg. I am looking to trade it in for the new 610 or do some more upgrades to the engine, but like you I don't know how far I need to go. And I am not towing a second trailer.

Jeff

 

[GWBourne]

I was researching this about 2 weeks ago on the California DMV web site. Quote from DMV web site "No passenger vehicle regardless of weight, may tow more than one vehicle. " I take this as California doesn't allow pickup trucks to tow doubles. If you find any other information, I would also be interested.



John Cooper

that is correct, thats also why my 04. 5 is registered as a comercial truck... . its a loophole, and if i am pulled over i cna still get a ticket. the law isnt clear enough for it so the ticket can get dropped in court fairly easy. i know i could swing it anyway, but i have good luck and skill in the swaying the judge department. i just go in uniform and normaly the tickets go away.



oregon, washington utah and idaho along with arizona allow doubles though.

Grant

 

[CLAYTON]

Move to Utah and you'll be fine :-laf I'll be towing that same load as the picture above again next weekend over Presidents weekend. Going back down to Moab to do some jeeping if the weather permits

 

[EricBu12]

Dale,



Consider a toyhauler 5th wheel. I have pretty heavy one but there are smaller ones. I have a 36' Keystone Raptor that has a separate 12' garage... the Garage is all that, no beds in the way or such... So that makes the living area about 24' but seems bigger because it has 2 slides...



Do a search on toyhaulers and prepare to do alot of reading. From sandpiper to Fleetwood or Alfa, there are alot of different manufacturers out there. I bought mine because I wanted the loft as part of the living area and separate garage. I think there are only like 3 trailers that have that combination. Look in my reader rigs under the Raptor folder to see pics of it. It is 15K GVW and with my 2 Quads (1500#) 110 gal water, 3 adults, 2 dogs, Beer , and other stuff, I am at 23K total. So your 1 bike and less water would discount some of that weight... This is a 3 axle and it tows very well...



#ad




#ad




#ad




#ad




#ad