Towing tandem good or bad idea?

[JMarkos]

We are looking at a 26' fifth wheel and would be pulling a 8x10 trailer either with atvs or snowmobiles on it. What is everyones thoughts, safe or unsafe?

 

[Texas Diesel]

We towed a 5x8 trailer behind our 28' 5th wheel with a Polaris quad in it with no problems. We tried towing a 16' flat bed with both quads and it was to unsteady. At best you are pushing the envelope but in my opinion, if it tracks good on a couple of test runs you'll be alright. Get an anti-sway bar for the trailer as an added measure of security.

 

[Okie-Go]

I am thinking of adding a hitch to my 5er. I think you will be ok. I plan to pull a 5x14 with a couple of 4 wheelers on it. I don't think you will have any problems.

 

[JMarkos]

Well we just went and bought it so I guess we will find out, thanks guys.

 

[mvaughn]

I had a 26' 5er and pulled a 6x12 trailer(single axle) with two ATC's and a few camping items for years. never had a problem. You want to watch the trailer tongue weight so that you don't start to pull the frame of the trailer from the floor.

 

[Powder Extreme]

I've pulled several tandem setups, two bumper hitch styles together and 5th/gooseneck & bumper hitch combo. The biggest setup was my 38' 5th wheel and 21' boat together. I've actually towed triples, not for the faint at heart. The biggest key is get yourself a good swaybar setup for the 2nd trailer, that's absolutely crucial for safety's sake, regardless of the size of the trailers, and don't try to set any speed records, 65 is plenty.



Wait till you get good at backing both of them up. I love seeing the look on peoples faces when I back the boat into a parking slot with a 38' 5th wheel in between



Jerry

 

[Okie-Go]

Wow a man that can back up two trailers. I enjoy watching people try to back up one.

 

[RustyJC]

You might want to check the following site to determine the legality of towing double (note - what the site refers to as "triple towing" is really pulling two trailers - I don't know of any state that allows RV's to triple tow). Other legal issues such as maximum overall length, etc. are shown as well.



http://www.tldirectory.com/travel/size_limits.cfm?CFID=9812690&CFTOKEN=76837215



Rusty

 

[Powder Extreme]

Okie, I actually backed up 3 trailers, but I had to do several pull aheads to keep everything going the way I wanted. 2 trailers I can generally back around corners and such in one shot. Rusty is right about checking the laws. I was going to pull my 38' 5th with a 32' sailplane trailer behind it, problem is I would be too long in several of the states I was traveling through. I don't think you'll run into length law problems with a 26' and a 10' setup. Check to see if they allow doubles though, most do. One of the best easiest sources of information on laws is in all the recent Trucker's Atlas's. You can buy one at Flyin J for around $10 - $15. A whole lot more useful and informative than just a standard atlas.



Jerry

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by Powder Extreme

The biggest setup was my 38' 5th wheel and 21' boat together.

Jerry

How much did that combo weigh?



Brian

 

[Powder Extreme]

5th wheel weighs 12,500, boat weighs 3,700. So when you factor in weight of hitches, water/ propane in the 5th, and fuel in the boat, probably around 16,500 - 17,000. When I'm towing my enclosed snowmobile trailer (heavier but shorter) I'm at 18,000.



Jerry

 

[NVR FNSH]

Is the 5th wheel a toybox? 12,500 sounds a bit light for a 38 ft trailer. My 36ft Patio Hauler w/LO slide lists a dry weight of 10,100. The only time I weighed the combo I was at 21,300 - oops.....



Brian

 

[Powder Extreme]

No, it's not a toy box. Been awhile since I looked at the tag on the side of it, but I sure thought it was 12,500 dry weight. I could be wrong.

 

[fallbrookjeff]

What do you guys think about a tandem setup as follows?:

CTD 98 Dodge 3500 4x4 + 26’ 5er (5500#) + car hauler w/Land Cruiser (6500#). The second trailer out-weighs the 5th wheel. (Electric brakes on all four axles. )

Am I crazy for trying this?

thanks

 

[NVR FNSH]

I'd be extremely concerned that the second trailer would tear the 5th wheel apart. I haven't been very impressed with the structural integrity of any of the RV trailers I've looked at.



Brian

 

[Mundgyver]

Be very carefull. If you have anything happen where your insurance gets involved, you might be looking at a big fight and bad memories. My dad has done double tows in the past along with one of his buddies. His buddi got wraped up going down a long grade cause he had too much weight pushing and lost it. Insurance would not cover him. Check your policy real close.

 

[pwr2tow]

I tow double, a 30 foot fifth wheel and a 4,000 lb fiberglass boat behind it, no problems at all.



fallbrookjeff,

I would be concerned about towing too much weight behind a fifth wheel due to the idea that a fifth wheel hitch can only handle so much weight, or any hitch can only handle so much weight. Pulling more weight on the last trailer will make for some scarey times.

Ron

 

[pwr2tow]

After i posted I got to thinking about my fifth wheel hitch. Looks like I will be doing some drilling and installing a couple of more bolts in it, I just remembered mine is held on with only four bolts I think six bolts would be better.



Ron

 

[mvaughn]

fallbrookjeff:

I tried that once with a CJ5. Went about 30 miles and gave up...

 

[Powder Extreme]

Fallbrookjeff, you could do it. BUTT you need to make certain the frame on the 5th wheel can handle it. I'm guessin that a small 5th like that probably won't. That doesn't mean that a good welder couldn't reinforce it though. If you do decide to tow a second trailer bigger than the first. You MUST have dual brake controllers in your pickup. The brakes on the two trailers NEED to be separated. With a second trailer bigger than the first it's crucial that you can apply that trailer's brakes alone if something happens and you start to sway. I wouldn't recommend using an equalizer hitch. The lengthy rear overhang of the 5th wheel axles to the hitch itself would put way too much stress on the unit when crossing streets with deep gulleys, pulling into parking lots, etc. You ABSOLUTELY MUST use a sway bar setup, I would highly recommend installing two sway bars on the second trailer.



Jerry