Which states allow tandem trailers
Gary and Mickie Willford
When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
rigs, but.......
Do you have to have a commercial license? It would by great to be able
to take a boat along with us!
Mickie
Graham, WA
John Summers
Gary and Mickie Willford wrote:
> When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
> truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
> behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
> rigs, but.......
A commercial 18 wheeler is set up to pull two trailers. A 5th whell
travel trailer is NOT.
Only the ingnorant and uninformed would do this!
> It would by great to be able to take a boat along with us!
Take a second car/truck. It would be a whole lot better than having the
inevitable accident and putting up with all that that might involve!
--
Brent Johnson
Gary and Mickie Willford wrote:
>
> When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
> truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
> behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
> rigs, but.......
>
> to take a boat along with us!
>
> Graham, WA
To the best of MY knowledge, all states require a commercial license
when pulling a trailer behind a trailer. The exceptions in certain
states are when pulling a trailer behind a 5th wheel. The overall length
is limited to about 55-60 feet (If I remember correctly). You want to
check with the DMV in the state that your Driver's License is with.
Brent-
David L. Allen
Gary and Mickie Willford <lawy...@wolfenet.com> wrote:
>When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
>truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
>behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
>rigs, but.......
>
>Do you have to have a commercial license? It would by great to be able
>to take a boat along with us!
>
>Mickie
>Graham, WA
>
that consists of a truck, 5th wheel and trailer. You need a special "R"
endorsement on your liscense that you get with a written test and $10.00.
The combination is restricted to 59 feet total length which limits you to
about a 21 foot 5th wheel with a 18 or 19 foot boat in tow. Also the
gross weight of the second trailer can not exceed the empty weight of the
pickup truck or the empty weight of 5th wheel trailer.
Kent Herrington
"David L. Allen" <dal...@vixa.voyager.net> wrote:
<much good stuff removed>
Now *there's* an individual with a concise, appropriate response.
Wes Fujii
Gary and Mickie Willford (lawy...@wolfenet.com) wrote:
: When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
: truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
: behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
: rigs, but.......
Here in Idaho, there are no restrictions or special licenses required.
You just have to be 65 feet or less in total length. I've seen old 1/2
ton pickup campers pulling Travel Trailers pulling boats.
Personally, I give 'em pretty wide berth...
Wes Fujii KC7MFT | Weekend Camper
we...@hpdmm12.boi.hp.com | '94 Coleman Four Seasons Yosemite
Boise, Idaho | "Wishing for more weekends in the year"
This article represents only the opinion[s] of its author, and is
not an official or unofficial position of, or statement by, the
Hewlett-Packard Company. The text is provided for informational
purposes only. It is supplied without warranty of any kind.
KDSorenson
I live in Wyoming and it is legal to haul tandom trailers. I called the
Highway Dept. and the State Patrol where they told me it doesn't take a
special license or tests. The limit in total length is 60'.
I had a receiver hitch installed on the back of my StarCraft 26' trailer
and I haul a Hyde Drift Boat or a set of four-wheelers behind it. Of
course you also need to install a plug in for the second trailer. It can
be a real treat to back up or to gas up in tight places.
djmi...@syspac.com
Arizona allows tandem trailers as long as the middle trailer is a 5th
wheel . The combined length of all vehicles cannot exceed 65 feet.
Also, the weight of the final vehicle cannot exceed the weight of the
second. On Mon, 02 Sep 1996 14:01:16 -0700, Gary and Mickie
Willford <lawy...@wolfenet.com> wrote:
>When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
>truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
>behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
>rigs, but.......
>
michael dudley
Has anyone mentioned, Texas. I see these
all the time down here. First you see the
pickup coming up the road, then the 5th wheel
behind it and then the boat behind that.
I don't know how they make some of the corners
I have trouble with with just my trialer.
Mike.
R.J.(Bob) Evans
>Gary and Mickie Willford <lawy...@wolfenet.com> wrote:
>>When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
>>truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
>>behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
>>rigs, but.......
In Sask. it is legal to do this up to 75' total rig length as long as
the lead trailer either has a tandem axle or is a 5W. We pull a 29'
5W with an 18.5' inboard behind it. Contrary to what some have
suggested in this forum this is not an accident-waiting-to-happen. We
make sure the brakes on the 5W are in good shape. The receiver on the
back of the 5W is extremely solid and we make sure all the lights are
working. On good pavement this rig pulls nicely behind our F250, 7.3
Powerstroke at about 100 KM. On gravel we back off to around 80 KM
(50 MPH).
There are no special licensing requirements although I believe there
should be. Anytime the trailer outweighs the tow vehicle I happen to
believe there should be some additional care taken by the driver.
Since most drivers won't ensure that level of care I believe the state
should ensure it for the rest of us. Having said that, these
combination rigs are no more inherently dangerous than any
semi-trailer combination. If you think the trailers in a semi trailer
rig don't outweigh the tractor then you should think again.
Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie
In article <322B4B...@wolfenet.com>, Gary and Mickie Willford
<lawy...@wolfenet.com> wrote:
>When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
>truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
>behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in commercial
>rigs, but.......
It's not legal here is Washington (thank goodness)
>Do you have to have a commercial license? It would by great to be able
>to take a boat along with us!
IHMO, only if you are nuts. Remember the book title, "Unsafe at any Speed".
Ralph
--
Ralph Lindberg N7BSN e-mail to drag...@scn.org (read daily)
RV and Camping FAQ <http://kendaco.telebyte.net/rlindber/rv/
They call it "Sur'n the Net" 'cause you can wipe out so easy
Donald J. Dickson
Hi Mike
I just spent the weekend at a Northern Ontario campground that is on a
lake with a great reputation for fishing. Almost every fifth wheel in the
park was towing a boat trailer with an aluminum fishing boat. In most
cases the boat trailer is considerably narrower than the fifth wheel so
they actrually track inside the wheel marks of the fiver.
Cheers,
Don Dickson
BTW most of the people in the park were from Michigan so they had to drive
a minimum of 200 miles in Ontario on fairly narrow 2 lane highways to get
there. One gentleman I spoke to had a light weight 21' fifth wheel which he
uses to pull his fishing boat. He had another +30' fifth wheel at home but
with the boat it was overlength. He had installed another section of frame
in the middle to take the weight of the hitch. He also mentioned he had
used the trailer to go to Alaska and had used the hitch receiver to mount
a platform on the back of this trailer.
--
Consciousness: those annoying times between naps.
Steve Reigle
On 7 Sep 1996 06:29:33 GMT, ab...@ix.netcom.com(michael dudley) wrote:
>Has anyone mentioned, Texas. I see these
>all the time down here. First you see the
>pickup coming up the road, then the 5th wheel
>behind it and then the boat behind that.
>I don't know how they make some of the corners
>I have trouble with with just my trialer.
>Mike.
>
Watching the track of my boat trailer (19' boat), it runs just about a
foot or less inside the track of my fifth wheel, on normal corners.
Surprised me, too, but it's not nearly as bad as one would think.
Backing up, however.... so far I have avoided that and also have
avoided having to unhook the boat trailer in order to turn around. One
of these days, though.....
Marvin Kemel
I hope that these tandem towers are stopped. Most states and provinces
belong to an organisation that promotes similar traffic laws. They also
exchange ideas on traffic safety. I hope they decide to outright BAN thes
e dangerous vehicles. How can they allow people with no training to drive
3 vehicles hooked together down the road? Ther are no regulations
governing the hitches that join the third unit. What would happen if a
tire went flat?? How do you control the tow vehicle? Some of these
drivers have never driven anything bigger than a Geo Metro. Now they are
tooling down the freeway with 10 tons or more. What about brakes?? Is the
tow vehicle designed for this purpose?? Is the frame of the 5er designed
for this extra strain?? Thes people are getting away with murder. The
laws that allow triple towing are meant for tractor trailers not for
RV's.
> IMO if people want to tow this way they should :1. Have to take a special course and pass a commercial drivers test. 2. The 3 units should
be subject to an inspection for safety. Otherwise leave your boat at home
>
Henry K. Woodbury
drag...@scn.org (Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie) wrote:
>In article <322B4B...@wolfenet.com>, Gary and Mickie Willford
><lawy...@wolfenet.com> wrote:
>>When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing.
A
>>truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
>>behind it! Is this allowed in many states? It's common in
> It's not legal here is Washington (thank goodness)
>>Do you have to have a commercial license? It would by great to be
> IHMO, only if you are nuts. Remember the book title, "Unsafe at
any Speed".
It is legal in many states. The limits are total length. Also, brakes
may be required on each trailer unit, usually a function of weight.
----------------------------------
Henry Woodbury
(hwd...@sover.net)
http://www.sover.net/~hwdbry/
Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie
In article <512e5s$k...@thrush.sover.net>, hwd...@sover.net (Henry K.
Woodbury) wrote:
>
>It is legal in many states. The limits are total length. Also, brakes
>may be required on each trailer unit, usually a function of weight.
Unfortunately, legal doesn't mean safe. While it's possible to do this
sort of thing safely, allowing this with 1) any light truck (down to the
mini-pickups), 2) no special training, and 3) no special testing opens the
operation to real abuse.
I am also a firm believer that drivers of large RV's (don't ask me what
large is) should be required to be trained and pass a special test.
t...@ncn.net
In Iowa you can run two rig's but you may want to check with your trailer
dealer.
You could VOID the Warranty........
You also need lights and breaks on the second rig..
James Herrin
Marvin Kemel wrote:
>
> I hope that these tandem towers are stopped. Most states and provinces
> belong to an organisation that promotes similar traffic laws. They also
> exchange ideas on traffic safety. I hope they decide to outright BAN thes
> e dangerous vehicles. How can they allow people with no training to drive
> 3 vehicles hooked together down the road? Ther are no regulations
> governing the hitches that join the third unit. What would happen if a
> tire went flat?? How do you control the tow vehicle? Some of these
> drivers have never driven anything bigger than a Geo Metro. Now they are
> tooling down the freeway with 10 tons or more. What about brakes?? Is the
> tow vehicle designed for this purpose?? Is the frame of the 5er designed
> for this extra strain?? Thes people are getting away with murder. The
> laws that allow triple towing are meant for tractor trailers not for
> RV's.
There is nothing you can really do about people that are dumb enough to exceed the
ratings of their truck and or trailer. I agree that there are some people that have no
business towing even a single trailer. But then again some people have no business
driving a car either. That doesn't make everyone that pulls a 5th wheel and a boat
dangerous either. It can be done safely. I see alot more accidents involving cars than
trucks or rv's (even considering there are a lot more cars than trucks or rv's). Maybe
the standards for a drivers license for a car should be raised also.
Donald J. Dickson
Marvin Kemel (car...@mb.sympatico.ca) writes:
> I hope that these tandem towers are stopped. Most states and provinces
> belong to an organisation that promotes similar traffic laws. They also
> exchange ideas on traffic safety. I hope they decide to outright BAN thes
> e dangerous vehicles. How can they allow people with no training to drive
> 3 vehicles hooked together down the road? Ther are no regulations
> governing the hitches that join the third unit. What would happen if a
> tire went flat?? How do you control the tow vehicle? Some of these
> drivers have never driven anything bigger than a Geo Metro. Now they are
> tooling down the freeway with 10 tons or more.
Just to put a different perspective on this. Most of the vehicles towing a
boat trailer etc. are small rigs because of the length limitations. There
are MUCH larger single trailers
What about brakes??
Most states and provinces have regulations that determine when you need
brakes on the second trailer. They can be surge brakes or many of the
controllers now on the market are designed for 2 to 8 wheels
Is the
> tow vehicle designed for this purpose??
As long as they do not exceed the GCW I don't see why not. There are
people who are pulling single trailers which are beyond the GCW of the
vehicles right now. Check some of questions posted.
Is the frame of the 5er designed
> for this extra strain??
Some are definitely not suitable but many have frames much heavier than
the trailer weight. For example my fifth wheel has a weight rating of
13,000 stamped on the frame but the GVW is only 7000 due to the axle
ratings. If the GVW of the trailer is well in excess of the actual weight
the frame is probably strong enough provideed you don't use the regular
bumper for towing. Get a frame hitch like the ones designed for towing
with motorhomes.
Thes people are getting away with murder. The
> laws that allow triple towing are meant for tractor trailers not for
> RV's.
Not so!. Some state regulations specifically mention RV's towing a second
trailer and state that the 1st trailer must be a fifth wheel and give
limits on the weight of the second trailer.
>> IMO if people want to tow this way they should :1. Have to take a special course and pass a commercial drivers test. 2. The 3 units should
> be subject to an inspection for safety. Otherwise leave your boat at home
>>
Probably would be a good idea to have a special endorsement if you want to
tow a second trailer.
In the part of Northern Ontario where I live the second trailer behind a
fifth wheel is a common sight. In most cases it is American tourists who
come up for a coupole of weeks fishing and have an aluminum boat behind.
The total weight of boat, motor and trailer would in most cases be less
than 1000pounds. which is insignificant in comparisonto the weight of
their truck and trailer.
We have many steep hills and sharp corners on the highways and I have seen
many accidents where the trailer gort away on the driver but I have yet to
see an accident where a double trailer was involved. Maybe most of the
people who do it are more careful than average.
BTW I do have a fifth wheel but I don't tow a boat or anything else behind
it. Not because I would be afraid of the safety aspect but because it has
never been a priority.
MY 2ยข
Cheers,
Don Dickson
David L. Allen
Marvin Kemel <car...@mb.sympatico.ca> wrote:
<snip>
>The laws that allow triple towing are meant for tractor trailers not for
>RV's.
<snip>
In Michigan the law specifically states "recreational double" so the law
is directly intended for non-commercial vehicles. Safety chains must be
soldly attached to the towing trailers frame - not with "S" hooks like
most trailers are hooked up.
I see nothing inherently unsafe with these units. Every vehicle on the
road requires the driver to use some common sense. Well maintained
vehicles are not unsafe but some drivers are whether they are driving a
Geo Metro or a recreational double.
Thomas Mehrkam
Marvin Kemel wrote:
>
> I hope that these tandem towers are stopped. Most states and provinces
> belong to an organisation that promotes similar traffic laws. They also
> exchange ideas on traffic safety. I hope they decide to outright BAN thes
> e dangerous vehicles. How can they allow people with no training to drive
> 3 vehicles hooked together down the road? Ther are no regulations
> governing the hitches that join the third unit. What would happen if a
> tire went flat?? How do you control the tow vehicle? Some of these
> drivers have never driven anything bigger than a Geo Metro. Now they are
> tow vehicle designed for this purpose?? Is the frame of the 5er designed
> for this extra strain?? Thes people are getting away with murder. The
> laws that allow triple towing are meant for tractor trailers not for
> RV's.
> be subject to an inspection for safety. Otherwise leave your boat at home
> >
never will. But if some else can do it safely let them do it. WHY do
you automatically assume that this is dangerous. Towing anything can
be dangerious if not done proberly.
What about all these motor homes that are driven by 75+ year olds who
have lived in the city all thier lives and rode the Taxies and busses
to work. Then then retire and decide to drive a 35' motor home without
any special training.!!
The last thing we need in this country is MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
Sstone847
Thomas Mehrkam <meh...@wt.net> writes:
>The last thing we need in this country is MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
Interesting observation, but a bit too generalized, IMO.
My brother and S-i-L are owners/operators of OTR equipment and they will
NOT haul tandom trailers due to what they consider the inherent dangers
involved. If THEY won't pull these rigs, then *I* damned sure find them
unwanted....and we're talking freight boxes, not single axle TT and Boat
combinations.
I, for one, support eliminating these "recreational" combinations from our
highways. YMMV.
S.C. Stone
Ralph Lindberg & Ellen Winnie
>> >
>You sound like a true "DEMOCRAT".
Why are you trying to make that sound like an insult?
>I do not tow two trailers and probably
>never will. But if some else can do it safely let them do it. WHY do
>you automatically assume that this is dangerous. Towing anything can
>be dangerious if not done proberly.
Have you ever passed one of this units on an area with cross winds? I
have, it's really scary to see that boat-trailer whip back and forth
accross the highway, then as you pass, you notice the driver is
white-knuckleing his why along.
But then I've seen people in small tow vehicles (MH, SUV's etc) haveing
the same trouble. On my last trip there was a 22ft Kit speard all over
I-90 and a Nissan KingCab that had been towing it. They folks in the PU
where fine, but the shock wave from a passing Semi (on the other side of
the Freeway, going the other way) had blown them off the road
>What about all these motor homes that are driven by 75+ year olds who
>have lived in the city all thier lives and rode the Taxies and busses
>to work. Then then retire and decide to drive a 35' motor home without
>any special training.!!
Absolutely this is needed. To my knowledge, only California currently has
any requirements for training/licensing for large RV's. In Washington there
was a bill to 'study' having a similar law, that was killed by the RV
industry, and the local Good Sam people.
>
>The last thing we need in this country is MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
Am I the only one who noticed that the above contridicts the paragraph
just before?
Since the Industry (both RV and Tow vehicles) is willing to lie to people
about what is safe and what isn't, and people are willing to go even beyond
what they are told is safe. Some regulations are needed to keep people from
killing others, I hope one day that all States, Provences, etc have rules
requireing training the testing (at least for larger RV's).
George Lowry
California has no special requirements for RVs of any size. This was
discussed a few years ago at the national level (Some association of
motor vehicle departments) and they concurred that the accident rate did
not warrant any extra testing and licensing for RVs.
George
Randy Humphries
ab...@ix.netcom.com(michael dudley) wrote:
>Has anyone mentioned, Texas. I see these
>all the time down here. First you see the
>pickup coming up the road, then the 5th wheel
>behind it and then the boat behind that.
>I don't know how they make some of the corners
>I have trouble with with just my trialer.
>Mike.
Down here in Louisiana through Florida we've seen 35' Fifth wheels
pulling 18' runabouts with one-ton extended cab pickups! Talk about a
self-made convoy....
Steve Reigle
>I hope that these tandem towers are stopped. Most states and provinces
>belong to an organisation that promotes similar traffic laws. They also
>exchange ideas on traffic safety. I hope they decide to outright BAN thes
>e dangerous vehicles. How can they allow people with no training to drive
>3 vehicles hooked together down the road? Ther are no regulations
>governing the hitches that join the third unit. What would happen if a
>tire went flat?? How do you control the tow vehicle? Some of these
>drivers have never driven anything bigger than a Geo Metro. Now they are
>tooling down the freeway with 10 tons or more. What about brakes?? Is the
>tow vehicle designed for this purpose?? Is the frame of the 5er designed
>for this extra strain?? Thes people are getting away with murder. The
>laws that allow triple towing are meant for tractor trailers not for
>RV's.
>> IMO if people want to tow this way they should :1. Have to take a special course and pass a commercial drivers test. 2. The 3 units should
>be subject to an inspection for safety. Otherwise leave your boat at home
>>
Where are the facts to support the allegations that double trailers
are any more dangerous than single trailers or even just the normal
car or truck on the highway?
I've towed a double trailer (fifth wheel and boat) for quite some time
and am comfortable doing so. I'd bet I can turn around in a whole lot
narrower space than you think. My rig, total length, is 62 1/2 feet,
which is within legal limits here in Kansas. The same laws apply to
hitches for the second trailer as for the first. KS requires the
second trailer have brakes. Both my trailers have brakes. And, the FW
is tandem axle which adds considerably to stability. A flat tire on
the FW is not a big deal, it doesn't cause any more sway than a flat
on your car and a blowout would not even be as big a deal as on a car
because the tandem axles are so close.
I once had a tongue lock on the boat trailer break and fall out
somewhere along the road. On a big bump the boat trailer (3460 lbs
total weight for the boat/trailer) jumped off the ball and hit the
pavement at 60 mph. I first noticed it when I checked the mirror and
saw the boat trailer (behind the FW) swaying, but still in my lane.
Anyone who knows anything about towing with a ball hitch knows you
cross the safety chains. That keeps the trailer from taking off on its
own. Also, each trailer has a safety brake switch that causes the
brakes to come on should the trailer get clear away.
IMO these rigs require closer attention to driving and the
surroundings but rigged and driven properly they are no more dangerous
than any other vehicles on the road. Note "rigged and driven properly"
applies to each and every vehicle on the road, car, truck, bus, semi,
RV.
Yes, my fiver's frame can handle the load. Yes, I use a frame hitch
for FW to boat trailer. Yes, I check connections, bolts, etc.,
carefully. Yes, I pay close attention to both trailers while driving
as well as my surroundings. To do any differently is careless and
dangerous, to that I would agree. But I will not agree my rig is
"inherently" dangerous, any more than yours is if you don't rig and
drive it properly.
Steve Reigle
On Fri, 13 Sep 1996 07:22:38 -0700, drag...@scn.org (Ralph Lindberg &
Ellen Winnie) wrote:
--- (snip) ---
> Have you ever passed one of this units on an area with cross winds? I
>have, it's really scary to see that boat-trailer whip back and forth
>accross the highway, then as you pass, you notice the driver is
>white-knuckleing his why along.
Here in Kansas, crosswinds are a way of life. I tow two trailers (FW
and boat) frequently, without problem. If it's windy, crosswinds, I
just run a little slower. But that's never been slow enough to cause
traffic problems. If a trailer is "whipping back and forth across the
highway", then the rig is not set up correctly. The worst possible
crosswinds would, of course, cause me to stay home. But winds in the
15 to 25 mph range just means I run 55 to 60mph.
POPPIEBILL
Just read all the comments about towing a 5er and a boat--
How about a motorhome towing a blazer with a fishing boat attached?
Has anyone seen that combination??
Bill in Cary, IL
The Hepburn
that one must be a fifth wheel hitch; you cannot use two ball hitches.
--
Alan Hepburn | |
National Semiconductor | DON'T TREAD ON ME |
Santa Clara, Ca | |
al...@rockie.nsc.com | |
Wes Fujii
The Hepburn (al...@rockie.nsc.com) wrote:
: I think you'll find that all states that allow duals do so with
: use two ball hitches.
Idaho is one that can have two ball hitches. I believe there are others.
david7...@gmail.com
> When we were in Montana last month, I saw the most amazing thing. A
> truck was pulling a 19-21' RV and also pulling a boat on a trailer
> rigs, but.......
> Do you have to have a commercial license? It would by great to be able
> to take a boat along with us!
>
> Graham, WA
No require commercial license in most state .I live Illinois and no require commercial license. I haul fifth wheel and boat for 12 yrs . I think you live in Washington not allowed double trailer. You Can ask question at DMV or online" double trailer allow in state " this will inform.. most east coast not allow. double trailer
Ralph E Lindberg
answered, 21 years ago
George Anthony
Casa del Sol naciente
Bob
bst...@bur.den says...
non-divided street when I had to stop because it
was completely blocked. A large Class A was pulling
a trailer with a car on it. Attached to the car
trailer was a boat on a trailer. The RV driver was
making a left turn out of a gas station and had the
entire street blocked trying to get everything out
on the road. I hope he was only trying to fuel up
all the vehicles and the boat in one trip, rather
than preparing to head out onto the highway.
Bob