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Is this legal?

D

Daryl in PA

Member
mvphoto18452.jpg


A friend on facebook posted this. Said they had no problem towing the travel trailer and boat like this.
 
Yes and no, yes they will let you pull it and there is no way that 5th wheel is rated to pull doubles.
 
legal here in Wyoming as well this is my "double trailer" I pull the rear trailer runs right in the front trailer tracks works very well for me cnt
a119022.jpg
 
If you want to tow it, it should be compulsory to reverse it round a
course first.....LOL
Sam
 
Yes it is in most states you do have to have an RV endorsement on your license for the combination in the picture though. As for the combine and head I think you would need a doubles endorsment in most states. Maybe even a CDL as you could easily be over the 26,000 limit and over the 10,000 trailer limit. Of course the truck would have to be rated for those setups. The first one would have to be on a fifth wheel.
 
You guys live in a different world. I'm in OH now
and I'd forgotten how cussed narrow and twisted
the roads are. And don't even try to fill up with
gas in any smaller towns. There is not room to get
the trailer off the road, let alone any place to
turn around. Yeah, 65 ft max for those combos in
NE. RVs are exempt from most restrictions. Now the
one Case Nutty posted is a different story. You
add the potential weight of BOTH trailers + the
towing vehicle. I can't legally tow my two
trailers empty. They put me in a DOT weight calls
that requires a CDL and also they would exceed the
length limit.
 
In Indiana at least, the first trailor has to be a fifth-wheel or gooseneck. Cannot be two bumper hitches. joe
 
I guess legal is what you get away with. I saw a 28' camper and a 19' bass boat towed by an Astro van down at Ky. lake. I been wanting an Astro van ever since.
 
What if you have to back up? The trailer would block the view of the boat going down the road.
How could you tell if you were clear of someone you were passing?
 
Not legal in all states, for dang sure not here in NY. And considering some of the clowns driving out there, it's probably a good thing!
 
Legal in Texas as for as I know.

I got stopped one time. Coming home from Ft Hood. Driving a five ton wrecker towing a duce and half,jeep and trailer. Trooper let me go after headquarters told him. If it is military let him go.
 
(quoted from post at 04:15:24 06/18/13) Not legal in all states, for dang sure not here in NY. And considering some of the clowns driving out there, it's probably a good thing!
Click to expand...

I saw one in central VT last summer, that was registered from somewhere to the west. Not sayin' it was legal in NY but he must have just come through.
 
Yup legal in Minnesota, scarey that Mom and Pop driver never driving more then a Buick sedan their entire life can cash in their retirement and step up to something like this with a class "D" license.
 
its leagle here in nm, provided the first trailer is a 5th wheel hitch , i see it going past the farm a lot as th enext town is a tourist resort ,they wont accept a bumper pull first trailer or a gooseneck ball here, however there are a few goosneck flatbeds here that have beed converted to 5th wheel just for the purpose of pulling a 2nd trailer for equipment, you'd better have a real truck under the front of it, ive seen this setup with ford f450s and 550's
 
In some years (Indiana to Florida) I have towed my car (with auxiliary braking in operation) behind the RV and behind the car was a trailer with my golf cart. I did some research and found out it was NOT legal in Florida unless on the Florida Turnpike. However in many years of doing that and in several states Ive had cop after cop pass me AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN CITED knock on wood lol

Whats tricky is finding a Flying J or Petro or Loves etc when you pull in for gas and need a way out too grrrrrrrrrrr as there's obviously NO backing up

John T
 
That's because of the distance from your first tandem to the tongue of the header trailer.

Same thing applies to dump trucks. If you have an 18 wheel combination with a single trailer, that's x feet long and a truck/pup of the same length, the truck/pup can turn circles around the single trailer and is best suited for deliveries in tight spaces.

On the single trailer the pivot point is centered over the tow vehicle's tandem. When the tow vehicle starts turning, the trailer starts turning.

On the truck/pup the pivot point is behind the truck and while the tow vehicle is turning, the pup is still going straight....for a short distance but that matters.

Mark
 
I don't recall any limitations in TX. When taking my Class A CDL, I
was taught/quizzed on things like UPS mail trucks where you had a
6 wheel tractor pulling 2-4 wheel trailers. What's the difference in
that and what's in the picture? I see it done here quite
frequently....take a motor home, boat and get around vehicle.

Mark
 
I forgot to add when I put the hitch on my trailer I made it so I could still back up to a dock, I got very lucky to have made it the right (the hitch) length, I also have a set of gin poles I mount to the rear as well to lift/load things when you have no loader available cnt
 
(quoted from post at 04:28:11 06/18/13)
(quoted from post at 04:15:24 06/18/13) Not legal in all states, for dang sure not here in NY. And considering some of the clowns driving out there, it's probably a good thing!
Click to expand...

I saw one in central VT last summer, that was registered from somewhere to the west. Not sayin' it was legal in NY but he must have just come through.
Click to expand...

Doubles towing laws are not reciprocal. Just because you can tow doubles where you came from, it's still illegal in NY, and you can't legally tow doubles here.

It's not legal in most of the Northeast states, if not all.

Somehow he managed to sneak through NY without getting caught.
 
(quoted from post at 05:48:49 06/18/13) I don't recall any limitations in TX. When taking my Class A CDL, I
was taught/quizzed on things like UPS mail trucks where you had a
6 wheel tractor pulling 2-4 wheel trailers. What's the difference in
that and what's in the picture?
Click to expand...

The difference in the driver.

In order to drive a 6-wheel tractor pulling two 4-wheel trailers, you need to first go to driving school to learn how to drive a single tractor-trailer. You then need to pass a test with the state to get your CDL. Then you need months/years of on-the-job training where they work you up to towing doubles.

Any yahoo off the street can drive what's in the picture. They may not be legally licensed but that only counts if you get pulled over. IF, not when. As long as they're doing the speed limit and not swerving when they pass by the cop, they can get away with it.

The issue is the yahoo isn't trained and probably hasn't got the foggiest about what to do in an emergency situation, or how not to put yourself in that position in the first place.
 
In Mi. the lead must be a fifth wheel connect. Its not "suppose" to be over 65 ft. long. I was told at the DOT office that they don't enforce the length rule in our state. I was told that what ever is legal in your state would be legal in any state you drive through. I question that though. As for backing up, you are not suppose to get yourself in a position where you have to back it up. I pulled doubles for 35 years trucking and thats the first thing they teach you. Although it can be done and most drivers that pull them for a while get the hang of it and can do it it, to an extent.
 
Drove astro vans for years and pulled boats with them. Pulls pretty good, getting it stopped especially in the rain, that didn't work nun too good :)
 
We had four of them 85, 92,97, 01. The 92 was a runner. The 97 had factory tow package with. 387 gears and positive slip rear end. It would light the tires. By 01 they changed the transmission and emissions - junk :(
 
Seen this in Mn. for the last 50 years, ever seen those little caster wheel trailers that were clamped to the rear bumper of a car?? I have seen rigs like the one pictured with one of those trailers clamped to the front bumper of the truck and pushing it down the road.
 
The owners of that rig do live in Michigan. I've never seen anything like it here on the interstates of PA, that's why i questioned it.
 
Transmission was never changed on the Safari/astro vans. Was always a 700R4/4L60E. I was never too impressed with the 4.3. Always seemed a little weak.
 
Maximum length in Alberta is 65"--tow vehicle, fifth wheel trailer and towed trailer inclusive.(travel trailer configuration not allowed)

In Sask it is 75" and you can have either travel trailer or fifth wheel configuration

In Manitoba it is 75" but only fifth wheel configuration allowed.

Not sure of length in BC but you cannot tow anything behind a fifth wheel there.
 

Got an old Astro van here, it's parked out behind the shop. Does a great job keeping all my old Dodge parts dry and clean.
 
(quoted from post at 09:11:22 06/18/13) In Mi. the lead must be a fifth wheel connect.
Click to expand...
Yes, the front trailer must be fifth wheel in Michigan.
It also MUST be a camper to qualify for the "R" endorsement
that lets people without a CDL tow them.
Need to be 18 and pass a written test. No skills test required. :roll:
 
Two trailers are allowed in all the green states as long as one is a 5th wheel RV and you are under 65 feet long. Some states may also require you to take a written drivers test.
As you get over 65 ft long you limit the states you can go to.

The difference in commercial truck rules and RV rules for double trailers is because of a little thing called a Brake Proportioning Valve.
a119146.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 06:03:17 06/18/13)
(quoted from post at 04:28:11 06/18/13)
(quoted from post at 04:15:24 06/18/13) Not legal in all states, for dang sure not here in NY. And considering some of the clowns driving out there, it's probably a good thing!
Click to expand...

I saw one in central VT last summer, that was registered from somewhere to the west. Not sayin' it was legal in NY but he must have just come through.
Click to expand...

Doubles towing laws are not reciprocal. Just because you can tow doubles where you came from, it's still illegal in NY, and you can't legally tow doubles here.

It's not legal in most of the Northeast states, if not all.

Somehow he managed to sneak through NY without getting caught.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Just cuz he didn't get caught don't make it legal.

I looked into this some years back when I was still gainfully employed. IIRC the laws in NY require the power unit in a doubles situation to be a tractor w/5th wheel. I got looking into it because a guy I know through another guy asked me if he could "pull his hitch wagon behind his truck". That's how it was put to me. I told him he was legal as long as he met the requirements for an SMV as far as signage, speed, etc. Next thing I know I'm in hot water because Bozo took that to mean he could attach the hitch wagon behind his stock trailer and tow to a show. He got caught and started dropping my name. I was dumb for not playing 100 questions with him, but he was dumber.
 
(quoted from post at 08:21:18 06/18/13) Legal here in Missouri. Matter of fact my CDL has m,e listed as being legal to pull doubles or triples
Click to expand...

A man with a CDL for doubles or triples is different than Grandpa Greyhair driving the monster RV, towing the Caddy, towing the boat. I'll put a lot more faith in the tractor driver than Grandpa.
 
True but either way here in Missouri it is legal to pull a camper and have a boat on behind that etc. Down in Lebanon MO you see boats pulled from Tracker marine day in day out is 2s and 3s behind a pick up truck and some even have a bed rack to hold a 3rd or 4th boat on the truck
 
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