There are certain travel styles where it is extremely tempting to pull a double or triple semi-trailer. These include things like: Triple RV towing is a more common sight today, though RV towing laws differ from state to state. Many campers are willing to take the opportunity to transport more things to a favorite vacation spot, even on the steep mountain roads of the west. For example, in Idaho, you can tow 75 feet three times, but not exceed speeds of 65 miles per hour. This is actually quite common for states that allow triple towing, although it`s not the same in all areas. Indiana only allows a maximum drag limit of 60 feet. There is no doubt about it, the traffic police are keen on safety concerns to pull twice an arrival harness. At the time of publication of this article (January 2022), the following states allow triple towing – but again, each state has specific regulations that include legal length, width, height, and weight, as well as possible non-commercial license endorsements: Second, learn what the weight of your empty vehicle is. This means how much your fifth wheel weighs before you load it. This is important because many states require that the second vehicle you are towing does not exceed the weight of the unladen vehicle.

While commercial truckers call it “double haul”, RVers call it “triple towing” (sometimes “double towing”). You`ll know this when you see a vehicle towing two trailers, usually a fifth wheel and a commercial vehicle trailer. In addition, RVs often pull boats or ATVs behind the first trailer. Not only are there many technical specifications that need to be set up correctly, but many states also have regulations on towing an additional trailer, boat, or car behind your trailer, as well as how long a total rig you can tow before you need a special driver`s license. Good question, Cary! Towing 1 vehicle is called “towing!” It`s one of those weird things that once you create a series of three connected vehicles, it`s so long that maximizing the total number of vehicles feels natural. Although it is also sometimes called “double towing”. We don`t make rules, we just report on them! LOL While a majority of states allow double towing, regulations may vary from state to state. Now that you know a little more about what triple towing is and where you can and can`t do it, let`s look at some tips for doing it. This will save you headaches later.

Double towing is an exercise in your towing skills and capabilities. It will be important to be able to perform several tasks at once like a juggler. Knowing all the applicable laws and regulations is the first step, but you should also be aware of your mechanical limitations. An example of when double towing is beneficial would be if you want to take a trip to your favorite fishing spot. Not only can you bring your RV, but you can also enhance the experience by towing your boat twice. For example, you can drive a truck and pull your 5th wheel behind it, while you also pull your boat behind the 5th. Pull a bike! This means that you need to know the regulations of your state, as well as any other state you will be visiting, in case your travel plans require crossing state borders. Again, this varies from state to state, so it`s essential to review the laws of the state or states where you plan to tow. With this in mind, most laws limit the maximum length of a triple towing superstructure to 60` or 65`.

Before you tow your motorcycle trailer with your fifth wheel hitch, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the triple towing laws along your route. While some state vehicle codes clearly state whether triple towing is allowed, many other state triple towing laws are vague. If 2-item towing is triple towing, what is 1-item towing? Thx. Cary states that do not allow triple towing are: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Just because your specific double towing setup is legal in one state doesn`t mean you`re legal in another state, even in a neighboring state. However, a very important difference between commercial “double towing” and non-commercial “triple towing” is education. Professional drivers towing two or more trailers have received special training in the practice of doppelgängers pulling. In fact, most states require a special license confirmation for commercial drivers, although there is no such requirement for non-commercial drivers in most states. (However, some states require license confirmation for non-commercial drivers, so keep that in mind!) I think safe towing would be a more important aspect for RVs than knowing how to carry these “toys”! Although some people call it “double towing,” the most common (and probably appropriate) description is “triple towing” because it refers to an RV pulling two trailers. You don`t see people wearing triple in most East Coast states. Traffic jams, narrow highways and just too many people make it a dangerous thing. To that end, the federal DOT doesn`t want any part of regulating non-commercial situations — so they leave it up to each state to set its own limits for towing recreational vehicles.

The only way to get fully accurate information about triple towing is to contact the Department of Transportation or the highway patrol offices in your state and any states you plan to cross. I hate towing to start towing doubles, I have a 40 foot gooseneck toy tractor which is more than enough for me to tow on the highway. And while you might think that a law enforcement officer wouldn`t stop measuring the difference between 60 and 65 feet if you were involved in an accident (through your fault or not) and violated that state`s triple towing regulations when the accident happened, you could have a serious problem on your hands. including the possibility that an insurance company may refuse to cover damages. According to Good Life RV, “Triple towing involves pulling a trailer (such as a fifth wheel) behind a towing vehicle and then attaching another trailer to the fifth wheel for a third vehicle. An example could be a snowmobile or equipment trailer. For example, some state vehicle codes clearly indicate “triple tow allowed,” while others simply specify a maximum combined length for configuration. Many new RVs are initially intimidated when towing their RV, not to mention triple towing. As mentioned earlier, double towing requires a lot of experience and skill.

It is not recommended for motorhomes to jump directly into the double tow. After that, the only way to know exactly what you need to comply with the law is to research RV towing laws for each state you`re going to visit. Start your investigation by visiting the website of each transportation department in the state you`ll be traveling to. If you only have one towing vehicle in your family and want to take your boat, golf cart or ATV trailer with you, double towing makes a lot of sense. Another example would be an RV pulling a car (or “toad”), with the car pulling a trailer with a four-wheeled vehicle, jet skis, mopeds or other recreational toys. Is it considered a trailer if it has only one clutch or if it pulls three times if the last trailer is bolted to the fifth wheel chassis but has wheels to assist it? If you`re showing cattle and horses or taking your trailer on horseback adventures, double towing allows you to have your accommodation and keep your pets in one platform. It is important to note that regulations for double towing a fifth wheel can vary from state to state. And in the state of Georgia, it`s illegal for all drivers to use a cell phone without a Bluetooth device or text messages, even if they`re stopped at a traffic light.

The only legal place where a driver in Georgia can talk to a cell phone is if their vehicle is parked in a parking lot or in its driveway before starting the ride. Many of the powerful trucks needed to tow a semi-trailer still have enough power in reserve to withstand the rigors of double towing. Absolutely true! We all know drivers who have no idea how to drive a big platform or tow anything. There are courses for beginners, but unfortunately no one is obliged to take training. Too bad, it certainly wouldn`t be too difficult to afford $50 to take a course when you can afford the $$thousands to buy an RV. For example, let`s say your pickup truck has a maximum rated towing capacity of 30,000 pounds. Difficult to make the semi-annual change from SD to AZ with the 5 Series and UTV without triple towing. I think some of the states listed as “no” are looking elsewhere or maybe the data is not up to date. It`s best to look for it on each state`s website before embarking on a particular itinerary.

Reference FL, we worked there one winter in Pfannenstiel and I can`t tell you how many locals I saw pulling their rigs + boats on their way to the beach or to a favorite lake. Does not seem to be well applied when it is actually a reg. It is not only important to know your tow numbers, but also to know your length. Double towing significantly lengthens your overall length. This greatly affects braking distance and your ability to change lines while in traffic. Some states do not allow double or triple towing of any kind on their routes. These include: Today we give you an overview of double towing.