Double Haul rules in CA?

DERSEQUIM wrote:
About 11 years ago a friend of mine, CDL with Endorsement, and his Buddy, with same CDL etc, went to CA to Pit Crew with another buddy on the NASCAR truck events.
Rod was pulling his Jayco 5'er and his friends Boat! The friend was pulling his 5'er and an enclosed trailer with all the Pit Crew tools!
They were stopped just south of Redding and the Chip asked to see their Licenses. He told Rod to go ahead, but cited his Buddy, because he wasn't towing a BOAT! He then had the Tool Trailer Impounded!
The Race Driver had to go and retrieve the trailer because the Registration was in his name.

You can't always go by what a beat cop (CHP) says, they don't always have a good grip on COMMERCIAL class A laws. Talk to a Commercial Enforcement officer for better information.

I have had a California Class A CDL for over 35 years and racked up over 3 million miles driving professionally in California as well as a few other states. In no way is it legal to double tow without a CDL WITH a doubles/triples endorsement. One must also have a current medical card and must renew the medical card every 2 years unless you have a medical condition that would require you to renew each year. California does NOT put endorsements on NON-Commercial class A licenses, therefore you MUST have a COMMERCIAL CLASS A license (CDL) to pull ANY double trailers AT ALL!

Unless you are driving for compensation either as an independent or as and employee there is no need to maintain a log book.

Steve

In California you are allowed 1 10k or less trailer (any type) on a class c.
there is a RV endorsement for the class c to allow a RV 5th wheel up to 15k.
Any trailer over 15k requires a class A, any non rv 5th wheel over 10k requires a class A. All doubles require commercial class A + doubles endorsement. The RV endorsement is not needed with the class A.

Us out West wrote:

LLeopold wrote:
Only with a truck/fifth-wheel combination, one *can* tow one additional trailer (e.g. boat trailer) in California with a noncommercial Class A, B, or C license. The overall length (front bumper to tail of combination) cannot exceed 65' and in some locations 60' where posted.

The double-tow reference in the manual refers to RVs such as Class A or C (or SUV, car, etc.) towing a boat, then something else; i.e. all ball hitches as opposed to king pin hitch then ball hitch thereafter.

I checked into this when I went for my Restriction 42 endorsement at the DMV a few years ago.

Hope this helps.

It should help Lou.

Best post in this thread.

X2.
Potential double-towers need to check the actual laws, not a guidebook (the one everyone is quoting that says a commercial license is required). This same guidebook says a 15000 lb max fithwheel hitch is the max allowed. Makes one think the guidebook was issued back in the early 70's.

It may also be of interest to residents of other states, to know that it doesn't matter whether your class C or equivalent license allows you to double tow in your own state. You still cannot double in CA without the CDL + endorsement.

bpounds wrote:

FastEagle wrote:
I have a copy of USA & CDN state and province towing laws. Here is what it has to say about CA.

California

Max Vehicle Height: 14'
Max Vehicle Width: 8 1/2'
Combined Length: 65'
Max Trailer Length: Not Specified.
Max Trailer Width: 8'6"
Max Trailer Height: 14'0"
Motor Home Length: 45'. Some exceptions or restrictions.
Two Vehicle Max Length: 65'
Triple Tow Allowed: Yes Total maximum combined length of 65 ft.
Safety Chains Required: Yes
Breakaway Required: Yes
Fire Extinguisher: Yes
Flares & Signs: Yes
Trailer Brakes Required: 1500 Gross weight requiring brakes.
Towed Cars: Brakes must be sufficient to stop within a specified distance according to weight, at 20 mph.
Wipers: Not Stated
Max Tow Speed: 55
Ride in 5th Wheel: Yes Riding in fifth-wheel with audible or visual device with tow vehicle and safety glass. At least one exit that can be opened from outside and inside
Ride Pickup Camper: Yes. If passenger can communicate with driver, and exit can be opened from both interior and exterior. CA: Seat belts required.
Ride Travel Trailer: Not Specified.
Weight Limits for Towing without Auxiliary Brakes: 1500lbs.
Maximum Length - RV & Trailer Combo: 65ft.Includes Bumpers. In California, required safety devices may not extend more than 10"

FastEagle

Good example showing how useless these online guides can be.

If the triple two answer had included, "with proper license", it would be correct.

FastEagle wrote:
I have a copy of USA & CDN state and province towing laws. Here is what it has to say about CA.

California

Max Vehicle Height: 14'
Max Vehicle Width: 8 1/2'
Combined Length: 65'
Max Trailer Length: Not Specified.
Max Trailer Width: 8'6"
Max Trailer Height: 14'0"
Motor Home Length: 45'. Some exceptions or restrictions.
Two Vehicle Max Length: 65'
Triple Tow Allowed: Yes Total maximum combined length of 65 ft.
Safety Chains Required: Yes
Breakaway Required: Yes
Fire Extinguisher: Yes
Flares & Signs: Yes
Trailer Brakes Required: 1500 Gross weight requiring brakes.
Towed Cars: Brakes must be sufficient to stop within a specified distance according to weight, at 20 mph.
Wipers: Not Stated
Max Tow Speed: 55
Ride in 5th Wheel: Yes Riding in fifth-wheel with audible or visual device with tow vehicle and safety glass. At least one exit that can be opened from outside and inside
Ride Pickup Camper: Yes. If passenger can communicate with driver, and exit can be opened from both interior and exterior. CA: Seat belts required.
Ride Travel Trailer: Not Specified.
Weight Limits for Towing without Auxiliary Brakes: 1500lbs.
Maximum Length - RV & Trailer Combo: 65ft.Includes Bumpers. In California, required safety devices may not extend more than 10"

FastEagle

Good example showing how useless these online guides can be.

DERSEQUIM wrote:
About 11 years ago a friend of mine, CDL with Endorsement, and his Buddy, with same CDL etc, went to CA to Pit Crew with another buddy on the NASCAR truck events.
Rod was pulling his Jayco 5'er and his friends Boat! The friend was pulling his 5'er and an enclosed trailer with all the Pit Crew tools!
They were stopped just south of Redding and the Chip asked to see their Licenses. He told Rod to go ahead, but cited his Buddy, because he wasn't towing a BOAT! He then had the Tool Trailer Impounded!
The Race Driver had to go and retrieve the trailer because the Registration was in his name.

Having a class A (with endorsements) and also having many law enforcement highway patrol buddies, its always surprising to see how little an officer knows. :h At least my friends admit that too.

Regarding this situation, there's nothing which states that you can only tow a boat in doubles. Matter of fact, not to throw fuel on the fire but there is also nothing specific in the CA road laws which states only towing doubles with a 5th wheel as the lead hitch. Which means, as strange as it sounds, yes, you can tow double bumper pull hitches in CA.....as long as you have a class A w/endorsement, and you're under weight and length requirements.

About 11 years ago a friend of mine, CDL with Endorsement, and his Buddy, with same CDL etc, went to CA to Pit Crew with another buddy on the NASCAR truck events.
Rod was pulling his Jayco 5'er and his friends Boat! The friend was pulling his 5'er and an enclosed trailer with all the Pit Crew tools!
They were stopped just south of Redding and the Chip asked to see their Licenses. He told Rod to go ahead, but cited his Buddy, because he wasn't towing a BOAT! He then had the Tool Trailer Impounded!
The Race Driver had to go and retrieve the trailer because the Registration was in his name.

elkhorn98 wrote:

IAMICHABOD wrote:

christopherglenn wrote:
A CDL IS required - only because a non commercial class A can't have a doubles endorsement. The doubles endorsement IS what is actually required.

We have a winner

That is how I read it too. People wish it wasn't so but you need a doubles endorsement. But was it legal in the past with a non commercial license?

Not that I know of, the non commercial A license is fairly new, I started doing this in the early 90's with the CDL and the doubles endorsement. Believe me almost every time I headed out I got to talk to a CHP officer, but after he or she looked at my CDL with all of the endorsements and my medical card in a few instances I was set free and told to be careful.

Ether way you will be looked at very carefully by the CHP, they don't see much of that in California.

IAMICHABOD wrote:

christopherglenn wrote:
A CDL IS required - only because a non commercial class A can't have a doubles endorsement. The doubles endorsement IS what is actually required.

We have a winner

That is how I read it too. People wish it wasn't so but you need a doubles endorsement. But was it legal in the past with a non commercial license?