Pulling a Car behind 38fk Columbus 5’er

Too many issues legal and functional. It would make more sense to have DW follow you in the car.

shovelhead86 wrote:

thix81 wrote:
I have a 2013 Fiat Abarth that I am looking to pull behind my 38 foot Columbus 5th wheel. I have a few questions on which way to pull it.

- two wheel tow dolly?

-tow bar?

Thoughts?

Thanks

Total length is what you are legal in your home state. Mn is 75' but many are much less. Research tho issue before doing anything.

This is 100% incorrect. Length in other states has nothing to do with what is legal in your home state. Length is a state by state issue. Each state sets the maximum length for a combination of vehicles that they will allow on their roads and you must abide by those laws in each of those states. You may be under the legal length in one state and then as soon as you cross the border you could be over the legal length in the next state. There is nothing reciprocal about length between states.

Each state also sets its own rules on doubles and triples for towing. Some states allow it and others don’t. Again you may be legal to double tow in one state and then as soon as you cross the border you may be illegal in the next state.

The only thing reciprocal between states is drivers licenses and registration. If you are legally registered and licensed in your home state, then you are legally registered and licensed in all states. This comes into play when your state says you can drive a 40000 lb RV on a standard driver license, but state B says you need a higher class driver license to drive that same RV. State B cannot cite you for driving out of class because you are driving with the correct class license for where you are licensed and registered.

Hopefully this helps someone.

thix81 wrote:
I have a 2013 Fiat Abarth that I am looking to pull behind my 38 foot Columbus 5th wheel. I have a few questions on which way to pull it.

- two wheel tow dolly?

-tow bar?

Thoughts?

Thanks

I would prefer the tow dolly. I tow a enclosed trailer with my Harley in it behind my Montana. i have built a sturdy hitch for doing so. it is illegal to double tow in Ga., Fl, Alabama, and all east coast states. The West coast is out too. Total length is what you are legal in your home state. Mn is 75' but many are much less. Research tho issue before doing anything.

AGREED! I am a non certified "weekend welder" that owns a Miller 251 wire feed. I can easily tell by LOOKING if I have a good weld with good penetration.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Charles2222 wrote:
You don't look at welds,you test welds!(for the ones saying to look at welds)

You gonna X-ray them?

LOL...no one.
A experienced weldor can look at welds on a trailer and tell us if its krapz or good stuff.
Were not talking aircraft welding or high strength off road 300 ton dump truck frames or pipe line welding.
I have a area big rig trailer repair shop add custom fabricated hitches to all my trailers that will be used towing doubles.

We see lots of trucks/5th wheel trailers pulling a heavy 4wd vehicle such as the full size Ford Bronco...even custom 4wd 'burbs with big tires.....headed for CO/NM mountains

As we see on occasion a member reports he was stopped for towing doubles in a state that didn't allow it. The member had to drop the second trailer before being allowed to continue their trip.

Charles2222 wrote:
You don't look at welds,you test welds!(for the ones saying to look at welds)

You gonna X-ray them?

You don't look at welds,you test welds!(for the ones saying to look at welds)

thix81 wrote:
I have a 2013 Fiat Abarth that I am looking to pull behind my 38 foot Columbus 5th wheel. I have a few questions on which way to pull it.

- two wheel tow dolly?

-tow bar?

Thoughts?

Thanks

Illegal in FL

Check the laws in the states where you intend to tow. What's allowed in your home state does not matter once you leave your home state. You have to be legal in the state you are traveling. If you do your own research on state laws do not read what applies to commercial vehicles and stop there. Those laws won't apply. Laws governing RVs will be different than commercial vehicles.
You didn't indicate where you wanted to tow your combination but I can give you what IL says if you intend to travel thru here. Your combination would not be legal. IL does not allow towing of a car behind a 5th wheel. The only things that can be towed behind 5th wheels are boats, personal water crafts, ATV, or motorcycle. Also your total overall length can be 60 ft.
625 ILCS 5/15-107(c)(5)
In IL that would be a minimum of 2 citations - 1 for illegal combination and the other citation for over length. Any other violations or problems found could be additional citations. 2 or more citations are a mandatory court appearance. That means mandatory appearance in court sometime in the next 30-45 days. Not an attorney, the violator must appear. Fail to appear can result in 2 problems. 1 is a warrant for the violator's arrest. 2nd is the suspension of the violator's driver's license in IL and the person's home state. Legal problems can pile up pretty quick and severe.
No one wants their vacation ruined by having to pay tickets and having to figure out how they're going to move all the vehicles once they've had to unhook to make their combination legal.

FIRST:

get a non comercial class A dl with doubles endorsement.

get a full trailer to tow the car on. ( a thing with brakes deal).
sure can set up a towed with a gismo to apply them but best to be a stock factory set up.
and safer than just dragging a car behind.
also not all tranis like to be in a towed state. they can burn up.