Pulling car behind 5er

mowermech, after some thought on the matter I agree, because the rear bumper on my 5th wheel is not really a bumper, rather it is a tube for storing a sewer hose. It is very thin and I would not feel safe attaching a hitch to it. I was planning on attaching a cargo carrier to it but changed my mind.

That said, I have seen people who double hitch a 5th wheel, towing a small boat behind their trailer, but I’m sure it was not done with a bumper mounted hitch, rather they used a frame mounted hitch; which in my opinion is also dangerous.

I do have my 5th wheel spare tire mounted on the rear bumper-like storage tube, and have had no problems with it as yet. It came from the dealer that way with the spare tire mount attached to the rear bumper tube.

I don't know anybody who tows from the rear bumper on anything. Everybody I know who tows, whether single or double, uses a frame mounted receiver hitch, even those who have heavy bumpers on their pickups.
A camp trailer, travel trailer, or fifth wheel bumper is barely strong enough to carry the sewer hose. A trailer hitch should never be installed on one, IMO.

I think in California the double tow can not exceed 70-ft. I’ve seen a few people towing a boat behind their 5th wheel. One I met was a retired fireman who used to drive in the far rear seat of a hook ‘n ladder type fire truck; he was the one that told me it was 70’.

Besides the weight capacity of the rear bumper, which I have been searching without success to find out what mine is, towing anything on the rear bumper, or even having a bike rack or cargo carrier on the rear bumper, subtracts from the available towing capacity of the TV and adds to the GVWR of the five’r. In short it is easy to go over that GVWR or TV towing capacity when towing from the rear of a 5th wheel.

If anyone knows how to find the weight rating of a 5th wheel bumper I would appreciate your letting me know. I was going to put a bumper mounted hitch on the rear of my 5th wheel to accommodate a cargo carrier. I have a 2012 Heartland Prowler Sport 5th wheel and I was talking about this on the Heartland Owners website an a moderator posted this in reply to my inquiry:

“Thank you for your post. Lippert will not give us ratings for the rear bumper. The only parameters they tell us is that: "if you tow from rear bumper, this could void the frame warranty". This is the same for all frame manufacturers, as Lippert supplies most of the industry with frames. In this case, common sense will prevail. Please bear in mind that any weight added to the bumper will reduce hitch weight. You want hitch weight!

Hope this helps.
Bryan Walczak
General Manager - Heartland RV

I don't double tow with my 5er but I do pull a 6x12 trailer behind my Sundowner for my golf cart when going to horse shows if camping area is very far from the barns and show area.

I can go from MT to ID or WY with a double RV tow, but I can not go from ID to WA or OR.
I'm not sure about ND or SD ( I very seldom go there).
But then, I don't double tow. I was going to once, but I was advised by a CHP in Arroyo Grande (or was it Oceano? whatever) that I would have to have a Class A CDL with doubles Endorsement, so we made other arrangements. Later, I was told that no CHP officer would have/could have told me that, so I must have been dreaming or it was my imagination, or I was a liar, it could not have happened the way I remember it.
At this time, it really doesn't matter, and I really don't care.

mowermech wrote:
"resend" or "rescind"?
There IS a difference!
Do you have a reference for that mandate or regulation?

No double dog in the fight.... but ain't this fun!..:C

Not sure if I should resend my previous post (in re: reciprocity) or rescind the statement therein, LOL!

Legal eagles (slow or fast) unite!..

So....... let's try this:

A tractor towing a set of doubles in (say) Wyoming might not be legal to enter Montana? (or pick any two states)..:h

Even CA allows a double (RV) tow if the TV & DL requirements are met.

~

"resend" or "rescind"?
There IS a difference!
Do you have a reference for that mandate or regulation?

mowermech wrote:
"Reciprocity (altho legally that's not the correct term)"
Maybe not, but here it is in Montana LAW:

Many states have codified reciprocity. IL does too. However, many years ago the federal govt, under the commerce clause, mandated all states are required to honor the registration and driver's licenses of the other states. At this point it doesn't matter what the state has on their books, it's federally mandated. That is not reciprocity but a federal mandate. MT could resend their statute or say they are no longer going to honor other states' registration and DL. Wouldn't matter because it's already federally mandated.

They may be referring to agreements made strictly within the state of Montana.

"Reciprocity (altho legally that's not the correct term)"

Maybe not, but here it is in Montana LAW:
Montana Code - Section 61-3-715: BASE STATE REGISTRATION RECIPROCITY - See more at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/mtcode/61/3/7/61-3-715#sthash.2jSc8wsY.dpuf

Here is the actual MCA:
"61-3-715. Base state registration reciprocity. An agreement or arrangement entered into or a declaration issued under the authority of 61-3-711 through 61-3-733 may contain provisions authorizing the registration or licensing in another jurisdiction of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers located in or operated from a base in the other jurisdiction for motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers that would be required to be registered or licensed in this state. The exemptions, benefits, and privileges extended by the agreement, arrangement, or declaration apply to motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers when properly licensed or registered in the base jurisdiction."

That is only one of many references in MCA to "reciprocity" agreements.