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batavia02's avatar
batavia02
Explorer
Feb 28, 2023

Question about double towing

Question after upgrading house instead of buying the 5 th wheel we are now starting to think about a fifth wheel again apologizes if this has been asked before but what are the rules so to speak about towing a Jeep Wrangler behind the 5 th wheel ? I know it varies from state to state but would like some advice thanks
  • Also, how heavy is the jeep w/trailer and is the 5er hitch suitable. I know we had a hitch that came on a prior 5er and it was only rated for 3,000lb.
  • I live in VA. It's not legal here. This is not one of those things where "If you're good in your home state you're good everywhere." Double towing is not reciprocal. It can be fine in your home state but if you go to a state where it's not legal you can be stopped. In VA they will make you leave one trailer on the side of the road or call someone to come get it. You can not continue on with both of them.
    My family owned a trailer dealership: horse, stock, flatbed, dump, etc. trailers. They would often have guys delivering new ones from out of state. They would often pull 2 at a time. Sometimes they would make it all the way to the lot. Sometimes they would get stopped and they would call and ask them to bring the shop truck to pick up the other trailer.
    I would love to pull my boat behind a FW. I have specifically asked 3 DOT officers about this. All have said the same thing; it's illegal. I asked about commercial doubles since I already have a CDL. They said that if my truck, FW, and boat trailer were all registered as commercial vehicles and I have a double trailer endorsement on my CDL then I could but only on the routes available for commercial doubles. Even the commercial haulers like FedEx, UPS, etc can only pull doubles on designated routes; mostly interstates and major highways. So, even then the winding back roads to the lake and campgrounds would still be illegal.
  • BB_TX wrote:
    Definitely state to state regulations and limitations. And getting info in a consolidated and accurate report is difficult, if not impossible. You can find different charts and tables and they will not necessarily agree with each other. And even individual state web sites can be difficult to find the needed info. And not just double towing yes or no. Total legal lengths vary state to state.


    Also whether a commercial license is required or not. Just because it's "legal to double tow" doesn't mean just anyone can double tow.
  • Definitely state to state regulations and limitations. And getting info in a consolidated and accurate report is difficult, if not impossible. You can find different charts and tables and they will not necessarily agree with each other. And even individual state web sites can be difficult to find the needed info. And not just double towing yes or no. Total legal lengths vary state to state.
  • JIMNLIN wrote:
    As you say regulations varies between the states.
    Your state doesn't allow non commercial double towing so how are you planning on getting out of town.
    Yes. Time for a commercial license or a MH.

    I agree with compliance at least in the home state.
  • Just a map for reference, regarding double tow.

  • As you say regulations varies between the states.
    Your state doesn't allow non commercial double towing so how are you planning on getting out of town.
  • Well the "rules" are laws from state to state and I don't think they're reciprocal. My suggestion would be review the laws in any state you would be travelling in.