Who has been pulled over for double towing illegally???

Wadcutter wrote:

laknox wrote:

JnJnKatiebug wrote:

But, I do know this for a fact. My uncle lived in Phoenix, AZ and had a fifth wheel and a bass boat that he pulled all over the country and even into Mexico. He was stopped in AZ by a federal DOT officer and had to drop his boat, go drop his trailer and come back and get his boat. After doing some research he re-tagged his one ton truck as a commercial truck/tractor (he is a retired truck driver with a CDL and a doubles/triples endorsement). He was then stopped by the same officer at the same location again only this time the officer let him go and told him all was good.

Where was he pulled over? The =only= place a Fed could claim jurisdiction would be on a Rez. Even then, AZ law does allow doubles up to 75', with no endorsement and no commercial requirement, AFAIK. Besides length, there is a requirement that the first hitch =must= be a fifth wheel and the second a ball or pintle. IMO, the guy was just looking to hassle someone the first time.
Lyle

His story doesn't make any sense. Anyone who is familiar with fed DOT regs would know that story is BS. It takes more than just 're-tagging' a vehicle and then fall under commercial regs. At the very beginning of the DOT regs is the definition section which covers what vehicles are covered. Personally owned RVs are exempt by statute.
I enforced DOT regs for over 25 yrs, taught DOT and MCS law, and was recognized by the courts as an expert in DOT/MCS laws.

Doesn't mean that some bored pot-bellied Fed isn't just looking for any excuse to pull someone over to hassle. A-holes everywhere...

Lyle

laknox wrote:

JnJnKatiebug wrote:

But, I do know this for a fact. My uncle lived in Phoenix, AZ and had a fifth wheel and a bass boat that he pulled all over the country and even into Mexico. He was stopped in AZ by a federal DOT officer and had to drop his boat, go drop his trailer and come back and get his boat. After doing some research he re-tagged his one ton truck as a commercial truck/tractor (he is a retired truck driver with a CDL and a doubles/triples endorsement). He was then stopped by the same officer at the same location again only this time the officer let him go and told him all was good.

Where was he pulled over? The =only= place a Fed could claim jurisdiction would be on a Rez. Even then, AZ law does allow doubles up to 75', with no endorsement and no commercial requirement, AFAIK. Besides length, there is a requirement that the first hitch =must= be a fifth wheel and the second a ball or pintle. IMO, the guy was just looking to hassle someone the first time.
Lyle

His story doesn't make any sense. Anyone who is familiar with fed DOT regs would know that story is BS. It takes more than just 're-tagging' a vehicle and then fall under commercial regs. At the very beginning of the DOT regs is the definition section which covers what vehicles are covered. Personally owned RVs are exempt by statute.
I enforced DOT regs for over 25 yrs, taught DOT and MCS law, and was recognized by the courts as an expert in DOT/MCS laws.

JnJnKatiebug wrote:
We live in Arkansas and do it all the time. I pull my boat/kayak trailer behind my Jeep which is pulled with the MH. I have been told by the state troopers that it is OK. If you look at the federal regulation for double trailers, there is not an overall length limit. It only says that each trailer can be no longer than 28 1/2 foot. So I guess if you were pulling a trailer longer than that you would be in violation. But, this is federal law for commercial motor vehicles so who knows on an RV. I even see bumper hitch travel trailers pulling small boats and golf carts in trailers. I have never seen or heard of anyone getting stopped around here. We were in Branson, MO and there were over 20 rigs at the WalMart, all fifth wheels pulling big bass boats there for a tournament.

But, I do know this for a fact. My uncle lived in Phoenix, AZ and had a fifth wheel and a bass boat that he pulled all over the country and even into Mexico. He was stopped in AZ by a federal DOT officer and had to drop his boat, go drop his trailer and come back and get his boat. After doing some research he re-tagged his one ton truck as a commercial truck/tractor (he is a retired truck driver with a CDL and a doubles/triples endorsement). He was then stopped by the same officer at the same location again only this time the officer let him go and told him all was good.

So my answer would be to give it try but be prepared to get stopped. If it is illegal then everyone else doing it does not make it right.

Where was he pulled over? The =only= place a Fed could claim jurisdiction would be on a Rez. Even then, AZ law does allow doubles up to 75', with no endorsement and no commercial requirement, AFAIK. Besides length, there is a requirement that the first hitch =must= be a fifth wheel and the second a ball or pintle. IMO, the guy was just looking to hassle someone the first time.

Lyle

Ezbagr wrote:
I live in Illinois and it is against the law to double tow but I see people doing it all the time.

Are you sure about Illinois? In the Good Sam book it states that it is legal with a 5th wheel and 60' length. Just curious. Opps, Wadcutter beat me with an answer!
I have double towed in the west for 17 years and have never been pulled over. I do avoid the coastal states though.

Ezbagr wrote:
I live in Illinois and it is against the law to double tow but I see people doing it all the time.

First - Maybe the reason you see people doing it all the time is because double towing is not against the law in IL. It's been legal here for quite a few years.
Second - I spent 42+ yrs in LE including 27 yrs at the state level. Illegal combination is a commonly written cite. The usual violation is over length and illegal 2nd trailer such as pulling a 2nd car/Jeep behind a 5er.

It's illegal here but my FIL pulled them from Wa. to Fl. and around the country without being stopped.

I pulled my jetski's behind my 5'er from Ohio to FL. We pulled through several states and no one gave us a second look until we were LEAVING FL and got pulled over. We were over length but got off with a warning - thank goodness! That fine was gonna be around $1,500!!!

We live in Arkansas and do it all the time. I pull my boat/kayak trailer behind my Jeep which is pulled with the MH. I have been told by the state troopers that it is OK. If you look at the federal regulation for double trailers, there is not an overall length limit. It only says that each trailer can be no longer than 28 1/2 foot. So I guess if you were pulling a trailer longer than that you would be in violation. But, this is federal law for commercial motor vehicles so who knows on an RV. I even see bumper hitch travel trailers pulling small boats and golf carts in trailers. I have never seen or heard of anyone getting stopped around here. We were in Branson, MO and there were over 20 rigs at the WalMart, all fifth wheels pulling big bass boats there for a tournament.

But, I do know this for a fact. My uncle lived in Phoenix, AZ and had a fifth wheel and a bass boat that he pulled all over the country and even into Mexico. He was stopped in AZ by a federal DOT officer and had to drop his boat, go drop his trailer and come back and get his boat. After doing some research he re-tagged his one ton truck as a commercial truck/tractor (he is a retired truck driver with a CDL and a doubles/triples endorsement). He was then stopped by the same officer at the same location again only this time the officer let him go and told him all was good.

So my answer would be to give it try but be prepared to get stopped. If it is illegal then everyone else doing it does not make it right.

I have pulled a boat behind my fifth wheel here in Texas with no problems .

fj12ryder wrote:
Have you see it yourself, or just assuming that is what the single trailer means?

There is an underpass near us where they set up RV stings. Looking for towing without batteries, double tow, overweight campers etc. I have seen drivers told to unhook the second trailer and tow trucks dispatched to get them. Usually they get them at a location closer to the border though. We still seem them drive by though so some get through.

Hope this helps.