Pulling A Train

Following is from what Minnesota DOT has to say. Also note that it is challenging to find a fifth with a hitch that will allow you to tow more than 3,000lbs. Can be done, but you are getting into custom modifications. So if the pontoon is heavier.....
I'll note that I thought about it with my 17.5' fishing boat, but a) the combined weight exceeds my towing capacity, b) the boat exceeds the hitch rating both in total weight, and tongue weight, and c) I'm pushing the length limit. Hence, it will never happen, although I'd love to take the boat with when going camping "up north to the lake". Consider instead a BIG truck, with a big bed camper. Probably the most practical solution to the "camping and boating" problem.

Recreational vehicle (RV): Minnesota allows an RV three-vehicle combination only if all of the following conditions are met:
? Only a “fifth-wheel” coupling is allowed between the pickup truck and the middle vehicle.
? The second trailer may only haul watercraft, a motorcycle, a motorized bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, motorized golf cart or equestrian equipment or supplies.
? The total combination of vehicles does not exceed 70 feet.
? The towing rating of the pickup truck is equal to or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed.
? The trailer hitch assemblies, as well as the pickup truck hitch assembly, must
conform to MN Statute M.S. 169.82.
? The driver is at least 18 years of age.
? No travel within the Twin Cities Metro area during weekday rush hour times

I remember years back there was a TT for sale that had boat trailer bunks built in the floor of it and you could just drive/pull a boat in, similar to a toy hauler.
bumpy

discovery4us wrote:
Out at our local little ski lake it is not uncommon to see a 40' TH FW pull up, let the back door down and roll out a ski / wake board boat. Most of the boat trailers appear to be narrowed and the boats seem to sit a little taller on the trailers. The boat trailers have a heavier front wheel and most use a winch to put them in and out of the FW but I did see one that had a little battery operated trailer mover. It is definitely a tight squeeze but allows them to bring their boat and FW.

I would be interested to see that. I don't think I know of a ski/wake boat that would fit in a 5er - the ones I am aware of are all too long/wide/tall.

Out at our local little ski lake it is not uncommon to see a 40' TH FW pull up, let the back door down and roll out a ski / wake board boat. Most of the boat trailers appear to be narrowed and the boats seem to sit a little taller on the trailers. The boat trailers have a heavier front wheel and most use a winch to put them in and out of the FW but I did see one that had a little battery operated trailer mover. It is definitely a tight squeeze but allows them to bring their boat and FW.

mowermech wrote:
...
These types of towing laws do not normally are not covered by any Reciprocity Agreements. You must comply with the laws of the state where you are operating, regardless of your home state laws.

I think that this is the "killer" for triple/double towing. if you want to just stay local, might not be an issue. but if you are going across country, might have to leave one unit at the border. do you really want to leave your expensive boat or trailer alongside the road??
bumpy

I wouldn't put faith in any on line resource of towing laws. I have yet to see one that is accurate.

I have never heard 1st hand experience of someone being pulled over and ticketed for over length. Can it happen? Sure. But I would look at it as a calculated risk.

My old truck/5er/boat was 73' long. Colorado law is 70'. I towed through many states that were 60' or 65'. I never measured with my new truck, but I probably gained 3' with the true crew cab plus long bed, plus the new pin box I installed.

2gypsies wrote:
Here are Alabama's towing laws:

http://towingworld.com/towinglawsbystate.cfm?state2=AL

I don't know about the laws in Alabama, but that list is wrong on so many parts of Montana law that I would not put any trust in it for ANY state!

I will avoid the double/triple tow issue, and speak only to truck/trailer/trailer laws in Montana.
The maximum length here is 75 feet bumper to bumper for such a combination of vehicles (MCA 61-10-104) HOWEVER, para. (2)(a) says "Truck tractor-semitrailer, truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer, and truck tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combinations are not subject to a combination length limit." I suppose, if one took that to apply to RV truck/trailer/trailer combinations, there is no length limit!
Since I see ball hitch trailer/trailer combos quite frequently, and I have never heard of anybody getting a ticket for it, it must be legal. Apparently the first trailer does not have to be a fifth wheel here.
These types of towing laws do not normally are not covered by any Reciprocity Agreesments. You must comply with the laws of the state where you are operating, regardless of your home state laws.

It's ironic that the best info I get is also the most disappointing.

I checked on this link: towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm.
After looking at the states I will be passing through, most states had a max length of a triple tow (also called double tow) of 65'.

Here is what I came up with:
34' 5th wheel minus 5' overhang gives a road length of 29'
PU Truck with crew cab approximately 20'
That gives me a sub-total of 49'.
The length of the hitch for a boat trailer = 5'
My new subtotal for total length of train is now 54'
Subtracting the 54' total from the max allowable 65' total length gives me a maximum boat length of 11'.
Not much of a boat is it? And we dont want a jet ski - at least for now.

So, here is where we are at:
We don't want a MotorHome
We don't want a pull-along type camper.
What we do want is a 5th wheel - no debate there.

What about the boat?
My first boat was an inflatable around 1967 or 1968. I had a great time with it. I lived in Brooklyn, NY. I carried it and the motor up the stairs to my second floor apt. - one at a time. The boat and O/B went in the closet and on weekends it fit in the trunk of my 1965 Impala.
When I graduated to real boats, I always had a dinghy and they were always inflatable. That includes my new 11' Azzurri inflatable.
Soooooo..... I guess I'm still ok with an inflatable. Since I wont be limited to the dinghy length (hanging off davits across the stern of boat) because I will no longer own the cruiser, I can go up to about a 16 to 20' inflatable with proper size O/B.

This will also keep the admiral happy because we can now get a slightly larger 5th wheel.
If the inflatable ( deflated) and the O/B wont fit in PU bed, I can always get a small trailer at Lowes that will be under 11'.

I want to thank everyone here for their help in resolving my situation. Even though I didn't necessarily like the outcome, everything is still do-able.

This is really starting to get exciting

Now, to start a new thread with new questions.

My in laws pull a pontoon behind their 5er (it is a little one at 16'). I am not sure that the side of a pontoon on a trailer is significantly less aerodynamic than a sterndrive. And what you give up in aerodynamics, you will gain in lower weight.

Tony B wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
I personally would not like to use a pontoon boat under these conditions. something more aerodynamic, etc. would be preferable IMHO.
bumpy

I was kinda leaning that way. I originally wanted a pontoon for the practicality. I guess the practicality of the pontoon as a boat does not have the same practicality as a towed vehicle.

Thanks Bumpy

for practicality I bought a deck boat. boat hull, pontoon boat type deck area. can plane instead of a displacement hull.
bumpy