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SDcampowneroper's avatar
Jul 01, 2017

? No. Carolina Double towing. truck/ 35' 5er/ 12' mc trailer

Help please, confusion abounds whether combination towing is legal in N. C.
The state DOT & DMV websites dance around the subject as do the personnel in the N C DMV offices.
As near as I can ascertain from NC codified law, double towing up to 60' length is permitted on federal numbered highways.
Please, No. Carolinians, help me come visit your state with our whole 3 piece unit to Raliegh for the ARVC convention in Nov.

8 Replies

  • Double towing is legal in MD. That always surprised me because nothing else is legal in MD except taxes. :)
    The point being that you can't leave the state towing double as all the surrounding states prohibit it.
  • As far as I know, its always been illegal to double tow here for personal use. That being said, I see it done from time to time. Maybe once or twice a year, I'll see someone hauling just like what you're contemplating.

    This is the south. Most troopers won't mess with you unless you're doing something stupid or you happen to find that one trooper who feels like being a jerk that day. So it may be worth the risk. But if things go wrong, you're going to be in a bind with only one truck and two trailers.
  • http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/02/state-laws-can-pull-you-in-many-directions-if-you-double-tow.html

    Some states call it double towing, some call it triple towing, some just say "truck/trailer/trailer" in the laws.
    Some say the first trailer must be a fifth wheel hitch, some don't.
    Some say the second trailer (regardless of weight) must have brakes controlled by the driver, some don't.
    Such laws usually are not subject to Reciprocity Agreements. Just because you are legal where you live does not mean you are legal everywhere!
  • The answer is here: North Carolina General Statutes 20-115.1. Limitations on tandem trailers and semitrailers on certain North Carolina highways

    Try this link for 20-115-1. No matter what an employee tells you on the phone, this is what will be enforced. It is very specific about lengths, axles, kingpins.

    THIS IS North Carolina :) --- if you are hauling race cars or going to a race you get special rules.
  • Years back when I towed GN trailers (non rv) for a living I found the only sure way to find out information regarding vehicle size/weights/combinations/etc was to find a 1-800 number to a state troop hdqtrs.
    If the shift cmdr doesn't know he should have someone on duty who will know....or know how to find your answer.
  • It is not legal in NC nor anywhere on the east coast. Commercial haulers can do it with certain limitations as previously explained. I'm in VA and have looked into this a lot. In VA if you are stopped double towing you can not continue with both trailers, you must leave one sit on the side of the road or call someone else to come get it.
  • Sounds to me like you need to step up to a nice toy hauler with a 12-14' garage and only tow one and go anywhere.
  • I believe it is the same as here in Virginia. Here double towing is only allowed on interstate and designated highways by commercial haulers with both trailers limited to 28 feet 6 inches each. The combination is only allowed to travel a certain distance off the interstate or designated highway before one trailer has to be dropped off in order to continue on with the the other trailer. This originally came about when companies like Fed ex and ups started using the shorter double trailers.

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