Towing small utility trailer behind 5ver
Can someone provide a link for what state's this is legal in? I've searched and can't seem to find reliable info. Alabama specifically.
Forum Discussion
- On the Prowl -
A few years ago, I wanted to put a rack on the back of my 5er - and have a wheel that touched the ground (in CA). After reading the CA Dept. Of Transportation guidelines, and asking my local police, I was directed to the governing enforcement body - which was the California Highway Patrol.
For Alabama, you need to find out which enforcment body is responsible for understanding the way the laws are written and enforce it on behalf of the state.
What I found was the DMV was wrong, the local Police Dept, would ignore it, but the CHP understood it and were able to explain it in English from an enforcement perspective - I towed a "swivelwheel" type trailer for a few years and never checked with the DMV where I was going. I figured if I got stopped, I would be inconvenienced for a while, but no serious harm was going to be done. And backing up was never an issue.
FWIW I was never stopped, and I traveled through, and stopped in, several states that don't allow double towing. YMMV. Dick_B wrote:
Good luck trying to back up!
Why is that the first thing people go to?
Motorhomes towing cars 4-down and on dollies can't back-up. That's a vast majority of MH owners.
Why isn't every motorhome thread littered with "Good luck trying to back up!"?- Clear as mud is correct. When I double towed I spent time asking the CHP, the CA DMV, and my local law enforcement and got three different answers. I have also contacted a local traffic accident attorney and my insurance and got two more different answers.
Because of what I wanted to take with me I decided to tow doubles and had many, many, many incident free miles and it allowed me to enjoy camping and OHV at the same time. Over buy/build your hitches, good braking on all trailers, and good lights on both trailers. I did find myself traveling a bit slower, being picky over stops (this went away the more I towed), and I tended to preplan a lot more than I do now. - Thanks for the replies everybody. Clear as mud, lol. Guess I'll call the Alabama DMV and see what they say.
- ^^^^^^^^^This, the only semi-reliable information you can get is from the DMV in the particular state you plan to visit. And I consider that only "semi-reliable" after many interactions with various DMV's.
- I've tandem towed for years. I have yet to find a on-line resource that was accurate for states laws.
- Good luck trying to back up!
- In addition to the legality of double tows or not, there is another "law" on the books for every state regarding the total length of your RV rig.
Click here.
Alabama:
Total length: 57 feet; trailer length: 28 feet 6 inches; motor home length: 45 feet; width: 8 feet 6 inches (excluding mirrors and safety equipment, and appurtenances up to 6 inches attached to a motor home, travel trailer, self-propelled camper or house car, truck camper, or RV); height: 13 feet 6 inches.
Although it is quite common to see RV rigs longer than your state requirements, as a resident of your state, you need to be in compliance with your state of registration.
