Towing two trailer at one time
I've always been amazed by the people who tow a RV and their boat at the same time, but I'm curious if it changes how you drive? Can you back-up both trailers at the same time in a normal fashion or ...
Forum Discussion
I do have a Class A CDL with double/triple trailer endorsement.
To answer your questions, your turns going forward really won't be affected much.
Backing up CAN be done, even around corners not just straight - if you have a lot of practice. Usually the only people with enough practice to pull it off are guys who do it every day for a living.
As a casual RVer I'd say plan on not backing up.
If you do want to learn to back it up, my "trick" is to mentally put myself in the first trailer behind the truck. That is the vehicle backing up the second trailer. In my mind, that's where I am.
If you're good enough at backing a single trailer, you can sort of forget the truck and just instinctively use it to put the first trailer where you want it.
You do need to be able to see the second trailer. If it isn't wide enough, you can mount some little poles as sight-points.
The real advanced trick (that I have done many times) for backing up when the last trailer isn't as wide as the first (and can't be seen when straight) is to slalom left and right as you back up. That lets you keep catching a glimpse of the last one on each swing.
I learned that by watching an old WWII movie. In WWII, there were single-seat fighter planes with huge engines in front, and the planes were tail-draggers. When they were on the runway taxi-ing, all the pilot could see ahead of him was the forward cowl and sky. They did the same trick, they slalomed left and right so they could look out their side windows and see forward on each swing. Watch for that next time you see footage of something like a P-51 Mustang on the ground.
Don't count on doing that with your trailers unless you have a few free years to practice!
To answer your questions, your turns going forward really won't be affected much.
Backing up CAN be done, even around corners not just straight - if you have a lot of practice. Usually the only people with enough practice to pull it off are guys who do it every day for a living.
As a casual RVer I'd say plan on not backing up.
If you do want to learn to back it up, my "trick" is to mentally put myself in the first trailer behind the truck. That is the vehicle backing up the second trailer. In my mind, that's where I am.
If you're good enough at backing a single trailer, you can sort of forget the truck and just instinctively use it to put the first trailer where you want it.
You do need to be able to see the second trailer. If it isn't wide enough, you can mount some little poles as sight-points.
The real advanced trick (that I have done many times) for backing up when the last trailer isn't as wide as the first (and can't be seen when straight) is to slalom left and right as you back up. That lets you keep catching a glimpse of the last one on each swing.
I learned that by watching an old WWII movie. In WWII, there were single-seat fighter planes with huge engines in front, and the planes were tail-draggers. When they were on the runway taxi-ing, all the pilot could see ahead of him was the forward cowl and sky. They did the same trick, they slalomed left and right so they could look out their side windows and see forward on each swing. Watch for that next time you see footage of something like a P-51 Mustang on the ground.
Don't count on doing that with your trailers unless you have a few free years to practice!
