Tow/tow

DutchmenSport wrote:

timmac wrote:

taken wrote:
You could instead use a swivel wheel trailer. The wheels swivel instead of the hitch being the pivot point. Due to it's solid connection to the back of the RV, it's not considered a double tow.

There are more out there but here are a couple of brands to give you an idea.

Swivel Wheel

Idaho Tote

If towing doubles I would use one of these trailers, seems like a better and safer way to do it.

In Indiana its double row. If it has a wheel and it touches the ground it has to be titled, license plates, and have working tail lights. In Indiana it's a trailer. How its hitched is irrelevant. Wheel touching the ground, it's a trailer.

Yes I am aware its still towing doubles but with the swivel trailer its easier to back up and no worry about swaying 2nd trailer, just seems like a better safer way than towing double, that's why I had a open stacker trailer built to carry my Jeep and boat.

timmac wrote:

taken wrote:
You could instead use a swivel wheel trailer. The wheels swivel instead of the hitch being the pivot point. Due to it's solid connection to the back of the RV, it's not considered a double tow.

There are more out there but here are a couple of brands to give you an idea.

Swivel Wheel

Idaho Tote

If towing doubles I would use one of these trailers, seems like a better and safer way to do it.

In Indiana its double row. If it has a wheel and it touches the ground it has to be titled, license plates, and have working tail lights. In Indiana it's a trailer. How its hitched is irrelevant. Wheel touching the ground, it's a trailer.

taken wrote:
You could instead use a swivel wheel trailer. The wheels swivel instead of the hitch being the pivot point. Due to it's solid connection to the back of the RV, it's not considered a double tow.

There are more out there but here are a couple of brands to give you an idea.

Swivel Wheel

Idaho Tote

If towing doubles I would use one of these trailers, seems like a better and safer way to do it.

I tow an 8x14 enclosed motorcycle trailer behind my 36 foot 5th wheel and believe the 5ver tows nicer double than on its own. I can see the need to have laws around double towing such as being required to pass a driving test where you demonstrate that you are capable of backing up a double trailer set up and or being required to have your set up pass an inspection ensuring adequate braking but to totaly ban double towing in a state seems wrong to me.

My point was that your post stated that a swivel wheel trailer isn't considered a double tow. I was pointing out that to make such a sweeping statement might not be the wisest course since it is in fact not necessarily so.

Having a list of states that allow double towing would be wonderful, but since I don't double tow any more I have no real reason to. I would not trust the listings I've seen because they are frequently out of date. According to the DMV's I've asked about swivel wheel trailers, admittedly a very small number, they are considered to be a trailer, not a load bearing part of the original trailer.

The "you" I was referring to in my post was the OP. I have edited the post to make the reference clearer.

I live to be disingenuous Howard. That's the only reason I post and have never tried to hide that fact. Wait, I wonder if that last statement was disingenuous? Uh oh....

Perhaps a better reply would be to post which states are those that don't allow swivel wheel decks and if that rule is enforced in the states that don't allow them. Or perhaps just say, good idea! I run one myself and these are the limitations.

To say that the swivel wheel trailer isn't considered a double tow is disingenuous. Several of the swivel wheel trailer builders will tell you right up front that they may be considered trailers in some states.

It behooves the OP to do his own due diligence about the legality in the states to which he would be traveling.

I know because I pulled a swivel wheel type trailer behind our 5th wheel for a few years.

You could instead use a swivel wheel trailer. The wheels swivel instead of the hitch being the pivot point. Due to it's solid connection to the back of the RV, it's not considered a double tow.

There are more out there but here are a couple of brands to give you an idea.

Swivel Wheel

Idaho Tote

Thanks to all for the good advice. The rules are clear for us truckers, but not as clear for us rv'ers. Just might have to change the p/u bed to accommodate my needs, thanks again.

As a general rule, this forum really hates towing tandem. You will get lots of comments (some already) about how you shouldn't do it, not safe, insurance won't cover in an accident, the list goes on.

If I were you, I would decide which states are most important for you to tow through, and directly research the rules for those states. I would not rely on most of the information that will be posted here, or any on-line listing that claims to have info for every state.

I've towed tandem for over 20 years now, and have well over 100,000 miles under my belt doing it. What I have found is that it is legal in most states - except those on the coasts.

I have taken my rig through 7 mountain/mid-west states, and I am over length in every state (including my home state) with the exception of MT. It is my experience that if your rig handles well, and you are driving safely, LEO does not care about length.

That said, you should still know the laws, and be willing to suffer the consequences if you go outside them and have a LEO throw the book at you.