I often see many RV'ers heading down the HWY towing their TT with a boat behind that. I have never done this and I have heard it is not even legal in every state. Not knowing much about this, this forum is perhaps the best place to learn more. I understand that the TV would have to be rated for the combined weight but I also imagine that the trailer itself would have to meet a certain criteria.I usually camp within about 70 miles or so from home and when it comes time to head out camping I take my family and TT to our destination, drop them off and let them set-up while I make the full second trip to return for my boat. The whole process is reversed when we head home. It's a huge pain. Someday in the future I would like to be able to haul both in one trip. That may be a ways off but there is no time like the present to start learning.My TT and lots of others have 2" hitches on the back but these are most often for bike racks. How does one determine if the frame of their TT is suitable for adding a receiver hitch for towing something like a 2000lb or heavier boat?How does the tongue weight on the back of a TT effect the tongue weight on the TV during driving and dips/bumps. How well does the back trailer follow the TT around corners? How are fuel stops? I would try to avoid those altogether.I already know the obvious things like backing up is not an option without dropping the boat. Parking somewhere is nearly impossible.I'm looking for knowledge from those who pull tandem and their experiences and insights. Thanks, John

We have never towed tandem ourselves, but last week when we were on the freeway going to Boise, we came past a scary accident. It appeared that the boat being towed behind the older travel trailer had gone off to the side of the freeway and dragged the trailer along. The boat was in the ditch. The trailer was on its side at the edge of the freeway. The TV was turned around facing the wrong way, but thankfully still on its wheels. Lots of police presence and traffic backed up for a couple of miles. That one convinced me that I don't want to take the chance of towing tandem, even though we have friends who always take their boat behind the 5er.In Idaho it is legal to tow tandem, but if you go across the border into Oregon, you had better have a place to drop that boat until you return. Can't tow tandem there.

Not legal in Washington State for commercial OR recreational. In Oregon you see commercial rigs with three trailers but it's not legal for recreational RVers.

I've double-towed quite a few times, not with my TT but with a GN flatbed + a 16' flatbed. Different states have different rules (some only allow a 2nd trailer if the first trailer is a 5th or GN, but is not allowed when the primary trailer is a bumper-type hitch. States have different length restrictions, usually around 60-65' overall). You would need to look/contact your state DOT for the rules that would apply to you. Driving around with it depends on many factors; how long your trailers are, where the axles are located on the TT will determine how far out the tail swings and as a result will determine how the boat will track in a turn. For example if your TT had the axles all the way back, the tail wouldn't swing out away from a corner so the boat will cut in and you would have to make a wide turn to keep the boat from hitting the curb. If your TT axles were centered on the trailer the tail would swing away from the curb and make the tongue of the boat be farther from the curb and resulting in you not needing to make as wide of a turn... It isn't a big difference but the second trailer will always be the closest to the curb in a corner unless it is super short/skinny.You can back up the combo easily, you just have to do the opposite of what you would normally do with just one trailer (at least at the beginning). It will take a little practice but you need to focus on what the boat is doing. What makes it hard is that the primary trailer is usually long and a longer vehicle has a wider turning radius so it is less responsive. With a long travel trailer and a short boat, small movements from the TV will make small movements in the TT but big movements in the boat, and it will be hard to recover a turn when backing. You shouldn't have to navigate much in reverse, but jack-knifing the boat and/or TT is no problem and will almost always give you enough room to get out of a bind. The boat tongue will reduce the TT tongue. The amount lost on the TT will depend on the axle placement of the TT (think teeter totter).Fuel stops should be no different than with just the TT.

It is legal here is Wisconsin and I wouldn't even consider it if I was traveling any great distance. The short distance I go to camp wouldn't be much of a hassle but it can sure turn into a long day making several trips back and forth. I'm happy I at least have this option though. Just trying to learn more about it.

You would probably be better off getting another vehicle that can tow the boat, then just drive two vehicles. Still more gas, but half the time. While it can be done in some states, double towing with two bumper hitch trailers is pretty risky at best.

Anyone tow tandem? | Good Sam Community

AH64ID
Explorer
Jul 09, 2014
I have double towed with my previous TT, a 22' TT and a 14' Landscape trailer was the longest (length and miles). I was 60' Bumper to Bumper and towed 600 miles round trip to the salt flats and back once.

The 2nd trailer has a greater propensity to sway, but I didn't experience anything dangerous or unstable at speeds up to 65.

Most of my double towing was local with a jet-ski or 4wheeler, or both, behind the TT for 100 miles one way at most.

I have a custom 2" receiver on my current TT, just haven't had to use it for a trailer yet.
JohnnyG73
Explorer
Jul 09, 2014
Thanks for the help,
I'm not sure how much my boat weighs. I can tow it to a county land fill not far and weigh it on their scale. I know the lady that works there and she lets me use the scale. The specs say it weighs 1900# without any gear so I would have to guess about 2300-2500 depending on how much gas is in the 28 gallon fuel tank. It's an 18' aluminum Fisher, dual console w/150hp outboard.

The TT is a '94 StarCraft Leisurestar bunkhouse 27'. The specs indicate the dry weight is 4345#. I haven't had this trailer very long so I haven't weighed it yet loaded but I estimate around 4800# with all our supplies.

As I said in a couple previous post, I have checked my local regulations on the DOT website and they are fairly loose. I generally only travel less than 100 miles and I also stay in my state.

The reason I want to know what is involved in tandem towing is for future reference. I want to have a good idea how to tackle it when I get around to it. A different TV would be a must for me but in the meantime I can get a hitch installed along with wiring harness. I can also install a camera which would be very helpful tandem towing or even just single towing.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2014
~DJ~ wrote:
Here are the towing laws for each state. Double towing is referred to as Triple Tow in their definition (not mine).

I double tow all over ID and MT with a TT. First thing to consider is how big is your boat? Mine is 16' with a 200# tongue weight and 2400# pull weight.

Next, don't even consider using that 2" factory receiver!!! Take your TT to a welding shop that does this sort of thing. Your existing TT frame SHOULD be reinforced before adding a hitch. Mine, for instance, was done by a local shop and rated at 300/3000. And he will not do it to just any TT. There has to be sufficient frame to start with.

I also have a rear view camera on the TT to "observe" and aid in hooking up.
I would check the validity of this website with the actual DOT site for the States you want to pull in. There are some errors in what is posted here. As an example they list the maximum trailer length as 45' for the State of MN. That length was changed many years ago to 53'. This is for Commercial trailers.

B.O.
_DJ_1
Explorer II
Jul 09, 2014
Here are the towing laws for each state. Double towing is referred to as Triple Tow in their definition (not mine).

I double tow all over ID and MT with a TT. First thing to consider is how big is your boat? Mine is 16' with a 200# tongue weight and 2400# pull weight.

Next, don't even consider using that 2" factory receiver!!! Take your TT to a welding shop that does this sort of thing. Your existing TT frame SHOULD be reinforced before adding a hitch. Mine, for instance, was done by a local shop and rated at 300/3000. And he will not do it to just any TT. There has to be sufficient frame to start with.

I also have a rear view camera on the TT to "observe" and aid in hooking up.
nevadanick
Explorer
Jul 09, 2014
I have been towing tandem bumper pulls for many years. You need to be diligent about the weight transfer on your tt when towing doubles as it will lessen the tongue weight. Other than alot of the misinformation on here like it being illegal in Ca (its legal there) it can be done and done safely. Instead of random sites that list towing laws you need to check with each state you plan to travel in. Be prepared to have people that have no clue to come up to you when stopped for gas etc and tell you its not legal or not safe. If you have other questions pm me and i will answer as best i can as these threads on here can get quite lengthy with lots of misinformation.
CaveRun
Explorer
Jul 09, 2014
Here's a hitch from eTrailer to put on the back of a camper.

http://www.etrailer.com/Specialty-Trailer-Hitches/Curt/13703.html
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 08, 2014
Golden_HVAC wrote:
I had always thought it was only legal to tow two trailers if the front was a fifth wheel, and the back was a smaller weight trailer.
...........

From a trailer towing laws web site only a few states require the 1st trailer to be a 5th wheel;

43. With certain qualifications. Only with fifth-wheel trailer in AZ, IL, MI, MN, MB (maximum length 23 m.), SK and YT.
JohnnyG73
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
loulou57 wrote:
JohnnyG73 wrote:
loulou57 wrote:
We had a steel bar welded on for the hitch. A camera on the back of TT is good to be able to have vision all the time.

Is it welded on for reinforcement or an actual part of the hitch? I agree about the camera. If the boat is not as wide as the TT, I don't imagine that it can even be seen without a camera. I'm sure it would also help to judge safe distances when changing lanes.

Having a second TV to tow the boat isn't an option for two reasons. First, I only have one tow vehicle. Second, most of the places I camp only allow for one vehicle to be kept at the site full time. Visitors are ok but not overnight. Additional parking is sometimes available but not free. I already have to pay to park the boat/trailer or pay to rent a slip and store the trailer off site. Some places allow me to keep the boat/trailer on site but no other vehicles. I try to always get water front sites so I can walk right out the door and jump in the boat already on the water. Not always possible though. Thanks for the suggestion

As far as I remember, (hubby isn’t home) it is a new steel.beam welded onto the frame and a new hitch receiver welded onto new beam. Does that make sense. We were told that the hitches that come on TT are barely strong enough for a bike rack.

That's kinda what I figured. Most are advertised as cargo or bike hitches.
loulou57
Explorer
Jul 08, 2014
JohnnyG73 wrote:
loulou57 wrote:
We had a steel bar welded on for the hitch. A camera on the back of TT is good to be able to have vision all the time.

Is it welded on for reinforcement or an actual part of the hitch? I agree about the camera. If the boat is not as wide as the TT, I don't imagine that it can even be seen without a camera. I'm sure it would also help to judge safe distances when changing lanes.

Having a second TV to tow the boat isn't an option for two reasons. First, I only have one tow vehicle. Second, most of the places I camp only allow for one vehicle to be kept at the site full time. Visitors are ok but not overnight. Additional parking is sometimes available but not free. I already have to pay to park the boat/trailer or pay to rent a slip and store the trailer off site. Some places allow me to keep the boat/trailer on site but no other vehicles. I try to always get water front sites so I can walk right out the door and jump in the boat already on the water. Not always possible though. Thanks for the suggestion

As far as I remember, (hubby isn’t home) it is a new steel.beam welded onto the frame and a new hitch receiver welded onto new beam. Does that make sense. We were told that the hitches that come on TT are barely strong enough for a bike rack.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Jul 08, 2014
Is you trailer manufacturer still in business? If so they should be able to tell you the hitch rating on the rear receiver. I know that people tow double so it's obviously something that can be done.