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FOR ONTARIO AND MANITOBA CAMPERS

MACHZER
Explorer
Explorer
Hello,

I know it is legal to tow 2 trailers in Manitoba providing one is a fiver. It is not in Ontario I believe

Yet on my home from Thunder bay to Winnipeg I passed 2 rigs, one by Ignace and another just before Dryden pulling the 2 trailers.

So my question is, can you pull 2 trailers in Ontario with out of province plates?
Thanks
Clandeboye , Manitoba
12 REPLIES 12

JaxDad
Explorer III
Explorer III
MACHZER wrote:
Ok that settles the reading of what seems 2 different laws then.
If all light trucks are deemed commercial it makes sense now.

Thanks


Actually, if you want to get fussy, there's a third set of restrictions that make it even more confusing!

The drivers license itself dictates what can and cannot be driven or towed.

Using Ontario as an example; a person with a normal car license (Class G) can legally tow 2 trailers behind a pickup with commercial plates (black & white).

They CANNOT however tow 2 trailers behind the same basic vehicle if it is say a Suburban with passenger (blue & white) plates.

Now here's where it gets REALLY silly, a driver in a commercially-plated pickup instantly losses the right to tow 2 trailers at a time if they UPGRADE their license to a restricted class A (Class AR) license.


Only the Goobermint could get something that simple so screwed up!!

MACHZER
Explorer
Explorer
Ok that settles the reading of what seems 2 different laws then.
If all light trucks are deemed commercial it makes sense now.

Thanks
Clandeboye , Manitoba

kilbearcamper
Explorer
Explorer
Darryl&Rita wrote:
From the Ontario government website:
It is against the law to tow more than one trailer behind non-commercial vehicles.

Listed under "License and Permit" section.


You are correct, however by definition the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) deems " all pickup trucks are deemed to be commercial vehicles".
Living in cottage country I see double towing done every weekend, never encountered anyone stopped by the police or MTO enforcement.
Travel Time; Killbear 35mins.
Grundy 1hour
Algonguin West gate 1hr. 45mins.

JaxDad
Explorer III
Explorer III
free radical wrote:
MACHZER wrote:
Hello,

I know it is legal to tow 2 trailers in Manitoba providing one is a fiver. It is not in Ontario I believe

Yet on my home from Thunder bay to Winnipeg I passed 2 rigs, one by Ignace and another just before Dryden pulling the 2 trailers.

So my question is, can you pull 2 trailers in Ontario with out of province plates?
Thanks

If it was legal then it wouldnt matter where youre licenced,,is my guess..
Id be very careful checking all the laws as fines in Ontario are very
High,,
For example distracted driving such as using phone is close to 500$ now and will be even higher up to 2000$ soon plus jail time for repeat offenders..


What you are referring to is a concept known as "reciprocity", there is sort of treaty in place between all the States and Provinces and it basically means if you're legal driving your vehicle in your home jurisdiction, you are legal in all of North America. For instance, if you are driving a p/u with a big 5'er out back, on a regular car license and that's legal where you live you cannot be ticketed or turned away in a place where that would require a higher class of license.

It does NOT however cover things which are 'Vehicle reg's' such as length, weight, or double towing.

Having said that, a neighbour of mine routinely pulls a fishing boat behind his 5'er and has for years. He says he's never been stopped and it's never been an issue. He claims if he's ever stopped he'll point out that the wording says "commercial" vehicle and since every p/u in Ontario is a commercial vehicle he thought it was legal.

free_radical
Explorer
Explorer
MACHZER wrote:
Hello,

I know it is legal to tow 2 trailers in Manitoba providing one is a fiver. It is not in Ontario I believe

Yet on my home from Thunder bay to Winnipeg I passed 2 rigs, one by Ignace and another just before Dryden pulling the 2 trailers.

So my question is, can you pull 2 trailers in Ontario with out of province plates?
Thanks

If it was legal then it wouldnt matter where youre licenced,,is my guess..
Id be very careful checking all the laws as fines in Ontario are very
High,,
For example distracted driving such as using phone is close to 500$ now and will be even higher up to 2000$ soon plus jail time for repeat offenders..

hone_eagle
Explorer
Explorer
And yet I see them all the time ,usually 5er's pulling a boat.
2005 Volvo 670 singled freedomline 12 speed
Newmar 34rsks 2008
Hensley trailersaver TSLB2H
directlink brake controller

-when overkill is cheaper-

Darryl_Rita
Explorer
Explorer
From the Ontario government website:
It is against the law to tow more than one trailer behind non-commercial vehicles.

Listed under "License and Permit" section.
***UPDATE 2006 3500 SRW MegaCab pulling a 2007 fleetwood 5'er

MACHZER
Explorer
Explorer
FISHERMAN,

I pulled this of the Ontario's driver licence handbook

Licence and permit

You must have a valid driver's licence (Class G1, G2 or G) or higher class of licence to tow a trailer with a gross vehicle weight of up to 4,600 kilograms. If your trailer and load exceeds the size and weight specified in the Highway Traffic Act, you may need a higher class of licence or an oversize vehicle permit to tow it. Oversize permits are available at some Service Ontario centres.

It is against the law to tow more than one trailer behind non-commercial vehicles.
Clandeboye , Manitoba

MACHZER
Explorer
Explorer
FISHERMAN, as you sure you can pull 2 trailers in Ontario?
Even with a bumper hitch as the primary or first trailer??
Clandeboye , Manitoba

Fisherman
Explorer
Explorer
Yes you can, as long as the total length is not over 23M/roughly 75 feet.
Ontario, for example, does allow two ball hitches trailers! Crazy as it seems it is perfectly legal here.

campinghut
Explorer
Explorer
I can't with alberta plates in BC
Tim And Bev
2018 Mobile Suites 38RSSA, 560w solar, 2800w inverter (3 previous Artic fox trailers, 1 Cedar Creek, 1 Heartland Cyclone. In the last 8 Years)
2022 F350 (Previous trucks 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 all Ford F350's)

WNYBob
Explorer
Explorer
Many years ago I saw a Texas plated double tow stopped by NYSP at tge Grand Island toll. It looked like he went up around Lake Superior and crossed over at Niagara Falls.

He had a TC and was pulling a horse trailer and a boat, later just saw the boat trailer. Always wondered how he got everything back to Texas!