Forum Discussion

cross21114's avatar
cross21114
Explorer
Apr 06, 2019

Legal to tow this combination in Alaska

We will be in Alaska during September and meeting up with good friends who live there. One of our fun things is to hunt Ptarmigin and grouse. We use a powered canoe to cross some sloughs.

For the first time, we will have a RV which 4 of us can stay in which might eliminate the need for 2 RVs (our friends have a truck camper). I will be pulling a fullsize SUV behind a 36' Super C, 4 down. Brake system with emergency brakeaway system on the SUV. Driver is Class A w/o CDL.

Can I hook the canoe trailer (length of canoe on the trailer = 20') to the SUV and pull the combo in Alaska. Estimated length of entire combo at 80'. Estimated weight of trailer and canoe at 500#.

If so, this greatly simplifies the trip and gives us a fullsize SUV to use. No backing up even contimplated, before we reach our distination, we merely find a straight spot and disconnect the SUV and someone drives that and canoe trailer in behind the RV.

Appreciate thoughts. Is it legal?
  • noteven's avatar
    noteven
    Explorer III
    Apr 11, 2019
    California permits multiple tows on ball/pintle hitches.

    Coffee, beer, etc spluttered on keyboards everywhere...
  • PA12DRVR's avatar
    PA12DRVR
    Explorer
    Apr 11, 2019
    I haven't looked to see what the rules are...so can't comment on that.

    However, with the current staffing levels of AST, ADF&G, and the various fed agencies, I would estimate (that's more than a guess but less than certainty) that triple-towing (particularly a canoe) on the Denali Highway during grouse season will attract more attention (if any at all) from game law and land use enforcement than any traffic patrols.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Apr 11, 2019
    Wow!
    If towing a canoe is criminal behaviour and living on the wild side, skirting Johnny Law, some of y'all need to get out more....
    It's a canoe for cripes sakes. Let me think of the story.
    "Sorry sir, was just trying to get up to Tangle lakes for some grouse hunting. Buddy offered to bring his canoe. Shoot, I'm sorry, well umm how about if we unhook? Again my apologies, have a nice day."
    Big deal? Nope. Prolly drag that thing around for a month without anyone batting an eye as long as he doesn't pass anyone on rvnet!
  • catkins's avatar
    catkins
    Explorer II
    Apr 09, 2019
    garyhaupt wrote:
    Yeah....guy from Texas makes such a great suggestion. It always takes me by surprise when some goof suggests breaking a law in Canada and no-one raises an eyebrow. Make a similar suggestion about breaking a US/state law and the world is about to end.

    "Worst case if you get stopped would be simply disconnect the SUV and continue on your way. And hook back up an hour down the road."


    Gary Haupt


    Gary - I agree with you. If towing that way is illegal, simply don't do it. If they were stopped and managed to get only a warning, with computers now, ANY LEO would know of the stop. Be safe and Happy Trails!
  • garyhaupt's avatar
    garyhaupt
    Explorer
    Apr 09, 2019
    Yeah....guy from Texas makes such a great suggestion. It always takes me by surprise when some goof suggests breaking a law in Canada and no-one raises an eyebrow. Make a similar suggestion about breaking a US/state law and the world is about to end.

    "Worst case if you get stopped would be simply disconnect the SUV and continue on your way. And hook back up an hour down the road."


    Gary Haupt
  • PA12DRVR's avatar
    PA12DRVR
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2019
    "Statehood and the oil boom ruined the Territory."

    I wasn't old enough to understand what it meant when the Territory became a State....but I don't think I'd disagree (not very vehemently, anyway).

    That being said, having spent an unfortunate amount of time outside of Alaska for work, the scenery is still spectacular, the wildlife is still pretty neat, and (dancing away from "which is best"...), Alaska as a state is still quite unique in many ways.
  • bob_nestor's avatar
    bob_nestor
    Explorer III
    Apr 08, 2019
    PA12DRVR wrote:
    "Thanks. You're the second person I've heard refer to Los Anchorage. I haven't been to Alaska in 14 years - has it changed that much? Sorry if it has.

    ...... One place is Tangle Lakes, the other my friend has sworn me to secrecy. ......."

    - Hindsight is always rose-colored: The Anchorage of the 60's (where I grew up) turned to Los Anchorage in the 70's (pipeline boom) and again later in the 90's (another indirect petroleum boom).....and never went back, all in my NSHO of course.


    My Dad first went to Alaska in the 30's and worked for the ARC. Before WWII he was working the road reconstruction between Valdez and Fairbanks. After the war he worked on building the Sterling Hiway on the Kenai from Hinton's Lodge (now the Russian River Crossing) all the way to Homer. He always referred to Anchorage and Los Anchorage and that was back in the 50's and 60's.

    I hadn't been back in almost 50 years - left for college and never returned until I retired. It has changed a lot, and not for the better in my opinion. Almost all the folks I grew up with say the same thing - Statehood and the oil boom ruined the Territory.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Apr 08, 2019
    10-4! That's the part I missed. While it seems awkward, I don't think you will get hasseled over it. JMO from living there for a couple years. AST's have enough natives, "sportsmen" and meth heads to deal with to even think about hassling someone who is not really doing anything wrong.
  • cross21114's avatar
    cross21114
    Explorer
    Apr 08, 2019
    Grit dog,

    I am not driving all the way to Alaska hauling a canoe. I thought I was pretty clear that it would only be in Alaska to eliminate 2 power vehicles going from Anchorage to Tangle Lakes and one other spot on main roads.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Apr 08, 2019
    "This would only be in Alaska, not towing all the way through Canada."

    Edit, complete 180 from what I read the first time.
    For the group, the CANOE and trailer are already in AK at your buddy's place.
    In that case, I say go for it, who cares. It's AK. What's worst case, a Trooper has a case of the Mondays and you unhook the toad and pull it separate for a while (and not back past the same trooper! lol).

    Sounds like a great trip! Have fun!
    And sweet setup by the way....

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