Double towing in GA and FL (update)

[RomperStomper]

Alright everyone, for those of you who might have been wondering how my trip double towing the 5ver and a motorcycle (79 Shovel) to Daytona for bike week went, wonder no more. It was a great trip except for breaking down at the Flying J truck stop on exit 2 in GA. Long story short the truck blew the high pressure fuel line that runs off the pump to the back of the motor and dumped probably a 1/4 tank of fuel for about 20 miles before I stopped at my usual stop for gas. Man, it was all over everything! It took me about 5 hours to figure out the issue, tear the engine apart to get access, locate the line,(the 1 time the stealership came through, no one else had the line or could make one)unload my bike, ride the 40 miles round trip to get the line, get back and install, pack up, eat, and get back on the road. The trailers pulled great at a cruising speed of 70mph and as fast as 80mph passing. I had a cop in Florida follow behind me going through the Ocala National Forest with no issues. I left at 3am and arrived at the Cackleberry CG at 3pm. It was a long journey! The way back only took about 6 hours and was event free other than loosing a taillight and the tongue jack wheel to the motorcycle trailer. My buddy following me ate that. I also had about 3 other cops in GA tail behind me with no issue. About 750 miles round trip. Not bad for the 1st time. I will definitely double tow again. Funny thing is this trip I didn't see anyone double towing. Go figure! Also if anyone is wondering I mounted my GoPro on the back of the 5ver and it worked like a champ using the app with my phone mounted to the dash.

[MFL]

I think that many don't realize how well a second trailer tows behind a FW, if they have never done so. I have double towed, with a 7'x 12' OAL trailer, with 2-3 motorcycles on it, many times. With the proper receiver on FW, and 2nd trailer well maintained, proper tongue wt, like the old saying "you'd never know it's back there". Mine would handle just fine at 70+, FW tires rated 81 mph, but doubt my 2nd trailer tires 5.30x12 could sustain this, over a long distance. I normally double tow at 60+ mph, and most of the time on state hi-way, with low traffic.

So Chris doesn't think less of me as a motorcyclist :), I have ridden my motorcycle on numerous trips of 3-6 thousand miles, longest day about 650 miles.

BTW, I have enjoyed this thread! 🙂

Jerry

[OBSPowerstroke]

Bionic Man wrote:
When I tow my fishing boat behind my 5er, I set cruise at 70 MPH as well. Let the hate flow.

I don't see a problem with double towing at 70-80 MPH either if your tires are rated for it and that's what the speed limits are. Any of these people complaining have apparently never driven through Idaho and Utah, where speed limits are 80. I tow through those states with the cruise set at 70 since my trailer tires are rated at 65 and get passed all day long by semis, many of which are towing doubles.

[laknox]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

laknox wrote:

MFL wrote:
No luck needed! With your experience, and well maintained rigs, you'll be a safe tow, even at 36K. Must be getting close to 75'. Post a pic, when your all hooked up in April.

Jerry

Yes, please double-check your length. For years I though AZ was 75' OAL, but when I checked ARS a couple years ago, I found that it was only 65', though I believe "overhang" from the rear trailer axle can be as much as 10', for 75'. I think this is where I got the 75' number from.

Lyle

For fun I will measure my overall length and will post a pic. I am guessing around 66' +.

Jerry thanks for the kind words!

I just did a quick-check on this, and 65' seems to be pretty hard and fast, but without reading the entire ARS under transportation, I can't confirm the "overhang" part. I was pretty sure that the OAL was nose to rear axle, with an allowable overhang "not to exceed X'", but I can't find it. If you're close to 65', I doubt you'll have a problem here, unless you run into the occasional a-hole LEO/MVD that cares more about the rules than common sense.

Lyle

[Cummins12V98]

laknox wrote:

MFL wrote:
No luck needed! With your experience, and well maintained rigs, you'll be a safe tow, even at 36K. Must be getting close to 75'. Post a pic, when your all hooked up in April.

Jerry

Yes, please double-check your length. For years I though AZ was 75' OAL, but when I checked ARS a couple years ago, I found that it was only 65', though I believe "overhang" from the rear trailer axle can be as much as 10', for 75'. I think this is where I got the 75' number from.

Lyle

For fun I will measure my overall length and will post a pic. I am guessing around 66' +.

Jerry thanks for the kind words!

[laknox]

MFL wrote:
No luck needed! With your experience, and well maintained rigs, you'll be a safe tow, even at 36K. Must be getting close to 75'. Post a pic, when your all hooked up in April.

Jerry

Yes, please double-check your length. For years I though AZ was 75' OAL, but when I checked ARS a couple years ago, I found that it was only 65', though I believe "overhang" from the rear trailer axle can be as much as 10', for 75'. I think this is where I got the 75' number from.

Lyle

[Bionic_Man]

Wow. Setting yourself up for the tripple whammy. First, you dare to talk about double towing - one of the biggest hot buttons on the forum. Then, go through states that don't allow it. Then, admit to towing about 55 MPH. Those are stones.

Glad you had a good trip. When I tow my fishing boat behind my 5er, I set cruise at 70 MPH as well. Let the hate flow.

[MFL]

No luck needed! With your experience, and well maintained rigs, you'll be a safe tow, even at 36K. Must be getting close to 75'. Post a pic, when your all hooked up in April.

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:
I thought real men rode their bikes to Sturgis and other events. Suppose OP will double two the four corners! Does that count?

Chris

Wish me luck we are loading my bike and a friends on my new MC Kendon trailer on April 5 and heading from SoCal to Arizona bike week in Scottsdale, AZ. We are hooking the MC trailer to the back of the 5er. I may go thru the Cat Scales for fun with friends in truck, extra gear and MC in tow. I'm betting 35-36K combined.

[MFL]

...

[MFL]

fj12ryder wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
FJ, so if you don't get caught it's ok? Successful bank robbery but not caught is ok? Or is the line somewhere between illegal towing and robbery? Are you going to draw that line? Please tell us if at your job a mistake is ok if an inspector or supervisor doesn't notice.

Gosh, I don't think exceeding the double towing equates to bank robbery. And in some cases, yes, I do think that you need to thumb your noses at some of the rules and regulations that are out there. I sometimes speed, I don't come to a complete stop at all stop signs, I have been know to be a willful scofflaw. Sorry, I'm just not the best person. I've been known to see how high I can get the speed limit to register on those highway signs too. 🙂 What a scamp.

Wow, fj12ryder, I thought you were a really great guy!! I had no idea you would speed, or not make a complete stop. These kind of threads are fun, when a He who is without sin, gets on a soapbox!! ROTFL.

These large scale bike events keep the LEOs very busy with real issues, such as DUI (liquor&drugs) drug dealing, human trafficing, illegal carry, with gang shootouts. Double towing looks kind of petty!!

Jerry

[Walaby]

Double towing at 70-80 MPH doesn't meet the definition of safe to me. Im glad you made it home okay, but do us all a favor and back it down. Just because you made it okay, doesn't mean it is safe. You can drive 18 hours without any sleep, and arrive alive, doesn't mean it is safe either.

I don't have an issue if you take unnecessary chances on your own, but on the freeways, you are putting others at risk. Just take your time.. what's the hurry?

I'll be honest.. I speed almost 100 percent of the time when I am NOT towing. When I tow, I operate at much safer limits, for myself and the safety of others. So, Im not preaching, just suggesting.

Mike

[RomperStomper]

Me Again wrote:
I thought real men rode their bikes to Sturgis and other events. Suppose OP will double two the four corners! Does that count?

Chris

Says the guy who probably has never ridden a mile in his life. I did 1075 miles in 19 hrs on a sportster. I have nothing to prove. I've ridden to Daytona more times than I can count. Ride and get raped on hotel prices, been there done that. Ride and sleep in a tent for 4 days and wake up feeling like s@@t every morning, been there done that. Or step it up and bring the camper and the bike. This year done that and had a great trip.

[fj12ryder]

Lwiddis wrote:
FJ, so if you don't get caught it's ok? Successful bank robbery but not caught is ok? Or is the line somewhere between illegal towing and robbery? Are you going to draw that line? Please tell us if at your job a mistake is ok if an inspector or supervisor doesn't notice.

Gosh, I don't think exceeding the double towing equates to bank robbery. And in some cases, yes, I do think that you need to thumb your noses at some of the rules and regulations that are out there. I sometimes speed, I don't come to a complete stop at all stop signs, I have been know to be a willful scofflaw. Sorry, I'm just not the best person. I've been known to see how high I can get the speed limit to register on those highway signs too. 🙂 What a scamp.

[Lwiddis]

"The trailers pulled great at a cruising speed of 70mph and as fast as 80mph passing."

Tiger thinks driving at 70 and passing at 80 with a double trailer is ok and police properly used discretion? Say it ain't so. Get it over on the man?

[Tiger02]

Good to see police in both of those states use discretion. I'm sure if they felt you were being unsafe they would have pulled you over. Always good to get over on the man is how I feel.