Double towing, which 5th wheel hitch?

[jmbstudios]

I am moving from a bumper pull to a 5th wheel. We would like to haul the boat along with us on some of our trips.
I will need a 5th wheel hitch.
I will be staying within the length limits.

The trailer will weigh 10klbs and the boat weighs 2200lbs. I want to get a hitch that has room to grow in case we go bigger in the future.
So what do the 5th wheel gurus recommend as far as weight capability on the hitch?
18k?
24k?

My TV is a 2019 F250 CCSB.

Thanks for your help.

[laknox]

packnrat wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I am licensed SD, they allow it. CA where I stay a lot in the winter allows it but with proper licensing. They recognize SD. I travel thru OR to get to WA for the Summers, they both do not allow. I am guessing they look the other way since I am licensed SD???

legal in both ore and was states, as i have pulled doubles there a number of times, not one problem.
and i am from ca.
just to be legal in all states,
one must have a class A permit, with doubles endorsement,
be under 65 feet total length,
and under (by at least one pound, more is better.) the max weight allowed for your truck.
and of course know what you are doing.
got insurance? some company's will not cover towing doubles.
some states allow a boat behind with a class C permit, no endorsements.

AFAIK, this is not quite true. Some states do not allow ANY doubles, private or commercial, without a permit. Just like some states consider a swivel wheel an "extension" and others consider them "trailers", so using one is illegal in those states, if doubles aren't allowed for private use.

Lyle

[jmbstudios]

Thanks Packnrat.

[packnrat]

jmbstudios wrote:
Thanks for the help. Lots of great info.
Can you guys post some pics of your double towing set ups?
Thanks.

if i pull my little trailer next week i will see about a couple photos for you.

[packnrat]

noteven wrote:
Driver’s licenses are reciprocal across the USA and Canada.

Regulated vehicle configurations, dimensions, and weights are not reciprocal.

not quite true. i can not say for canada, or mexico. but in the USA, all commercial, and NON commercial trucks, cars, and trailers are federally controlled.
all the max dimensions, and weight are in a book of codes, all manf must obey.
then there are the "special" trucks.aka: a stretched limo, a big rig wrecker, etc.
but any and all must fit into said dimensions, to be allowed free use of the roads. as in nothing over hanging to the sides. so much off the front or rear. then the loads apply.

get a copy of the dot hand book at any truck stop.
some roads have restrictions, do to length, width or weight. but thats another thing.

[packnrat]

DarkSkySeeker wrote:
Off topic alert...

It would be fun to have a "backing up the rig competition" with a boat towed behind a 5th wheel.

i drive commercial. and backing up a "set" is a lost art in and of itself. heck some paid drivers have problems just backing up, no trailers attached.
a fiver and second trailer is only two joints, commercial has three points.

[packnrat]

edbehnke wrote:
I assume your state allows a double pull.

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/02/state-laws-can-pull-you-in-many-directions-if-you-double-tow.html

link broken.

[packnrat]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I am licensed SD, they allow it. CA where I stay a lot in the winter allows it but with proper licensing. They recognize SD. I travel thru OR to get to WA for the Summers, they both do not allow. I am guessing they look the other way since I am licensed SD???

legal in both ore and was states, as i have pulled doubles there a number of times, not one problem.
and i am from ca.
just to be legal in all states,
one must have a class A permit, with doubles endorsement,
be under 65 feet total length,
and under (by at least one pound, more is better.) the max weight allowed for your truck.
and of course know what you are doing.
got insurance? some company's will not cover towing doubles.
some states allow a boat behind with a class C permit, no endorsements.

[christopherglen]

Legal issues aside, get a hitch rated for at or above the max your truck is rated for. A 2200 lb boat on the back won't have more then 200-300 lbs on the back of the RV, (make sure the RV can do that). It will transfer 100-200 lbs off the 5er hitch, your RV has a longer pin to axle length then axle to bumper. I would put a backup camera on the back of the RV up high to watch the boat going down the road. Don't plan on backing up more then 1-2 boat lengths without ALOT of practice.

[laknox]

Can't remember who it was, but several years ago, a guy posted a pic of his FW, towing a Samurai and there was a swivel-wheel tote on the back of the Samurai! :B

Lyle

[Cummins12V98]

MFL wrote:
While I can not say for certain, I think the only part that may be reciprocal, in regard to double towing, is the driver licensing. If a special endorsement on your license is required in some states, for double tow, it is not in SD.

What I will say for certain, is that you need to be prepared for the consequence, if breaking any law, which WE ALL DO ON OCCASION. I'm sure Cummins12V98 knows this, and is the type of guy, that has a just in case plan, including dropping second trailer and/or paying a fine.

Jerry

Everything I have read says CA recognizes SD. I have double towed there thousands of miles with many troopers slowly driving along my side.

I save $500 not paying to have my MC transported twice a year. Very unlikely getting a ticket but if I do that’s fine. Most likely told to separate at next location. No biggie to me since I am thousands ahead already.

[noteven]

Driver’s licenses are reciprocal across the USA and Canada.

Regulated vehicle configurations, dimensions, and weights are not reciprocal.

[MFL]

While I can not say for certain, I think the only part that may be reciprocal, in regard to double towing, is the driver licensing. If a special endorsement on your license is required in some states, for double tow, it is not in SD.

What I will say for certain, is that you need to be prepared for the consequence, if breaking any law, which WE ALL DO ON OCCASION. I'm sure Cummins12V98 knows this, and is the type of guy, that has a just in case plan, including dropping second trailer and/or paying a fine.

Jerry

[jmbstudios]

Thanks for the help. Lots of great info.
Can you guys post some pics of your double towing set ups?
Thanks.

[ependydad]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I am licensed SD, they allow it. CA where I stay a lot in the winter allows it but with proper licensing. They recognize SD. I travel thru OR to get to WA for the Summers, they both do not allow. I am guessing they look the other way since I am licensed SD???

As far as I understand it, double-towing is not a reciprocal thing. So if it's disallowed in OR, you could get pulled over for it and be made to drop a trailer.

But, seems like it doesn't often happen.

I've only ever read of a few third-party accounts and I think each has been on the east coast (I want to say the Carolinas).

[Cummins12V98]

I am licensed SD, they allow it. CA where I stay a lot in the winter allows it but with proper licensing. They recognize SD. I travel thru OR to get to WA for the Summers, they both do not allow. I am guessing they look the other way since I am licensed SD???