Double Towing

[eHoefler]

Looking for input on those who currently tow doubles or have towed doubles. Especially if you have been over lentgh, 65">. Have you had any experience with law enforcement, and the results.

[Wadcutter]

Retired state police here. Yeah, it happens a lot more frequently than what you see. Here's your problem if you are. You have to get your combination legal. A traffic citation is not a permit to continue. That usually means dropping your rear pull. What happens to your rear pull? Either you find someway to move it off the roadway or the officer will. You'll be the one responsible for any tow and storage bills, along with the citation fee. Is that a way anyone wants to spend their vacation?
Why people say they've never seen it happen is sure no way to determine if it happens. Have you ever seen a bank robber pulled over? Even those people you have seen pulled over it's most likely you have no idea why? Or if they were even pulled over and what you're seeing is a motorist assist. Even if you did see a LEO behind a double tow how do you know what is going on? You don't. There's a whole lot of traffic stops being made all over the US that you'll never see nor hear about nor will you know why.

[Bionic_Man]

I've double towed since about 1998. My old setup was about 73'. I've since changed the boat and the truck, but I am sure that I am still over length in just about every state.

I have never been pulled over for a length issue Nor have I heard of it happening to anyone. Not saying it won't happen to you, but I am of the opinion that if you aren't doing something stupid - like driving way over the speed limit, or weaving in and out of traffic, etc, I don't think they are concerned with the length.

[DutchmenSport]

Double tows are allowed in Indiana, even towing behind a TT is allowed. I have NEVER seen an RV (double tow) pulled over by law enforcement, and NEVER heard of anyone either.

[memtb]

eHoefler, We double (76 feet total) pretty regular, but only where legal. Which means that most states are "off limits" for us, using the 5er. We just got an older class c, so we could hunt and fish wherever the roads take us. The 5er will be used for longer stays, where can "legally" tow doubles!

[NMDriver]

My nephew was a NM state police district commander, I ask him what the NM length limit was and how it was determined, before I started towing doubles. Neither he nor his patrol officers could figure it out. He finally said a DOT patrol officer would know but that unless you are way over the 65ft limit not to worry. I was 73 ft from front bumper to prop on the boat motor.

I have towed in TX, AZ, NM, and parts of CO without ever being stopped for about 10 years.

[laknox]

Also, the OAL numbers can be a bit fuzzy. Some places it's X feet from the front bumper to the rearmost axle with Y feet of "overhang" allowed; up to 10' in some places. I know AZ is like this; 65' front to rear axle with up to 10' overhang allowed, giving a total OAL of 75', without a permit. Have I ever seen anyone checked, or do I =know= of anyone checked when towing an RV? Nope. Doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, though.

Lyle

[SidecarFlip]

Recreational doubles are not allowed in some states and I do know that here in Michigan you must have a Recreational doubles endorsement on your license.

[campinghut]

I have been measured once but I am under 65' by about 6" and this is in Alberta and was on a secondary highway.

[JIMNLIN]

I double towed for eight years with a 2500 chevy/26' 5th wheel rv trailer/18' bass boat 63' total length in OK/TX/AR/MO/KS/CO. The only place I was taped for length was on a small secondary state hiway just 11 miles from home when county/state doing roadside insurance and safety check points.
JMO but it looked like state dot was training county folks what to look at with a motor vehicle/combination (proper breakaway system/length/safety chains/lights/insurance/DL/tie downs/etc.