Towing My Boat Behind My Fiver'

Obviously(!) requirements vary by state.

Ex: California. Double tow is OK (length limit applies) if:
The tow vehicle is 1T, & you have a Class A license.

At the time I double towed, there was *not* a Non-Commercial class A,
but would guess the Non-Com would (now) be OK.

IMO your dice to roll. No matter where you travel, lots of LEOs have better things to do on the freeways/expressways, etc. - many others do not.

Expensive if you are the "recipient" of the ones who do not! :W

Good luck !!

Bionic Man wrote:

laknox wrote:

richclover wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
The forum really is slow when you have this few of comments on what is always a hot topic that causes many to get their panties in a bunch.

I've towed a boat tandem behind my 5er since about 1999. I have not towed through the states that you mention, but I'll share my experiences and you can take them for what they are worth.

(SNIPPED)

Trailer brakes on that 5000# boat rig?

Surge brakes, most likely.

Personally, I'd like to know what Bionic Man did to beef up the frame on his FW to handle that trailer load.

Lyle

5er frame was reinforced all the way forward of the axles.

Done correctly, then. :B

Lyle

laknox wrote:

richclover wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
The forum really is slow when you have this few of comments on what is always a hot topic that causes many to get their panties in a bunch.

I've towed a boat tandem behind my 5er since about 1999. I have not towed through the states that you mention, but I'll share my experiences and you can take them for what they are worth.

(SNIPPED)

Trailer brakes on that 5000# boat rig?

Surge brakes, most likely.

Personally, I'd like to know what Bionic Man did to beef up the frame on his FW to handle that trailer load.

Lyle

5er frame was reinforced all the way forward of the axles.

richclover wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
The forum really is slow when you have this few of comments on what is always a hot topic that causes many to get their panties in a bunch.

I've towed a boat tandem behind my 5er since about 1999. I have not towed through the states that you mention, but I'll share my experiences and you can take them for what they are worth.

(SNIPPED)

Trailer brakes on that 5000# boat rig?

Surge brakes, most likely.

Personally, I'd like to know what Bionic Man did to beef up the frame on his FW to handle that trailer load.

Lyle

Appreciate the comments,,,,

f course there are.

Bionic Man wrote:
The forum really is slow when you have this few of comments on what is always a hot topic that causes many to get their panties in a bunch.

I've towed a boat tandem behind my 5er since about 1999. I have not towed through the states that you mention, but I'll share my experiences and you can take them for what they are worth.

Probably goes without saying, but towing tandem isn't for everyone. You really need to think ahead (stopping for fuel can be challenging), backing up is very difficult, and it is very hard on your equipment. I had a hitch custom fabricated to the back of my 5er, and then had it re-enforced later. I am sure I have towed tandem for over 50,000 miles. During that time I had the shackles holding the axles of my first 5er fail, I had the first hitch on the back of my 2nd 5er crack, and the weld on my fold away tongue on my boat crack. Maybe some of that would have happened without towing tandem, maybe not. Moral of the story, keep a close eye on all your components.

Towing tandem also degrades the ride within your truck. When you add the boat tongue weight to the back of the trailer you lose some pin weight (which never really was a problem), but you also create a fulcrum, and every bump you hit is magnified. Truck hits a bump, it bounces, then the 5er hits and it bounces, which bounces the truck, then the boat hits which bounces the 5er which bounces the truck. A good bump will go through the train a couple of times. I can pretty comfortably tow the 5er solo 12 hours a day, but add the second trailer, and at the end of a 12 hour day I am really wiped out.

I have not towed through any states that prohibit the practice, but I have been over length in most states. What my personal experience is (at least regarding that) is that LEO do not enforce that regulation.

The boat that I towed the most was a 21' sterndrive that I kept for about 10 years. It was about 5500 pounds going down the road, and is the most that I personally will tow. To me, the limitation isn't what the truck is capable of towing, it is the limitation of the strength of the frame on the 5er. I sold that boat back in 2014, replaced with a 23' inboard that weighs 7000 pounds, which I towed tandem once, and won't do again. When we go camping at the lake with that boat now, we take two vehicles. I do have a 17' Ranger fishing boat that weighs somewhere around 3000 pounds that I still tow tandem (which really is a LOT easier and much less noticeable).

To me, at least with a 5000 pound or less boat, towing tandem is still worth the trade offs of either not taking the boat, or taking a 2nd car. But, like I said, it isn't for everyone.

And to those that will tell you that you are at risk in an accident, and your insurance will deny a claim, I simply say read your policy. Insurance is regulated, and if there is a peril that is not covered it needs to be listed as an exclusion. I have never seen a policy exclusion of either towing a trailer tandem, or something that would deny a claim for an accident while breaking a law. Quite simply, insurance covers accidents, and it doesn't matter if you are towing tandem in a state that doesn't allow it, or towing over the weight rating of your truck, or speeding, or drunk (or all the above), an accident will be covered up to your limits of liability.

Trailer brakes on that 5000# boat rig?

I double towed with a 2500 chevy....26' 5th wheel trailer....18' bass boat for eight years all over OK/TX/AR/MO/NM and southern CO. My combo length was 63'. I never kept up with the go fast crowd but never over 60 mph even on a interstate.
A word of advise.....when inquiring with a state DOT you will travel through don't ask about their triple tow requirements as this tells the officer your needing info on pulling three trailers.
For their purpose its a double tow.

Bird Freak wrote:
It is legal in Georgia as long as the second unit is towed behind a fifth wheel. Your problem will be length.

Same in AZ. FW first and ball or pintle second; no exceptions, per the law. In reality, I see contractors towing 2 utility trailers or a utility trailer and a mixer, relatively often. =Legally=, legal length is 65' from front bumper to center of the rear axle. Up to 10' of "overhang" from the center of the rear axle to the furthest rear point is "legal", giving an OAL of 75', per statute.

Lyle

Well said Bionic Man. I've also towed a boat behind a 5W since 2004. Every winter from NW Missouri to somewhere in Texas. Be ready to plan ahead and stay alert.
But MO,AR,OK & TX allow it. It enough stress to tow where legal but add illegal, I'll stay west of the Mississippi.