Who has been pulled over for double towing illegally???

[Ezbagr]

I see so many posts on here where people say it is illegal to double tow in such a such state and so and I am wondering if anyone has ever been pulled over? Please leave out the wifes brothers cousin stories.
I want real experiences.
I live in Illinois and it is against the law to double tow but I see people doing it all the time.

[Wadcutter]

Ezbagr wrote:
I live in Illinois and it is against the law to double tow but I see people doing it all the time.

First - Maybe the reason you see people doing it all the time is because double towing is not against the law in IL. It's been legal here for quite a few years.
Second - I spent 42+ yrs in LE including 27 yrs at the state level. Illegal combination is a commonly written cite. The usual violation is over length and illegal 2nd trailer such as pulling a 2nd car/Jeep behind a 5er.

[ScottG]

It's illegal here but my FIL pulled them from Wa. to Fl. and around the country without being stopped.

[dezl_dr]

I pulled my jetski's behind my 5'er from Ohio to FL. We pulled through several states and no one gave us a second look until we were LEAVING FL and got pulled over. We were over length but got off with a warning - thank goodness! That fine was gonna be around $1,500!!!

[JnJnKatiebug]

We live in Arkansas and do it all the time. I pull my boat/kayak trailer behind my Jeep which is pulled with the MH. I have been told by the state troopers that it is OK. If you look at the federal regulation for double trailers, there is not an overall length limit. It only says that each trailer can be no longer than 28 1/2 foot. So I guess if you were pulling a trailer longer than that you would be in violation. But, this is federal law for commercial motor vehicles so who knows on an RV. I even see bumper hitch travel trailers pulling small boats and golf carts in trailers. I have never seen or heard of anyone getting stopped around here. We were in Branson, MO and there were over 20 rigs at the WalMart, all fifth wheels pulling big bass boats there for a tournament.

But, I do know this for a fact. My uncle lived in Phoenix, AZ and had a fifth wheel and a bass boat that he pulled all over the country and even into Mexico. He was stopped in AZ by a federal DOT officer and had to drop his boat, go drop his trailer and come back and get his boat. After doing some research he re-tagged his one ton truck as a commercial truck/tractor (he is a retired truck driver with a CDL and a doubles/triples endorsement). He was then stopped by the same officer at the same location again only this time the officer let him go and told him all was good.

So my answer would be to give it try but be prepared to get stopped. If it is illegal then everyone else doing it does not make it right.

[filrupmark]

I have pulled a boat behind my fifth wheel here in Texas with no problems .

[John___Angela]

fj12ryder wrote:
Have you see it yourself, or just assuming that is what the single trailer means?

There is an underpass near us where they set up RV stings. Looking for towing without batteries, double tow, overweight campers etc. I have seen drivers told to unhook the second trailer and tow trucks dispatched to get them. Usually they get them at a location closer to the border though. We still seem them drive by though so some get through.

Hope this helps.

[agesilaus]

Well there is a post here talking about some fellow who was pulled over for not having USDOT numbers on his truck ,(in Iowa), so it could happen. Florida has roving Florida Dept. of Transportation cops, someone like that would be the most likely to snag you. They aren't rare, I see one a couple of times a month with a truck pulled over. They have portable scales.

No evidence but I suspect fines could be extreme and they would probably not allow you to continue. You have to get someone to come and tow one of the trailers.

[fj12ryder]

Have you see it yourself, or just assuming that is what the single trailer means?

[John___Angela]

We see them coming from Alberta into BC double towing. They get pulled over and told to drop a trailer. The tell tail sign is the boat trailer or quad trailer on the side of the road at the pull out. The occasional overweight camper as well.

I have double towed a number of times but not in BC.

[fj12ryder]

I'd love to help you out, but I double towed for several years and was never stopped. I pulled a swivel-wheel type trailer behind my 34' 5th wheel. I pulled through and in several states that don't allow double towing, including Illinois, several times.