Double Towing Length Laws

[timmac]

I sold my heavy stacker trailer and Jeep and bought a Tacoma, now I want to double tow my Tacoma and small boat behind motorhome, however my length is 72-73 feet but Nevada is 70 max length and Arizona max length is 65 foot.

Has anyone doubled towed over your legal length and had issues with the highway patrol, I know I have seen many well over 70 feet even in Arizona.

Also my boat extends 2 feet beyond the end of boat trailer, where does the length end at trailer or boat over hang.

🙂

[fj12ryder]

But that video really doesn't mean squat if you get stopped. He does it, but that is absolutely no guarantee that you can get away with it. Just have a game plan in case you do get stopped, and I don't think showing that video will count for much. 🙂

[timmac]

RVHaulers Interview Meet Doug Towing his 80 Foot Long Rig

100,000 miles triple towing 80 foot in multiply states


https://youtu.be/EacpJEhJlPs

[timmac]

4x4ord wrote:
I double tow a little over length and so far haven't been ticketed. When I'm double towing I'm usually not terribly far from home so I could drop the back trailer and come back for it in the event I get pulled over by an unreasonable law officer.

This is pretty much what I have heard from others, I figure as long as I am driving safe and not changing lanes than there should be no issues.

[4x4ord]

I double tow a little over length and so far haven't been ticketed. When I'm double towing I'm usually not terribly far from home so I could drop the back trailer and come back for it in the event I get pulled over by an unreasonable law officer.

[timmac]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


For me personally i would never tow two couplers like pictured above. That MH in the wind will have a hard time by it's self staying in it's own lane!

I think I am about the same length but with the 5er and ball connection my setup is FAR more stable going down the road even in high winds.

I have flat towed in the wind and my truck never swayed like a trailer does, however I have not done it with the truck and boat yet, I suspect no issues however I don't drive when the wind when its pushing me around, I take a break and let the wind calm down or I just drive slower.

[Cummins12V98]

timmac wrote:

For me personally i would never tow two couplers like pictured above. That MH in the wind will have a hard time by it's self staying in it's own lane!

I think I am about the same length but with the 5er and ball connection my setup is FAR more stable going down the road even in high winds.

[JIMNLIN]

timmac wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
And don't forget if you get stopped the deciding person will be the LEO who pulls you over. If he isn't familiar with the towing regulations then all bets are off.

If the LEO is not familiar with the towing laws than how could he give me a ticket, if he or she tried to ticket me I will tell to call their supervisor to look up the law..

I checked on the 7 states and I am in the clear, 70 to 85 foot and no 5th wheel required in the middle.

Most of the time a stop for any size and weight violations will be by a certified size and weight officer. If he's not certified then he can have his dispatch get one on scene in a hurry that will know the violation code and how its enforced. When I hauled I've had both happen more than once.
Many times the way a code is worded like I mentioned above... a lay person has no idea how the code will be enforced. This is were the officer who is certified will make the correct call.

[timmac]

MFL wrote:
Well that looks pretty long, but IMO, a lot safer tow than a 1/2 ton truck, towing a TT and a boat, that I see quite often.

Jerry

Exactly 70 foot from front bumper to back of boat motor, not a inch to spare.

But I am still legal in 7 states that connect with Nevada..

[MFL]

Well that looks pretty long, but IMO, a lot safer tow than a 1/2 ton truck, towing a TT and a boat, that I see quite often.

Jerry

[timmac]

[timmac]

[timmac]

Here is pics of my legal setup






[img][/img]

[timmac]

fj12ryder wrote:
And don't forget if you get stopped the deciding person will be the LEO who pulls you over. If he isn't familiar with the towing regulations then all bets are off.

If the LEO is not familiar with the towing laws than how could he give me a ticket, if he or she tried to ticket me I will tell to call their supervisor to look up the law..

I checked on the 7 states and I am in the clear, 70 to 85 foot and no 5th wheel required in the middle.

[fj12ryder]

Please don't give LEO's carte blanche on the intelligence scale. There are tons of vague, and relatively unknown rules and regulations. A regular LEO is simply not going to have the ability to remember all those obscure regulations that rarely come up.

Been there and seen that the LEO's make simple mistakes and don't know everything. Just the name of the game, they are not super heroes. When you can get varying answers from the DMV and they have the rule books right there in front of them, there's no reason to believe that a LEO will be any better.

[Wadcutter]

drsteve wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
And don't forget if you get stopped the deciding person will be the LEO who pulls you over. If he isn't familiar with the towing regulations then all bets are off.

One of those situations where you can be right, and still find yourself with a ticket. And in this scenario, the cop can tell you to drop one of the trailers before proceeding any further.

These type statements are always good for a laugh.
Most likely the LEO who pulls you over is a lot more familiar with the laws than you or the person towing. Not likely you or the other person have had any legal training, read any of the statutes, or even know where to look for the applicable statute.
The lack of most peoples' legal knowledge is clearly evident by the comments on this forum. Most people don't have a clue.
Just FYI when you are cited for a violation the applicable statute will be indicated on the citation. That way even the most uninformed will know where to look up the statute to see what they did wrong. That's provided the person is smart enough to know where to look for the statute and if they can, then bright enough to understand the statute once they read it. And that is not common.