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.

🙂

[drsteve]

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.

[fj12ryder]

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.

[timmac]

I did pull up each state on the states website and it appears I am legal to go in these 7 states, however vague is in the laws that is for sure.

Some states straight up say the middle trailer needs to be a 5th wheel but not the states in my list.

What saved me was my boat trailer tougne was long, so I now have my boat 16 inches from back of truck and can still turn very tight and also made a hitch extension for it if needed for shallow water launching.

[JIMNLIN]

Only CO and ND allow 4 vehicle combination for towing triples according to the clicky link. It would be interesting how ND and CO lists the trailer types (first to last)....like a truck pulling a semi trailer/trailer/trailer for example.

A 4 vehicle combination is towing triples (three traiers).
A 3 vehicle combination is towing doubles. (two trailers)
And of course a 2 vehicle combination is tow vehicle pulling one trailer.

I bring this up because when asking your state size and weight folks a question on towing combinations we need to give them the correct info the way DOT laws are written on combinations.

Like the clicky says;
**Chart is not intended as legal advice and does not provide all regulations on the subject. Direct specific questions to your legal counsel. RVIA
assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions.**

Which is good advise as what RVIA has listed for my state (Oklahoma) isn't being enforced at this time. Terms used such as a Suburban pulling a 5th wheel trailer and only a 3/4 ton or more can be used to tow combinations. Oklahoma DOT folks have said the Suburban/Vans pulling a 5th wheel trailer is too vague. And of course there is no way a officer can determine what a 3/4 ton vehicle is.
Call as I did and find out the skinny on combination towing in your state...or those you will be traveling through.

[timmac]

Update on my triple towing.

I shorten my boat tongue by 3 feet, move boat forward on trailer 6 inches, removed my drop hitch receiver on motorhome and my total length from boat motor to front of motorhome is 70 foot right on the head, exact not a inch over, I am now legal in Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Colorado, and all these states connect together with Nevada.

7 states I can travel with my boat/truck behind motorhome.

I also have a 2nd camera now on the truck to watch the boat from the motorhome.

As to law about the middle being a 5th wheel go look at link and see what it reads, no requirement in these 7 states.

Here is the link to all state laws on triple towing, see you on the road..

https://www.rvia.org/system/files/media/file/Maximum%20RV%20Length.pdf


:B:C:B

[drsteve]

Leeblev wrote:

My biggest concern is that your insurance company may well refuse to cover a collision because you are towing illegally in a state prohibiting double tows.

Insurance covers (among other things) negligence, ignorance, and stupidity on the part of the insured. If it didn't, half of all claims would probably be denied.

[Leeblev]

Just because you haven't been caught yet does not make it legal. Some considerations:
1. Know what states don't allow it before entering that state.
2. What happens if you are stopped? Ticket or make you disengage the extra trailer???? Some states may well make you drop the offending trailer. What then?
3. Have you checked to see what your insurance carrier has to say about illegally towing if you wreak.
You may "flout" a law, but eventually it will come back to bite you. Those states not allowing double RV towing do have their reasons. It is not up to you to decide, it is their right to dictate their standards to drivers within their jurisdiction.
By the way: I don't know of a state NOT allowing double towing that will allow you to tow double there because your state allows it.
My biggest concern is that your insurance company may well refuse to cover a collision because you are towing illegally in a state prohibiting double tows.

[JRscooby]

Wadcutter wrote:

hotpepperkid wrote:
So length requirments must be different for commericial than RV's. Some of the trailers are 51' and I know those tractors have to be longer than 14'

That is correct, except commercial vehicle trailers are often 53 ft long. Separate statutes. That's is why people get all screwed up when they read or hear of a law and don't know the difference between commercial vehicles and recreational vehicle statutes. It's done on this forum all the time. You see people talk about the Federal Motor Carrier laws and make some claim like they think they know what they're talking about. When you read someone spouting off about FMCS laws as pertaining to recreational vehicles you should immediately page on down. Those people don't have a clue what they're talking about.

CMVs, the trailer is limited to 53ft. Most states no longer set a limit for over-all length on tractor/semi trailer combinations. Some do limit other units, even other CMVs for length. I paid a fine in Iowa for one of my truck/trailer combinations. And have heard of hot-shot hands in trouble with GN and pickup.

[Wadcutter]

hotpepperkid wrote:
So length requirments must be different for commericial than RV's. Some of the trailers are 51' and I know those tractors have to be longer than 14'

That is correct, except commercial vehicle trailers are often 53 ft long. Separate statutes. That's is why people get all screwed up when they read or hear of a law and don't know the difference between commercial vehicles and recreational vehicle statutes. It's done on this forum all the time. You see people talk about the Federal Motor Carrier laws and make some claim like they think they know what they're talking about. When you read someone spouting off about FMCS laws as pertaining to recreational vehicles you should immediately page on down. Those people don't have a clue what they're talking about.

[hotpepperkid]

So length requirments must be different for commericial than RV's. Some of the trailers are 51' and I know those tractors have to be longer than 14'

[drsteve]

You'll likely be fine unless you crash, or someone runs in to you, that's when they'll pull out the tape measure. Your insurance will still pay up to your policy limits, because insurance covers negligence/ignorance on the part of the insured, but I personally would not chance it.

[deltabravo]

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

Length ends at the end of the object you towing - the boat.... or more correctly, the motor on the boat.

[fj12ryder]

Honestly it doesn't really matter if someone else has done it, that's no guarantee that you can do it. If you're over length, then it's a roll of the dice. Personally I don't think it's high on the list of things to worry about, but if you come across a trooper that's having a slow day and nothing better to do, you could be toast.

Like Harry says: "Do you feel lucky?".

[Wadcutter]

A motorhome towing a pickup with a boat behind the pickup? Overlength will be only one of your problems. That's an illegal combination in most if not all states.
As far as state police/highway patrol bothering you? Just because one guy does it and doesn't get stopped is absolutely no indication that you will. It's not a game of percentages nor is it a defense that 'the other guy did it and didn't get stopped." Your problems if stopped will be a whole lot more than just paying a ticket. It's going to make for a very long day and very expensive. People just don't have a concept of reality when it comes to getting stopped.
The strangest combination I ever stopped was a motor home pulling a box trailer that was pulling a Dodge Durango with a boat attached. 4 vehicles in combination. He had started out in Missouri and I got him stopped almost 100 miles into Illinois. His complaint was he had driven all that distance and no one had stopped him. Whine and moan. Well, his tough luck. Just because he managed to slide for 100 miles he was stopped then. His pickup and boat was towed to a lot since he didn't have another driver for them. He pays the tow bill and the storage bill. I nearly got writer's cramp writing tickets. And 2 or more tickets is a mandatory court appearance. That's a state supreme court rule. And court is not right then either. 30-45 days later. So another trip back over 100 miles to court.

[romore]

I am not aware of any jurisdiction that will allow such a setup, many require the lead trailer to be a fifth wheel. If you choose to flout the law it's only a matter of time until you are called to account, ignorance won't fly as an excuse.