Tandem towing with 65' Max - anybody enforcing this?

I guess that plenty of discussion.

Stay safe out there folks.

CLOSED

corvettekent wrote:
Don't plan on coming to WA, OR, or CA as they do not allow tandem towing.

Don't know about WA or OR, but you're incorrect on CA...;)

~

As long as a rig is within the combined weight limit the brakes on the truck and first trailer should be able to stop the whole rig. Mine does. My boat trailer does not require brakes because of the lighter weight. Others with heavier second trailers have surge brakes or a second brake controller. Many ways to control stops.

I think the real problem would how do you stop in an emergacy. Does r
tow vehicle have the ability to stop that much weight and do have or are able to control brakes on the 2nd trailer?

Lwiddis wrote:
"Because y'all all drive the speed limit..right?"

Yes I do and it's 55 when towing in California. Are you now attempting to justify your behavior based on what illegal acts others do?

Sjip, you know that answer as well as I do. Are you substituting your judgment for that of another state's? May I come to your state and observe only the laws where I agree?

Same to you, Byronic. LEO doesn't cite you so it's ok? Can I come to your state also and observe only those laws I agree with?

Towing California sucks. My truck likes it up closer to 65 so that is were I go. In 35 years of towing there never been stopped, CHP when bye me once and honked and went 55 with his hand and went on down the road. I slowed down until he was out of sight and resumed what I was doing. I have had them pass me when I doing well over 55 and never give a second look

In California, it was explained to me by a nameless official, a Class A CDL is required for towing doubles (truck/trailer/trailer) because that is the only license issued by California on which a "Doubles Endorsement" can be added.
Some states require a Doubles Endorsement on their "normal" license, many do not require an endorsement.
The license has Reciprocity; length, width, type of hitch required, safety chains, trailer brakes, etc. do not.

Horizon170 wrote:
I pulled a 5th wheel and a Olds Cutlass behind that for years. FL, GA, and on to TX. plus a few more and was never pulled over. I was 72' 10" O/A.
Marvin

Maybe they thought the car was pushing the load like a second locomotive! :E

Laws vary from state to state and in some cases from city to city. There are special "Double towing" laws for the Detroit, MI area for example that do not apply in say Battle Creek, MI. What they are I can not tell you.

As for enforcement.. THat too varies but now from officer to officer and in some cases incident to incident.

It was posted here oh, about a decade ago, about an RVer who was overlength and involved in an accident.. I think in Indiana (But not sure) Enforcement happened,

F-TROUP wrote:
...in Calif you can double tow if you have a CDL with doubles endorsement for RV use.

That is the fact for CA.

It's funny how people have a lot of different opinions, in Calif you can double tow if you have a CDL with doubles endorsment for RV use, but you have restrictions, such as you can't drive for hire. As far as the safety hawks, pulling doubles since 2007 for over 35,000 miles, not one problem with short bed truck. Pulling doubles does not draw attention from LEO's acting brain dead does. I wouldn't roll the dice do it right.