Towing Double?

[08trdoffroad]

Hey all,

I just purchased a 13' Aluminum boat and was curious if it would be possible to tow it double behind my 2010 Starcraft 176RB? The boat, trailer, and motor probably weigh less than 500 lbs, with maybe 40-50 lbs of tongue weight.

I have a few questions related to trying to do this.

As you can see in the picture below. The bumper is not very substantial.



Is is possible to swap out to a standard 4" bumper to allow the addition of a rear hitch bracket?

Or am I out in the night with the idea of trying to tow double with this trailer?

[Campfire_Time]

08trdoffroad wrote:


I have an email into the manufacturer detailing what I wish to do, we'll see what they have to say.

08trdoffroad wrote:
We shall see...

You sound sure they will give you the thumbs up and that we're giving you bogus information. That said I'm not clear on why you are asking here. Many of us have been towing trailers for many years and have a lot of experience and knowledge. We're just trying to save you a lot of headaches and possibly even a lawsuit. If you want to do it, go ahead. Why listen to reason? I personally don't really care if you destroy your trailer and your boat all at the same time.

[Francesca_Knowl]

In addition to asking the trailer maker, you might ask a professional welding shop for an opinion. Those guys mince no words!

[08trdoffroad]

We shall see...

[popeyemth]

The manufacturer is going to CTA and say no if they reply at all

[08trdoffroad]

Campfire Time wrote:
People have put bike racks on the light weight travel trailers, ignoring the trailer manufacturers recommendation NOT to put anything on the back of the frame or bumper, only to have it end in disaster because the frame was not able to hold up to the few extra lbs of the bikes and rack. I personally know someone who had a receiver welded to his trailer frame for a bike rack. They got lucky and a passing motorist warned him of the impending danger.

This is physics and engineering. The frame is designed to hold 3500#, yes. But on a platform mounted to the top of the frame. Not by dragging that weight bouncing down the road behind itself. The trailer frame is just simply not designed for those kind of stresses.

I have an email into the manufacturer detailing what I wish to do, we'll see what they have to say.

[08trdoffroad]

n7bsn wrote:

08trdoffroad wrote:
The frame handles the 3500 lbs of weight of the trailer, why would it not be able to handle the added few pounds of the boat. It's not like I want to slap on a 3500 lb boat...
...

Utah allows ball to ball towing as long as the combination of vehicles does not exceed 72 ft, and the lights on the rear-most trailer must function...

Do you understand physics? Do you know what lever-arm means? How a pendulum exerts force on the pivot point?

The frame on my 5er is 10 inch beams, and it's rated for a 1,000 lb trailer. Your frame is, what? 5 inch? Take a guess on the relative strength of the two frames.

Don't both trailers have to have working brakes also?

I have a grasp of physics..

Not in Utah. A trailer only has to have brakes if it is over 2000 lbs.

[Campfire_Time]

People have put bike racks on the light weight travel trailers, ignoring the trailer manufacturers recommendation NOT to put anything on the back of the frame or bumper, only to have it end in disaster because the frame was not able to hold up to the few extra lbs of the bikes and rack. I personally know someone who had a receiver welded to his trailer frame for a bike rack. They got lucky and a passing motorist warned him of the impending danger.

This is physics and engineering. The frame is designed to hold 3500#, yes. But on a platform mounted to the top of the frame. Not by dragging that weight bouncing down the road behind itself. The trailer frame is just simply not designed for those kind of stresses.

[TucsonJim]

I'd suggest you contact the following for accurate information:
Utah Department of Transportation, 4501 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City UT 84119-141265; (801) 965-4000

I did a google search on "triple towing), and there is a ton of information out there.

[n7bsn]

08trdoffroad wrote:
The frame handles the 3500 lbs of weight of the trailer, why would it not be able to handle the added few pounds of the boat. It's not like I want to slap on a 3500 lb boat...
...

Utah allows ball to ball towing as long as the combination of vehicles does not exceed 72 ft, and the lights on the rear-most trailer must function...

Do you understand physics? Do you know what lever-arm means? How a pendulum exerts force on the pivot point?

The frame on my 5er is 10 inch beams, and it's rated for a 1,000 lb trailer. Your frame is, what? 5 inch? Take a guess on the relative strength of the two frames.

Don't both trailers have to have working brakes also?

[dewey02]

Physically possible? Yes.
Safe? No

[n7bsn]

Cotay wrote:
I've read that no States allow "two balling" or "double balls", but I've never personally checked the law in every State. In California you can tow a bal trailer behind a 5th Wheel but not behind a Travel Trailer or other ball trailer. On our most recent camping trip we rented an F-150 to tow our boat and my wife drove the HTT behind our Expedition.

I know that both Montana and Texas allow "two ball" and think that Idaho might (?) also.

[Cotay]

I've read that no States allow "two balling" or "double balls", but I've never personally checked the law in every State. In California you can tow a bal trailer behind a 5th Wheel but not behind a Travel Trailer or other ball trailer. On our most recent camping trip we rented an F-150 to tow our boat and my wife drove the HTT behind our Expedition.

[08trdoffroad]

The frame handles the 3500 lbs of weight of the trailer, why would it not be able to handle the added few pounds of the boat. It's not like I want to slap on a 3500 lb boat...

I realize that, that is why I asked if I could swap to a standard 4" bumper, and if that isn't substantial enough I would be prepared to have the receiver installed directly to the frame.

Utah allows ball to ball towing as long as the combination of vehicles does not exceed 72 ft, and the lights on the rear-most trailer must function...

[Francesca_Knowl]

08trdoffroad wrote:


Or am I out in the night with the idea of trying to tow double with this trailer?

^^^^^^^^^^^^
This one....

[n7bsn]

1) I seriously doubt the frame on your Starcraft is up to the load of the boat-trailer.
2) The bumper is NOT strong enough, you would need to tie the receiver up into the frame.
3) I'm fairly certain Utah requires that one trailer be a 5er and that it does not allow both trailers to be a bumper-tow