Anyone double tow?

[oldschool]

Do any of you tow a fifth wheel and a boat? If so, how well does it work and what is the deal on licensing?

 

[harleypauls]

I thought this thread was going to be about 2 camel toes:beer

 

[oldschool]

I thought this thread was going to be about 2 camel toes:beer

Nothing says it can't be.

 

[harleypauls]

Nothing says it can't be.

 

[TPC]

Total length is between 65 and 70 feet.
If you're cool when the CHP stops you then it's 70 feet, if you're a difficult traffic stop, then it's 65'.

The middle vech has to be a 5th wheel greater in weight than the boat on it's trailer & it has to have legal brakes.

If it's a clean set up, lights & rigging correct and ya drive sanely the CHP/NHP/AZHP will leave you alone.

Those complaining of getting stopped were usually doing something totally un-related to the length or set-up, and initially get stopped for that.

Like traveling in the carpool lane, 90 mph ect ect. Then they MF the LEO, then the shit starts, so the stories go.

The rest of the story eventually comes out later.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Now this is a better topic. :beer

Nothing says it can't be.

 

[DeltaSigBoater]

 

[boatnaked]

I towed doubles but it was a fifth wheel and a flatbed trailer with ATV's, (33'6" trailer 19'FB) it was Ok until I had to back both of them down a sandy road, took me about 45 minutes to go about 300ft. backing doubles is hard, never tried with the boat which is about 29' counting the trailer.
and TPC is right about the 65' total length, I was about 69' and never got bothered, but I checked with the DMV and there is a permit that you could get at the DMV that will let you pull up to 95' for $75.00 for a year.

 

[TBI]

My buddy tows a 5th wheel with his boat behind it, smooth sailing. :beer

(just be careful not to pull in somewhere you can't get out)

 

[socalmoney]

Nothing says it can't be.

Isn't that 4 toes?

 

[PropCop]

Not sure what you are talking about....



I have never been stopped, questioned, hassled or anything by LEO. But always get asked the stupid question on how do you back it down the launch ramp...

I have asked several CHPs, and even was provided paperwork on the deal, and still dont have a definitive answer on if its 65' or 70'. Near as I understand it, if the middle vehicle is under 30', then the length can be 70'. If the middle vehicle is over 30', then its 65'. But dont quote me, that is the nearest I could get to a straight answer. As for a license, I already had a Class A.

Towing really has been a piece of cake. Only thing you need to do is think and plan ahead and dont let yourself get into a place you would have to back out of. Always give yourself an out. Good luck.

Oh yeah, my trailer is FOR SALE for $4900 or best...........
(figured it was a perfect time to throw that in....lol)

 

[OCMerrill]

My buddy tows a 5th wheel with his boat behind it, smooth sailing. :beer

(just be careful not to pull in somewhere you can't get out)

Road Trains baby.....Triples and up.

 

[Rvrluvr]

70 ft if the first trailer is 28 or less
65 ft if the first is over 28
if your towing a good size boat chances are you have surge brakes....If it doesn't then it probably doesn't weigh enough to matter...3000lbs is the border line then second trailer needs brakes....

the great thing about this set up is CHP (most) don't know a friggin thing about any of the rules when it comes to towing doubles....as previously posted just be cool and you will have no prob.....

when setting up make sure you distrubute the weight keeping in mind if your second trailer is tongue heavy then the fith wheel hitch will be light It can get real squerley and beat the shit out of ya going down the road...Other than this you wont even know its there...

you need a class a non comercial licence to do this

also be carefull on the weight of the whole setup the chp WILL pull you over and check the GVWR on the tow vehicle..then the trailers...They can get real snooty if they want....All they have to do is call one of the DOT CHP pickup trucks to the scene and they have portable scales...They will make you drop the second and have it towed.....Happend to a friend and he is a cop.....

I have been doing this for 15 years and only been stopped once...I had dark tinted windows...but he did ask how long I was I said 65 he said ok....didn't check thank god cuz I was 80+ ...Took that all the way to Oregon sand dunes and back ...got pulled over in MOhave....

BTW I was told by my cop friend that there is no vehicle code that says the first trailer has to be a fifth wheel....I have seen a couple people doo double pull trailer but I don't think I would risk it....

 

[PropCop]

70 ft if the first trailer is 28 or less
65 ft if the first is over 28
if your towing a good size boat chances are you have surge brakes....If it doesn't then it probably doesn't weigh enough to matter...3000lbs is the border line then second trailer needs brakes....

the great thing about this set up is CHP (most) don't know a friggin thing about any of the rules when it comes to towing doubles....as previously posted just be cool and you will have no prob.....

when setting up make sure you distrubute the weight keeping in mind if your second trailer is tongue heavy then the fith wheel hitch will be light It can get real squerley and beat the shit out of ya going down the road...Other than this you wont even know its there...

you need a class a non comercial licence to do this

also be carefull on the weight of the whole setup the chp WILL pull you over and check the GVWR on the tow vehicle..then the trailers...They can get real snooty if they want....All they have to do is call one of the DOT CHP pickup trucks to the scene and they have portable scales...They will make you drop the second and have it towed.....Happend to a friend and he is a cop.....

I have been doing this for 15 years and only been stopped once...I had dark tinted windows...but he did ask how long I was I said 65 he said ok....didn't check thank god cuz I was 80+ ...Took that all the way to Oregon sand dunes and back ...got pulled over in MOhave....

BTW I was told by my cop friend that there is no vehicle code that says the first trailer has to be a fifth wheel....I have seen a couple people doo double pull trailer but I don't think I would risk it....

Great post, very informative. I found that out when I was trying to get a definite answer. I asked the guys at on the road, commercial inspectors, ones at the scales, and none of them were sure about it. Even the paperwork they gave me is vague. Better for us in my opinion. My trailer is 7500, boat is 2600. My set up tows great.

 

[slotracer]

BTW I was told by my cop friend that there is no vehicle code that says the first trailer has to be a fifth wheel....I have seen a couple people doo double pull trailer but I don't think I would risk it....[/QUOTE]

i am checking into this right now and there is a couple ways of get your licence to go this way. above statement was true up until 5 years ago when it ran out of time now you can no longer tow double trailers on the hitch. this is from the chp in calif.

 

[oldschool]

Thanks for all the info. I'm looking at towing a fifth wheel in the 24-28 ft range with a 20' boat(total lenth is just under24') behind that. The tow vehicle is a F250 diesel. I've done some rough measuring and figured I'd be right around 66-67'. So it sound like that will work as long as I don't get a trailer that built with penitentiary steel.

How difficult is it to get a non-commercial class A?
Thanks again for all the info.

 

[TBI]

Thanks for all the info. I'm looking at towing a fifth wheel in the 24-28 ft range with a 20' boat(total lenth is just under24') behind that. The tow vehicle is a F250 diesel. I've done some rough measuring and figured I'd be right around 66-67'. So it sound like that will work as long as I don't get a trailer that built with penitentiary steel.

How difficult is it to get a non-commercial class A?
Thanks again for all the info.

Send me a pic, I'll build you one

 

[Rvrluvr]

Thanks for all the info. I'm looking at towing a fifth wheel in the 24-28 ft range with a 20' boat(total lenth is just under24') behind that. The tow vehicle is a F250 diesel. I've done some rough measuring and figured I'd be right around 66-67'. So it sound like that will work as long as I don't get a trailer that built with penitentiary steel.

How difficult is it to get a non-commercial class A?
Thanks again for all the info.

not hard at all just get the book and take the test....I have a comercial licence and every endorsement....I can drive anything but a school bus..

SLOTRACER....u might b right its been about 7-8 years since I had that conversation with him .....

sorry about the spelling .....I isnt all dat smart

 

[oldschool]

Send me a pic, I'll build you one

Your the best. Here's one of my good side.

 

[AEA]

The following is from Cal DMV "Recreational Vehicles and Trailers Handbook" (DL 648 - rev. 10/2003).

No passenger vehicle, pickup truck, or RV may tow more than one other vehicle without a Commercial Class A license, with endorsement.

Your vehicle combination cannot exceed 65 feet.

Brakes are required on any trailer having a gross weight of 1500 lbs. or more.

This addresses a few of the points made in earlier posts. I don't know if it is accurate, just what the DMV puts in their handbook for people that are interested in getting license upgrades to pull various trailers.

 

[Abc123]

I'm going to do a complete trailer restoration on my boat trailer this winter. I'm thinking about putting a receiver on the back so I can pull my jet skis behind the boat. Is this legal? If not, how much is the ticket and will it effect my insurance rates?

I asked the one guy I know who does this frequently from La Verne to Mohave. He said he's never been hassled, but he has no idea whether or not it's legal. He just does it anyways.

I've been thinking about doing a combo trailer with the overhead rack, but I imagine it's a pain in the ass to load and unload skis. It would suck having to dunk the boat when I only want to launch the skis.

 

[River Runnin]

I've triple towed a few times and got away with it in NV, AZ, and CA. I roll a Diesel pusher pulling a truck, and trailer with a golf cart (about 75ft) and accessories.

This might help with state by state towing!

http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm

 

[hallett21]

In CA first trailer needs to be 5th wheel/goose neck to be "legal"

 

[oldschool]

I'm going to do a complete trailer restoration on my boat trailer this winter. I'm thinking about putting a receiver on the back so I can pull my jet skis behind the boat. Is this legal? If not, how much is the ticket and will it effect my insurance rates?

I asked the one guy I know who does this frequently from La Verne to Mohave. He said he's never been hassled, but he has no idea whether or not it's legal. He just does it anyways.

I've been thinking about doing a combo trailer with the overhead rack, but I imagine it's a pain in the ass to load and unload skis. It would suck having to dunk the boat when I only want to launch the skis.

WOW! you did pull this one from the vault. I saw a guy with the overhead setup at the Delta this weekend. It seemed to work pretty slick.Personally, I would go the overhead route before double towing. Intial cost will be more, but would be safer overall.

 

[work2ski]

I have been towing doubles from Long Beach to Parker for over 10 years. Actually made 1 trip to Northern Idaho up the 15 fwy through NV, UT, ID MT and back into Idaho nearly 3000 miles round trip. When I told my wife what my plans were, she thought I was crazy and started doing TONS of research. By the end of it, after having difficulties finding any rules, she spent 30 mins on the phone with CHP out of Needles thinking if any of them knew the rules, it would by the guy on I-40. He read through his whole manual and finally said "go ahead, I can't find any reason not to". I also heard about a rec- doubles cert, called a couple schools and they had never heard of it. I have never been pulled over or hassled in spite of having passed and been passed by countless CHP and local cops. I don't drive over 60 mph (much) and plan ahead for stops. Don't even try to back up, it will be easier and take less time to drop the boat and come back for it.

Tongue weight is important to check, make sure you put a scale under the pin of the 5th wheel with and without the weight on the rear to confirm you still have enough.

BTW, good info about the 65-70' limit. Doesn't matter much for me since I'm over 72'

 

[probablecause]

....as previously posted just be cool and you will have no prob.....

Until you pull out your Class "C" license as your form of identification and license status.

 

[oldschool]

My solution was that I tow the TT and the wife tows the boat. This makes for peaceful trips to and from the lake, in between can be a different story.

 

[Rvrluvr]

Until you pull out your Class "C" license as your form of identification and license status.

Havn't had a class c since I was 19 so I don't worry about it

 

[Abc123]

WOW! you did pull this one from the vault. I saw a guy with the overhead setup at the Delta this weekend. It seemed to work pretty slick.Personally, I would go the overhead route before double towing. Intial cost will be more, but would be safer overall.

I really like the the overhead set up because it would save space and money (storage owners charge by the foot). The only thing I don't like is having to dunk the boat when I'm not going to use it, having to take the boat everywhere that I might just want to take the skis, and I'm sure it would effect my resale value as most people don't need and/or want a combo trailer.

A set up like this would be cool, but I guess I would need to get over my concerns mentioned above.



I'm not really a fan of the style below, because the trailer becomes very long and I'd image the weight distribution is far off on a set up like this.

In CA first trailer needs to be 5th wheel/goose neck to be "legal"

Source? I haven't been able to find anything online from CA DMV stating this.

My solution was that I tow the TT and the wife tows the boat. This makes for peaceful trips to and from the lake, in between can be a different story.

I don't have that option, but doesn't that become more of a pain in the ass.? Two vehicles, double the fuel, more difficult to find parking once you reach your destination?

 

[primetime]

I was told no when I went to chp. 40' 5'r and 18' flatbed with my f-450. They said I was 3' over?????

 

[BHC Vic]

I like the overhead but would hate wiping down if I'm. Not launching the boat but kind of lazy I guess

 

[Abc123]

[video=youtube;QXczCbmXSPE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXczCbmXSPE[/video]

I have seen other versions with lifts that lower the skis down one at a time. I would think that would be the better set up, because you don't have to move remove the boat from the trailer.


Anyone around here ever use/own a combo?

I'd rather tow doubles if I can.

 

[DeltaSigBoater]

In CA first trailer needs to be 5th wheel/goose neck to be "legal"

Source? I haven't been able to find anything online from CA DMV stating this.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/sec7.htm

and page 29, 2nd paragraph https://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648.pdf

 

[yard dog]

I have been towing doubles from Long Beach to Parker for over 10 years. Actually made 1 trip to Northern Idaho up the 15 fwy through NV, UT, ID MT and back into Idaho nearly 3000 miles round trip. When I told my wife what my plans were, she thought I was crazy and started doing TONS of research. By the end of it, after having difficulties finding any rules, she spent 30 mins on the phone with CHP out of Needles thinking if any of them knew the rules, it would by the guy on I-40. He read through his whole manual and finally said "go ahead, I can't find any reason not to". I also heard about a rec- doubles cert, called a couple schools and they had never heard of it. I have never been pulled over or hassled in spite of having passed and been passed by countless CHP and local cops. I don't drive over 60 mph (much) and plan ahead for stops. Don't even try to back up, it will be easier and take less time to drop the boat and come back for it.

Tongue weight is important to check, make sure you put a scale under the pin of the 5th wheel with and without the weight on the rear to confirm you still have enough.

BTW, good info about the 65-70' limit. Doesn't matter much for me since I'm over 72'

You might of gotten away with this for 10 years , but its only a matter of time and they tag you for driving out of class . should have class A with doubles cert , (will not need air brakes cert) and also need a health card . I am sure Mc Rib will be long soon to fill in the blanks .

 

[Abc123]

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/sec7.htm

and page 29, 2nd paragraph https://apps.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648.pdf

Thanks.
I'll have to sit down and read the entire thing later. That paragraph didn't say anything about a 5th wheel, just what licence is required. So if I get a commercial, would I have to pay more fees, increase insurance rates and be held to a different set of rules? I hear the DMV is strict on those with commercial licenses.

 

[rivrrts429]

Thanks.
I'll have to sit down and read the entire thing later. That paragraph didn't say anything about a 5th wheel, just what licence is required. So if I get a commercial, would I have to pay more fees, increase insurance rates and be held to a different set of rules? I hear the DMV is strict on those with commercial licenses.

Speeding tickets and moving violations count for more points when you have commercial.

No more .08 either. You're now at a .04 maximum BAC level.

Air brake endorsement no longer exists although I still had to test, and pass, the air brake section when I got my class A license 15 years ago.

I don't have any increased insurance rates, but they're not cheaper either lol.

You may want to take a look at a Non-Commercial Class A license. Not sure how it works when hauling doubles but it may be more geared to what you're trying to achieve.

A guy in Big River has the ski set up over the top of his boat like you're talking about. But he has each side on hydraulics. If he wants to lower the ski on the drivers side the whole assembly lowers to the ground along side the the fenders of the boat.

His boat doesn't get wet but it was big dollars to build $$. I think it's two cylinders to go up and two cylinders to go down (4 total) per side. It's engineered like a scissor effect. Its a really trick setup. Each side is operated independently too.

 

[Rvrluvr]

Speeding tickets and moving violations count for more points when you have commercial.

No more .08 either. You're now at a .04 maximum BAC level.

Air brake endorsement no longer exists although I still had to test, and pass, the air brake section when I got my class A license 15 years ago.

I don't have any increased insurance rates, but they're not cheaper either lol.

You may want to take a look at a Non-Commercial Class A license. Not sure how it works when hauling doubles but it may be more geared to what you're trying to achieve.

A guy in Big River has the ski set up over the top of his boat like you're talking about. But he has each side on hydraulics. If he wants to lower the ski on the drivers side the whole assembly lowers to the ground along side the the fenders of the boat.

His boat doesn't get wet but it was big dollars to build $$. I think it's two cylinders to go up and two cylinders to go down (4 total) per side. It's engineered like a scissor effect. Its a really trick setup. Each side is operated independently too.

and no driving school when you get a ticket no matter what you are driving

 

[Rvrluvr]

You might of gotten away with this for 10 years , but its only a matter of time and they tag you for driving out of class . should have class A with doubles cert , (will not need air brakes cert) and also need a health card . I am sure Mc Rib will be long soon to fill in the blanks .

I called your friend, he wasn't interested in what I had at the time. I just landed a new job that might be up his alley. Ask him to text me again I lost his #

 

[yard dog]

Thanks.
I'll have to sit down and read the entire thing later. That paragraph didn't say anything about a 5th wheel, just what licence is required. So if I get a commercial, would I have to pay more fees, increase insurance rates and be held to a different set of rules? I hear the DMV is strict on those with commercial licenses.

As I recall you can tow a trailer behind your boat , its does not say it has to be fifth wheel . But you need a class A (commercial) with a doubles cert and a health card . need to take all the class A tests and a doubles test , pre trip and a skills test and road test with your truck towing the boat trailer . after you pass all you will have a class A with no air brakes and only can drive with the type of transmission that you did the road test with, it will be on the back of the new license and list the restrictions that you have as will as the endorsements = t for doubles .

 

[yard dog]

I called your friend, he wasn't interested in what I had at the time. I just landed a new job that might be up his alley. Ask him to text me again I lost his #

will do , tks

 

[probablecause]

In CA if you are going to pull doubles, you have to have a full blown Class A. A non commercial Class A won't suffice.

 

[River Runnin]

In CA if you are going to pull doubles, you have to have a full blown Class A. A non commercial Class A won't suffice.

http://towingworld.com/towinglawsbystate.cfm?state2=CA

 

[Jefftowz]

This is my set up from Bear Trailers, The overhead rack is for one or two PWC's..

It came with a ramp and two winches to load amd unload.

 

[oldschool]

This is my set up from Bear Trailers, The overhead rack is for one or two PWC's..

It came with a ramp and two winches to load amd unload.

View attachment 363987

That's a nice set up. I've seen a few with a davit set up as well. Several ways get it done. Seems to me there's been a few of these for sale here over the years.