Phil Saran Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Is there a website somewhere that would list what states allow triple towing. I have one ton Dodge Ram 3500 and a 34 foot fifth wheel trailer and am looking at adding a side by side on a open trailer behind that. It is legal here in Colorado where I live, but what other states?? Phil & Alberta Saran 2019 Keystone Cougar 30RLS 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 diesel Colorado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 That is double towing.................Not sure about the legality but the length may be the bigger problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Minnesota allows double towing as long as the first tow has a 5th wheel hitch. I remember how excited our friend with a trailer was that he would also be able to bring his boat. That was back in the 70s when the trucking industry just got this passed. I don't think anyone realized back then that this would apply to campers, not just truckers, except campers themselves. They guy who told our camping club about it was a cop so he was probably one of the first to realize the implications of this new law. Linda Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/ Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Here is one site among many. They actually refer to it as triple towing. http://www.rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_12078 Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Some states define towing double as "triple towing" because there's three units including the TV. Dutch 2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A F-53 Chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS 2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 A good reference is a trucker's atlas that can be purchased on line or at any truck stop. They have a page that lists all the double/triple towing laws and length laws by state. It is also a handy reference to keep around in the truck for the maps and other features as well. Most of the western states allow recreational doubles except Washington and Oregon. I have towed doubles in all the western states from North Dakota to the north and Texas to the south and everything in between out to the coast (except Washington and Oregon) with no issues from law enforcement (and my rig is a lot longer than you will be with your set up). Colorado allows recreational doubles on a standard driver's license, so you won't need to worry about any issues with your license no matter what state you are in (as long as that state allows doubles to start with). It may be helpful to carry a copy of the actual Colorado statute that shows this in case a local LEO is used to seeing some type of endorsement in their state. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Aw Chad you wrecked up a good possible 6 page thread with your clear straight forward information...again 😀 "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double-Trouble Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 2 hours ago, noteven said: Aw Chad you wrecked up a good possible 6 page thread with your clear straight forward information...again 😀 🤣 2 hours ago, Chad Heiser said: A good reference is a trucker's atlas that can be purchased on line or at any truck stop. They have a page that lists all the double/triple towing laws and length laws by state. It is also a handy reference to keep around in the truck for the maps and other features as well. Most of the western states allow recreational doubles except Washington and Oregon. I have towed doubles in all the western states from North Dakota to the north and Texas to the south and everything in between out to the coast (except Washington and Oregon) with no issues from law enforcement (and my rig is a lot longer than you will be with your set up). Colorado allows recreational doubles on a standard driver's license, so you won't need to worry about any issues with your license no matter what state you are in (as long as that state allows doubles to start with). It may be helpful to carry a copy of the actual Colorado statute that shows this in case a local LEO is used to seeing some type of endorsement in their state. My understanding is California requires a commercial class A plus doubles endorsement for non residents also.With that said I am a California resident and in 13 years of double towing have never been pulled over or given a second look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Heiser Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 35 minutes ago, Double-Trouble said: 🤣 My understanding is California requires a commercial class A plus doubles endorsement for non residents also.With that said I am a California resident and in 13 years of double towing have never been pulled over or given a second look. California does not and cannot require non commercial out of state residents to follow their licensing laws. Licensing is reciprocal to all states, so if you a legally licensed in your home state you are legally licensed in all 50 states (registration is the same). California does require their own residents to have a commercial class A license with a doubles endorsement in order to legally tow doubles (whether commercially or recreationally). They also require all commercial drivers (regardless of the state they are from) to have a doubles endorsement on their commercial license in order to tow doubles commercially in the state (but they would need this in any state to do so). Therefore if your home state (outside of California) allows you to tow recreational doubles with some license class less than a commercial class A with endorsement and you have that lesser class license that allows you to do so, then you may tow your doubles registered in your home state in California as well. 2000 Kenworth T2000 w/ Cummins N14 and autoshift 2017 DRV Mobile Suite 40KSSB4 with factory mods, dealer mods and personal mods - now in the RV graveyard 2022 DRV Full House MX450 with customized floor plan 2018 Polaris RZR Turbo S (fits in the garage) 2016 Smart Car (fits in the garage or gets flat towed behind the DRV when the RZR is in the garage)My First Solar Install ThreadMy Second Solar Install Thread & Photos and Documents Related to the buildMy MX450's solar, battery and inverter system - my biggest system yet! chadheiser.com West Coast HDT Rally Website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 While I'm no fan of towing double, I wonder if anyone here actually knows someone who was ticketed & fined for doing so recreationally? Like many who have been RVing for a long time, I have heard more than one such story but never have I actually met someone who was. We used to tow double or even triple out on the farm but that was never on major highways and for me, it has been many years ago and that is my only actual experience doing so and it didn't involve an RV. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FL-JOE Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Years ago I was camped next to a double tow out in the state of Washington. He had a 1-ton modified flat bed pulling a fiver, towing an aluminum trike trailer. They were full time and he said they had been stopped in a couple different states (don't recall where) because of the combination. He said they were not ticketed but told to get legal. The trike trailer was so light that he could take the trike off and actually pull the trailer with the trike, thus separating the combination until they were out of the state. But again, here is someone who was stopped but not cited. Joe & Cindy Newmar 4369 Ventana Pulling 24' enclosed (Mini Cooper, Harley, 2 Kayaks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennisvr Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 I also was stopped, but not cited (in California). I live in Calif. and have a CDL with doubles endorsement. I was pulling a 33' 5th wheel with a small trailer with a quad on it. Length limit for any trailer in combination is 28'. "It is better to have more truck than you need than to need more truck than you have" 2001 Volvo 660, Cummins 400 ISX, Eaton 3 Peddle Auto Shift 2014 Fuzion 40' Toyhauler 2015 Smart Car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Ha! Two 29ft trailers would be too big anyways... "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark and Dale Bruss Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 That is one of the interesting things, a commercial truck can have a single trailer of virtually unlimited length. But the minute it goes double commercially, twin 28' trailer seem to be the norm in a lot of states. Please click for Emails instead of PM Mark & DaleJoey - 2016 Bounder 33C Tige - 2006 40' Travel SupremeSparky III - 2021 Mustang Mach-e, off the the Road since 2019 Useful HDT Truck, Trailer, and Full-timing Info atwww.dmbruss.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Saskatchewan Canada triple tow: Clicky "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeBeFulltimers Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Class "A" CDL doubles/triples endorsement means tractor pulling TWO or THREE trailers. I pulled doubles (2 trailers) for years but never triples (3 trailers). Fulltiming since September 1, 2010 2012 Ford F-350 PSD SRW Lariat Crew Cab 2012 Montana 3585SA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou Schneider Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 20 hours ago, chirakawa said: Here is one site among many. They actually refer to it as triple towing. http://www.rvsafely.com/rvroadlaws.htm Double towing is the correct term, if triple tow means two trailers behind a truck then a tractor pulling three trailers would be quadruple towing and I've never heard it described that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Lou Schneider said: Double towing is the correct term, if triple tow means two trailers behind a truck then a tractor pulling three trailers would be quadruple towing and I've never heard it described that way. And a tractor pulling nothing would be "single towing". LOL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET156 Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 I manage a RV park in Long Beach WA. and have had people towing a 5th wheel and a boat behind their 3500 Ram. They came through Ca. and Oregon with no problem so I am thinking that both states have changed their ways. I am a retired owner operator and was surprised to see people towing doubles. Actually Wa. considers it to be triples due to the weight rating of the pick up trucks. 1998 International DT530, 3060 -6spd. 300hp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 North Dakota allows triple pup-28ft trailers or a B-Train which is 2 53 ft trailers, or regular doubles- 2 pup. Fed-X and UPS run triples thru here daily. Menards pulls B-trains regularly from their warehouse about 3 miles from us. I did see a farm tractor pulling 4 hay trailers down a state road this week.... each trailer had 18 round bales on it.... Jim's Adventures Old Spacecraft.... Who knows whats next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 2 hours ago, remoandiris said: And a tractor pulling nothing would be "single towing". LOL!!! probably yes in The RV World 😀 "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 33 minutes ago, Alie&Jim's Carrilite said: North Dakota allows triple pup-28ft trailers or a B-Train which is 2 53 ft trailers, or regular doubles- 2 pup. Fed-X and UPS run triples thru here daily. Menards pulls B-trains regularly from their warehouse about 3 miles from us. I did see a farm tractor pulling 4 hay trailers down a state toad this week.... each trailer had 18 round bales on it.... I’ll bet that state toad was flattened.... "Are we there yet?" asked no motorcycle rider, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alie&Jim's Carrilite Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 2 minutes ago, noteven said: I’ll bet that state toad was flattened.... Yes it was! Jim's Adventures Old Spacecraft.... Who knows whats next Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 4 hours ago, Lou Schneider said: Double towing is the correct term, if triple tow means two trailers behind a truck then a tractor pulling three trailers would be quadruple towing and I've never heard it described that way. I agree. I didn't write the website. Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packnrat Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 On 9/15/2018 at 9:07 AM, Mark and Dale Bruss said: That is one of the interesting things, a commercial truck can have a single trailer of virtually unlimited length. But the minute it goes double commercially, twin 28' trailer seem to be the norm in a lot of states. not quite right on total length. pending some state rules 75 feet, (B train, triples, etc excluded) or a max axle spacing of (*) is the rule. not very many fixed trailers longer then 53 feet. yes there are "extendable" or "special" trailers but need a extra legal permit to move on any public roadway. in ca double towing (commercial) is 75 MAX. rv it is (65) max. then there is the total weight limits. (based on the tow rig). and lets not forget how to stop the combo, so got brakes?? and the width is 102 inches max, with some "lesser" roads prohibited due to "oversize laws". even some roads over "X" feet long can be prohibited. but sad some mt pass roads are not restricted, and if you do tow ANYTHING over them you will cause damage. mind the laws in your home state, read up on the dot rules, as most hwy patrol do not know the laws, including the dot inspectors. but they have the ticket book at the ready. it can be confusing and strange to understand all the laws for just the 48 connected states. or even just your "area" of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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