Community Forums

starvin · 05-22-2012, 11:16 PM

I just pulled for the first time a 2 stall trailer behind my 28.5' fifth and find the rear trailer wants to wander back and forth. I thought it might be the weight was too far back, not so. I questioned the tire pressure, not that. a friend suggested a sway brake hitch but I'm not sure what that is exactly, any ideas?

KJcachers · 05-22-2012, 11:53 PM

A trailer behind a trailer?

BCooke · 05-23-2012, 06:03 AM

I have herd of that before but do not have a lot of info for you as it in not legal here. Any wiggle in the 5er translates to wiggle in the tag. I do not know if sway bars are usable or not, in your combination .... so not much help here. You see a lot of this discussion with the boat forums and guys towing boats behind 5ers.

stuhly · 05-23-2012, 07:22 AM

That is the nature of the beast. Get behind a OTR truck pulling doubles and watch it for a bit. KEEP YOUR SPEED DOWN, and hang on. You should also have brakes on rear trailer.

RustyJC · 05-23-2012, 07:25 AM

There's a reason that OTR drivers refer to doubles as "wiggle wagons".

Follow a FedEx or UPS rig pulling doubles and just watch for awhile.

Rusty

Cat320 · 05-23-2012, 01:43 PM

Don't believe I'd be pulling a trailer behind a trailer. My last 5th wheel manufacturer said NO trailers and a max of 200# for bikes on the back end.

JIMNLIN · 05-23-2012, 09:22 PM

I've double towed behind two different 5th wheel RVs with boats and ATVs and towed doubles with several GN trailers.
One thing I found is a bias ply tire will not track a radial. If one of your trailers have bias ply tires it can lead to very bad sway/handling issues.

Every two stall stock trailer I've pulled didn't exhibit good road manners for whatever reason with out a good WD hitch system.
Does the two staller pull ok behind the truck ??

lynn boyd · 05-24-2012, 06:56 AM

here in Utah it IS legal to pull double. Most with 5th wheels but many do it with bumper pulls. the back of my 5er is set up with a 300lb hitch/3500lb trailer weight. I pull an atv trailer or boat depending on the trip.
I dont think your wandering problem has to do with being pulled by your 5th wheel.. im betting you have a utility trailer problem. possibly a bent axle..
I agree you should try pulling your trailer with your truck to see how it handles.

SmokeyWren · 05-26-2012, 06:09 AM

When the 5er wiggles, the tag trailer behind the 5er will have a huge wiggle, even a sway. So yes, you need to add a sway controller to the tag trailer's hitch. I drug a utility trailer loaded with golf cart or quad and big generator, with extra gas and stuff, behind my 5er.

You need a ball mount with an extra piece welded on. That extra piece has an itty bitty ball, about 1" diameter that the sway controller connects to. The other end of the sway controller connects to another 1" ball mounted on the side of the trailer tongue. The following link is one example of the parts you need, not including the scrap iron you would have welded to the ball mount.
Draw-Tite Friction Sway Control Assembly and Fasteners 3400

One might be all you need. But you might need one on each side of the trailer tongue. Have someone drive the rig while you follow in another vehicle. Without enough sway control, you'll see the tag trailer do a big sway whenever the 5er does a small wiggle.

3665RE · 05-28-2012, 05:49 PM

Hi

Double trailer tows are prohibited in Florida and I think a lot of other states for “NON COMMERCIAL” vehicles.

3665RE

Mr_D · 05-28-2012, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3665RE

Hi

Double trailer tows are prohibited in Florida and I think a lot of other states for “NON COMMERCIAL” vehicles.

3665RE

Same here in WA

JohnBoyToo · 05-29-2012, 06:16 AM

Pretty sure many states allow it as I see them all the time....

I was considering it too, but after this weekends tow and the 40 mph cross winds on my normally STABLE combo, I am rethinking it...

NOT a fun drive with the wind induced wiggle and sway that I've never felt before...

I literally had tired fingers that I had to relax and flex every once in a while

3665RE · 05-30-2012, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo

Pretty sure many states allow it as I see them all the time....

Hi

Don’t confuse the commercial vehicle with the non-commercial vehicle.

When it comes to commercial vehicles and the double or triple tow you will note 2 things. The first trailer will be a fifth wheel the second and third will be any approved hitch, have brakes on all wheels and on Interstate highways they will only be doubles and both trailers are limited to 28’ in length.

I am unaware of any state that allows the double tow for non-commercial vehicles.

I agree I see some people pulling double trailers with their fifth wheel RV’s. The fact that some people are doing double tow trailers for their RV’s doesn’t make it legal.

3665RE