Is this Legal?

[SW4UA]

Was driving down the Interstate and saw a truck with a bed cap pulling a dual axle trailer with a 5th wheel hitch mounted to it and was pulling a good sized 5th wheel. Was heading South toward the Gulf.

Never saw anything like that before. Is that legal?

[bbeane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SW4UA Was driving down the Interstate and saw a truck with a bed cap pulling a dual axle trailer with a 5th wheel hitch mounted to it and was pulling a good sized 5th wheel. Was heading South toward the Gulf. Never saw anything like that before. Is that legal?

There is a company that makes a trailer setup that allows you to pull a 5th wheel with a ball hitch, I saw this set up at the Tampa RV show one year. Weather it's legal or not depends on the regulations which vary from state to state. I wonder why go through all that instead of just putting the right setup in the PU to start with.

[bldrbob]

With a cap it is hard to use a regular 5th wheel setup.

[wa8yxm]

That is a good question.. Though I have not seen it up close I have seen ads for the converter gear (The dual axle trailer) is called a converter)

My suspicion, by the way, is yes. But I stress the suspect word.

[Wayne M]

Can you imagine the weight on the hitch! Front wheels of the TV may be a little light on the road.

[JMonroe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M Can you imagine the weight on the hitch! Front wheels of the TV may be a little light on the road.

I think that's the point of this set up. All the weight is on the device, very little on the truck/hitch. Of course the hitch and truck need to be able to pull that weight, but that's not the same as bearing it.

[86bigred]

like to see him back it up.

[SyrenSkywolf]

I'd be able to back that up :]

Not much different than a 4-wheel trailer behind a tractor if everything is set up right. I can't vouch for the load change on the two hitches when backing up though.

[clarkgriswold]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMonroe I think that's the point of this set up. All the weight is on the device, very little on the truck/hitch. Of course the hitch and truck need to be able to pull that weight, but that's not the same as bearing it.

My thoughts exactly....ditto.

[wa8yxm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M Can you imagine the weight on the hitch! Front wheels of the TV may be a little light on the road.

I would imagine the hitch weight on the Tow Vehicle would be about the same as a car towed 4-down (That is under 100 pounds) since from the tow vehicle's point of view he's pulling a wagon, Thus it holds up 1/2 the tong, A weight light enough for you to pick up with one hand.

The weight of the trailer rests on the converter (The device that sits under the trailer) not on the truck.

[frankdamp]

It would probably be considered a double rig (two trailers). In many states, only commercial truckers can run doubles.

[DancinCampers]

If my memory serves me right, a similar device was used in the movie The Long Long Trailer.

[Campingman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M Can you imagine the weight on the hitch! Front wheels of the TV may be a little light on the road.

No weight on TV if hitch is over axels. Would think you would need a CDL because of the number of axels.

[Easyrider]

I used to pull a motorcycle trailer behind a travel trailer with a pickup truck. No CDL needed in Wisconsin, as long as I didn't go over the length limit I was ok.