Community Forums

Larry Young · 11-06-2015, 01:17 PM

The double towing may be legal in some states, but you have to have a commercial truck drivers license.

CJ7365 · 11-06-2015, 01:36 PM

OP does your featherlite trailer have brakes? If no, them abort the whole thing, if yes, attatch trailer first then flat tow jeep

darstar · 11-06-2015, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

While travel on the interstate may be OK you could have issues as soon as you were beyond the "fuel zone" when state rules would apply.

As previously noted, most triple towing included the caveat the first connection must be a 5 wheel.

Yes , I am aware of the exiting for fuel and food clause. Could apply to a whole lot of rigs out there, depending on the State. When years ago I pulled a tri-axle V nose enclosed car trailer,with my coach i was 75 ft or more, never a problem. You have to be careful no matter what when you are that long, it was always TSs and Walmarts. Cracker Barrel was often too small for me.Did that for 20 plus years and we went everywhere the road would take us.

Yes the fifth wheel part, and I can see why that is, its all about stability. Not all states however. I am sure I could build a pull hitch set up that would be as stable as a high profile fifth wheel pulling a trailer . Ever notice a lot of the open car haulers out there, many are set up as a pull trailer without a standard fifth wheel.

darstar · 11-06-2015, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ7365

OP does your featherlite trailer have brakes? If no, them abort the whole thing, if yes, attatch trailer first then flat tow jeep

Yes , trailer has brakes. Connecting to the coach ( as I had said ) needs updating as I have an air connection at rear of coach and a power on switch on dash. That is another issue as to what the set up actually was as I bought the CC that way. I guess its an air actuated device that applys pressure to the electric brake circuit via a magnetite valve ? Need to look into it.

Kurtsara · 11-06-2015, 02:40 PM

Wouldn't you be double towing?

darstar · 11-06-2015, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurtsara

Wouldn't you be double towing?

Yes , so to speak , however often its called tripple if counting the tow vehicle. True triple towing ( 27 ft. trailers is also out there,) mostly in western states. and on Toll roads i have seen three 53 ft. vans behind a tractor. Way over 150 foot long !

BillJinOR · 11-06-2015, 03:11 PM

I triple tow trailers for that big del co. The equipment is designed for the job and the physics of it. While I do it for work, I would never do it with the setup you are suggesting legal or not.
I haven't done the setup your thinking of so I guess I cant say for sure as you want someone who has discuss it. BUT I have seen those who have on the road and it scares the S.. out of me .. Sway is almost impossible to stop and Ive seen several rvers tipped over setups in my travels.mostly truck 5er and a boat or off road vehicles on a flatbed
The commercial equip I use all I would think of using as it can be a real handful ! Take the advice or not .. Good luck.

Scarab0088 · 11-06-2015, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darstar

Yes , so to speak , however often its called tripple if counting the tow vehicle. True triple towing ( 27 ft. trailers is also out there,) mostly in western states. and on Toll roads i have seen three 53 ft. vans behind a tractor. Way over 150 foot long !

The OP is correct on terms.
Double towing and "Towing triples" are the same thing.

Double towing is plain english and easy to understand.

The cliche' "Towing Triples" is slang...see halfway down this Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_trailer

Safe travels

muleman1 · 11-06-2015, 03:26 PM

Back in 80's we pulled an 18' Nitro bass boat behind a 23' Jayco RK 5'er. Luckily we had no mishaps, but it was incredibly hard on equipment. The extra vehicle will "push" far more than you think, and uneven road surfaces will occasionally put the chain of vehicles into a harmonic "wave" like movement that's very unsettling. My wife deemed this travel "the full pull", and it was probably hardest of all on her nerves. It took all the pleasure out of her travel and is just the opposite of what this lifestyle is supposed to entail.

Kuzzy · 11-06-2015, 03:32 PM

What kind of stress would be on the tow bar in a panic stop with the braking power of four down and a trailer?
Might want to run this setup past the tow bar manufacturer first.

Dave

darstar · 11-06-2015, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillJinOR

I triple tow trailers for that big del co. The equipment is designed for the job and the physics of it. While I do it for work, I would never do it with the setup you are suggesting legal or not.
I haven't done the setup your thinking of so I guess I cant say for sure as you want someone who has discuss it. BUT I have seen those who have on the road and it scares the S.. out of me .. Sway is almost impossible to stop and Ive seen several rvers tipped over setups in my travels.mostly truck 5er and a boat or off road vehicles on a flatbed
The commercial equip I use all I would think of using as it can be a real handful ! Take the advice or not .. Good luck.

They don't call them " wiggle wagons" for nothing ! You guys often have a hard time keeping them in a line, I know, been behind Fedex and UPS way too many times ! I have been told two 53 ft. vans are more stable on the Turnpike than these short trailers.The long WB of a 45 ft. coach is about as stable a base as you can get, the way I see it anyway.... I understand some western states allow 3 27 ft. trailers, I bet thats a bit rough in a cross wind especially with those short day cabs !! WB has a lot to do with just about anything we tow. Pulling a long trailer with a Bronco is an accident waiting to happen ! ( especially if you have a 5-6,000 vintage car inside.)

Darwin · 11-06-2015, 03:41 PM

At a campground in Tennessee last year I watched a truck pulling a fifth wheel pulling a trailer with a car on it come in, back everything into a site with no trouble.

darstar · 11-06-2015, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuzzy

What kind of stress would be on the tow bar in a panic stop with the braking power of four down and a trailer?
Might want to run this setup past the tow bar manufacturer first.

Dave

Actually much less, all that braking power takes away forward motion.Good case for trailer brakes on a big rig, where you actually do not need brakes, especially with a Jake Brake. I wonder how many rigs out there do not have brakes on their little ATV and Jeep flat beds ?

Gordon Dewald · 11-06-2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darstar

Yes , I am aware of the exiting for fuel and food clause. Could apply to a whole lot of rigs out there, depending on the State. When years ago I pulled a tri-axle V nose enclosed car trailer,with my coach i was 75 ft or more, never a problem. You have to be careful no matter what when you are that long, it was always TSs and Walmarts. Cracker Barrel was often too small for me.Did that for 20 plus years and we went everywhere the road would take us.

Yes the fifth wheel part, and I can see why that is, its all about stability. Not all states however. I am sure I could build a pull hitch set up that would be as stable as a high profile fifth wheel pulling a trailer . Ever notice a lot of the open car haulers out there, many are set up as a pull trailer without a standard fifth wheel.

Yup they use the pintle hitch because it allows them to haul an extra car on the truck. Again a different beast than the ball hitch. Gravel truckers with box and wagons use the same pintle hookup.

Difference between long and triple is one of exposure. I have seen triple hauling fairly often. Mostly 5er with boat or something else behind.

It is always a crap shoot. Lots of fellows do all kinds of things that they seem to get away with. If you get stopped in the middle of a vacation do you have a plan that would enable you to continue? It seems to me like you do. Just unhook the toad and continue. You drive one unit and DW the other.