MPI_Mallard
Windsor,Ontario,Canada Davenport,Florida
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Joined: 12/20/2004
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I want to build a swivel wheel trailer this spring to put behind my fiver' so i can bring my golf cart to florida this coming winter,are there any other rv'ers from the north currently doing it? I'd like some actual comments from people who are currently doing it year after year opposed to a multitude of responses on the letter of the law.
07' Dodge 3500 6 speed Cummins Diesel Dually/6.7L Bully-Chipped /
Jake Brake/07' Cedar Creek 37CDTSD Daydreamer fiver
Mallard @ Frau Blücher
Red Green:
Now lets Bow your heads for the men's prayer.
I am a man, but I can change.
If I have to, I guess...
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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We pulled a Smart Trailer behind out 34' Big Sky for three years. We never went to Florida but have pulled it in states that don't allow double towing: North Carolina, Virginia, and a couple others, without ever getting a second look. I think if you just act like a responsible driver and don't get stupid, you'll be fine.
However just because we did it and never got stopped is no guarantee that you won't be stopped. YMMV.
The swivel wheel design is the way to go as far as towing behind a 5er. We never had any trouble out of ours, and it was great when it came time to back up. A rear view camera is a necessity though so you can keep track of what is going on back there.
Good luck.
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
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C.B.
APPLETON WI USA
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Joined: 12/15/2003
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Here's a couple of links for you.
www.cruiserlift.com
www.idahotote.com
CBVP2004~FORD~F350~CC~LARIAT~SRW~SB~4X4~6.0D~
AUTO~PULLRITE 16K SUPERGLIDE~DEMCO GLIDERIDE~EQUA-FLEX~
PRODIGY CONTROLLER~C-BETR MIRRORS~ROTOCHOKS
CB Family Fleet
Butch&Barb 03Cardinal~Duane&Holli 05CedarCreek~Kris&Katy 06Cherokee~ Brian&Maia 11 Laredo
 (2).jpg)
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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Here is what I built 5-6 years ago. I have pulled it through BC with no issues but that doesn't really mean anything. I did extensive research regarding legality here in Washington State before I built it and it is legal. Washington does NOT classify it as a trailer but rather a "Load Carrying Vehicle Extension". Its classified the same as a swing down booster axle you typically see on the back of large ready mix concrete trucks. There is no requirement for separate registration or license. The license plate on the back of it is the rear plate for the Samurai.I am 62' OAL.
2005 Coachman Sportscoach Elite 402 40'
350hp Cat C-7 w/MP-8
7500w Onan quiet diesel generator
6-Kyocera 130w solar panels SB3024i MPPT controller
Pressure Pro TPMS
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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hypoxia
Arizona
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Joined: 04/29/2003
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jauguston wrote:Here is what I built 5-6 years ago. I have pulled it through BC with no issues but that doesn't really mean anything. I did extensive research regarding legality here in Washington State before I built it and it is legal. Washington does NOT classify it as a trailer but rather a "Load Carrying Vehicle Extension". Its classified the same as a swing down booster axle you typically see on the back of large ready mix concrete trucks.
How is attached to the vehicle & what is required for it to be classified that way? I assume the rear wheels are fixed & not swivel?
Jim
My Trailer Rebuild Project
2003 Fleetwood Revolution 40C
2008 F-350 6.4 Diesel
2001 Jayco 311RLS 5th Wheel
ATV Trailer follows the 5er
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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The wheels are swiveling. They are made by doublehitch.com. The connection to the Samurai is two 1 1/4" square 1/8 wall steel tube pieces that are the two for and aft main frame pieces. They extend about 18" ahead of the front of the box and have a 1/2" hole crossways near the end. The rest of the framework is 1"X1 1/2" 1/16" wall rectangular steel tube. There are two reciever brackets attached to the end of the Samurai frame that those frame extensions go into and a 1/2" hitch pin connects them together. This allows the "Trailer" to swivel up and down but not side to side.
Jim
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MPI_Mallard
Windsor,Ontario,Canada Davenport,Florida
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speaking to the Florida DOT the state of Florida/Georgia does not allow hauling a trailer behind another trailer be it a boat,cargo,utility or swivel,if it has wheels or lights it's a trailer,,back to square one.
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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If the State you are concerned about the swivel wheel legality in allows ready mix concrete trucks to have the swing down booster axle in the rear for extra load carrying capacity find one parked and take some pictures of it from the back. Take those and some pictures of one of the commercially built swivel trailers you can download off of the internet and take a trip to a local State Highway Department Weight Scale. I had no problem showing the LEO there that functionally the two were the same even though the appearance was somewhat different. They refered me to the big shots in Olympia the State capitol that had the final say. They agreed. It is legal. Just in case I run into a "Barney Fife" type LEO that doesn't understand what it is I have three 5X7 color photos of the back of a ready mix truck to use for help explaining what it is in the glove compartment of the Samurai.
Jim
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jetboater454
No Idea
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Joined: 07/21/2009
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MPI_Mallard wrote:speaking to the Florida DOT the state of Florida/Georgia does not allow hauling a trailer behind another trailer be it a boat,cargo,utility or swivel,if it has wheels or lights it's a trailer,,back to square one.
Florida is going to be one rich state come March/April when all the double towers leave here for back up north.Going to be a major traffic jam on I-75 alone just getting all those stopped...NOT
"If momma not happy  ....Who cares.I have my TH AND my toys  .
2008 3500 Dodge Ram CTD dually 4X4
2007 Gulfstream Endura Max 40
2001 Polaris Ranger 4X4
Mod Pics
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Francesca Knowles
Port Hadlock, Washington
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Joined: 02/23/2011
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jauguston wrote: I had no problem showing the LEO there that functionally the two were the same even though the appearance was somewhat different. They refered me to the big shots in Olympia the State capitol that had the final say. They agreed. It is legal. Just in case I run into a "Barney Fife" type LEO that doesn't understand what it is I have three 5X7 color photos of the back of a ready mix truck to use for help explaining what it is in the glove compartment of the Samurai.
Jim
I'm having a bit of trouble following the logic here- but if you're talking about "drop axles" like those on some log trucks and like the one in this picture of a concrete truck...
My understanding (per log-truck driving family) is that those are designed to redistribute the weight of the load on the truck (mostly to save wear and tear on roads)- they aren't for increasing cargo space or adding entirely new loads.
You indicate that you carry "pictures of a cement truck" in your glovebox so you can explain your logic to an enquiring officer.
That doesn't sound like "State Sanctioning" to me, unless you've also got some kind of written document from the State to go with them.
Frankly, I think you've just been lucky so far, and that the "Barney Fifes" you talk about are any officials that bought the notion that yours is NOT a "trailer" and therefore not a double tow.
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien
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