Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Toy Haulers: Who here is tandem towing?

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Topic: Who here is tandem towing?

Posted By: Txsurfer on 07/26/17 10:01am

I will be in the market ( hopefully ) for a bigger rig in a year or so. One big dilemma is garage size. Well after coming back home from CO I was amazed to see how many people were towing tandem with ATV's / SXS on a utility trailer behind there 5th wheels. Seems like a logical solution as I really only care about riding out west ( were it's legal for the most part ). My current SXS will fit in a 10' garage so this opens up a lot of possibilities. Sure would be nice to just be able to size a utility trailer to my next/add'l toy purchase instead of a TH. Any feedback from the group? I realize it's virtually impossible to back so you have to plan ahead.

2017 F250 PSD 4X4
2015 Livin Lite Axxcess 24FBA
2016 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe

Posted By: campinghut on 07/26/17 10:12am

I tandem tow and after a lot of practice I can back up a little lol... I am looking into getting an Idaho tote to solve that problem. I actually like it better then when I had a toy hauler.

Tim And Bev
2018 Mobile Suites 38RSSA, 560w solar, 2800w inverter (3 previous Artic fox trailers, 1 Cedar Creek, 1 Heartland Cyclone. In the last 8 Years)
2022 F350 (Previous trucks 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 all Ford F350's)

Posted By: bvereshagen on 07/26/17 11:05am

Don't forget that tandem towing is not legal in certain jurisdictions (like mine) so check the rules before you go.

Posted By: Y-Guy on 07/26/17 11:13am

About all I can add is that you need to know which States allow it and which don't, unless you don't plan on leaving your home State. This topic has come up a lot across the forum so you can get some good knowledge with the search too.

2007 Winnebago Sightseer 35J
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

Posted By: GordonThree on 07/26/17 11:40am

I see tandem rigs all the time here in Michigan. Usually it's a truck + 5r + boat, but more often I've been seeing Class A + truck + trailer.

Last weekend I stood witness to someone that had to "bring all the toys" with them to the campground. Massive class A DP towing a f350 dualy truck carrying two jet-skis on some sort of rack on the bed, towing a triple axle cargo trailer. He was trying to fit into the driveway of the little campground up the block from my house. Everyone was scrambling to move their vehicles and boats out of the way.

2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed

Posted By: Second Chance on 07/26/17 12:26pm

GordonThree wrote:

That doesn't seem very considerate of other campers...

Rob

U.S. Army retired
2020 Solitude 310GK-R
MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
(Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
2012 F350 CC DRW Lariat 6.7
Full-time since 8/2015

Posted By: Bedlam on 07/26/17 01:10pm

I looked into adding one of the totes to my toy hauler that are legal in all the states and found the cost to be rather high - Like some others, my travels take me to places where double towing is not legal and is not an option for me. I also decided that wanted to keep my toys enclosed out of the weather and out of sight which nixed the idea of an open transport deck of any kind.

I went to a large truck camper towing an enclosed trailer to get more garage space yet keep my overall size down. I now have a 20' dedicated garage with 20' of living space in a combined vehicle length of under 50'.

Chevy Sonic 1.8-Honda Passport C70B-Host Mammoth 11.5-Interstate Car Carrier 20-Joyner SandViper 250-Kawasaki Concours ZG1000-Paros 8' flatbed-Pelican Decker DLX 8.75-Ram 5500 HD

Posted By: timmac on 07/26/17 01:26pm

Oregon and Washington says NO to double towing

Posted By: timmac on 07/26/17 01:29pm

GordonThree wrote:

That's why I had this custom trailer built, no double tow issues and its so much easier to get around.

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Posted By: Txsurfer on 07/26/17 01:56pm

Yep - only worried about the western mountain states - don't care about OR or WA so that part is covered.

I guess what really seems appealing is that I could get a smaller 5er (35'or so ) with 10' garage and still have room for expansion as my boy gets into whatever he wants to ride..

Posted By: eHoefler on 07/27/17 05:28am

Swivel wheel for sale on craigslist

https://springfield.craigslist.org/snw/6161132374.html

2021 Ram Limited, 3500, Crew Cab, 1075FTPD of Torque!, Max Tow, Long bed, 4 x 4, Dually,
2006 40' Landmark Mt. Rushmore

Posted By: JIMNLIN on 07/27/17 06:38am

I tow agriculture/equipment trailer doubles at times to make a few bucks.
Back in the '90's I towed a 26' 5th wheel with a 3400 lb bass boat with a 2500 chevy (63" total) for eight years and no problems. We towed all over a 8 state area around my state
Your in TX and you see plenty of rv double tows.
In fact in TX/OK/AR/MO in the summer I see triples which usually a one ton DRW with a 5th wheel trailer/ski boat trailer and a trailer with PWC's bringing up the rear.
Just be aware of your total combined length and forget about keeping up with the flow.

"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

Posted By: RedRocket204 on 07/27/17 07:20am

You are right about seeing more and more non-commercial tandem tows. I'm starting to see it a lot more.

This link might help understand which states may or may not allow two trailers: State Towing Laws

Although I have no reason to not believe that link, I would confirm which each actual state their laws on tandem towing.

Additional reasons to consider having a way to transport your ATV/SxS outside of your TH is staging area space and camp break-downs. Perfect example is being in Moab. I'm not sure if you would be allowed to drive a street licensed SxS to the Poison Spider staging area, but if you had an ATV, I'm pretty sure it would not be allowed. The Poison Spider staging area is somewhat small and would not accomodate a truck pulling a TH. Having your truck with utility trailer would allow a lot more flexibility to get into staging areas and allow for not having to break camp to move your SxS/ATV in areas you can't drive them to.

Then there are many areas in CO where you just can't get a large RV trailer but where you might want to go ride. In CO, it is not legal to drive ATV/SxS on streets unless that specific town has regulations to allow it. When they do allow it, there are many restrictions and few roads you can drive on.

I love me some land yachting

Posted By: Txsurfer on 07/27/17 08:03am

RedRocket204 wrote:

That is a great point about using the utility trailer to shuttle your machine around once you make camp. After just getting back from CO this would have been handy for sure.

Posted By: mapguy on 07/27/17 09:06am

Txsurfer wrote:

Just be aware that several variables, like overall length, hitching systems allowed, and braking requirements are codified on a state by state basis.

The information about Washington and Oregon RV double/triple towing is accurate.

Posted By: PhilipB on 07/28/17 03:43pm

We've done it for several years. We liked our camper and the quad bunks. WE towed dirt bikes so not much weight. Added a camera so we could keep an eye on things. We had planned to add TPMS this year, but we stumbled across a 4 year old TH in great condition.

That said, my biggest concern was that I couldn't back up, at least not very far.

And we'd like to travel states where it's not allowed (mainly east of the Mississippi river).

2015 Ram 2500
2013 Raptor 310TS

Posted By: Bob E. on 07/29/17 06:25am

RedRocket204 wrote:

Interesting on that link that a handful of states including mine restrict RV width to 8'-0" while most others are 8'-6". With most TH's being 8'-6", I wonder how they get around that??

Posted By: tinner12002 on 07/29/17 07:06am

Bob E. wrote:

RedRocket204 wrote:

Interesting on that link that a handful of states including mine restrict RV width to 8'-0" while most others are 8'-6". With most TH's being 8'-6", I wonder how they get around that??

Interesting chart, all states limit speed to 55 or 65, many states limit trailer length to 40ft with a couple states at 35ft max trailer length! Looked but couldn't tell how current the chart was.

2015 Ram 3500/DRW/Aisin/auto/Max tow/4.10s,Cummins, stock Laramie Limited--Silver
Tequila Sunrise 2012 Ultra Classic Limited
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Posted By: Txsurfer on 07/29/17 07:54am

Not sure about y'all but not sure I have ever seen an RV pulled over to be honest

Posted By: GordonThree on 07/29/17 10:33am

Txsurfer wrote:

Not sure about y'all but not sure I have ever seen an RV pulled over to be honest

Seen plenty in Michigan but I'm guessing for speeding or other bone head driving practices.

Only once have I seen a Class A with a big trailer pulled over by a MSP motor carrier division truck.

Posted By: Y-Guy on 07/29/17 07:14pm

When we lived in CA I saw probably a dozen various RVs pulled over, nothing in Oregon, but a few in WA and while traveling in ID too. No idea why they were pulled over. Folks here have also reported some on the way to the dez in CA looking for over weight setups, but that's been a few years ago.

Posted By: tinner12002 on 07/30/17 07:21am

Here's a link to a more up to date version of the towing guide.

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

Posted By: lawnspecialties on 07/30/17 04:39pm

Here in the southeast, its not allowed in the vast majority of states. That being said, I too am seeing it more and more. Last week at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, I witnessed several tandem set-ups. Ocean Lakes is a HUGE golf cart populated campground. Over 800 sites and at least half have golf carts I imagine.

I saw multiple campers with trucks, the camper, and the utility trailer for a golf cart. One day, I saw a guy leaving with his truck, his travel trailer, and his utility trailer with a golf cart. Rarely see the travel trailers pulling another trailer but it seemed to be pulling just fine.

As has been mentioned, I have never seen one pulled over or heard of such by the law.

Posted By: Dirtclods on 08/04/17 10:12am

timmac- Great idea!!

Posted By: atwowheelguy on 08/31/17 03:50pm

tinner12002 wrote:

Here's a link to a more up to date version of the towing guide.

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

That table says no triple tow in GA.

I went through the online GA Code as well as I could, and found no reference to triple towing, neither allowing it nor prohibiting it.

https://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode/

2013 F150 XLT SCrew 5.5' 3.5 EB, 3.55, 2WD, 1607# Payload, EAZ Lift WDH
Toy Hauler: 2010 Fun Finder XT-245, 5025# new, 6640-7180# loaded, 900# TW, Voyager wireless rear view camera
Toys: '66 Super Hawk, XR400R, SV650, XR650R, DL650 V-Strom, 525EXC, 500EXC

Posted By: Brisk on 09/01/17 12:32am

See pic in my Sig

Brent('85) & Lindsay('86) DDs('08 &'11)

'14 RAM Laramie 3500SRW CCLB Cummins/4x4/68RFE
-B&W Turnover Ball/Anderson Ultimate Aluminum

Toyhauler-'06 Forest River Sierra Sport F32

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Posted By: campinghut on 09/01/17 08:06am

atwowheelguy wrote:

tinner12002 wrote:

Here's a link to a more up to date version of the towing guide.

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

Try looking for double tow

Posted By: RinconVTR on 09/01/17 10:19am

Txsurfer wrote:

Not sure about y'all but not sure I have ever seen an RV pulled over to be honest

Same here. I've only seen them on the side broken down or with a flat.

Posted By: dedmiston on 09/01/17 11:24am

campinghut wrote:

atwowheelguy wrote:

tinner12002 wrote:

Here's a link to a more up to date version of the towing guide.

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

Try looking for double tow

2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. AISIN trans & 4.10 rear. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • Hooligan #3

Toys:

18 Can Am Maverick x3
05 Yamaha WR450
07 Honda CRF250X
05 Honda CRF230
06 Honda CRF230

Posted By: atwowheelguy on 09/01/17 09:01pm

campinghut wrote:

atwowheelguy wrote:

tinner12002 wrote:

Here's a link to a more up to date version of the towing guide.

http://www.bigdiscountrv.com/towing-laws.htm

Try looking for double tow

I was just searching "towing" on Lexis Nexis. I could find no reference to double towing either.

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