fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Horsedoc wrote:"Remember this is an RV Forum NOT a Truckers Forum."
Is this forum about RVers helping RVers? If someone could or would help me from messing up, then I would be happy. You want help or advice, ya gotta ask.
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Do you call it soda or do you call it pop?
Same deal with the "double" vs "triple/tripple" towing. It's a regional thing based on how the politicians put it in the books.
In RV parlance they mean the SAME THING, even though some of us can't help but rage about the idiocy of calling it "triple/tripple TOWING" when you are only towing TWO trailers. Yes there are three "things" but only two of them are being towed.
Nobody ever said politicians were smart.
What's the deal with the extra p anyway? Maybe it's actually "tipple" towing?
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
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Wadcutter
IL
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Joined: 05/25/2004
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mkirsch wrote:
Same deal with the "double" vs "triple/tripple" towing. It's a regional thing based on how the politicians put it in the books.
Actually no. Unless you can actually back up that statement by providing the statute.
The FMCSA defines double towing as pulling 2, triple as pulling 3. The power unit is not a towed unit. They even have pictures for those who lack reading comprehension skills.
mkirsch wrote:
What's the deal with the extra p anyway? Maybe it's actually "tipple" towing?
Here's why it's important to call towing by the proper terminology. If you call a LE agency, DOT, or other enforcement office and ask if it's OK to triple tow they're going to go by the proper definition. Triple tow is 3 units being pulled by a power unit. And if you ask about triple towing who ever you call will assume you know what you're talking about, altho a silly assumption on their part, and will give you the appropriate legal information for towing 3 units with a power unit.
But if you ask about triple towing but you don't know what you're talking about (obviously) and you only mean 2 towed units and 1 power unit then you won't get the correct information and you'll continue to be uniformed.
BTW, I taught FMCSA for a lot of years, enforced FMSCA and 2nd division laws, and commanded those units. I didn't get my information from some internet page written by someone who didn't have a clue what they were talking about.
Camped in every state
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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mkirsch wrote:Do you call it soda or do you call it pop?
Same deal with the "double" vs "triple/tripple" towing. It's a regional thing based on how the politicians put it in the books.
In RV parlance they mean the SAME THING, even though some of us can't help but rage about the idiocy of calling it "triple/tripple TOWING" when you are only towing TWO trailers. Yes there are three "things" but only two of them are being towed.
Nobody ever said politicians were smart.
What's the deal with the extra p anyway? Maybe it's actually "tipple" towing?
Never claimed to being a English Major!!! It's kinda like "AMZ/OIL"
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37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"
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Bionic Man
USA
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Joined: 04/03/2009
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For those that are confused by words, here is a photo to illustrate triple towing.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/jlRI7Fcl.jpg)
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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It's probably too late to change the vernacular. Literally every article on this subject calls it "triple towing."
I'm not going through all the state laws looking for it to actually say "triple." It's always been a waste of time trying to look up the actual legal document where it says that such-and-such is illegal. For example, I can't find ANYTHING on the books in NY that says towing multiple trailers is illegal, yet it reportedly is. It's supposedly illegal to leave your ball hitch in the receiver too, but I can't find the actual law that says so. I can't find the law that says it's illegal to drive over the speed limit. I can't find the law that says it's illegal to drive drunk. I can't find the law that says you need a CDL to tow a trailer over 10,000lbs GVWR.
I do know when you google "is it legal to triple tow in XXX" it sends you to that state's laws on towing.
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Wadcutter
IL
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Joined: 05/25/2004
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mkirsch wrote:It's probably too late to change the vernacular. Literally every article on this subject calls it "triple towing."
The vernacular was changed by those who didn't know what they were talking about.
The legal definition, as used by the feds and states, of triple towing is as in the picture posted by Bionic Man.
It's really not that difficult to understand if one would just think about what they're saying. Look at the phrase "triple towing". Now think about it. "towing". It doesn't say "number of vehicles in combination. It's "towing".
Now what is "triple"? 3. Put those 2 words together. What's it say. Towing 3. Not "how many in combination". Towing 3.
Now why does it matter? You say you can't find the law. That does not mean it's not in the laws. It just means you don't know where to find it. So if you call your state LE and ask "Can I tow triple?" they're going to assume, erroneously, that you know what you're talking about and you are describing "towing 3" as in the picture posted by Bionic Man. And they're going to give you the law for the combination in the picture. Is that the answer you're looking for?
That's about as simple explanation as I can give for those who don't understand definitions and the law.
If you want to know what's legal then you need to learn the proper terminology. Do not rely on some internet search written by those who also do not understand defniitions and the law.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Thanks, but I don't need it explained. I get it. It makes me cringe because everyone should have learned to count to TWO when they were <5 years old. This only proves that our educational system has been failing us for at least three-quarters of a century.
Irks me to no end that when you ask someone what "double towing" is and they say "A truck and two trailers." Why? "Trailer 1 and trailer 2." Then ask them what "triple towing" is and they say "A truck and two trailers." Why? "Because there's three, truck, trailer 1 and trailer 2."
Oh, and local law enforcement knew EXACTLY what I was talking about when I asked about "triple towing." "Oh you mean a truck and two trailers? Not legal here in NY."
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Wadcutter
IL
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mkirsch wrote:
Oh, and local law enforcement knew EXACTLY what I was talking about when I asked about "triple towing." "Oh you mean a truck and two trailers? Not legal here in NY."
I know the LE knows the correct terminology. Many LEOs are trained extensively in the FMCSA. When we complete an inspection report a copy goes to the feds. Every state has to use the same terminology so that when all those inspection reports are collected by the feds they all are the same meaning. On that inspection form is a description of the unit being inspected.
While the RVer isn't subject to FMCSA the terms from the FMCSA are what carries over into other statutes. The reason is simple. So everyone is talking on the same page.
I have no doubt those LEOs you called also know when they get a question from the public they know the person doesn't know what they're talking about. Calling 2 trailers a triple tow explains that quite well. That comes from years of answering questions from the unknowning public.
* This post was
edited 07/11/23 03:00pm by Wadcutter *
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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IMHO the pictured "TRAIN" is just plain STUPID!!!
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