Towing boat behind travel trailer

Kirklandfam · 07-19-2019, 11:00 PM

Has anyone pulled a boat behind their travel trailer. I live in Idaho so I know it's legal but wonder if my 2018 21DS Micro Lite frame will be able to handle it.

**bikendan** · 07-19-2019, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirklandfam

Has anyone pulled a boat behind their travel trailer. I live in Idaho so I know it's legal but wonder if my 2018 21DS Micro Lite frame will be able to handle it.

That is an ultralight frame. So without some serious welding and bracing, that's a big NO.
BUT if you do make that kind of modification, it'll void the frame's warranty.
If you wanted to tow a boat, you should've bought a non-ultralight trailer.

upflying · 07-20-2019, 09:01 AM

I've seen boats towed behind 5th wheels but not travel trailers.
Are you sure that combo is legal? Too many tails wagging the dog comes to mind.

rockfordroo · 07-20-2019, 09:11 AM

Almost every state requires a 5th wheel (I know Wisconsin does not). Check your states regs.

That said, I'd never do it with a Mini/Micro Lite.

BandJCarm · 07-20-2019, 09:14 AM

Not me, not in this lifetime. I'm long enough!!! That's why I have a 1/2 ton truck and a wife.

Hersbird · 07-20-2019, 09:29 AM

Yes it's legal around here, I wouldn't do it with anything more than 100-150 pounds of tounge weight on the boat/trailer that weighs under about 800-1000 pounds meaning an older PWC or a smallish aluminum fishing boat. I see people towing a 2nd trailer with a 5000 pound fiberglass I/O, a couple big ATVs, or a big side by side and think they are asking for problems.

Oh and that is called double towing, people think it's illegal because they call it triple towing which probably is illegal everywhere.

upflying · 07-20-2019, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Yes it's legal around here, I wouldn't do it with anything more than 100-150 pounds of tounge weight on the boat/trailer that weighs under about 800-1000 pounds meaning an older PWC or a smallish aluminum fishing boat. I see people towing a 2nd trailer with a 5000 pound fiberglass I/O, a couple big ATVs, or a big side by side and think they are asking for problems.

Oh and that is called double towing, people think it's illegal because they call it triple towing which probably is illegal everywhere.

Ok, then it comes down to the famous adage, "just because you can doesn't mean you should".

JayArras · 07-20-2019, 10:15 AM

This issue has been widely discussed in this recent thread.

Hersbird · 07-20-2019, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upflying

Ok, then it comes down to the famous adage, "just because you can doesn't mean you should".

That adage was made famous 100 years ago before there were 100s of unnecessary nanny laws about everything. If this still isn't covered it is because it hasn't been a problem.

Thurman · 07-20-2019, 10:29 AM

I did extensive research on the State of Georgia's O.C.G.A. ( Official Code of Georgia laws Annotated) under both the Motor Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle Laws about this "double towing/double balling" situation. In the State of Georgia there is no specific law that covers this--period. The closest law that could be used for this situation would be under Commercial Vehicle Laws staring that the max length of the combined rig cannot exceed sixty-give (65) feet. I talked to various law enforcement officials including one of Georgia's Georgia State Patrol's Commercial Enforcement Officers and they all confirmed that is no specific law in regards to towing a third vehicle/camper/boat/trailer except the Commercial over all length law. And yes GSPCE can stop a non-commercial vehicle for inspection.

onetonford · 07-20-2019, 10:51 AM

Used to be legal in California but you needed a CDL my cousin who is a truckdriver used to pull two travel trailers to camp all the time until we teased him about bringing a mother in law suite with him. I know it can't be legal now because I no longer see it in their handbook they only allow it behind fifth wheels with a modified license.

67L48 · 07-20-2019, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Almost every state requires a 5th wheel (I know Wisconsin does not). Check your states regs.

That said, I'd never do it with a Mini/Micro Lite.

AAA disagrees with you. Almost no states require a 5th wheel. I didn't read every state's towing laws, but I didn't see a single one that required 5th wheel for towing 2 trailers and only a minority limited towing to only a single trailer.

I wouldn't do it, but that's solely personal preference.

whirledpeaz · 07-20-2019, 11:07 AM

Michigan is one state that requires a fifth wheel trailer in order to double tow.

rockfordroo · 07-20-2019, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67L48

AAA disagrees with you. Almost no states require a 5th wheel. I didn't read every state's towing laws, but I didn't see a single one that required 5th wheel for towing 2 trailers and only a minority limited towing to only a single trailer.

I wouldn't do it, but that's solely personal preference.

I stand corrected.

DouglasReid · 07-20-2019, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Almost every state requires a 5th wheel (I know Wisconsin does not). Check your states regs.

That said, I'd never do it with a Mini/Micro Lite.

Here is a link to a State by State towing laws.

What you will find is that about 1/2 the states allow two trailers and about 1/2 of those only if the TT is behind a 5er. In the others two TTs, is perfectly legal.

State Towing Laws

PenJoe · 07-20-2019, 02:42 PM

There are times that what is legal is not safe. Number one, you have a light frame on the travel trailer and it is not made to tow another trailer. Something as simple (and light) as a bike rack have broken off. Number 2, a boat trailer connected to a bumper pull TT. is asking for trouble. Not only is the hitch a problem, but so is sway. It would be safe to say, you get some pretty good wind gusts in Idaho, and then there is the flat/blow-out possibility. Once it starts to sway, so long choo choo.

As for the hitch, we bought new a 22' mini on a '77 Dodge cutaway unit body chassis. The factory welded a Class III receiver hitch to the chassis. While we were driving on the Interstate, the hitch broke from the chassis and the boat trailer dropped on to the jack caster wheel. We didn't know what happened, but we eased to the shoulder to make a stop. Seeing the hitch had failed, we jacked the trailer off to get the hitch off the ground. When lifting, it completely broke off-the safety chains were attached to the hitch. Had we not had the caster on the trailer jack helping it follow the TV, the boat would have been driver-less in Interstate holiday traffic-without steering.

As for sway, we were pulling a 22' TT in Nebraska. There was a moderate crosswind that was tolerable with a WDH. Until we encountered a rogue crosswind that sent the TT and Chevy HD 3/4 ton sideways. I managed to get is straight using the brake controller. I guarantee you that it would not have had a happy ending if I was pulling tandem trailers.

I don't believe you will see veteran campers on this site remotely trying to justify what you are asking.

DouglasReid · 07-20-2019, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenJoe

There are times that what is legal is not safe. Number one, you have a light frame on the travel trailer and it is not made to tow another trailer. Something as simple (and light) as a bike rack have broken off. Number 2, a boat trailer connected to a bumper pull TT. is asking for trouble. Not only is the hitch a problem, but so is sway. It would be safe to say, you get some pretty good wind gusts in Idaho, and then there is the flat/blow-out possibility. Once it starts to sway, so long choo choo.

I don't believe you will see veteran campers on this site remotely trying to justify what you are asking.

All that would depend on the weight of the boat and trailer and insuring the capacity of the hitch and its mount will support the weight behind them.

I do this all the time, but my camper came from the factory with a hitch receiver and my boat is a 14' flat aluminum with a 25 HP Evinrude. Entire thing does not weigh 1000 lbs.

So a blanket statement that it not a good idea or unsafe is not accurate.

Oaklevel · 07-20-2019, 03:30 PM

Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Hersbird · 07-20-2019, 04:18 PM

From reading the Montana code, it only talks about overall length limits and needing "2000 pound manufacturers rating" if towing more than one trailer. That would indicate a chain of short trailers would be legal if under the overall length limit. I have actually seen constriction crews do that with all those wheeled signs they put out on the highway.

upflying · 07-20-2019, 06:33 PM

It looks like some states allow double towing and some do not.
I would think the states that prohibit double towing had a pretty good reason to make it illegal. Usually these kinds of laws are passed after something bad happened.
If legal in your state, it may not be in the next state.
I think most RV's tend to cross state lines and double towing may just limit how far you can travel.

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