Towing 2 trailers-How safe is it?

[bigo1966]

Im looking into to towing 2 trailers, on is my 27' trail light camper and the other is a small trailer for the buggyroo. Ive heard you dont really want to tow 2 trailers both being bumper pulls. Is thats true? Anyone have any experience on here towing 2 bumperpulls? Do i need a special permit or anything like that?

[SteveO]

I've heard it can be illegal in some states. I think AZ is one of them. Either way, you would really need to have some serious braking power to stop all that weight. Plus, you would also need to pass through the running lights to the rear trailer.

[Scooter]

I believe it is an issue of over all length in most states.
The real problem is planning your thru path all of the time as there is almost no chance of backing. Make sure that the last trailer has a good wheel jack on the tongue as you will most definitely need it.

[NismoFreak]

It is of coarse very dangerous... I'd call the state police as far as legality they are the experts on the subject. Even if all trailers are equipped with electric brakes one can still get away from you. Double and triple tractor trailers are super dangerous as is, and commonly called wiggle wagons for their natural lack of stability. I have seen people do what you want to do but I would never suggest anyone try it. Your problem of coarse is controlling the combination when it comes time to stop. I think the liability and fact that you'd be placing other innocent people at risk is what discourages most people.

[4x4ford]

We do it. We have a 25' travel trailer & a enclosed trailer for the ATV's that we pull with our Ford SD. The max length in Colorado is 63' (truck bumper to back bumper). It helps that the hubby has a CDL.

[Camp]

Most states require the front trailer to be gooseneck or 5th wheel. Colorado is not one of those states. This requirement is because the second trailer "whip" gets amplifed by the first trailer in a bumper pull situtation. If the first trailer starts whipping, the second is that much worse.

[NismoFreak]

I mean this in the most polite way.

Colorado has a 75 foot overall limit for specialized haulers but no limit for commercial vehicles. Trailers cannot be longer then 57"4" and doubles only have a combination length limit if one of the trailers is longer then 28'6". What is commonly called a rocky mountain double (48 footer and 28 footer) is one of the only combinations that has an overall length limit. I think it is best to call the state po po as they will have the most accurate info and be the ones writing you a ticket if anyone of us is wrong!
http://theamericandriver.com/driver_services/files/docs/weight_size_limits/colorado.html

[Big Dave]

I saw a guy in an XJ pulling a small camper and a boat up 70 last summer. Frightening to say the least.

[bigo1966]

Thanks for all the input. I think ill stray away from the 2 bumper pull setup. My trial light is already modified to hold 2 atv's on the front. I bough it wrecked from CL last summer, so there is 20' of camper and 8' of front deck. I think ill just extend the deck area to hold the buggyroo. The atv can go in the bed of the truck. Well i would upload a pic of the camper setup but i cant seem to find the link.

[bigo1966]

This might work.....I was stuck at Walden...till the truck finally went into 4-low.



http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/orionsworld/?action=view&current=DSCN0867.jpg

[bigo1966]

http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/orionsworld/?action=view&current=DSCN0867.jpg

[Colin]

nice stuck :flipoff2:

I personally hate driving behind, next to or even near people who tow two trailers like that. You see the two trailers weaving in and out of lanes like they had their own drivers....no thanks.

[MartyYJ]

Check this picture out.

http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/showimage.php?i=3326&c=3

[chelseyrock]

its not a real good idea any more, because of all the morons on the road. i use to do it all the time with my race cars. i pulled a 20' with a s-10 blazer, and a 16' with an open wheel. i used a 1 ton dully surban with a turo charged 454 so i had plunty of power, but stoping was still a little hary. even with breaks on both tralers.

ever thought of having a big trailer with your camper in the front and a deck in the back? depending on the structure of your camper, maybe you could just add to the one you have. i'v done that before, and its prety simple. my dad owner a traler business for about 10 years, and i worked for him most of that time. just an idea.

[bigo1966]

Camper on the front and deck on the back would be ideal. the deck on the front of this one just worked out. look at this pic, its a before pic of the camper when i bought it. front was destroyed.

http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/orionsworld/?action=view&current=157418229_518793060_0.jpg

[4x4ford]

I mean this in the most polite way.

Colorado has a 75 foot overall limit for specialized haulers

My bad on the 63 foot reference. :o The state law is 75 feet. Both trailers should have double sway bars & you really, really need to know what you are doing.

I don't want people to think that we are out there putting other driver?s lives at risk. As I stated before hubby has a CDL with doubles & triples endorsements & 17 years experience.

[plaurie]

they do call it the "Death Train" for a reason

[Chris Halvorson]

This topic has came up many of times before. As most people in this thread have stated, not such a great thing to do.

One of my best friends down in TX was wanting to do the same thing with his 26'TT and a 21' Chris Craft boat. It is legal in TX to pull double tongue. I told him not to do it. Here is some background on his equipment. 2500 GMC, TT had Equalizer/load stabilizer bar and the boat was just on a ball.

So the family wanted to go camping/boating with some friends for a long weekend. On the way to the lake, he experienced some major tail whip and almost lost the whole setup. The tires (new the weekend before) on his boat trailer were destroyed from the wiping...everything else was OK except for the soil stains in the front two seats of the truck. He was not driving fast (60 mph). He changed out the tires on his boat and had to drive to the lake doing no more than 45 MPH. He now has a 27' fifth wheel and pulls doubles that way. Hasn't had an issue since. He was just trying to save a little money...but hind sight 20/20...I could have cost him his family.

On another note, same topic...has anyone seen the crap going on on I-25 Southbound with all the cars coming from auction? I believe they are headed for good ol' Mexico. I see them all the time pulling with tow bars. Not that it is bad enough to see a small car pulling something bigger...now they are pulling doubles with tow bars!!!! This has been causing a lot of speed issues on I-25. Just amazing.

[jeepn4evr]

Years ago I saw a 1 ton (I hope) Dodge or Ford Dually pulling a 5th wheel camper. Attached to the bumper of that was a speed boat 18 - 20 ft or so, not huge, on a single axle trailer & behind that a morocycle trailer with 3 dirtbikes on it. Nice setup all around but wonder what braking problems he had if any. I saw him in a parking lot getting ready to pull out so didn't see how it was on the actual road. Not something I would try I don't htink.

On the note of switching where the camper & deck are, thats an idea I have had for a while. I want a 30 ft or so goosneck flatbed & build a living area on the front 10 ft or so. Basically a shed with plumbing & electric I could plug in, bed area over gooseneck hitch & a living space with storage built in for camping gear like a regular camping trailer. This would be as wide as the trailer & about 10 ft long. Rest of deck would be for hauling Jeep, dirtbikes etc & could be long enough I could probably put a fullsize truck on if needed. Deluxe model would have a Awning on the front over the deck & on one side to protect from weather & sun. The other side on the deluxe model would be a slide out for more space on the inside of shed. Door that exited onto deck might be a small overhead roll up of some sort so if wanted I could put dirtbikes or other large stuff inside for transport. Then I would put front door with some sort of stairs exiting on side with awning. If I did it right it would be an all weather set up. Not sure if I would put in a shower or toilet, but if I did that would be the ultraa deluxe model.

I have seen camper trailers with axles off put onto flat beds but don't really want to do that as I can design what I need better than what they have

[ColoradoXJ]

i believe they make horse trailers that having living compartments up front and that are 'open' at the rear... you could probably reinforce the rear of the trailer, chop the horsey part off and have plenty of room for a rig or a number of bikes/atv/sleds...

i'll see if i can find a link

http://www.horse101.com/living-quarters-horse-trailers-for-sale.html

[Big Dave]

On another note, same topic...has anyone seen the crap going on on I-25 Southbound with all the cars coming from auction? I believe they are headed for good ol' Mexico. I see them all the time pulling with tow bars. Not that it is bad enough to see a small car pulling something bigger...now they are pulling doubles with tow bars!!!! This has been causing a lot of speed issues on I-25. Just amazing.

I see them all the damn time, and they travel in groups too. Slows the whole highway down and not a single one of the vehicles ever looks in good enough condition to handle its own weight, let alone a couple more vehicles.

[Chris Halvorson]

Kinda scary when you have to pass them huh? The other day I just went 45mph on I-25 behind them due to the towed vehicle whipping. I can't say I would trust them to all be insured.

[jeepn4evr]

i believe they make horse trailers that having living compartments up front and that are 'open' at the rear... you could probably reinforce the rear of the trailer, chop the horsey part off and have plenty of room for a rig or a number of bikes/atv/sleds...

i'll see if i can find a link

http://www.horse101.com/living-quarters-horse-trailers-for-sale.html

Those look pretty sweet, but for the prices of those listed I could probably build what I want for cheaper. Also most of those don't have enough deckspace left after the living quaters for what I want. Not sure the axles & deck are rated for the weight I would have either, might be.

[chelseyrock]

i use to pull a 50' inclosed that had an LQ built in the front. we built the trailer our selves, and it was fairly simple. thear was room in the back for 2 of the trucks, and all the tools, tires, etc. i think if you realy wanted to build one you could just buy a goose neck that was your desired length of deck,+ what ever you wanted in LQ. then just build the inclosure in the front just like you would an inclosed trailer. if you find some one parting out a camper then you have all the cabinets, appliences,shower, toilet, water tanks, etc. i guess you could even take your curent camper, take the axcles out from under it, and put it on the deck. i just think it would be easier to build it from scratch.