fullautodave wrote: I flat tow a 2009 Wrangler behind my 38 foot Mobile Suite fiver. I don't remember but I think I am about 72 foot long. Most states that it is legal in are 65 or 75 foot limits. I have probably towed around 25-30,000 miles this way and have never had a problem in a state that allowed it. The hitch that came on my trailer from the factory is rated at 3500 pounds and I think 500 pounds tongue weight (?). I am a little over the 3500 but pretty close. I am from Arkansas and dont need an endorsement although I do have a Federally mandated CDL which doesn't apply to non-commercial vehicles.I can barely tell my Jeep is behind me and the only thing I do different is slow down a little. You must remember you have another 15-20 foot and 3500 pounds behind you. It's not for everybody but it is not unsafe if you drive accordingly.
do you have a brake setup on the jeep? thanks
I use the Blue Ox Patroit but have it set very light. I don't want it jerking my Jeep against trailer.
2009 Mobile Suites TKSB3
2008 Ford F-450 Superduty
2009 Jeep Rubicon toad
1999 Bigfoot C1011FR
I have a Ford F150 and a 28' Springdale fifth wheel. We had a hitch professionally welded to the frame of the trailer and supported by gussets to the bumper extensions. I tow a Tracker boat which puts us right at 63' long. That's a supercab shortbed PU, 28' Fiver and 17' boat.
Michigan allows double recreational towing. To do so, conditions must be met. 1) must get an "R" endorsement to driver's license. this requires a written test but no driving test. 2)Max length is 65', 3) safety chains of second trailer must be attached to the OUTER extreme edge of the fifth wheel. 4) Combined weight of both trailers must not exceed GCVW of the truck and the fifth wheel weight plus tongue weight of the second trailer must not exceed the GVW of the fifth wheel 5) Second trailer must weigh less than fifth wheel 6) can tow second trailer only with fifth wheel, not conventional trailer.
I've seen a number of crew cab long bed trucks towing 35'+ fivers with boats much longer than mine... I have no doubt they are much longer than 65'.. How they "get away" with this, I don't know.....
One point not made here yet, is how to see what's happening with the second towed trailer/vehicle. I really felt TOTALLY LOST when I was unable to see my boat behind the fifth wheel. I bought and installed a wired rear view camera/monitor and now I can watch the boat and traffic immediately behind the boat. I feel much better knowing what's back there. I don't think I'd consider trying to tow without some sort of monitoring device, truck mirrors just don't cut it.
do you know about how heavy your boat is? Your right, I see all kinds of setups in Mich, I think with the jeep behind, if its kept close (tongue and jeep) to 12' I would be close to 65' My jeep weighs from what I have read, 3000-4000#'s, mine I would say closer to 3000#'s. I also was thinking of a camera system. I know about the safty chains where they are to be located, wonder if that applies to towing a car, and as you mentioned that setup, I have only seen a few that have there safty chains set up proper.
wls wrote: do you know about how heavy your boat is? Your right, I see all kinds of setups in Mich, I think with the jeep behind, if its kept close (tongue and jeep) to 12' I would be close to 65' My jeep weighs from what I have read, 3000-4000#'s, mine I would say closer to 3000#'s. I also was thinking of a camera system. I know about the safty chains where they are to be located, wonder if that applies to towing a car, and as you mentioned that setup, I have only seen a few that have there safty chains set up proper.
It's the same with my towing. I only double tow from Gaylord to Republic, in the central UP. My boat and trailer weighs 1478 lbs with the gas tank full. I'm not sure you can keep the Jeep "close" to the fifth wheel, the turning radius of the 8' trailer and the front bumper of the Jeep would be very close in a tight turn, much closer than the "V'd front of a boat and trailer. Also, Michigan requires brakes on every towed vehicle over 3500 lbs. You might want to take your jeep to a scale and weigh it just so you know exactly what you're dealing with. I really don't think anyone will stop you if you're not doing anything "wrong" but if you're ever involved in an accident and someone "calls Sam" (you know what I mean) and they find out your jeep weighed 3515..... Could be disasterous. And the price of a breaking system to install in the jeep to tow it would be too much for me to justify. Just a thought, didn't mean to rain on your parade.
As for safety chains, on a recent trip back from the UP, I counted 33 fivers towing and only 4 had safety chains per code. One didn't even have chains... Now that's bold, to say the least LOL
How about towing with a tow dolly behind the 5th wheel? This way if I disable my front axle of the jeep off road, It could still be towed, and the dolly would have brakes on it also, helping the situation.
96zjlimited wrote: How about towing with a tow dolly behind the 5th wheel? This way if I disable my front axle of the jeep off road, It could still be towed, and the dolly would have brakes on it also, helping the situation.
Just FYI... most Jeeps cannot be towed on a dolly unless you disconnect one of the driveshafts. This is because you can't have one side of the transfer case spinning and the other side stopped.
2003 Country Coach Intrigue, Cummins ISL 400
Toad: 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) toad, with just a few mods...
Other rig: 2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Duramax Dually / Next Level 38CK Fifth-wheel Toy Hauler w/ quads, sand rail, etc...
I regularily tow a 5000 pound boat behind my fiver. Probably over 50,000 miles in tow since 2004 without issues. I have several camping buddies that do the same. If you are properly equiped, it is not a problem.
Personally, I think the Jeep would tow better than the boat. The only downside for me to towing tandem is you get a little bounce on rough roads (I'm guessing because of the tongue weight of the boat) and it can be a pain to get fuel. I don't think you would have the bonuce problem as you would have much less tongue weight.
Here is a photo of my old set up. I've recently upgraded my truck.
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
wls, just because you frequently see it done wrong doesn't mean it's okay.
They just haven't been caught.
I would venture that it is largely a case of monkey see, monkey do. They saw someone else with a double rig, said "I want to do that," and just copied what they saw. No research. They probably don't even have the endorsement.
You made the mistake of asking questions first. Now you're obligated to do it right.
If you had just put your head down and barged ahead blindly, just think how much simpler this would've been...
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
But then, it isn't legal in NY (and most of the rest of the Eastern states).
Many states where it IS legal HAVE NO "endorsement".
I have heard of ONE state that requires an endorsement, and it is very easy to get.
I have heard of ONE state that requires a Class A CDL with doubles endorsement for recreational double tows.
It is legal here in Montana. No endorsement is required, AFAIK. I very rarely hear of an accident attributable to double towing, so I guess it isn't all that unsafe!
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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