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Old 08-14-2016, 07:25 PM   #1
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Pulling a boat

Question, I have a 2012 31.5 FBHS. And after 30 plus years I'm finally going to buy myself a boat. Has anyone ever installed a hitch on the back of their trailer for pulling a boat or whatever? If my math is wright lets say 24' for the trailer 32' minus 8 for overhang on the truck, plus 20' 18' plus a couple of ft for the trailer of the boat. My math comes out to around 44' for both the trailer and the boat not to mention the length of the ole grey mule, which happens to be a 2000 3/4 ton chevy crew cab which adds a additional 13' from the hitch in the bed? ( Which comes around to 57'). So my question is does anyone pull a trailer plus a boat behind their truck?. My wife has the Least interest in pulling a boat behind her car, and now that I have waited till my boys have grown up and are going off to college I have to figure out a way to pull both items at the same time. Give me some feedback and let me know what you think......
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Old 08-14-2016, 07:56 PM   #2
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Each state is different on the laws of towing doubles. Check laws before you even consider this. You will get a ticket and they will not let you move them until they are separated. And the ticket is pricey in Florida.
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Old 08-14-2016, 08:22 PM   #3
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I've seen it done in Maine and New Hampshire.
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Old 08-15-2016, 09:40 AM   #4
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I second this suggestion. Each State also has a length limit, even if it allows triple tow configuration. In Arizona, the max length is 65 feet for all three.

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Each state is different on the laws of towing doubles. Check laws before you even consider this. You will get a ticket and they will not let you move them until they are separated. And the ticket is pricey in Florida.
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Old 08-15-2016, 10:43 AM   #5
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I don't, but my boss does it all the time. As for as length goes, my neighbor is a state trooper. (actually he is the area supvr) I question him about double towing. He told me it is their un-official policy to "not see" RV double towing unless there is really something crazy going on. He went on to say that was the policy of most states.

I to have a 2012 31.5 FBHS and have thought of doing such a thing, however, I have the pull-out cargo tray on the back of my 5er. Texas T, if you also have the cargo tray, I would be interested in knowing how you attach the hitch for the boat trailer.

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Old 08-15-2016, 12:37 PM   #6
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Not a boat, but my neighbor tows his golf cart on a small flat bed trailer. He custom fabbed the hitch receiver and had a welding shop finish up the welds for him to be sure they were good.

He's local LEO, his daughter and SIL are both state police. I asked him once about the length (I'm pretty sure it's 65' in TX) and he said he never measured and doesn't worry about it. I know in some states it is not legal to tandem tow, and despite LEO's decision to "overlook" such infractions, I wouldn't take the chance. You never know when someone is having a bad day and decides to take you with them.

Just last weekend, I saw a boat being towed tandem, and it looked alright to me from a distance. Being the way I am, I would have to triple check everything (including the laws) before I was the least bit comfortable with doing this.
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Old 08-15-2016, 01:45 PM   #7
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I know a few who have been stopped and told to disconnect before leaving. Others go happily on their way and never get stopped.

Me, I'm over boats with motors.
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Old 08-15-2016, 02:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas_T View Post
Has anyone ever installed a hitch on the back of their trailer for pulling a boat or whatever?
Here's some pics of our last camper/boat combo. We were 68' total. Before I had the custom hitch installed, I checked with the local State Police and county Sheriff and they both stated that as long as I wasn't doing anything stupid, we'd be fine. We towed that combo 4 years without incident. We just unhitched the boat and rolled it out of the way before backing into our site. Click image for larger version

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Click image for larger version

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ID:	26253
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Old 08-15-2016, 02:39 PM   #9
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I echo the others. Check your state laws on it.

Michigan allows it as long as the first trailer is a fifth wheel. I see it all the time. It seems like it is usually a half ton with a shorter fifth wheel and a boat. They are usually just cruising down the freeway just fine, no sway, no control issues nothing that scares me other than the fact I know they are likely over the GVWR. Michigan does have a "Recreational Doubles" endorsement for drivers licenses for this combination. It is a short multiple question test and $10 fee and was easy (I got the endorsement, even though I haven't needed it yet).
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Old 08-15-2016, 07:46 PM   #10
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Texas is total max length 65 ft & your allowed for the outboard motor to not be included in measurement. Nobody's measuring anyway.
Also if your combined GVWR of the 3 exceeds 26000 you need to get a class a non-CDL in Tx.
As to the hitch, get a good welding shop to attach hitch to frame & not that so called bumper on a rv.
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Old 08-15-2016, 09:38 PM   #11
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Cool Double Towing

I know in Georgia you cannot legally tow behind non fifth wheel trailers. What you really need to be concerned with more than law enforcement is your insurance company. Many insurers will not cover non commercial motor vehicles double towing. If you get in an accident and cause injuries and your insurer decides not to cover you that could be much worse than a ticket for illegal towing.

I have read some stories on some other sporting forums from Florida and Georgia of State Troopers stopping and requiring the unhitching of the second trailer. Making you have to pull and unhitch the first trailer and return for the second. I've also read of some steep fines levied in Georgia along with a couple of bad stories of wrecks.

I was considering this until I researched it deeper. If your gonna do it and it's legal in your state, just do a quick check with your insurer!
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Old 08-29-2016, 07:40 PM   #12
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Pulled my boat for the first time this past weekend after finally moving from a TT to a 5th wheel. Nothing to it! Tracks a lot better than I ever thought it would. Tugs a little on the bumps, but nothing like a TT does all the time. I had some walkie talkies for hunting and just had the Mrs. guide me back to hook up, but unhooked as needed to setup the trailer. Backing up that mess wouldn't be fun so keep that in mind when looking for gas. Drives throughs are also probably out of the question .
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Old 08-29-2016, 07:54 PM   #13
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Quote:
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I know in Georgia you cannot legally tow behind non fifth wheel trailers.
It's not legal in GA period the same for FL. With that said I have seen many triple tows going up and down I-75 in both GA and FL and the vast majority from states up North.
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Old 08-30-2016, 08:10 AM   #14
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We have "double-towed" since we got our first FW, 1993. Here is a picture of our package getting ready to go up to Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. If it works. Just copy and paste and it should come up just fine.

/Users/johnalichty/Desktop/IMG_8674.jpg
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Old 08-30-2016, 09:24 AM   #15
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People double tow quite a bit in Georgia. Illegal in Florida but not to my knowledge in Georgia. I have a friend in the Dept of Hwy Safety in Georgia and he double tows all the time. I don't think he would be doing it if it were illegal.
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