Cops Pull Over a U-Haul Towing a SUV Towing a Camper

[John61CT]

News item. Funny? Not.

https://jalopnik.com/chp-pulls-over-truck-towing-an-suv-towing-a-trailer-1829490611

 

[ByeBye]

Holy Cow! That makes my brain hurt.

 

[bonvanroulez]

The travel trailer hitched to the suv on a flatbed trailer is unorthodox but the double or triple tow is a very common sight in western states. If the guy had flat towed the SUV with the trailer hitched behind he would have been fine.

 

[QinReno]

Not leaving without my "stuff". All of it.

 

[RoamerRV428]

yikes
triple towing has a lot of restrictions and my state doesn't even allow it. each state has big rules on length and more on trips.
straps as a hitch? ugh

 

[highdesertranger]

if you are towing a 5er, gooseneck you are considered one vehicle then you can add a trailer behind that. but if you are bumper towing anything you can't add another trailer to that. that's how it is in California. highdesertranger

 

[Ticklebellly]

Where I am, such a rig needs to be registered as a Road Train and the driver needs the relevant licence. Registration and licence cost, and restrictions on roads road trains can be operated on, puts people off.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

See a lot of those in Minnesota: pickup with fifth wheel pulling a boat.  And as HDR said, must be a fifth wheel or gooseneck. Can't be a bumper pull anything pulling another bumper pull.  So in Minnesota, a flat towed vehicle cannot pull a trailer.

Not sure, but I think there is a total length limit.

 

[DannyB1954]

Some States allow it if you have a commercial drivers license.
I see truckers pulling doubles all the time. The law probably doesn't specify what what each unit needs to be.

 

[John61CT]

It is very tightly specified believe me, but those states that do allow it at all each have their own regs.

Tow Dollies are different, apparently.

 

[RoamerRV428]

worse thing is if you are doing a state to state adventure. driving from one state to another can put you illegal when ya started out legal
total pain.

 

[B and C]

Most states have reciprocity on driving issues. So what it legal in your home state would be legal in theirs and vice versa. This is what makes states without safety inspections legal for people driving in states that require it.

I know Texas does not allow two bumper pulls. A fifth wheel or gooseneck as the first one, yes.

Semis have a fifth wheel in the front and a pintle hitch for the back IIRC.

 

[John61CT]

Most states have reciprocity on driving issues.

That is true in general, but are you sure applies to this?

Even if so, especially for non-CDL holders, I bet you'd be having lots of chats with LEO and DOT along the way.

 

[B and C]

I guess the question should be asked one of two ways.

Which states allow two bumper pulls?

or

Which states allow fifth wheel/gooseneck lead with a bumper pull behind?

I would guesstimate that all allow the second. Few or none allow the first, especially if straps are part of the load chain (three connections).

 

[John61CT]

With or without CDL is an important factor to insert in those questions.

DOT regs may well cover a lot of the "with" answers

But for non-CDL I bet east coast will vary a lot from out west. Cities have their own restrictions as well.