Ever wondered about the legal towing requirements for each State? May be this will help...
I include a link to the equivalent standards for Canada, unfortunately it it listed in metric. However, regardless of Provincial requirements, provided you are legal in your Province/State of registration, I believe you should be legal in any Province.
If towing behind your 5th wheel, you may want to confirm.
Ever wondered about the legal towing requirements for each State? May be this will help...
just goes to show how much bad information there is out on the Web. Within 30 seconds I disqualified this entire reference because it says triple towing is not allowed in Colorado and combined towing length is 60 feet.
The actual Colorado laws have always allowed triple towing and combined length was reduced about 10 years ago from 75 feet to 70 feet.
I just came through Florida and Georgia and there sure were triple tows there. Saw a few RV's towing doubles and a whole flock of FedEx and UPS pulling big trailers. Had to be over 70'
OK...Like ALL websites...Read but verify...It seemed accurate for a few "spot" checks that I did (Colorado was not one of them). I guess I should have confirmed all 50 States prior to posting. My apologies...
I'll see if I can find one with more up-to-date information.
:blush:
GipC, not knocking you at all. I've found the only way to be sure is to check each states DMV website and even then you'll be confused and get different answers.
Here in Maryland I have cop friends and have gotten three different answers from three different officers. And none of them were totally correct !
Part of it may be interpretation. As an old time RVer, what I call triple towing is called double tow by the reformed commercial trucker types that think commercial trucking laws and terminology applies to RV'S
:),
when in reality the Colorado law doesn't use either term.
And then you have the Mid West states where they truly do have Triple towing. Was in Ohio and Indiana last month and got passed by a UPS tractor towing 3 trailers. Whole rig had to be 85-95 feet as each of those trailers was at least 28-30'. Looked like a train. Saw a few more after that and also a LOT of doubles that were 40-48' trailers, not the short 30-35' ones.
Also talked to two different fifth wheel rigs towing double.. one had a car behind, one had another enclosed trailer behind. Both said they've never had any issues whatsoever. Now, both rigs were good looking, clean, obviously well maintained and didn't look at all like "the Clampetts going to Beverly Hills". I'm thinking that may be a good part of it. Both rigs over 70' when hooked up and both said they've had an instance where they parked in a rest area, had a Trooper park next to them and the Trooper walked over and complimented them on a really nice rig.
Makes me feel more secure ..... pictures in a few weeks, have all the pieces to set up the Focus, now just have to get that done along with selling the house, getting rid of a bunch of stuff, and being in New York by May 1st ........ piece of cake. Lol
Piperguy, sounds like what we've seen on the Ohio toll turnpike (80/90). I'm wondering if this is allowed on the turnpike but not in those states, I've seen some trailer parking lots just off the turnpike where the "trains" are taken apart.
We have triple (or double) towed in all but 5 of the 48 contiguous states. We have been on multiple toll/turnpikes. We hate to pay, but we rarely avoid them. We always tell them we have a jeep back there. I usually even say, "are we good with that?" Then if we are stopped, I would say... "he said we could, oops." We had a friend that tried to sneak through and didn't mention their toad, both times they were pulled over.
We have talked with other RVers and law enforcement people. What we have been told, if you drive safely and don't appear to be a problem they are not going to mess with you. However, if you are in an accident, you will likely be blamed and/or sighted for the extra vehicle or length. We have a front facing camera that may help in our defense if there was even an issue of blame.
We have had law enforcement back off to verify that they are seeing it right... and then they drive on by.
At this point a ticket would be MUCH cheaper than the fuel we have saved in towing.
The only people we get grief from... old men at a campground. We regularly have them lecture us about that being illegal in their state and unsafe in every state. Basically I smile, tell them OK and suggest that they might not want to do it then.
Thanks Lisa !! I've gotten the same "old men lecture" and I haven't even started towing the Focus yet, just talking about it. The one guy was adamant that the SMI Brake system I'm using wouldn't work behind the fifth wheel. I asked him what the difference would be behind a Motor Home and he was at a loss but just kept saying it won't work. Was easier to chuckle and walk away .......
Thanks Lisa !! I've gotten the same "old men lecture" and I haven't even started towing the Focus yet, just talking about it. The one guy was adamant that the SMI Brake system I'm using wouldn't work behind the fifth wheel. I asked him what the difference would be behind a Motor Home and he was at a loss but just kept saying it won't work. Was easier to chuckle and walk away .......
Imagine in your mind, they are talking to a woman! They are convinced I don't have a clue and I will be impressed by their brilliance. NOT!
