Anybody double tow?

BIG · May 17, 2018

Just curious if anybody has tips or tricks or experience. I have 26' Bumper pull camper and I use an equalizer, just wondering if I am looking for trouble by putting a hitch on the camper and pulling a 8'x14' flatbed trailer with a UHV on it.

I have heard it's not very safe to go bumper pull to bumper pull, but I have recently seen some guys going down the freeway with similar set ups pulling just fine.

The last thing i want is a camping or hunting trip turning into a disaster but it would be nice to double tow.

Muleman1 · May 17, 2018

LAST EDITED ON May-17-18 AT 11:29AM (MST)[p]I have but yes it is not very safe especially going down hills white knuckles for sure if you do take your time. I now have the wife take hers to pull the wheelers

mulecreek · May 17, 2018

If you live near SLC, take a ride on I80 down Parleys on a Sunday afternoon. You will see a steady stream of people with this setup. Ask yourself if you want to be one of them. I wouldn't go anywhere near it.

However, it would appear to do it you need a truck with at least a 6" lift and 10" diameter tailpipe.

Pines_N_Tines · May 17, 2018

I pull tandem with a 14' flatbed behind a 29' fifth wheel, often. This is a different scenario than pulling tandem with a bumper pull. The fifth wheel king pin is right over the truck bed axel which makes the hitch for the second trailer almost like the hitch of a tow vehicle. When you tow tandem with a bumper pull you introduce a significant whip effect to the second trailer. There is a multiplier to any swerve or emergency evasive action that is needed. When you tow straight (properly weight balanced) you're okay. As soon as you brake hard or swerve ... Hold on and pray.

projp · May 17, 2018

I double towed once.
The last I saw the back small trailer was somewhere near Richfield.

Blank · May 17, 2018

We used to do it all the time. A 20 foot trailer and 8x12 flat bed with my UTV on it. Never any problems but always careful about weight balance. Check and see because several states it isn't legal, several it's only legal with a fifth wheel, and others have an over all length limit.

We decided to bite the bullet and just got a bigger toy hauler that does it all.

deadibob · May 17, 2018

I do it, but I had a cdl and pulled doubles and triples for 20 years. If you don't have the experience, I wouldn't start now. I can't count how many wrecks I've seen from people pulling two trailers on the highway.

Deerdon · May 17, 2018

Have done it for a LONG time. In California...you must have a - class A license w/double endorsement (T), the overall length cannot exceed 65ft and you can only do this with a 5th wheel trailer. You cannot do it with a bumper pull. You might want to check, but I think if the rear trailer is over 3500lbs it must have brakes as well?

elkassassin · May 17, 2018

Hook Em Up & Don't look back!

I've Pulled 5th wheel with ATV Trailer/Boat behind it at 90+ MPH!

I Had a 22' Pull behind Trailer once that liked to Fishtail at 65 MPH+!

One Thing I Will Clue You in on!

Do not get yourself in a Situation where you have to Back out for a long ways!

It Ain't Fun!

It Ain't Easy being Me!

elkassassin · May 17, 2018

Does your Rig Look like this?

It Ain't Easy being Me!

elkassassin · May 17, 2018

And Wisz worried about the weight of a wheeler's rear wheels sitting on the tailgate!

It Ain't Easy being Me!

bugleb · May 17, 2018

Many do it successfully, but some don't.

One year we were headed down I-15 to Panguitch lake area for the deer hunt. A guy right in front of us was pulling a double. It started to fishtail and the rear trailer with two wheelers was really whipping around. One of the wheelers broke loose on one end and flipped over the side of the trailer. It was a shower of sparks for about 1/4 mile before the other end of the wheeler broke loose. I was driving and paying full attention to avoiding the debris on the road, but my passenger son said at one point the wheeler was a good 30' in the air. The last I saw it, it was laying in the center of the freeway with all four wheels in the air.

A neighbor's son was almost killed when he lost control of a double. We went off the side of the road and ended up with his head out the window. There was so much pressure on his head that his eyes were bulging out for a couple of weeks. The trailer hitch with the trailer still attached was the only thing that kept the full weight of the truck from tipping onto his head, or he would have been a dead duck.

1911 · May 17, 2018

Go for it. Tow truck drivers have bills to pay. I have zero experience to base my opinion so it's white flag racing.

WiscoKid · May 17, 2018

>If you live near SLC, take
>a ride on I80 down
>Parleys on a Sunday afternoon.
> You will see a
>steady stream of people with
>this setup. Ask yourself
>if you want to be
>one of them. I
>wouldn't go anywhere near it.
>
>
>However, it would appear to do
>it you need a truck
>with at least a 6"
>lift and 10" diameter tailpipe.
>

I literally LOL'd at this comment...and yes, these people are idiots, definitely overkill and unsafe in my opinion.

BIGJOHNT · May 17, 2018

My tongue pull toy hauler is a handle full enough. It is 62 feet long hooked to my four door truck.When it has a full toys in the back even more so. I dont like to drive much more then 65 mph. Except when I am coming down a hill.

Drive safe make sure you get home and back !

257Tony · May 18, 2018

I did it for several years with a 24' travel trailer and a 6*12 atv trailer with Polaris ranger on it. Never had any issues or felt unsafe at all, and this was behind an F150. The key is making sure the trailers have their load properly balanced, and keep your speed in check! I always kept it at 60 or less with that setup.

I still do it today, but have moved to a 27' 5th wheel, same atv trailer behind. Other than feeling a little heavier, I can't the difference between single and double tow. No extra sway or anything.

That all being said, if you don't have much towing experience or you feel nervous about it at all, don't do it!

heartshot · May 18, 2018

Some people will give themselves a limit to not go past i.e. 55 mph. The problem is when they get comfortable after an hour of driving and tell themselves that is doing fine and that bumping up to 70 mph will not be a problem. It may not be a problem at first.....but it can change quick.

stick to your self imposed limit.

Shadow · May 18, 2018

I do it. 27? tongue pull, 12? UTV. As others have said be sure your balanced well and have enough tongue weight on the truck. I hold 65 max and even a bit lower on down hills. Another thing I think is the biggest factor is having a truck with enough suspension and brakes to handle it, using a half ton is nuts I think.

Onelegwonder · May 18, 2018

We do it all the time as well 27? trailer 12? foot flat bed. The equalizer hitch helps a ton as stated before 65 is pretty much max.

BIG · May 18, 2018

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I have an F-250 Powerstroke, Sounds like I need a 6" lift and bigger exhaust to do it right, haha.

elkassassin · May 18, 2018

>We do it all the time
>as well 27? trailer 12?
>foot flat bed. The equalizer
>hitch helps a ton as
>stated before 65 is pretty
>much max.

65 MPH on a Friday Night Ain't gonna cut it leaving SLC!

It Ain't Easy being Me!

deerfanatic · May 18, 2018

Sounds to me like you answered your own question by even asking it. Your choice... kinda like texting and driving or drinking and driving in my book. When you set yourself up for failure, be ready to own the consequences. Pray no one gets hurt in the process!

Dconcrete · May 18, 2018

Hauling doubles is certainly very very risky.

I had a 28? 5th wheel that I'd haul doubles with all the time. Just bought a new 33? 5th wheel this year. My overall length will be about 74?.

Me personally, I'd never haul doubles with a tongue pull trailer. I tow trailers daily for a living. Large ones.

My advice if you're to do it is, like everyone stated, balance the loads. You can't have too much tongue weight on your 2nd trailer. This?ll cause the first trailer to lift the back end of your truck. Very bad stuff.

The other thing I'd try to make sure of is, if at all possible, make the 2nd trailer one that has 2 axles as well. Single axle, short trailers sway badly.

I know a guy who luckily, didn't kill him and his whole family hauling doubles. It was 2 tongue pull trailers. The last trailer was a boat with a single axle. He began to sway out of control. The boat finally got bucked off of the trailer which is the only thing that saved them.

Downhill is what'll be the most likely candidate to get you.

iluvrax · May 19, 2018

Yup, exact same thing happened to my buddy coming down Weber canyon pulling doubles with a bumper pull and a boat. The only thing that saved him was the boat coming off, and him jamming the trailer brakes!
I wouldn't mess with bumper pull doubles!!!
I pull doubles with a 26.5? fifth, and a 14? enclosed, have for years now with no issues.
My setup is well balanced, both trailers ride flat, and my enclosed trailer is tandem axel, with brakes. That's a big deal!!! Being able to stop everything at the same time, instead of that back trailer pushing on everything, makes a big difference!
If you do, make sure the back trailer is tandem axle, and it has brakes...
Good luck!!!

sbeard4 · Jun 11, 2018

My pastor had a double setup until 3 weeks ago, rolled it all including his suburban. One child thrown out- lucky to be alive, 2 others with broken bones.

Build a box/ramp in back of truck to carry the utv at an angle. better gas mileage, and fewer worries.

Maybe you are best driver on planet, but one kid on cell phone causing you to swerve and you won't recover with a double setup. Its not like trucks pulling from a king pin(5th wheel).

elkassassin · Jun 11, 2018

I've always wondered how this would be if you got it Whippin?

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

elkassassin · Jun 11, 2018

How bout this Riggin Hooked to a F'N Mini Van?

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

joesikora · Jun 11, 2018

Hi Big, all trailers tow differently, like elkassasin said some track very well some don't. Here?s the question. Is double towing safe enough, not for you, but safe for the people behind you that will suffer if something goes bad?

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora