Was That Legal?

During my standard 500 mile Thanks Giving road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento last weekend I noticed a full sized Dodge Pickup pulling a flat bed trailer with a full sized Chevy pickup on it and attached to the back of the flat bed trailer was a 30ish foot Toy Hauler. So, in effect, it was a dual trailer set-up. From a physics standpoint, I can’t imagine it was safe as both trucks had big lift kits / tires and the cross winds on I5 are often pretty intense but putting that aside, was that legal?

I was in SoCal a week ago, near San Berdoo.

I believe that the legality depends on overall length and probably what state you're in. I've seen motorhomes pulling trailers pulling other trailers. Like motorhome, toy hauler, boat.

Now, as everything is already illegal in the PRC, I'd have to say that was illegal there too, just on principal. I'd also like to see him pull that up the Grapevine, or try to coast down. From a distance.

In Ohio for sure, and I think most places, it is legal for semis to pull two trailers as long as either trailer is not more than 28ft each. It does require a seperate endorsement on a CDL. If this was not for hire it may not require a CDL and/or if the towed load was under 10k lbs.

I've seen it before as well. I do not know about legality.

Double Bottoms can be pulled in New York if the driver has a stamp for it. Me pulling a car trailer AND a camper? Go right to jail, do not collect $200...

Legal (I doubt it) or not - Hess is right. Downhill would be a cluster-berkeley. Downhill panic stop = vehicular manslaughter

i questioned the same plan when my Bro -in law- added a hitch to his car hauler , trailer, So that he could trailer his 34 ' replica three window.. AND tow it's little trailer, behind the trailer.

( Ohio ) I know semi's can pull doubles, but the average shmo?

Let me know if you know ?

Bludroptop is absolutely correct! Stopping , downhill , in the mountains in the rain .. on icy roads... would be premeditated murder

Here you go. It seems to vary by state and this link will give you the breakdown for each state.
http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp

Once you click a state (region) it answers the question of "two trailers." My guess is that this is what we are looking for.

Quick answers:

California - No

Ohio - Yes

New York - No

jrw1621 wrote: Here you go. It seems to vary by state and this link will give you the breakdown for each state. http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp Once you click a state (region) it answers the question of "two trailers." My guess is that this is what we are looking for. Quick answers: California - No Ohio - Yes New York - No

Uhhh, It is legal in California provided you have a Class A License. Stupid, but Legal. I have seen several different set ups and was surprised the first time I saw it.

Would I do it, NO.

SoloSonett wrote: Bludroptop is absolutely correct! Stopping , downhill , in the mountains in the rain .. on icy roads... would be premeditated murder

One of my favorite parts of the internet, I'm not comfortable with something so you would kill someone if you did it.

As long as nothing is overloaded and you don't overdrive the conditions it's not going to end in certain death. I made it from Cooperstown to Long Island towing a 1500 Chevy van and a small camper behind an F350 wrecker. Besides being painfully slow to climb hills It never felt uncomfortable. Not necessarily legal, though many times they used to look the other way with tow trucks, but not the ticking timebomb some would say.

Wally wrote: As long as nothing is overloaded and you don't overdrive the conditions it's not going to end in certain death.

Okay - point made, but I guess I was referring to the specifics in the original post.

Your scenario sounds somewhat reasonable. The OP's didn't!

The link above may be suspect. For giggles I checked Texas and noticed that a few other items are incorrect.

Dr. Hess wrote: I was in SoCal a week ago, near San Berdoo. I believe that the legality depends on overall length and probably what state you're in. I've seen motorhomes pulling trailers pulling other trailers. Like motorhome, toy hauler, boat. Now, as everything is already illegal in the PRC, I'd have to say that was illegal there too, just on principal. I'd also like to see him pull that up the Grapevine, or try to coast down. From a distance.

Fog, rain, & the usual holiday traffic made it a particularly poor time to try it. Also, judging by the full-on mullet motif, I’d say he originated from the “909” which means he probably did come down the Grapevine.

I saw the same thing in Colorado, you'd see a pickup pulling a boat with a popup behind that, or any number of combinations. It just don't look safe. Not to mention hell to park at a Denny's or what have you.

RX Reven' wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote: I was in SoCal a week ago, near San Berdoo. I believe that the legality depends on overall length and probably what state you're in. I've seen motorhomes pulling trailers pulling other trailers. Like motorhome, toy hauler, boat. Now, as everything is already illegal in the PRC, I'd have to say that was illegal there too, just on principal. I'd also like to see him pull that up the Grapevine, or try to coast down. From a distance.

Fog, rain, & the usual holiday traffic made it a particularly poor time to try it. Also, judging by the full-on mullet motif, I’d say he originated from the “909” which means he probably did come down the Grapevine.

The 909/951 are no where near the Grapevine (Interstate 5). The closest point would be in Anaheim where the 5 and 91 cross

Locally I see big Dodge pickups hauling trailers with four horses in them, and it looks like the truck would pop a wheelie if it accelerated too hard. I'm no expert but when your truck's riding hooptee style, I think the tongue weight is too high.