I own a 2001 F350 CrewCab Longbed 4x4 V10 3.73. I pull a 23 foot Wilderness Camp Trailer (4,800 lbs dry) and am interested in putting a receiver hitch on the back of my trailer. This is out of necessity, not desire I have an 8x10 ATV/Snowmobile flatbed single-axle trailer that I want to put a single ATV on to pull behind my travel trailer. I don't know the weight of the ATV trailer but I'm guessing it is around 500 pounds (single axle 14 inch wheels). The ATV is about 400 pounds.

I'm quite confident that the weight is not a major issue, but I'm more interested in experiences others may have had in putting a receiver hitch on the back of their RV and any experiences with double-towing in general.

Where did you get a receiver hitch for your travel trailer (RV shop or custom-welded?) What would you do differently? Do you have an anti-sway bar behind the travel trailer? What things would you suggest to ensure double-towing is as safe as possible, etc?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 18-Sep-02 AT 06:54 PM (EST)]Double towing isn't legal in a lot of states and most provinces in Canada. You might want to check into that though. The only problem with trying to attach to your trailers bumper is exactly that, trying to attach to it. They weren't really designed for such a thing. I know that the trailer is not that big, the one that you want to tow. Another restriction that you might run into is length. Most guys I've listened to, just cringe when it comes to double towing. They feel that it's really unsafe. Here's a good website with alot of knowledgable people and really nice and helpful people on it. Just do a search and you should find what your lookin' for or post your question. http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/CFB/1.cfm

 

Since you didn't say where you're from, the 1st thing to do is check with your state DOT and any states that you will tow this triple combination to or through. Triples are legal in most western states, but very few east of the Mississippi. If you come to Georgia, one of those sheriffs with the mirrored glasses will be sure to stop and chat with you. Also ask if the lead trailer has to be a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer, or if a travel trailer is ok to be the lead trailer. Then check to see if the back trailer needs to have brakes.

After you meet all the regs, go to a big RV store, and they should have an extra long receiver tube. This will get welded/mounted to several frame members on your trailer. They'll also have to run light/brake hookups etc...

When you're backing up, the top of the steering wheel now goes the same direction as you want the back trailer to go. Practice this in a big empty parkeing lot, or make sure you don't get in a position where you need to back up.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Sep-02 AT 11:12 AM (EST)]Thanks for all of the replies guys. I am in Utah and have checked the state regulations for the legality of pulling two trailers along with maximum length. The majority of any towing I would do would be within the state of Utah with the possibility of also traveling in Idaho and Montana. Both of those states also allow it and have the same length restrictions (65 feet).

I contacted some different RV shops as well as some custom weld shops. I even looked at a few trailers that have a receiver hitch. They basically weld a couple of cross members between the frames on the trailer and then put the receiver portion of the hitch to those cross members.

I'm still exploring options to avoid doing this (i.e. hitch mounted motorcycle carrier) simply because it's not my preference. Here in Utah you see it all the time, primarily because there is a lot of people that camp out in the desert and ride motorcycles and ATV's so you have to be able to haul both your camp trailer and your machines or you see a lot of guys hauling small fishing boats behind their fifth wheel. Just because a lot of people do it, doesn't make it right or more safe, but I'm just trying to consider my options.

Thanks again for the input.

 

If I read your original post correctly, you are towing a bumper hitch TT and want to pull another trailer behind. In Ohio (and all other states I have read about) if pulling two trailers is legal at all the front trailer must be a fifth wheel/gooseneck trailer and not a bumper pull.

I did see an F150 4x4 short bed with a personal watercraft in the bed, a 22' inboard boat on a trailer behind and two personal watercraft behind that on a second trailer in Kentucky a couple years ago and he claimed he has never been stopped. He also only towed from Cincinnati to a lake less than 100 miles away.

Dave / Believer45