towing behind 5th wheel

[JKH]

Just wanted to ask somebody who has done this . Is there any problems with towing behind your camper? Just seems to me to be the way to go . I had a motor home and spun a rod bearing this year . Seems like every time I wanted to go some place I had a major repair. If I can pull my boat behind a 5th wheel with no problems it sure would be nice . As I drive my pickup every day and I know how that runs . I've heard a lot from people who have never done this . I want to hear from someboby who has done this and what are your opinions . Thank you in advance . Joe

[dave]

All states have different laws on lenght of unit. I run a dodge ext. cab and pull a 30 foot 5th wheel and a 17 foot crestliner total 67 feet . Minnesota law is 70 feet . I have not had any problems other than to back up rig.

[jps]

>Just wanted to ask somebody who
>has done this . Is
>there any problems with towing
>behind your camper? Just seems
>to me to be the
>way to go . I
>had a motor home and
>spun a rod bearing this
>year . Seems like every
>time I wanted to go
>some place I had a
>major repair. If I can
>pull my boat behind a
>5th wheel with no problems
>it sure would be nice
>. As I drive my
>pickup every day and I
>know how that runs .
>I've heard a lot from
>people who have never done
>this . I want to
>hear from someboby who has
>done this and what are
>your opinions . Thank you
>in advance . Joe

[jps]

>Just wanted to ask somebody who
>has done this . Is
>there any problems with towing
>behind your camper? Just seems
>to me to be the
>way to go . I
>had a motor home and
>spun a rod bearing this
>year . Seems like every
>time I wanted to go
>some place I had a
>major repair. If I can
>pull my boat behind a
>5th wheel with no problems
>it sure would be nice
>. As I drive my
>pickup every day and I
>know how that runs .
>I've heard a lot from
>people who have never done
>this . I want to
>hear from someboby who has
>done this and what are
>your opinions . Thank you
>in advance . Joe

I've towed fairly large boat behind 5th wheel for quite some time now.18 ft. boat,small 5th wheel. Make sure you have a good hitch on 5th wheel. Would also use a sway bar control,just in case. Laws vary,state to state. I know what you mean about tow rig and up keep! Good luck!

[MDHnetboy]

I've been towing an 1850 Tyee behind a 2150 Nomad for 6 years (about every other weekend from May to Sept.) with no problems.

Partial text from Minnesota Statute 169.81:

Subd. 3c. Recreational vehicle combination.
Notwithstanding subdivision 3, a recreational vehicle
combination may be operated without a permit if:

(1) the combination does not consist of more than three
vehicles, and the towing rating of the pickup truck is equal to
or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed;

(2) the combination does not exceed 60 feet in length;

(3) the camper-semitrailer in the combination does not
exceed 28 feet in length;

(4) the operator of the combination is at least 18 years of
age;

(5) the trailer carrying a watercraft, motorcycle,
motorized bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, snowmobile, or
all-terrain vehicle meets all requirements of law;

(6) the trailers in the combination are connected to the
pickup truck and each other in conformity with section 169.82;
and

(7) the combination is not operated within the seven-county
metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2,
during the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.

Here is the link to the Minnesota Statutes:
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us:8181/SEARCH/BASIS/mnstat/public/www/DDW?W%3DTEXT+PH+IS+%27towing%27+ORDER+BY+SORT_KEY/Ascend%26M%3D26%26K%3D169.81%26R%3DY%26U%3D20%26PC U%3D1

[JKH]

Thanks for your answers . Also how big are your trucks . My camper dealer is telling me that I can get by with a 1/2 ton . The #s come out where I can pull both . BUT am I going to be happy. Thank again . Joe

[JKH]

Thanks for your answers . Also how big are your trucks . My camper dealer is telling me that I can get by with a 1/2 ton . The #s come out where I can pull both . BUT am I going to be happy. Thanks again . Joe

[Rats]

I have a 98 F150 with a 5.4. I pull a 21 ft 5th wheel and a 17 ft alum boat together. The 5.4 pulls fine, but I would not want to go much heaver. My neighbor pulls a very similar set up with a half ton Dodge. He thinks it's fine.

Also forget about 70 mph or higher, I you have a flat at 70 mph with two trailers, it will be a big problem.

Good Luck

[George Eh]

RV dealers in my opinion don't seem to be very knowledgeable when it comes to the size of truck needed to pull. 150's will pull quite a bit but most I've seen on the road are over their weight ratings. Most 5ver's over 25' have a pin weight of 1200# plus, throw in the weight of yourself, wife, dog, gas, food, etc. and your truck is well over the limit it can carry. I've pulled a 25' 5th wheel with my 150 Ford and the engine had no problem hauling it, 6000# dry, but the truck was squatting quite a bit in the back because of the weight on the truck itself. I also owned a 19' 5th which was just about perfect for pulling behind the 150 and I see no problem hooking a boat behind onethat size. Check out ford's website for some good info http://www.fleet.ford.com/products_services/rv_trailer_towing/default.asp Happy motoring!

[Rich(MI)]

I use to pull my old boat(16foot Starcraft) behind a 21 foot Terry 5th wheel for about six years. Initially I had a few problems with hitch weight on the boat effecting the hicctch weight on the camper giving swaaay which was amplified by the time it got to the boat.(boat would move half a lane). Once that was fixed everything was fine and it pulled great. Michigan law says 55MPH maximum for a recreational double. Only other problem I had was that the boat was narrower than the caamper so I had to clamp on some flags to know where the boat was. It was almost impossible to back this rig up. By the time you saw the boat it was almost jacknifed. I pulled this set up with a Ford F250 4wd with the 5.8 liter engine. I now have a bigger boat and exceed the length and weight limits. Good luck its not bad towing the double.

[sloopjb]

It's no go in PA for the idea. I would try the rec. double in a minute...but Penn Dot Vehicle Code is very clear. I, too, had asked the RV dealers (useless for the most part, like the majority of salesmen selling trucks), rec. vehicle associations, trailer manufactures, inspection mechanics, etc. about the idea...I got many strange looks and for the most part zero help or advice. On ocassion, I would meet somebody on the road pulling a double going the other way, but never got to speak to them about their experience. I wanted to do it so bad it drove me nuts when I saw it being done.
As the others who posted here mention...you've got to have your "ducks in line" (pardon the pun) before this is done. Personally, I don't like the idea of 1/2 ton pickups acting like "big rigs". I'd go a minimum of a 3/4 ton truck for heavier suspension (more stable underload), larger brakes, heavier tires, etc. 1/2 ton pickups usually have sufficient power, but keeping the load upright and stopping when you least expect to are what it's all about.
Best of luck...I hope it works out for you!
I envy you for being able to do it. Treat it l