By Gail Marsh
The good news? We planned to travel with our motorcycle. The bad news? The transporter who had agreed to take our motorcycle to Florida backed out. We really didn’t have the time to investigate another carrier, but we did consider triple towing.
If you aren’t familiar with the term “triple towing,” you’re not alone. The term refers to pulling two trailers behind your tow vehicle. (It’s also sometimes called “double towing.”) We considered purchasing a trailer and transporting the motorcycle on our own. But is it legal? Is it safe? Here’s what we found out:
Is it legal?
• Some states allow recreational triple towing (also called double towing). Others do not. As of this writing, these states generally allow it, although restrictions vary: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah.
• Laws and restrictions can change, so always verify the current requirements with each state’s DMV, Department of Transportation, or Highway Patrol before traveling. A setup that’s legal in one state may be illegal in the next.
• States that allow triple towing typically impose maximum overall length limits—commonly between 60 and 75 feet, though the limit varies by state. Overall length includes the tow vehicle and both trailers.
• Some states also establish lower speed limits for vehicles towing multiple trailers.
• Be sure your combined weight stays within your tow vehicle’s ratings (GVWR, GCWR and hitch ratings), as well as any applicable state weight limits.
• Some states—including Michigan and California under certain circumstances—require a special license endorsement or additional licensing for some triple-towing combinations. Requirements vary depending on the type of tow vehicle, trailers, and combined weight, so verify the rules before you travel.
Is it safe?
• Starting and stopping times will take longer when triple towing. Factor this in. Maintain extra space between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Give yourself extra room and time when merging into the flow of traffic.
• The extra weight of add-ons will put additional stress on your braking system. Safety chains and/or breakaway brakes are recommended.
• It may be more difficult to see behind you when triple towing. Make sure to extend rearview mirrors. Consider purchasing a rear camera for better visibility.
• Each towable will need proper registration along with illuminated license plates.
• Make sure all brake lights and turn signal lights are working. Put safety reflectors on the sides of all trailers so others will see the total length of your rig and towables.
Is triple towing for you?
• This is a personal decision based on your driving experience, ability, and comfort level. If you’re not sure, take a test drive on a quiet road. See how the towables react when you change lanes, brake, accelerate, and more. Drive at a variety of speeds to test the overall stability of the triple tow. Try driving at the maximum speed you expect to maintain while on the road to determine the speed you’re most comfortable driving.
• Think about your planned route. Can you adjust it to avoid big cities during rush hour? Would a revised route avoid sharp turns or narrow roads?
• Be sure your overnight stays provide a spot that is long enough to accommodate your extended rig. Also, double-check that overnight campground guarantees a pull-through spot. Backing up with additional towables is next to impossible for most of us.
In the end, we decided against triple towing. (It’s illegal in Florida, anyway.) We have until next year to decide how to get our motorcycle to Florida. There are options. Some people purchase a toy hauler to transport their “extras.” While that’s a bit too much for our budget, we can afford to look into a hitch mount that fits directly on the back of our RV. One way or another we’ll get that motorcycle to Florida!
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RVT1268
After selling my toy hauler and upgrading to a luxury 5th wheel, I still needed to bring my motorcycle along. I towed my bike behind my Brinkley and it was way easier than I anticipated. It tracked perfectly and even my fuel mileage did not go down. Easy peasy.
I’ve read that swivel wheel trailers which have 2 mounting points to the trailer are not considered as a trailer. They come as a single wheel or 2 wheels. My wife’s cousin had a 2 wheel unit for hauling 2 motorcycles around the country behind their 5th wheel.
Thank you for the discussion, Gail. Triple-towing holds no interest for me. We lack toys in such abundance as to consider it, and I prefer to be responsible for less, rather than more, when driving the RV. Thus, a single towed vehicle is as much as I wish to have under my care. Have a great week and safe travels!
Why would anybody call this triple towing? Is towing your 5th wheel “double towing”? More importantly, any trip up I-15 where I live you will pass dozens of tractor trailers towing three trailers, especially FEDX and UPS. That is called triple towing!
Will Insurance cover you if triple towing?