I am looking at flat towing a jeep behind a camping trailer, hopefully a 5th wheel. My question is, how many of you do this, and do any of you do it behind a regular bumper pull camping trailer? I know that I would at least want an equalizer hitch, but how well does this work?
double towing a jeep
- Thread starter 1993yj
- Start date
I have a friend who did it all the time. 3/4 ton Suburban, 21' Airstream and a CJ-7. The tow bar for the CJ-7 was just long enough to put a Honda ATC 70 on it.
He has towed this combo in all the surrounding states including California. The laws are different in every state. In California it was technically illegal due to over-all length- so check the laws- I don't remember them anymore- he might- I'll ask.
He used an Equlaizer between the Sub and the Airstream. There isn't anything needed between the trailer and the Jeep as there is no weight transfer between them. This combo pulled perfect- never a problem at any speed. The Airstream could have contributed to that. His CJ-7 had Warn hubs on the rear axle as well.
Having the axles spread apart on the CJ makes everything very stable.
He has towed this combo in all the surrounding states including California. The laws are different in every state. In California it was technically illegal due to over-all length- so check the laws- I don't remember them anymore- he might- I'll ask.
He used an Equlaizer between the Sub and the Airstream. There isn't anything needed between the trailer and the Jeep as there is no weight transfer between them. This combo pulled perfect- never a problem at any speed. The Airstream could have contributed to that. His CJ-7 had Warn hubs on the rear axle as well.
Having the axles spread apart on the CJ makes everything very stable.
I know that in AZ it is illegal to double tow unless the first trailer is a 5th wheel or gooseneck. And in UT the law is that it cannot be longer than 65'. I am looking to get a 5th wheel trailer here soon and tow behind it. Until then I am considering using my bumper pull trailer. They will both more than likely be more than 65' in total length, but I am not too worried about getting pulled over for it.
MR.CJ-7
Your Realtor
- Location
- Woods Cross, UT
I wouldn't think you would need an EQ hitch since the flat tow doesn't add any tounge weight, unless you want the EQ for sway purposes.
When I have flat towed my CJ (not as a double tow) It never swayed one bit, acutually tows much better than it drives.
When I have flat towed my CJ (not as a double tow) It never swayed one bit, acutually tows much better than it drives.
Kris K
4x4 Addict!
- Location
- Heber City, UT
Kris K
4x4 Addict!
- Location
- Heber City, UT
does anyone esle smell bacon?
:greg:
Just letting him know there watching for this more, and more. It dosen't take much to get legal anyways.
jrussell3176
Registered User
- Location
- Salt Lake City, UT
Yeah, if you weren't familar with the UHP before...you soon will be!
MR.CJ-7
Your Realtor
- Location
- Woods Cross, UT
Yeah, if you weren't familar with the UHP before...you soon will be!
Yep, they are pricks(I mean particular) :bow:
Had one pull me over while flat towing through happy valley at 55mph on I-15, I think he thought I had no signal lights, then when I did he scrambled to find a reason for the stop. We did it all; lift measurement, registration, insurance, mud flaps, hitch ball weight rating, since everything else checked out just fine he wrote me for faulty saftey chain. He didn't like my winch cable used as a safety chain.
Just letting him know there watching for this more, and more. It dosen't take much to get legal anyways.
Would that be chopping my jeep, my trailer, or my truck to shave some length?
And I really do appreciate the heads up.
Last edited:
kirk86CJ
Registered User
- Location
- Riverton, Ut
A few points. 4 dr dodge short bed, a 26 ft fifth wheel, and the jeep with a 4 ft tow bar puts me at about 59 ft. I wouldn't worry as much about getting a ticket as much as having everything scrutinized if I were to get in an accident. My total GCVW is 20,000. This is 2k over what my door says I can haul. Each axle is under its max. (On the truck, and 5th wheel.)
Also, I had to get diodes and splice into each turn signal wire, and the park lights. I don't understand why, but it is necesary to get the jeep lights to work when towed. I got the dioides at State Trailer.
I can't even tell its back there. (literally - I can't see it)
Kirk
Also, I had to get diodes and splice into each turn signal wire, and the park lights. I don't understand why, but it is necesary to get the jeep lights to work when towed. I got the dioides at State Trailer.
I can't even tell its back there. (literally - I can't see it)
Kirk
Kris K
4x4 Addict!
- Location
- Heber City, UT
I have to deal with this almost everyday.(no i'm not a trooper) You can actually buy a permit for going over 65'. $75 as year. Also a big thing to watchout for is your registered weight of your truck, Utah automaticly gives you 12,000 LBS when you register your truck. If you don't have your truck registered for enough it will cost you alot of $$$$$$$$ to pay the ticket, If they check for that.
kirk86CJ
Registered User
- Location
- Riverton, Ut
So you are saying we can pull 12K lbs? (remember private use) So which of the numbers below has to add up to under 12K. (I'm hoping its the weight on the 5th wheel axles + jeep axle weight.)
here are my numbers from the scale:
Truck Front Axle - 4,620
Truck Rear Axle - 5200
5th Wheel Axles + Jeep weight (flat towed) 10,220
I know my jeep weighs 4,000, so my 5th wheel had 6,220 on the axles.
Kris K
4x4 Addict!
- Location
- Heber City, UT
Yep even private, code 41-1a-1304. Also if your truck is registered for more then 12K lbs then you have to display it on both sides of your truck code 41-1a-229. The gross weight can't exceed 12k lbs. So your at 20,040 LBS if i understand you right.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Kris, does that mean combined weight? If so, most of us towing anything of any substance (say a Jeep on a trailer-Jeep being 4500 lbs, trailer 1500) with a SuperDuty or whatever (my crew weighs, 7800 lbs) are needing to register for weight. If that's how the law reads, I should probably register my truck for it. By my math, I'm overweight with that load.
4500
1500
7800
____
13,800 That's without my butt in the seat and other gear in the truck........
TimB
Homesick
- Location
- Weatherford, Tx
What utah code governs what a motorhome can weigh? Isn't there a different code for them since they almost all weigh over 12,000 and do not have the weight rating displayed?
kirk86CJ
Registered User
- Location
- Riverton, Ut
So in my case, I have 2k of my trailer weight in the back of my truck. If they weighed me, would they unhook my trailer and weigh it, or would they just weigh the weight on the trailer axles. If they just weigh the weight on the axles, then I am fine because I deduct the weight of the truck.
Oh, and btw, every damn tripple axle toy hauler has to exceed the 12K number. I would assume anyone pulling a tripple axle that isn't a dually is over. (I saw a tounge pull tripple axle toy hauler being towed by a 1/2 ton ford on Labor Day
My truck weighs about 7300 (guess) That means 20,220 - 7,300 = 12,900. Does that mean I am 900 lbs into a ticket? If so, there would have to be thousands of guys in Utah in the same predicament.
Kirk
Oh, and btw, every damn tripple axle toy hauler has to exceed the 12K number. I would assume anyone pulling a tripple axle that isn't a dually is over. (I saw a tounge pull tripple axle toy hauler being towed by a 1/2 ton ford on Labor Day
My truck weighs about 7300 (guess) That means 20,220 - 7,300 = 12,900. Does that mean I am 900 lbs into a ticket? If so, there would have to be thousands of guys in Utah in the same predicament.
Kirk