A friend of mine in southern Virginia asked me a question that I was stumped on and couldn't find an answer to.

Since there are folks in here that are both commercial and non-commercial but more often on the road with a trailer than both of us are, that I would come here for an answer.

He has an '05 Duramax 2500 with a class V Putnam, 12,000lb weight distributing hitch and a 20' bumper pull trailer with a 2' dovetail. Well, he and his wife are planning a trip to the mountains here soon and wanted to take both of their Jeeps. Here is his dilemma: The trailer has dual 7K axles on it, so weight isn't an issue, but the Jeeps are a bit too long to both fully fit on the trailer.

Is it legal for him to back one on it, chain it down and pull the second onto the dovetail, chain it down to the front and back, drop the rear driveshaft and tie it up and go on with his trip?

Like I said, there isn't a possibility of him being overloaded (total load is about 10K), but is using the dovetail of a trailer in a "dolly-type" fashion ok as long as the front of the Jeep is properly chained down?

Thanks and sorry for the long post, ladies and gents.

 

I can't address the the issue of legality but it seems to me that if he securely chains the jeep to the trailer so that it can't twist, he's asking for tire scrub problems. Tow dollys have a pivot so that the car can swivel separate from the dolly chassis and his chains would prevent that swivel from happening. Bad idea in my opinion.

 

Not sure about the legalities in all areas but where I am...this would get tagged for illegal load...good point about the tires too. Have your friend check with local DOT and DOT on his route before he goes.

 

Here's a link to a site that lists towing laws by state. I believe that the combination you are describing would fall under a triple which would not be legal in Virginia. What you are describing would not work as was mentioned due to not having a pivot point. You are talking about a lot of leverage between the axles on the trailer and the rear axle on the ground with no pivot point. Something would break loose when making a turn. Most likely the Jeep mounted ridged in the rear.
http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

 

If it was a goose neck, you might get away with it. Would i do it that way, no way! And then towing in the mountains like that...

 

Cool, I appreciate the quick replies! I'll let him know.

I personally wouldn't do it myself, either. After talking to him earlier, he had mentioned to me that he had already done it a few times locally, but since he was going to be on a highway, wanted to check before making the trek.

I'm glad that I asked around. Even if it's NOT illegal, I think that I will tell him that it is anyway. LOL

Thanks again!

 

Drive one of the Jeeps.
Figure out a way to overlap/stack them.
Use a longer trailer.

Legal? Not likely.
Dangerous? You bet. What happens if the chains break or come loose on ONE side?

 

He could look into a rental trailer that is long enough to park both on..

 

It just isn't going to work, think how much the rear end of your trailer swings during turns etc. The lateral force on the rear tires of the jeep is going to trash something.

Bad idea.

 

I think it is a bad idea as well. My vote would be the longer trailer or driving one of them. Heck, even making some sort of makeshift extension for the deck would be better than having one axle hanging off.

 

Actually it does work. A guy in my local 4wd club towed two Toyotas from Alberta to Moab UT and back with no trouble using a GN trailer. I *think* he may have chained down the front tires, not the axles, and when the trailer turned the front wheels stayed locked to the deck but the truck turned, if that makes sense...

I am not commenting on the legality of it. Just saying I have seen it successively done over a long distance.

 

As for legal or not, if the second Jeep doesn't have current plates, then it's illegal. If it has legal plates, it might be legal in some states. Anything with wheels that are on the road has to have plates. It can hang off the tailbut as long as the wheels are on the trailer, no problem there.

As for being a good idea, I wouldn't do it. You're putting a LOT of strain on the frame and suspension of the towed Jeep and the trailer frame and suspension. The axles may take it, but you're putting a lot more twist on the frame and it's pulling the springs sideways more than normal.

If it were me, I'd get a longer trailer. I've seen them as much as 40 feet.

 

Ok I'm with you there, if the steering was unlocked and it could pivot on the front axle like such.

Now being a "Good Idea" is still another story though.

 

I aint sure about the current plates you can move cars all day long on a wheel lift or tow dolly and you dont have to have tags thats 2 wheels on the ground. I do know if useing a tow bar with 4 wheels on the ground you must have tags

 

Depends on where you are, up here if its in tow, then its covered under the tow vehicle's insurance. However if you are using a tow dolly or trailer then they must have trailer plates.