I drive a new chevy 2500HD. When towing my 18' trailer and jeep I dont need trailer brakes and can stop with no problems. But I am considering trying to tow a pop up camper behind my 18' trailer. Anybody every pulled two trailers? What did you think about it? There is no way to back up I am guessing and did you have problems with trailers trying to pass you when stoping?

My uncle does it all the time with his boat and 5th wheel trailer. Word to the wise; electric trailer brakes are your freind. And don't cheap out on one either, get a decent durable one like a drawtite activator or a teckinosha (sp?) prodigy. Both good brands. It will increase your trailering ability ten fold, and I wouldn't even think about two trailers without brakes, 3/4 ton or not. My XJ on a 16 foot utility trailer pushes my 98 Ram 2500 around on down hills and if its wet at all.

Chris

Check with your local regulations. You may need a non-commercial Class A license for the combo. Most states also require that the first trailer is a fifth wheel. That's not a gooseneck, but actually a 5er. I don't necessarily understand the logic there, but rules are rules. Otherwise I would just make sure you have brakes on the rear trailer too and that your controller and wiring on the first trailer are up to snuff when it comes to the extra power demands of the second set of brakes. I suppose surge brakes would be an option too on the last trailer, but that idea scares me a little. And no...backing up isn't an option.

To give you an idea...

In Minnesota you can tow two trailers provided the first is a fifth wheel 28 feet long or shorter. The second trailer can be a boat or a utility trailer hauling ATV's, a golf cart, snowmobiles, or motorcycles (the second trailer stuff is a little gray). The total combination cannot exceed 70 feet, all hitches and trailers must meet regs including hitches, blah blah blah. No additional license or endorsement is required above and beyond a regular Class D license. You cannot operate the combination in the 5 county Twin Cities metro area during certain hours (rush hour).

I do see the combos all the time. Just not in the particular arrangement you're describing, but again...every state is different.

Check with your local regulations. You may need a non-commercial Class A license for the combo. Most states also require that the first trailer is a fifth wheel. That's not a gooseneck, but actually a 5er. I don't necessarily understand the logic there, but rules are rules. Otherwise I would just make sure you have brakes on the rear trailer too and that your controller and wiring on the first trailer are up to snuff when it comes to the extra power demands of the second set of brakes. I suppose surge brakes would be an option too on the last trailer, but that idea scares me a little. And no...backing up isn't an option.

To give you an idea...

In Minnesota you can tow two trailers provided the first is a fifth wheel 28 feet long or shorter. The second trailer can be a boat or a utility trailer hauling ATV's, a golf cart, snowmobiles, or motorcycles (the second trailer stuff is a little gray). The total combination cannot exceed 70 feet, all hitches and trailers must me regs including hithces, blah blah blah. No additional license or endorsement is reguired above and beyond a regular Class D license. You cannot operate the combination in the 5 county Twin Cities metro area during certain hours (rush hour).

I do see the combos all the time. Just not in the particular arrangement you're describing, but again...every state is different.

Yes you have to have a class A license to tow more than 1 trailer, in Cali anyway .

a guy in our club does it all the time with a 18 ft or so trailer and a small popup. Like you said just make sure you don't get in a situation where you have to back up if you can help it.

You didn't say where you were but in MS you can tow two trailers as long as the combined length of the two doesn't exceed a certain length...I want to say it's 35 ft.

found this may help.
although it is hard to help ya when you say you
don't need any trailer brakes......
Is apparent that you haven't been in the situation
to really need them.



http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

Well I stand corrected...max combination length in Minnesota is 75 feet. I had seen that before, but could not find it. Good post.

Ok I do have trailer brakes on the 18foot trailer and on the pop up camper. I only planned on hooking the brakes up on the 18 foot trailer. I have pulled this trailer and rig all around this side of the country with no problem. I have never needed trailer brakes just because my tow rig has always been able to stop me. I live in ky and will be crossing over into IL.

Ok I do have trailer brakes on the 18foot trailer and on the pop up camper. I only planned on hooking the brakes up on the 18 foot trailer. I have pulled this trailer and rig all around this side of the country with no problem. I have never needed trailer brakes just because my tow rig has always been able to stop me. I live in ky and will be crossing over into IL.


Talk to your local Motor Vehicle division. In Ca you must have a full blown Class A with double endorsement and the first trailer has to be a 5th wheel. Also on your small trailer, I believe anything ovr 5K GVWR has to have brakes on it, and they have to be functioning ;)


:usa:

How heavy is the camper? You might not need brakes from the weight side of things, but brakes help keep the ass end from passing the front end.

IL is only legal if first is a 5th wheel..........

Talk to your local Motor Vehicle division. In Ca you must have a full blown Class A with double endorsement and the first trailer has to be a 5th wheel. Also on your small trailer, I believe anything ovr 5K GVWR has to have brakes on it, and they have to be functioning ;)


:usa:
yep, i have a class A with doubles, and if you get stopped by a cop you still have to explain to him what exactly you are doing, and its a BS session toget out of. takes a while. have towed many bumperpulls with %th wheels behing them, and that kinda sucks..... backing up can be done, but is a PITA.

I believe in Calif. any trailer over 1500 lbs has to have brakes on at least 1 axle

I had this same plan but was talked out of it by some local guys who sell trailer hitches and such. They said you get bad sway anytime you pull a single axle behind a larger double axle. One local guy just pulled this setup and said he did get sway but added a little weight to the pop ups tongue and it sode better. Still didn't stop the sway but wasn't as bad as before. I was always told to make sure you that if you pull 2 trailers to make sure that both are dual axle

Backing up 2 trailers is not that bad if you know what your doing. And, just like backing 1 trailer, if you don't know what you're doing, you probably don't need to be doing it. :flipoff2:

Just keep in mind that when you add a second trailer, it reverses your steering directions (just like one trailer does). With 2 trailers, its double reversed or you back up just like you back up with no trailer.