Quote:
Originally Posted by Stinger381
As a State police officer in Alabama I can tell you I see double trailers a lot in our state. It is illegal to pull double trailers in Alabama but most officers do not stop them and let them move on.
In Alabama a double trailer is allowed if the hitch has pivot able axle under it. Think about peanut wagons, they have a front axle that pivots and a straight rear axle. You can legally pull two or more of those wagons. Think about tractor trailers with tandem trailers. They have a separate axle under them that hitches to the front trailer and then the second trailer hitches to it. Legal. A 5th wheel trailer with a single axle or dual axle trailer behind it would be illegal. But then again, I rarely see it enforced. Get involved in accident and I think you will see the wrath of the DOT.
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I can't speak for Alabama... But anyone concerned should check the regs in the states in which they intend to operate.
Also of importance is the 'definitions' and/or 'scope' section of the law.....
In Oklahoma our RVs (and traditional utility trailers) are not TRAILERS at all by definition in our law... They are 'SEMI-TRAILERS'.
By definition, a semi-trailer is a unit where part of the weight of the towed unit is supported by its own axles, and the remainder of the weight of the towed unit is supported by the tow vehicle/tractor (pin or tongue weight).
A 'TRAILER' has its weight fully supported by its own axles - much like what Stinger381 mentions above - peanut trailer.... hay trailer.... cotton trailer... etc.
So.... Moral of this story is not to just read the real law (instead of those lame, consistently incorrect generic websites), and clearly understand the scope and definitions at the preface to the statute.
I believe many in OK state just go straight to the statute and think "Oh only a semi can do that, because they're talking about semi-trailers".... Without understanding what specifically the term semi-trailer refers to.
Just another tidbit to chew on.