Triple Towing in Florida

[notanlines]

We are headed to Okeechobee the first of January and would like to tow our 14' jon boat with us. I realize Florida is a "NO" on the triple tow, but do they actually stop anyone from doing it, or is it pretty much overlooked? I'm not opposed to taking the chance and then paying the fine, but I would rather not of course. We are towing a 310 Raptor with our '14 F-350.

[Tbristol]

I used to tow jets ski's behind my 5th wheel. All through Florida. Some regulations are different. Trailer behind a 5th wheel yes but regular trailer hook up behind another no. I also went and get a special stamp on my license. In my home state. I was never pulled over. I even saw a motor home towing a jeep with a boat hooked to that in Florida. I bet most Highway patrol officers don't know what the regulations are. They are usually to busy watching for suspicious activity. To bw bothered pulling you over.

[pakuma]

Unless you have California plates. My friend towed a boat behind his 5er, got stopped 4 times on 1 trip. While stopped in one state he saw the exact same set up go by and asked patrolman about it. Cop just shrugged his shoulders, the plate on the passing rig was from that state.

[notanlines]

I don't suppose anyone might know what the penalty might be.....?

[sourdough]

You state that you're willing to pay the fine; I would suggest that it will be more than a fine. They won't give you a ticket and just let you continue down the road pulling the boat and give you a pass. I'm sure they will mre than likely impound the boat until you make arrangements to get it home legally.

[jsm180]

This all I have been able to find;

"Unless otherwise specifically provided for in this section, a combination of vehicles not qualifying as commercial motor vehicles may consist of no more than two units coupled together; such nonqualifying combination of vehicles may not exceed a total length of 65 feet, inclusive of the load carried thereon, but exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices approved by the department for use on vehicles using public roads."

The full Chapter and section is here http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2014/316.515

The cost of a tow for the second trailer if the LEO requests it unhooked and moved right away might be more than any fine.

[buckeyebobhockingcamper]

we had a michigan man pull into our rv park with a ford crew cab pulling a 39 foot montana with a 20 foot boat !!!!this is in marathon ,so he went all the way through florida!!

[larry337]

I researched this about a year ago but haven't actually attempted it. All I could find was that it is illegal in Florida but lots of people do it without getting stopped. But I agree, IF you get stopped, you probably wont be able to continue. Just my opinion. I've also seen triple towing in the middle of Pennsylvania which also prohibits it.

[notanlines]

Just to throw a flash of humor on this subject, picture this. I get pulled over, told of the circumstances, unhook the jon boat, drop the ramp on the 5th wheel, back down the Road King and hook up the boat and away I go. Yes, I do have a trailer hitch on the Harley. Yes, there is also a Harley sidecar attached. I handle the Harley/boat rig and Momma drives the pickup until we get to the next town. Suppose any average LEO would buy that?

[larry337]

I don't see how he could object lol!

[wahoonc]

I want to see pictures of that! I have seen some "interesting" Road King rigs in the past...

Aaron

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by notanlines

Just to throw a flash of humor on this subject, picture this. I get pulled over, told of the circumstances, unhook the jon boat, drop the ramp on the 5th wheel, back down the Road King and hook up the boat and away I go. Yes, I do have a trailer hitch on the Harley. Yes, there is also a Harley sidecar attached. I handle the Harley/boat rig and Momma drives the pickup until we get to the next town. Suppose any average LEO would buy that?

Being "legal" after your caught being not? I wouldn't want to test it out. Not all LEO share the same sense of humor..... Just sayin.

[Ken / Claudia]

In Oregon as long as it is just a illegal combination of vehicles (more than 2) that is a violation, not a crime. I would cite and follow them off the freeway to a large park lot and advise them not to drive until legal and leave. One guy was in a hurry and said he would not unhook. I left him with a 275 cite, radioed the troop 20 miles north and he got another cite. That troop radioed Wash HP as he was going to be there shortly. I did not know what they did but, they had 53 troopers working the same area we had 19 so, I bet he got stopped. Since I travel to Ca and back I see many pulling a 5er and boat on I5 north into Oregon. I asked a friend who worked near the OR/CA border, he said they get cited and told to unhook or turn back South. He was patrolling within 40 miles of the border.

[chuckster57]

65' max here in Ca. Along with the proper license and endorsement.

[notanlines]

Thanks, Ken. That's the answer I was curious about. $275 might be just a little more serious than let's say $85.00. And for those of you who took my Road King hitch comment seriously, no, I have never had a trailer hooked to the rig. It came with the hitch installed, but no trailer. And for those of you familiar with Harley horsepower you know that it takes all that Road King can muster to push that 1000 pounds of bike and sidecar up and down the hills.

[rnkburg]

We have done it but we were under 65 feet. Drive from ky to around clearwater fla you see tons of them going thru. Think of this UPS does it everyday with there semis towing two trailers. The big thing we were told is under 65ft


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[Ken / Claudia]

Do not mix comm. vehicle rules/laws with what we can do pulling RVs. For many comm. vehicle laws the trucks can get special permits to carry more wt, width, length etc etc. than their normal laws allow.