Two trailers behind a 4WD?
Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 00:35
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Muzzgit [WA]
I am wondering if anyone has seen it done?
We have a Jayco Outback camper and I have recently bought a sport quad bike, but we can't take both.
I had thought about getting a new camper that will carry a quad, either on the drawbar, which I'm not a fan of [too much weight on the towbar] or on the roof, but the problem with both options is if we stay away from the riding area, say in a caravan park, we have to pack up
home every day to go riding.
An even bigger problem would be the quad on the roof. It's a sport bike with a modified sport exhaust. Can you imagine me starting it up every morning to ride it up the ramps onto the roof at 7.00 in the morning after we've packed up house.
SO. My Jayco has electric brakes, it does not exceed the Patrols towing capacity, so I'm guessing the camper chassis would have to be able to tow, and I would have to be licensed to drive it.
The quad weighs less than 200kg and will fit on a standard 6x4 trailer.
I imagine the next big problem would be getting pulled over by every cop in every town wanting to know what the hell I'm up to.
I've seen it done in the bush, but not on main roads.
Reply By: Flywest - Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 00:54
Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 00:54
Muzz,
You would have to
check with Dept transport - but I believe in WA at least, that it wouldn't be legal.
Yes you could get a HC or MC (Heavey Combined or Medium Combined) truck license ro drive a rig with more than one trailer...... but even for the trucks there are roads that road trans (effectively what you would become) arent allowed on specially within the urban limits.
I'm sure that leaving
Perth on the major highways headed north or east - you'd have seen whats called "Road train assembly areas" where road trains pull in and drop one or two of their trailers, and head off to the port or kewdale etc with just the one trailer as a normal semi - then either another couple of local freight co, prime movers hook up the extra trailers one each and drag them to the freight yards as a normal single trailer semi.
Yes - we do now see quite a few B doubles travelling around the place hauling grain and ore etc and milk even..
Whether theres any loophole that would allow your proposed rig to be classed as a B double - I don' know - you'd have to
check with the relevant authorities!
Obviously backing it in to any capsites etc would be a slight nightmare (but ptobably over commable).
The ideas not silly - I've seen pics of USA holiday makers in their winnebagos with camper trailer behind and boat behind that, but again this is ONLY legal in SOME states of the USA - so you can't go on a trip across the nation or up nto Canada so rigged.
I've heard stroies about it being legal in South Aust, the Northern Territory for example, burt again I reckon you'd want it in writing
I'd be keen to hear what you eventually do find out....I'd actually thought about towing a couple boats instead of just one, and for prospecting a camper trailer with a couple quads on a trailer behind that!
Mae sure and post up any factual information you are able to come up with please and the source - plus any licensing requirements for the driver, max lengths & weights etc.
Another possibility MIGHT be f you had say a F truck or similar - with a 5th wheel attachement just like a semi....
The fact you are actually driving a truck (over 3500kg's towing capacity with 5th wheel ~ 5 tonnes I believe) MAYBE theres an ability to THEN tow a trailer behind what essentially becomes a MR (Medium Rigid) combination? (The equivalent of a small B double?).
I would think the GCM (gross combined mass) and GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) etc would all come into the calculations - as
well as lengths weights braking and clearance lighting - maybe an escort vehicle if your overlength and so on...
Best of luck with this one - you'd need someone from Dept Transport, familiar with all the towing regs - etc to get the right advice!
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 23:03
Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 23:03
Pretty much everything you have said has been going around in my mind for a month or so.
I hear what your saying about road train assembly areas but I have seen triple trailer road trains on the bypass road in
Geraldton and I have seen double trailer set-ups on Roe highway going on to Kwinana freeway. I don't think such a small rig would contravene those laws.
As far as I know the road train assembly areas are for heavy trailers where the combined total weight when in combination is over a set limit.
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Reply By: Dion - Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 22:35
Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008 at 22:35
Why does it have to be towed behind a 4WD.
When I first was doing this, it was with a 7x4 single axle towing a 6x4 single axle. This was towed behind my VB Commodore, as the Gutlux was just way too slow, the old 2.2 diesel was only just hanging in with 4th gear.
Later I brought a 7x4 tandem trailer myself, the first thing I did with it when I got it
home was turn it upside down and add a towbar to it as
well. Subsequently the original 7x4 single axle was converted to tandem.
This all happened whilst I had the VB Commodore, it was quite happy pulling the two 7x4's and the 6x4 loaded chokablok full of cut redgum. Yes the VB was pulling three trailers together.
As part of fitting the towbars to each of the trailers, I also installed and wired in a trailer plug so that all the lights would work on all trailers.
When I was putting the towbar onto the first trailer, I was doing it over at the truck yard whilst the government ispector was there examining prime movers, tankers and dolly's for there Road train certification and he thought it was a marvelous idea, he was particurly pleased that I had put enough thought into to wire in a plug for the trailing trailers.
Now the VB has gone, although he VS ute I had, had a crack at it too (three trailers). The repalcement gutlux, a 2.4 with exchange 2.4T engine could maintain an acceptable gallop on the black top with the two trailers loaded with redgum.
My brother and myself are building another tandem trailer, and guess what, it will also be fitted with a towbar and plug, so watch out for four trailers. Either one of my RA's will do a decent job at towing these.
I can't add a photo here of my efforts, because I'm not a full member, but for any doubting thomases out there, drop your email on here and I'll be happy to send photo's, perhaps someone who is a member could then attach my photo's here. Alternatively there are some photo's on the 'Campfire' one of the trailer threads in the Overlander
Forum, and also Mr Alan Nixon, AKA "The Uteman" did an article on this including the towing of three trailers in one of his Ute books, Volume 4.
Cheers,
Dion.
AnswerID:
339031
Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 at 00:04
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 at 00:04
What about brakes?
Is it legal?
Who's your insurance company?
FollowupID:
606572
Follow Up By: Dion - Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 at 22:19
Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 at 22:19
Muzz,
the legalities, who know's? It was 20 years ago that I did the first of these trailers, and as already stated, in the presence of the Government inspector that certifies vehicles for Road Train compliance.
Since then, I have not had an issue towing out on the road, although this is limited to two trailers at a time, never the three.
I have never been stopped by any authority because of towing more than one trailer on the highway.
Brakes, the less said about them, the better.
For insurance, each trailer is not insured seperately, but is covered by the towing vehicle.
Cheers,
Dion.
FollowupID:
606844
Reply By: denver - Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 at 22:13
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 at 22:13
Muzz,
Similar issues, I recently made a decision and ordered a Complete
Campsite camper trailer. Quad goes on the front (towbar). I have a heavier quad (
farm style) and did some pretests and the ball weight is within legal limits for my Landcruiser. Your 200 kg would not be a problem.
Most likely will also try to convert portable boat trailer to carry quad once
camp is set up.
Camper comes in heavy duty off road and I have talked to others who have taken similar trailer thru
simpson Desert so you should be ok as far as offroad or taking where ever you want.
Several other companies said they could do it but Complete have been doing it for a while and did not blink an eye.
Have a look at their website or once I get
mine let me know and I can shoot you some photos and
feedback.
Let us know if you come to any conclusions
AnswerID:
339158