Double towing vs dolley

[Toyotaguy]

I’m looking for some advice from guys who have had different setups.

My truck is a 2500 CTD 2200lbs of payload.

Currently I have a 28’ (actual length) 5000lbs travel trailer.

I’m looking to bring along our 4 seater utv on some of our family camping trips. Utv is 12’ and 1500lbs

We have ruled out a toy hauler because when we don’t bring the utv we don’t want the extra size the toy hauler brings with it. We only want to take the utv on maybe 50% of our trips. And tow haulers are really tongue heavy with our toes in them. Also we would like to be able to not have to stay at the ohv areas for riding. For instance we like camping at Lake Tahoe and there is a ton of off-road if to do around there, but if we stay at a rv park we are stuck without a way to get our utv to the trails.

We have also ruled out a bed rack as my truck doesn’t have the payload to have a rack + utv + trailer hitch weight, and the high center of gravity with those setups sketch me out.

So the options were looking at are a freedom hauler, specifically the 10’ unit (12’ long actual). I would still be under 10k towing but the length would be getting up there (21’ truck + 28’ trailer + 12’ dolley) so 61’ overall. This is under the 65’ max tow length for most states but it’s a hell of a setup. I have a good weight distribution hitch with good sway control but I’d still be a bit worried about that long of a tongue pull setup. It does seem like it would be more convenient for refueling as backing and turning isn’t as difficult as it would be with a double pull setup. Just have to watch the tail swing. The cost of the freedom hauler with mounting kit and trailer conversion kit is around 13k

The other option we are looking at is upgrading our trailer to a 5th wheel. Specifically a half ton unit around 25’-30’. Dry hitch weight for these is usually around 1500lbs add a few hundred for batteries and propane, I would likely put a Reese goose box on the trailer since my truck has the factory puck system and that will help me cut down some payload. Then I could tow my 10’ trailer that I currently use to haul my utv around. The length would be cut down be 5’-10’ depending on which 5th wheel we got id be shooting for closer to the 25’ side of the range but the weight would be properly closer to 10klbs to 12.5klbs. And I would be approaching my trucks payload limit. The price would greatly depend on the cost of whatever unit we decided on and the trade in or sale value of our current trailer.

If you’ve read this whole wall of text thank you and I appreciate whatever advice my fellow ram enthusiasts have to offer.

 

[MEGA HO]

I'd go with a 2nd option.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Remember when tandem towing most places forbid ball to ball so you must have a 5th wheel hitch (not with a goose box)

I would tow the trailer behind the 5th wheel because thats what i do currently

 

[Toyotaguy]

Remember when tandem towing most places forbid ball to ball so you must have a 5th wheel hitch (not with a goose box)

I would tow the trailer behind the 5th wheel because thats what i do currently

I was curious there are any rules about double towing with gooseneck vs 5th wheel. I tried to look it up but didn’t find anything.


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[H3LZSN1P3R]

I was curious there are any rules about double towing with gooseneck vs 5th wheel. I tried to look it up but didn’t find anything.


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Usually its only specified by stating about ball to ball your state may not have that restriction but if you travel through other states that has that restriction you may have an issue

 

[SeaBee-1]

Don’t come to Oregon. Neither allowed.

 

[Highcountry]

My father in law used to use a platform on wheels that attached to the frame of their fifth wheels to haul Harleys. It wasn't considered a trailer since it attached at two points. Important since you can't double tow here in Washington State. I believe the same setup could then be unbolted and have a tongue attached so it could be towed independently.

 

[MEGA HO]

Remember when tandem towing most places forbid ball to ball so you must have a 5th wheel hitch (not with a goose box)

I would tow the trailer behind the 5th wheel because thats what i do currently

I had to google "freedom hauler" and it does not appear to be a regular ball hitch so this rule you're talking about is likely not applicable. But I wouldn't want to spend my money on any weird specialty equipment so that's why I said option 2 (5-er and a trailer behind it).

 

[MEGA HO]

My father in law used to use a platform on wheels that attached to the frame of their fifth wheels to haul Harleys. It wasn't considered a trailer since it attached at two points. Important since you can't double tow here in Washington State. I believe the same setup could then be unbolted and have a tongue attached so it could be towed independently.

THis is what a Freedom Hauler appears to be.

 

[Toyotaguy]

My biggest hang up with the freedom hauler is the complexity. It has an onboard air pump and a steering axle.

I’d have to maintain that whole setup on top of my trailer. Especially when I already have a utility trailer that I can use for my utv.

The biggest plus of the freedom hauler is the fact that it isn’t considered double towing and all I have to worry about is overall length.

I could get rid of my utility trailer since the freedom hauler can convert into a trailer. But I use my utility trailer for a lot more than just utv.

I guess the ultimate setup would be to move into a 5th wheel and still get a freedom hauler to bring down my overall length.

Here is my utv trailer setup for reference

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[Bombaman]

Does triple towing legality (ball to ball, 5th wheel to ball, or even at all) come under the same guidance as 5th wheel and CDL/Non-Commerical CDL requirements. As long as your licenced to do it in your state, you should be able to drive through another state that may have a differing requirement?

Not currently looking to triple tow, but just generally interested.

 

[Toyotaguy]

I’m going to revive this thread from the dead. I haven’t decided on a solution yet, I’ve kept my eyes on marketplace for 5th wheels but everything in our price range was pretty quickly vetoed by the rest of the family because they really like our current trailer. It’s a good trailer paid off and it’s still basically new as we bought it new in 2020 and have kept very good care of it. So for the mean time we have had to leave the utv behind or have my wife following in her 4Runner pulling the utv which is honestly just a not great as my wife’s not a fan of pulling a trailer, I think mostly cause she has to drive slow and is uncomfortable hanging around the big rigs letting people pass.

What I have found is a used freedom hauler. It’s the 12’ model and only a year old and almost half price of a new unit. I’m strongly considering picking it up.

My biggest hang up is my 28’ overall trailer +14’ of freedom hauler is 42’ combined + truck and hitch I will be right at 65’ long, the maximum allowed in California, which is where I live and I won’t be pulling this set up out of state. So furthest I’d take it is 5-600 miles usually only 2-300 miles.

Am I crazy for considering this setup? I’m very comfortable pulling a trailer and this won’t be the heaviest thing I have pulled but it will be the longest by about 8’. How many of you have pulled a rig that 65’ overall is it worse than pulling a 55’ overall setup?

 

[Brutal_HO]

The tail swing with a Freedom Hauler and similar will be crazy.

I'm 76' but with a 5th wheel and 3500 it's a non issue. I suspect CA CHP doesn't afford one the luxury of exceeding the limits without notice like most of the rest of the states that permit it do.

If you're on bookface, take a look at this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doubletow

As with any social media/forum, you'll often have to bear through a few idiots, but with a 7500+ membership base, there's lots of good info to be had from members that live/tow in specific states and with all kinds of setups similar to yours.

 

[Toyotaguy]

The tail swing with a Freedom Hauler and similar will be crazy.

I'm 76' but with a 5th wheel and 3500 it's a non issue. I suspect CA CHP doesn't afford one the luxury of exceeding the limits without notice like most of the rest of the states that permit it do.

If you're on bookface, take a look at this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doubletow

As with any social media/forum, you'll often have to bear through a few idiots, but with a 7500+ membership base, there's lots of good info to be had from members that live/tow in specific states and with all kinds of setups similar to yours.

I believe I’d still be in legal territory even in California because I’ll be under 65’. Chp in my area don’t seem to care much about whose towing what. I have a coworker that double tows ball to ball with a half ton Nissan titan and he’s never been bothered. I like to color in the lines if at all possible though so the grey area of the freedom hauler stresses me out a little. Hopefully I can upgrade to a 5th wheel in the next couple of years if I do go this route.

The tail swing definitely does worry me, but I feel like I’ll be able to get used to it.

How does 75’ long feel? Your damn near a train at that point.

 

[Toyotaguy]

The tail swing with a Freedom Hauler and similar will be crazy.

I'm 76' but with a 5th wheel and 3500 it's a non issue. I suspect CA CHP doesn't afford one the luxury of exceeding the limits without notice like most of the rest of the states that permit it do.

If you're on bookface, take a look at this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doubletow

As with any social media/forum, you'll often have to bear through a few idiots, but with a 7500+ membership base, there's lots of good info to be had from members that live/tow in specific states and with all kinds of setups similar to yours.

Thanks for the Facebook group recommendation, definitely put my mind at ease see some of their setups, make what I want to do seem pretty tame.

 

[Brutal_HO]

I believe I’d still be in legal territory even in California because I’ll be under 65’. Chp in my area don’t seem to care much about whose towing what. I have a coworker that double tows ball to ball with a half ton Nissan titan and he’s never been bothered. I like to color in the lines if at all possible though so the grey area of the freedom hauler stresses me out a little. Hopefully I can upgrade to a 5th wheel in the next couple of years if I do go this route.

The tail swing definitely does worry me, but I feel like I’ll be able to get used to it.

How does 75’ long feel? Your damn near a train at that point.

Ain't nothin. Just have to plan ahead a bit more than just a single pull.

 

[Brutal_HO]

This guy is 92'

Some of the guys in the group running HDT's are over 100'

 

[jetrinka]

Twin trailers is super cool/interesting. Does the tongue weight on the rear trailer help alleviate some of the load on the pin of the first trailer? Kinda seems like it would be tricky to get all the weights right.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Twin trailers is super cool/interesting. Does the tongue weight on the rear trailer help alleviate some of the load on the pin of the first trailer? Kinda seems like it would be tricky to get all the weights right.

Yea it does change the pin weight some thats also why places most require the first trailer to be 5th wheel so the pin weight is less of an issue if it happened to be lighter it wont hurt the handling like it would with a bumper pull

 

[jetrinka]

Yea it does change the pin weight some thats also why places most require the first trailer to be 5th wheel so the pin weight is less of an issue if it happened to be lighter it wont hurt the handling like it would with a bumper pull

Gotcha that makes sense. Otherwise it would be a trailer sway party into the ditch.