towing boat behind fifth-wheel camper

[JMR]

Does anyone tow a boat behind their fifth-wheel? Fuel prices as they are I am thinking about adding a receiver to my 29' foot trailer, instead of taking two vehicles.
Thanks for any pros or cons.

Mike R.

[dpage70]

I've seen trucks pulling 2 boats a bunch of times so why not a fifth pulling boat lol

[cman]

I,ve got a buddy that pulls his 25ft pontoon behind his 29ft fifth wheel all the way to green river from taylorsville. I would hate to have to back that rig up to turn around somewhere!!! LOL

[apextrail]

There are length limits in some states. I would check the laws in the states you plan on traveling through. I actually saw an older couple trying to launch their boat while still attached to the camper.

[geobass]

I'm a professional driver in the RV area. In most states you would be required to have a CDL with a combination endorsment. If you were to do this for money. So my advise would be to do the same in your private life so you would be aware of all the in's and out's of towing such a rig. The only other thing you have to watch out for would be the overal length of this set up. Check with the State of Kentucky for their laws covering this.
And good luck, you might just need it.

[mperry]

I have a 27.5 ft. 5th wheel and tow my Triton SF behind it with no problems. However there are different length laws for different states. Here in Indiana it is 65 feet which I am at or just under. Hard to get a true measurement. As far as gas goes I don't really lose that much but I don't get that good to begin with. I have a Chevy 2500 with the 8100 big block and have no problems pulling both. I would recommend that you practice some with it before you get it on the road. I found out the hard way though that the boat will pretty much go werever the trailer goes. I have never tried backing up and really would not want to. Just remember to take it easy and you should have no problems. Also make sure the tow vehicle is capable of pulling both.

[MrSplitshot]

I rode with my dad once when he was pulling doubles...there's skill involved there. My opinion is that if you're going to pull a fifth wheel camper and boat, practice and know how to back it. It's tough. I couldn't pull any kind of trailer and plan on never having to back it up.

My company is a towing products distributor and you wouldn't believe some of the questions that have been called in to our call center. I've seen some stuff that will make you shake your head and wonder what in the world somebody was thinking.

Be careful!

[justfishin]

A friend of mine and i planed a vasction down in Georgia last year and he was pulling his boat behind his 5th wheel, he had the hitch ball installed by the camper company he bought the trailer from(candy's campers) they bolted it to the rear bumper of the trailer, well down the road 2 hours later and 100 miles from no where his boat trailer is throwing sparks on a bridge, the bumper bent the hitch broke and there he was looking dumb and feeling less than happy. So if you want to pull the boat look at you bumper is it thick, thin, is there a weight limit on it so on and so forth. But above all else have it installed by someone who knows what they are doing. Nothing worse than going on that big fishing trip of a life time and there ya are land locked on a barrier island when the charters are closed for the winter the weather is great. Did do some crabbing and caught a few shrimp. But those fish were waving at us just off shore and I swear they had margaritas and sun glases headed for florida!!

Oh yeah why is it we never lose cheap sun glasses just the good ones from cableas:D

[bevo]

< Also make sure the tow vehicle is capable of pulling both.


Most importantly take into consideration the first thing that is ALWAYS overlooked when towing is involved...your braking system. Everyone knows for **** sure that their truck can pull X amount of weight around, but they've no idea if they can stop that weight in a resonable distance when traveling at highways speeds.

Do your homework then follow the professional drivers advice from earlier in the thread ... hope for good luck!