Thinking about pulling mt boat behind my Fifth Wheel?

[glockman55]

I think I might put a hitch on my Fifth Wheel Trailer to haul my boat. The length of my truck and trailer is 46 ft. bumper to bumper, that leaves 19 ft. for the boat..Right? It will be close. How would I wire it for lights? Tap into my trailer lights, or run a new harness all the way back from my truck? And do I need a special license to pull this? I have a CDL now. No double though. Do I need one?

Thanks Glock:dizzy:

[jpollman]

Glock,

Yes you do need a special license. It's a special endorsement on your regular license and is called a "recreational double". As far as the wiring goes, you'd just have to tap into the lighting circuit at the back of the fiver and add a plug so that you can plug the boat into it.

Take care,

John

[jpollman]

Glock,

I just looked up the information and found that depending on the level of your CDL you may not need a Recreational Double "R" endorsement.

Here's a link to the SOS information...

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1627_8666_9064-25410--,00.html

[WALLEYE MIKE]

CDL, you should be good to go. Just make sure your not over 65ft. I don't know how many cops will stop and measure you tho. They carry 100ft tape measures?

Also make sure you have a hitch that is welded to the frame of the 5th wheel and not just bolted to the bumper.

[glockman55]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go ahead and get the hitch. The length will be real close. 65.5 or 66'. I guess being that close I'll take the chance. It's worth it, rather than always taken two vehicles on every camping trip!:banghead3

Glock:Modified_

[roger23]

All ways remember to park in a place where you will not have to back up. I and several other guys use to fish together and pull a boat behind a 5th wheel It worked real well except when some jerk would box us in we always enough guys to do what ever was required to get back on the road. you will have a lot of gaukers.were only stopped once in Mich the cop a young kid was sure we were Illegal but after a hour and checking everything but our under wear he let us go make sure you Have enough truck to pull it and all the trailer brakes work

[glockman55]

I hear ya, I drove Semi, with a 53' trailer, I know how people can block you in. My truck is a 2500 HD CrewCab, Should be enough to pull it. Know of a good place to get a hitch?

[WALLEYE MIKE]

All ways remember to park in a place where you will not have to back up. I and several other guys use to fish together and pull a boat behind a 5th wheel It worked real well except when some jerk would box us in we always enough guys to do what ever was required to get back on the road. you will have a lot of gaukers.were only stopped once in Mich the cop a young kid was sure we were Illegal but after a hour and checking everything but our under wear he let us go make sure you Have enough truck to pull it and all the trailer brakes work

Yeah, you don't want to pull into a Mc Donalds for sure. Always look for a truckers rest stop or a large supper market lot and walk to a restaurant.

[Liver and Onions]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go ahead and get the hitch. The length will be real close. 65.5 or 66'. I guess being that close I'll take the chance. It's worth it, rather than always taken two vehicles on every camping trip!:banghead3

Glock:Modified_

Yeah, what's a foot or so ? I'm sure the 65' rule was only intended for other people, not you.

L & O

[glockman55]

Yeah, what's a foot or so ? I'm sure the 65' rule was only intended for other people, not you.

L & O

OH! Chill Out,, I'll make sure I'm legal. I can cut off a foot or two off the boat trailer if needed. Or, guess who will pay the fine?:dizzy:

[gman]

back when it was 59 ft i got pulled over by D.O.T. officer and he measured by rig. I just slid up a couple feet as he was walking toward the front of the truck to get his measurement to make sure I was o.k. At the time I was just under 59' to the back of the boat but the motor hung out another 2 ft off the transom and I figured that was going to count too.
We had our hitch welded on the camper at Burnsides when we bought it. just make sure you check the book before installing because you have to have your boat chains a certain distance from the ball hitch.

[glockman55]

Was the motor included in the overall length?
It says the safety chains for the second trailer must be securely attached at the extreme outer edge of the fifth-wheel trailer with a locking mechanism.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Was the motor included in the overall length?
It says the safety chains for the second trailer must be securely attached at the extreme outer edge of the fifth-wheel trailer with a locking mechanism.

Suppose to be tip to tip. Motor included. My chains are locked to the frame (outside rails) of the 5th wheel.