If you have ever seen a pickup pulling a fifth wheel with a boat, golf cart trailer, side-by-side trailer, motorcycle trailer, or small utility trailer behind it, you have seen what many RVers call double towing.
Some people call the same setup triple towing because the full combination has three parts: the tow vehicle, the RV, and the second trailer. State laws may use other terms too, including recreational double, recreational vehicle combination, or three-vehicle combination.
The name is not the main issue. The legal answer depends on the state, the total length, the type of RV in the middle, the hitch setup, the rear trailer, the brakes, and sometimes the driver’s license.
The short answer: double towing with an RV is legal in some states, restricted in others, and not allowed for many setups. A rig that is legal in one state may not be legal after crossing a state line.
There Is No Single Rule That Applies Everywhere
The mistake is treating double towing like a simple national yes-or-no question.
States set their own rules for vehicle combinations, total length, trailer type, brakes, equipment, and driver licensing. That means a setup may be legal in one state and illegal after crossing a state line.
Some states write rules specifically for a pickup, a fifth wheel, and a second trailer. Others use broader language about three-vehicle combinations. Some states limit many private, non-commercial combinations to two units unless a specific exception applies.
That is why generic 50-state charts and forum answers can get RVers in trouble. The wording in the actual law matters.
The Setup Matters
Many double-towing rules are written around a pickup and fifth wheel, not a bumper-pull travel trailer.
Michigan defines a recreational double as a pickup truck pulling a fifth-wheel trailer designed for recreational living, with a second trailer attached behind the fifth wheel. Michigan also requires an “R” endorsement unless the driver already has a Group A CDL with a “T” endorsement.
Minnesota uses similar fifth-wheel language. Its statute defines a recreational vehicle combination as a full-size pickup truck or recreational truck-tractor connected by a kingpin and fifth-wheel coupling to a middle vehicle, with a trailer hitched behind that middle vehicle.
That wording matters. A pickup, fifth wheel, and boat trailer may fall under a rule that does not apply to a pickup, travel trailer, and second trailer.
State Rules Can Be Very Different
This is where, again, many online charts and forum answers get RVers in trouble. The details change by state, and small wording differences can completely change the answer.
Tip: Always check the current requirements from the state DMV, DOT, state patrol, or official statute before double towing. Laws, agency guidance, and enforcement practices can change, and older charts often stay online long after they are outdated.
Michigan allows a recreational double, but with limits. The total length of the pickup, fifth wheel, and second trailer cannot exceed 75 feet. The second trailer’s gross weight cannot exceed the empty weight of the pickup or the empty weight of the fifth wheel. The hitch for the second trailer must be attached to the frame of the fifth wheel, and the safety chains must be attached at the outer edge of the fifth wheel with a locking mechanism.
Minnesota allows a recreational vehicle combination without a permit only if it meets several conditions. The combination cannot have more than three vehicles. The pickup or recreational truck-tractor must be rated to tow the total weight being pulled. The full setup cannot exceed 70 feet; the driver must be at least 18, and the rear trailer can only carry listed recreational items such as watercraft, motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, snowmobiles, or equestrian equipment and supplies. Minnesota also restricts those combinations in the seven-county metro area during weekday morning and evening rush-hour windows.
Wisconsin says three-vehicle trains, including camper trailers, boats, and recreational vehicle trailers, do not require a WisDOT permit as long as they meet the operating conditions in state statute. Wisconsin’s statute includes a 70-foot provision for certain three-vehicle combinations using a fifth-wheel and kingpin connection, with brake requirements when the total weight of the towed vehicles exceeds 3,000 pounds.
Texas lists a combination of no more than three vehicles as allowed if the combination, other than a truck-tractor combination, is not longer than 65 feet. Texas also says a house trailer or towable recreational vehicle and motor vehicle combination may not be longer than 65 feet.
Florida points the other direction for many private RV setups. Florida law says a non-commercial combination may consist of no more than two units coupled together unless another part of the statute specifically provides otherwise. It also sets a 65-foot total length limit for that non-commercial combination.
Iowa shows how easy it is to misread these rules. Iowa law says a three-vehicle combination with one motor vehicle, other than a truck tractor, may not exceed 70 feet overall. The same section separately limits a two-vehicle combination involving a motorhome, travel trailer, or fifth-wheel travel trailer to 65 feet.
Those are just a few examples. The main point is that the wording changes from state to state, and small details can change the answer.
Total Length Is Often the Deal Breaker
Double towing can get too long fast.
A crew-cab long-bed truck may be around 22 feet long. Add a 38- to 42-foot fifth wheel and a boat or utility trailer behind it, and the full combination can quickly push past a 65- or 70-foot limit.
Do not guess. Measure the whole setup the way the state measures it, including the truck, RV, second trailer, hitch equipment, bumpers, and any load that extends past the trailer.
Things to Check Before Double Towing
Before towing a second trailer behind an RV, check all of this:
- Every state on your route. Your home state is not enough.
- The exact setup allowed. Some rules are written for fifth wheels only. Others use broader three-vehicle language.
- Total length. Measure the full combination, not just the RV.
- Total weight. Check the truck’s towing capacity, payload, GCWR, the loaded weight of the fifth wheel, and the loaded weight of the second trailer. Do not use dry weights. The second trailer may also be limited by state law, hitch rating, frame rating, or the RV manufacturer’s towing limits.
- Rear trailer limits. Some states limit what the second trailer can carry.
- Brake rules. Check trailer brake and breakaway requirements for the full setup.
- Driver license rules. Some states may require a special endorsement, like Michigan’s recreational double “R” endorsement.
- Hitch and frame ratings. A rear bumper receiver does not automatically mean the RV can tow another trailer.
- Safety chains, lights, and wiring. The rear trailer still needs the required equipment.
- Fuel stops and campground access. A legal setup can still be hard to turn, park, back up, or fit into a site.
- Weather and road restrictions. Some states add extra limits during bad road or weather conditions.
Double towing is not automatically illegal. It is also not automatically legal just because someone else is doing it.
The safest answer is to check the current law in every state you plan to drive through, measure your full rig, and confirm the RV is actually rated to tow the second trailer.
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