Double Towing Laws By State: What States Allow Double Towing?
Many RV owners want to bring their toys along with them on vacation. But without a toy hauler on the back of their tow vehicle, double or triple towing is the next best option. It is also a risky option due to state laws and the moods of the state patrol.
Currently, there are 28 states that allow double or triple towing. Those terms are interchangeable and the latter is used more often than the former. The problem is that those 28 states do not require the same restrictions and what is allowed in one state, may not be allowed in another.
To learn more about this topic and which states allow you to double tow, just continue reading our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can be legal whenever you bring s second trailer along on your vacation. State patrols have been known to make RVers drop a second trailer.
Can You Tow Two Trailers in The USA?
Yes and no. It will depend on the state you will be traveling to if you will be allowed to tow two trailers or not. If you live in a state that allows it but a neighboring state does not, do not be surprised if highway patrol officers make you drop the second trailer.
There does not seem to be a clause in their state laws that allows for double, or triple towing, in those states that do not allow it if your home state does. You will notice that we use triple towing a lot. Those two terms, triple and double, refer to the same thing in this case.
Then those states that allow double towing, have different rules. Here is an example of those rules:
- Some states limit the total length of all 3 units to 65 feet — in other states, the limit is 70 feet or 75 feet total length.
- In some states, triple towing is restricted to adding the second trailer only behind a 5th wheel trailer.
- Many states limit the second trailer to recreational equipment — such as a boat, snowmobile, or ATV 4-wheeler.
- In some states (like California and Michigan) you need a special endorsement on your driver's license to tow any trailer over 10,000 lbs or to drive a motorhome that is over 40 feet in length.
You would have to research each state along your next vacation or travel route to see if your set-up will meet each state’s current laws on towing more than one trailer.
Then the next thing you need to be aware of is that the different states treat both commercial and RV towing as two separate entities. The rules for one do not apply to the other.
Also, you cannot appeal to the federal government for relief as the FDOT has left RV towing regulation up to the states. If you see a commercial truck pulling two trailers that is not permission for you to do so as well. Different entities have different rules to follow.
What States Allow Double Towing
The following list is the current one. You may see states excluded from this list on other websites claiming they allow double towing, Florida will be an example but their laws have not changed that we have seen and double towing for RVers is still illegal in that state.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
Keep in mind that if you are allowed to double tow in one state, that does not mean you can double tow in a neighboring state. Be prepared to be told to drop your trailer where you are at and have to come back for it before it gets impounded.
Or you may have to leave it at friends' or relatives' homes before traveling to a state that does not allow double or triple towing. When you research the laws for each state you are traveling through, use both double and triple towing terms in separate searches.
In many cases, the laws will be listed under triple and not double towing. What you also have to be concerned about is that the two trailers and their contents do not exceed your tow vehicle’s towing weight capacity.
Those requirements still stand whether you are towing one or two trailers. If you exceed that weight limit, you may have trouble with your tow vehicle. All the rules for towing apply even if you are adding a second trailer to your vehicle combination.
It may surprise you how many people may not realize that important point. Here is a list of states that do not allow double or triple towing for RVers:
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Double Towing Laws By State
We are going to start this section with one very important caveat:
“The only way to get completely accurate information about triple towing is to contact the Department of Transportation or Highway Patrol offices for your state and any states you plan to travel through.”
Even the information we provide, as good as it is, needs to be double-checked with the individual states you are planning to visit or travel through. Laws do change from time to time and you need current information before you hook up that second trailer.
In this section, we can only provide the basic laws and it will be up to you to contact the local authorities for more specific information:
1. Alabama
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 57 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
2. Alaska
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
3. Arizona
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
4. Arkansas
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 53 feet, 6 inches
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
5. California
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
6. Colorado
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
7. Connecticut
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
8. Delaware
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 60 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
9. Florida
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
10. Georgia
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
11. Hawaii
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
12. Idaho
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
13. Illinois
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 60 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
14. Indiana
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 60 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
15. Iowa
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
16. Kansas
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
17. Kentucky
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
18. Louisiana
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
19. Maine
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
20. Maryland
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 35 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
21. Massachusetts
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
22. Michigan
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
23. Minnesota
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
24. Mississippi
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 40 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
25. Missouri
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
26. Montana
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
27. Nebraska
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
28. Nevada
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 70 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
29. New Hampshire
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 53 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
30. New Jersey
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
31. New Mexico
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
32. New York
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 60 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
33. orth Carolina
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 60 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
34. North Dakota
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
35. Ohio
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
36. Oklahoma
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
37. Oregon
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
38. Pennsylvania
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
39. Rhode Island
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 53 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
40. South Carolina
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 53 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
41. South Dakota
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
42. Tennessee
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
43. Texas
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 60 mph
44. Utah
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
45. Vermont
- Triple Towing: Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
46. Virginia
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 55 mph
47. Washington
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 75 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 60 mph
48. West Virginia
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 65 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
49. Wisconsin
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 70 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 mph
50. Wyoming
- Triple Towing: Not Permitted
- Maximum Vehicle Length (Including All Add-ons): 85 feet
- Maximum Speed Limit for Towing Vehicles: 65 feet
** Special note: The above list and content are not original with us and we take no credit for its compilation.
Each state has different laws when it comes to towing. They also have different sections concerning the type of towing you can do in their states. This makes it difficult to always get accurate information as some state laws talk at great length about towing a vehicle that was impounded yet not that much on RV towing or triple/double towing.
Here are some websites to help you get to the most accurate current laws on double or triple towing per state:
1. Trailer Towing Laws: Which Federal and State Regulations Apply to YOU?- https://www.weigh-safe.com/towing-safety/trailer-towing-laws-which-federal-and-state-regulations-apply-to-you/
2. Trailer Laws & Regulations by State- https://trailers.com/state-laws/
It is best to read through those sites and then still call the authorities in the states you are traveling to see if there are any changes to their double/triple towing laws.
Getting the right information can be a bit tricky and you need to be aware that some states use the word double while others use the word triple in this situation.
What States Allow Triple Towing
As we have said a few times throughout this article, triple towing is used interchangeably with double towing. While you are only towing 2 trailers, you have three road-worthy vehicles connected together. Hence, the term triple towing is used instead of double towing.
It can be confusing at times and you need to be alert as the states you contact may not use the same terms, even in their laws. Also, while the information in this article and any links we provide are represented as current, they are also represented as possibly being changed over the years.
This is why it is important for you to call those state authorities you are traveling to and through to make sure of the towing laws.
Other Towing Details You Need To Know About
It isn’t just the length of the towing combination or which states allow double or triple towing you need to worry about. There are other issues you need to be aware of and here are some important details that are standard in all states:
- License Plate Light: The vehicle or trailer you're towing is fitted with an illuminated license plate. Driving without a license plate on the trailer could result in you receiving some hefty federal fines.
- Operable Back Lights: When towing a trailer, you should ensure that all the lights, including indicators and brake lights, are functioning correctly.
- Safety Chain: There must be a safety chain connecting the vehicle or trailer in tow to the vehicle towing's tow hitch, just in case the hitch connection fails.
- Reflectors: Small or big, it's important to have reflector lights on the trailer you're towing so that other road users can easily spot you and the trailer in low-visibility conditions.
- Clearance Lights: Clearance lights are also a must-have as they improve the trailer's visibility to other road users and give an idea of how wide the trailer is.
Here are some details that may differ from state to state:
- License & Limits: Some states require that you have a certain endorsement on your driving license to drive a vehicle that's towing, and some have the requirement that you're over a certain age.
- Breakaway Brakes: Another precautionary measure, breakaway brakes apply stopping force to the actual trailer in the event that the hitch fails and it disconnects from the vehicle doing that doing. Check if this is a requirement in the state you intend to operate in.
- Tie-downs: Some states require that you tie any cargo that isn't fully contained in the trailer down with cargo straps or tie-downs.
- Flares: In the event of an accident, some states will require that you release a flare if you're able to to clear off the section of the road.
- Dimension Limits: There a various trailer length limits and width limits you'll have to research and adhere to when driving cross country with a trailer. What is expected in one state may not be the same once you've crossed the border, so plan accordingly (source for both lists)
Some Additional Words
Double or triple towing is not a matter of just hooking up and going. You have to be wary of all the state rules that govern RV towing situations. Remember, commercial towing rules do not apply to RV towing situations and vice versa.
