Enclosed Trailer - Tandem Towing

[nast70]

Considering an enclosed trailer for overnight hunting and getting the bikes to destinations. I'm debating a SA vs TA with brakes, leaning towards the TA for the cargo capacity.
If i tandem tow the cargo trailer, will the cargo trailer brakes engage the same time as the 5th wheel? Wondering how exactly that would work?

 

[papajake]

I would check with Alberta transportation before going ahead pulling an enclosed behind a 5th wheel trailer I have never wired a plug for brakes on a hitch on the rear of a trailer but the trailer must have a brake away installed

 

[MP Kid]

It can be done… but there’s quite a few things to consider other than just the wiring:

Max overall length cannot exceed 65’ in AB.
Is your truck rated for the total payload/towing capacity.
Is your 5th wheel frame and axles stout enough to handle the extra load placed on it due to the cargo trailer.
Where do you plan to go… BC is a no go with this set up for a personal vehicle.

 

[acesup800]

Easy to do if the cargo trailer has hydraulic brakes or doesn't require brakes. I have done this a lot. Just need to beef up the rear hitch on the 5th wheel to ensure solid mount to the frame. I would push towards the single axle to avoid the brake situation unless you plan on switching out the electric to hydraulic which isn't that difficult to do.

 

[blastoff]

I just seen this set up today, a guy with a diesel pulling about a 34 foot 5th wheel and a 7X14 enclosed with electric brakes on enclosed, I dont know if its legal but it looked ok

 

[Mike270412]

It can be done… but there’s quite a few things to consider other than just the wiring:

Max overall length cannot exceed 65’ in AB.
Is your truck rated for the total payload/towing capacity.
Is your 5th wheel frame and axles stout enough to handle the extra load placed on it due to the cargo trailer.
Where do you plan to go… BC is a no go with this set up for a personal vehicle.

It's actually ok in BC if you have a big enough truck pulling it.

 

[Mike270412]

Can You Tow Two Trailers in British Columbia? - RecProtect

What are the laws on double towing in BC? In this blog, RecProtect goes over the regulations for towing in Canada and BC as well as some insurance tips.

recprotect.ca

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

Can You Tow Two Trailers in British Columbia? - RecProtect

What are the laws on double towing in BC? In this blog, RecProtect goes over the regulations for towing in Canada and BC as well as some insurance tips.

recprotect.ca

So if you have a class 1 you can pull a boat/cargo trailer behind the 5th wheel camper in BC?

 

[Lightningmike]

If trailer and load exceed 10,000lbs or 4500 kgs you require a class 1. I think alberta is same . That's total combined weight of trailer(s) and load. Of course the truck has to have a GVWR to handle all as well

 

[arff]

This will work on the 2 nd trailer

 

[acesup800]

Can You Tow Two Trailers in British Columbia? - RecProtect

What are the laws on double towing in BC? In this blog, RecProtect goes over the regulations for towing in Canada and BC as well as some insurance tips.

recprotect.ca

Not sure how you got that from that article. You cannot do it recreationally.

https://www.cvse.ca/vehicle_inspections/PDF/MV3230.pdf

 

[ABMax24]

Ha, arff beat me to it.

I'd try something like this. By my understanding it uses power from the brake and the brake light signal to trigger the trailer brakes. This way your first trailer is connected to the truck brake controller and this one is controlled via Bluetooth on your phone.

General PDP Template

www.canadiantire.ca

Check the wiring schematic to make sure this is correct, but I think it would do the trick.

 

[acesup800]

If trailer and load exceed 10,000lbs or 4500 kgs you require a class 1. I think alberta is same . That's total combined weight of trailer(s) and load. Of course the truck has to have a GVWR to handle all as well

You don't require a class 1 to tow over 10,000 lbs. If its a rec trailer, you only need a house trailer endorsement (write a test), but any other trailer over 10,000 lbs, you need a heavy trailer endorsement which includes a test and an actual drivers test including getting tested on a vehicle/trailer walk around. I did this this summer to pull a 13,000 lb boat and then a guy has it. You have to do a medical every 3 years too for the heavy endorsement. And no air brakes. This only applies to BC licenses, as long as you are legal in your province, you are good here.

 

[Absledder]

If trailer and load exceed 10,000lbs or 4500 kgs you require a class 1. I think alberta is same . That's total combined weight of trailer(s) and load. Of course the truck has to have a GVWR to handle all as well

Can anyone from AB confirm this? I was under the impression (and so far my googling has shown) that a class 5 was good for anything as long as the tow vehicle only had 2 axles and the trailer had electric brakes? Air brake endorsement required if the truck has air brakes.

 

[adamg]

Can anyone from AB confirm this? I was under the impression (and so far my googling has shown) that a class 5 was good for anything as long as the tow vehicle only had 2 axles and the trailer had electric brakes? Air brake endorsement required if the truck has air brakes.

In Sask, Class 5 can't tow a trailer over 10k lbs. Although it is allowed if you pass the 'heavy trailer' endorsement test.

 

[nast70]

That's kinda what i was hoping for. I was thinking a bit simpler, maybe something that would amplify the brakes signal to the second trailer making them brake a touch harder than the main trailer to help keep things straight, especially in sketchy spots.

 

[arff]

Ha, arff beat me to it.

I'd try something like this. By my understanding it uses power from the brake and the brake light signal to trigger the trailer brakes. This way your first trailer is connected to the truck brake controller and this one is controlled via Bluetooth on your phone.

General PDP Template

www.canadiantire.ca

Check the wiring schematic to make sure this is correct, but I think it would do the trick.

I talked to a couple people using this. They tow a trailer behind a 5th wheel camper. They claim it works great

 

[Trashy]

Bringing this back up
Just got a smaller 5th wheel camper and was thinking of adding a 2nd trailer behind.
Had the discussion yesterday afternoon during happy hour. And one of the guys said, to run new wiring under the 5th and tie it into the junction box located in the 5th wheel hitch. Once tied in, the truck built in trailer brakes, should be able to control both trailer(s) braking at the same time, without additional hardware.
Has anyone heard or have tried this? It does kind of make sense......

 

[ABMax24]

Bringing this back up
Just got a smaller 5th wheel camper and was thinking of adding a 2nd trailer behind.
Had the discussion yesterday afternoon during happy hour. And one of the guys said, to run new wiring under the 5th and tie it into the junction box located in the 5th wheel hitch. Once tied in, the truck built in trailer brakes, should be able to control both trailer(s) braking at the same time, without additional hardware.
Has anyone heard or have tried this? It does kind of make sense......

Generally you're going to need a second brake controller of some sort, as it's highly unlikely both trailer will brake with the same effort. For example, your cargo trailer could be locking up the brakes and the fifth wheel might not even be braking yet.

 

[moyiesledhead]

You don't require a class 1 to tow over 10,000 lbs. If its a rec trailer, you only need a house trailer endorsement (write a test), but any other trailer over 10,000 lbs, you need a heavy trailer endorsement which includes a test and an actual drivers test including getting tested on a vehicle/trailer walk around. I did this this summer to pull a 13,000 lb boat and then a guy has it. You have to do a medical every 3 years too for the heavy endorsement. And no air brakes. This only applies to BC licenses, as long as you are legal in your province, you are good here.

House trailer endorsement in BC requires both a written test and a road test.

Recreational trailer

Going on a road trip? If you're towing a recreational trailer, you might have to upgrade your licence. It depends on your trailer's fully-loaded weight and whether the trailer or truck pulling it has air brakes.

www.icbc.com