[Archived]

I think most states allow 65 feet. The reality is that even if we are overlength as private vehicles the overlength police look the other way. A lot of 45 foot coaches are pulling some fairly long stacker trailers.

The typical 45 foot coach flat towing all but the shortest toads is overlength. Not my much, but still in excess of the 65 foot overall length. I believe the reality is that as long as we motorhome drivers do not give a cop a reason to pull our chain we can tow what we have been towing within reason. This site lists allowable lengths for MH towing and I think to be universally legal we would need to be 45′ which is just not practical (NH).

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/towinglaws.htm

If you don’t tailgate in the fast lane and drive responsibly I doubt if anyone will bother you as long as the trailer is not ridiculously long. Just make sure you observe your tongue weight requirements and have ample brakes.

[Archived]

I have two trailers, one enclosed Forrest River 24′ and a splt tail open at 22′ and I have never had a problem with anyone pulling either of the two. Okay, one time with the DOT but that was a light issue, nothing else. If stay within the guidelines that Jon has presented you should be alright. Total length of the above is 64’7″

BCO

[Archived]

I doubt that your 20′ v-nose is over about 22-23′. I,ve towed over-length about 250,000 miles ALL OVER THE COUNTRY and, while I can tell you that I’ve heard horror stories, fact is I’ve been pulled over twice…both times in California; one ticket @ 69′, one warning @74′. Our race team was also given a warning in California.

[Archived]

Okie,

Good looking setup. I might just get Me a Mini pickup that I can fit the golf cart in, And hook my Single MC trailer behind that. I could probably get that on a 24′ ? Might weigh in at 6-7K loaded ??? Might check out the Aluminum ones. Not sure yet. But I have been informed that The Mrs WILL NOT Drive another vehicle. After She has got to relax and travel in the Coach, There is no turning back now! Of Course I need Her to fix Me sandwiches and tell Me how to drive anyway !

Thanks,

Rocky

[Charles]

Where’s Louise when we need her? For those who may not know, Louise of Merle and Louise AKA Karen strongly urges all wives to learn how to drive coaches. And I fully agree. However I pulled her chain a while back when she asserted women need to drive our coaches and I asked “but if my wife drives the bus, who will bring me my coffee?”

And here goes Rocky asking a similar question, which is certain to raise the ire of some of our long suffering wives.

Karen is undoubtedly making a list and checking it twice and so far Rocky and I are on it for sure. It is not a good list to be on.

[Archived]

Rocky,

This is what our H3-40 and a 20′ stacker looks like. Total length is right at 65′.

The trailer has a liftgate and all kinds of tie downs. Street car goes on the lower level and toys go above.

[Archived]

Chuck,

Very Nice setup ! I love it. You must have 20K towing capacity on that coach? I noticed that it is a 93. Mine is a 95/96 and I am limited right now to 10K. I think ? Is there markings somewhere on the hitch that anyone knows of to ID the Capacity ? I bet the DOT Man knows how to check them ! LOL

How many HP does Your Coach have ? And How does it do pulling Hills ?

Do You know the Empty Weight of Your trailer ? What Kind is it ?

Thanks,

Rocky

[Archived]

Jon,

Funny , When I was on My way home with it, Talked to the Wife on the phone. She said , ” Me and the Girls will take a trip in it by Ourselves sometime. I said , Maybe , Just wait until You see it and ride in it.

She is happy right now to be the Co-Pilot. I have ask Her to drive it a few times. And I will continue to encourage Her to drive it. I think that one day on a good level road , With little to no traffic. I will be able to get Her to drive ??? But to take off by Herself , Not sure that will ever happen ?

Rocky

[Jim/Chris]

A lot of ladies drive coaches, with and without their husbands on board. In a few cases the ladies are the primary drivers. There is no reason why they can’t or shouldn’t drive the bus if they want to.

The flip side of that is if they do not want to drive the coach, don’t force the issue. My wife wants nothing to do with driving it. She drove our first coach for a while, did a great job, but she just does not like driving and has no intention of doing any bus driving.

Your hitch is likely rated at 10,000 towing capacity and 1000 lbs. tongue weight 8″ from the bumper (verify that). I have towed various weight cars as well as trailers. As long as you are within the hitch lmits you are going to be OK. You just need to realize that as the weight increases it has a negative impact on your coach. The weight you tow affects your stopping distance unless it is equipped with a good brake system and it surely affects your ability to climb hills and your fuel mileage. But as near as I can determine from my experience your speed has a greater impact on stopping and fuel mileage so we all just have to pick what we are comfortable with and enjoy our coaches.

[Georges]

requires cradle change. 5 grand. min 10,000lb was standard hitch install. unless yours was a Entertainter coach or special order, by the way a new heavy duty 4 wheel drive pick up can go over 8,000. fwiw Bob

[Archived]

I love driving the coach… I was the primary driver for years… as Larry would fall asleep at the wheel… he recently got a c-pap machine and gets good sleep now and can stay awake but for years it was scary to ride with him… especially one time when I thought he was going too fast and I looked over and he was driving 80mph with his eyes shut !!! I drove from that day forward ! Also drive with Suburban pulling golfcart trailer on back of bus… just over 80′ long… been passed by troopers many times and NEVER been pulled over.. however we only do this in Texas and Louisiana where triple towing is allowed…. over length didn’t seem to matter as long as we cruise along quietly at 65 mph and don’t try anything stupid.

Wives do need to learn the basics… hooking up, unhooking, sewer etc..even if they never do it… just so you know if there is an emergency.

[Jim/Chris]

Hi Chuck,

I like the setup. How tall is the trailer? It looks taller than the H3. I am trying to decide now about a trailer so I can tke the Jeep and a golf cart.

[Don]

Rocky,

The trailer was custom built under the name Wildfire. They are located north of Atlanta up in the hills near the northern border of the state.

We haul our pit (street) car and a race car. The side ramp allows us to drive the golf cart in sideways.

Our coach shows 485hp on the engine plate but 500 hp in the owners manual. Whatever it is, we have no problem making our 63 mph while towing with cruise control but I DO keep an eye out for hills and try to get a running start when one comes along. Hills definitely are more challenging with a loaded trailer.

Our brakes on the trailer are electrically operated and really do their job well; without them stopping takes on a whole new dimension!

The trailer weighs about 7500# empty and somewhere in the 11,000# range when loaded depending on what we take with us. The tongue weight is 950 to 1100# again depending on the load.

Our fuel mileage drops about 1 mpg when hauling the trailer.

Tom,

The trailer is 13’4″. The H is 12’8″ but the dish and antennas bring it up to 13’4″ also.

[AL]

You seem to have your act together. You don’t know how many guys I have met that do not know how tall their coach might be, how much their trailer weighs (loaded or empty), or the other particulars of bus ownership.

You do. That is impressive. I don’t worry at all about sharing the road with people like you, that is for sure.

BCO

[Archived]

“Wives do need to learn the basics… hooking up, unhooking, sewer etc..even if they never do it… just so you know if there is an emergency.”

Diane, three years after my Dad passed away, I was talking with my mother about dating and getting out and meeting new people and she said, “Oh, I am considering it. I am looking for an older type guy who knows how to dump!”

That cracked me up.

BCO