40 foot motorhome towing 25 foot trailer

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gjc

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This is my first time on the forum.  We have a 40 foot motorhome and are considering purchasing a 25 foot enclosed trailer for hauling our jeep, bikes, etc. (all the things we enjoy using while we are out camping) instead of towing the jeep with the bikes on the back. We are sure there are others who are doing this. Do you have any problems getting into campgrounds?  Are you able to keep your trailer at your site or do you have to leave it in another area?  Do most campgrounds have a place to park trailers like this?  Anay advise you can give us we will greatly appreciate.  We are planning to be on the road for about a month this summer and want to make sure we understand any limitations, problems, etc.

Thanks for your help.

Gail
 
That is going to place you over the 65' limit and subject to fines, because of the violation.  I have a 37' MH and a 24' enclosed trailer and with the tongue, it's 65'  JMHO but I'd rethink your priorities and lengths.  Also you ar probably going to need about a 450 or 500HP engine.  Knowledge from experience.
 
I will second what Shane said, That will put you over the length limit.  Why not tow 4-down, way easier on the towing vehicle, no trialer to fuss with, no trailer to park, of course you do get a dirty towed car but you can't have everything.  Better gas millage too.
 
Guess it might be OK as long as you can stay within the legal length and weight limits for your motorhome in the states you intend on traveling.  But IMHO not a good idea.

A 25 ft trailer behind a 40 ft motorhome will make your combind length illegal in many states.  Additionally you need to consider your GCVWR for your motorhome as well as the rated towing weight capacity.  Many Motorhomes have a towing capacity of 5000 lbs or less while some have a 10,000 lbs towing capacity.  Also you must remain within the GCVWR.

What do you plan on doing with the trailer when you are in a RV park?  While some parks have long pull throughs or storage areas many do not.  Also some parks charge extra to store a trailer if it will not fit on your assigned site.

We have seen some RVers pulling overlength or over weight they can be stopped and ticketed or even find themselves exposed to serious liability issues should they be involved in an accident.
 
This 2004 data but I think it will give you an idea of the states which will not permit it.

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/trailer/trailer-laws.html


Some campgrounds do have 70' pull throughs but are limited in number. Even those that have space to park the trailer are low in number.
 
GJC, I hope you know you can't back a coach with a car in tow.  Yes a trailer can backed, but have you ever backed a trailer with a 40-foot motorhome?  Just consider the space it would take to back it into a parking place without it or the coach hitting anything.  Don't expect to pull into a park and with it.  Most are tight for 40 footers anyway, at least the ones I have visited.  If you are lucky enough to get a pull through and park the entire rig, what are you then going to do with the jeep?

You would be much better off towing 4-down with the bikes on the back of the coach or the jeep.  There are racks made to go on the tow bar in front of the jeep, as well as on the ladder.  These may depend on the weight of your bikes.  By bikes, I am assuming you mean bicycles, not motor bikes or motorcycles.

 
WE HAVE A 40' DP MH AND WE TOW OUR 25' BOAT. THE FIRST TIME I WAS VERY NERVOUS, BUT NOW WE ARE VERY USE TO IT. WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS BACKING DOWN INTO THE RAMP TO LAUNCH THE BOAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS BACKING UP WITH A TOW BEHIND YOU IT JUST TAKES EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE PUSHING THE LEGAL LIMIT BUT WE HAVE BEEN FINE i THINK CALIFORNIA WOULD BE THE ONLY PLACE 65' IS TO BIG. EACH STATE HAS THERE OWN REGULATIONS BUT THE MAJORITY ARE FINE WITH 65 TO 70 FEET.

MOST CAMPGROUNDS CAN NOT HANDLE THAT MUCH LENGTH ON ONE SITE. FOR THE MOST PART MOST PLACES HAVE ACCOMODATED US FOR PARKING THE TRAILER, THE ONLY PROBLEM YOU WOULD HAVE WOULD BE IN THE FL KEYS CHECK AHEAD TO BE SURE THEY HAVE TRAILER PARKING. SOME PLACES WILL CHARGE YOU A NOMINAL FEE AND SOME WON'T CHARGE ANYTHING FOR EXAMPEL FT WILDERNESS DOES NOT CHARGE FOR TRAILER PARKING. WE ALSO TOW AN 18 FOOT CLOSED TRAILER FOR THE TOYS WHEN WE DON'T BRING THE BOAT ALONG.

IT JUST TAKES EXPERIENCE IN WHICH MY HUSBAND IS VERY GOOD WITH THE BOAT AND TRAILER NO PROBLEM FOR US. IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TOWNING ESPECIALLY WITH A MH YOU MIGHT WANT TO RETHINK THE SIZE OF YOUR TRAILER THAT YOU WILL BE TOWING UNTIL YOU HAVE SOME EXPERINCE IN.

GOING THROUGH TOLL BOOTHS CAN BE HAIR RAISING IN A MH AT TIMES ESPECIALLY IN THE SPEED PASS LANES AND DOUBLE HAIR RAISING WHEN TOWNING A LARGE TRAILER OR BOAT.

GOOD LUCK
COLLEEN
 
Sorry about the caps i just realize i had them on.

I forgot to mention it is very difficult to manuver in campgrounds with a large trailer in tow you need to disconnect and drive to your site to check it out first before attempting to tow the trailer in. Pull through you may not have problems but none the less I would advise to un-hitch the trailer and check it out first.

Colleen
 
I tow a 24' trailer with a 40' MH. I've not experienced any problems and am well within the limits of my rigs weight ratings. I do however have many miles under my belt driving big trucks and still maintain a class a CDL. Having said all that, my experience is there are very few parks you can get your MH and trailer in your space. Most have an area for parking trailers but not all do. You also need to be pretty handy backing it up as those that have a place to park the trailer usually put them in the most remote area they have. We tow 4 wheels down as much as possible and only use the trailer when we are going on a trip involving Jeeps and motorcycles on the same trip. (The best kind of trip!)
 
Police in any state don't care how much expierience you have, it will get you a stiff fine and you will not be allowed to move your trailer with your MH if you get stopped  They will have it towed and storage for 30 days and if you want it or the vehicle inside you will pay the high charges in addition to the fine.  If you don't pay the tow and storage it is the sorage companies property free and clear and they can do with it as they please.  He a friend that it happened to.  Why be dumb or stupid when it's uncalled for.  Besides a 40' MH usually measures near 41 ' or more.  Add the A frame of the trailer and hitch. you are probably 70 or better.  To get a permit for that in each state, each day you travel and hire an escort  for front and rear, you better have Bill Gates type of money.  I sure can't afford any of the affore mentioned.  I'll stick at 65 and watch where I go.  If I go to a 40' then the 24 Trailer goes and also the Lincoln, both for smaller units.  Dang I would hate to give up the comfort of the Linc.  JMHO but do what you got to do. Sorry about being so blunt but thats the only way I know.
 
THat's a big trailer for a jeep....we have a 16' enclosed and it's a pain sometimes, and campgrounds sometimes don't allow them, so at the end of a very long day, you have to discoonect and reconnect in the morning.
 
Shayne I take great offense to your calling me dumb and stupid. The original post asked for people who had towed with this combination to share their experiences which I attempted to do. If you wish to express your opinion that is certainly your right as well but your attitude is totally uncalled for.
 
Thanks to all who have replied to my question regarding pulling a 25 foot trailer with a 40 foot motorhome.  All your comments are appreciated and will be greatly considered as we make our decisions.  We do have a 2001 Newmar Mountainairre Deisel Pusher so we do have the power.  For the last 5 years we have towed our 23 foot boat behind it and also have launched it using the motorhome.  Our biggest concern is campground availability with this length of trailer.  Thanks, again to all of you!

Gail



 
I am very interested in this subject. I had plans to take a 2004 Vette along in an enclosed trailer, pulled by a 40 footer; looks like I may as well forget that idea. May be an open trailer, which could be shorter, hopefully less than 65' total combination. Next step may be a dinghy, but how do you effectively protect the front of the car and winshield when it is so low. ? Any ideas. Thanks.
 
Giles, saw a feller last year in Branson, Missouri, that had a vette he towed in a trailer behind him.  First he had to rent two spaces.  Than he had to get the vette out before he even went into the rv park.  He than drove in and pulled the trailer thru to the space it was using than back around the park again to pull thru to the space he was using.  And again just the opposite to leave.  Lots of work but I am sure it was well worth it to him.  I do not know what length of RV he had nor the length of his trailer.  Just got to watch him come and go.  Also his vette shared the space his trailer was using, kept it off the road and he did not have to crowd his rv space either.
 
Digger  Sorry if you took offense but breaking the law as such is as I stated., breaking the law.  Wouldn't suggest you try it in ILL.  I used to work for the IL St Police and They love people like yo that  want to pay the big fines and possiblly lose their units via storage bills.  But then that's up to you.  If you got the $ of Bill Gates, maybe you can afford it.  The rest of us sure can't/
 
8)utmtman, thank you for the info; it would make sense if a fellow stayed parked at the same place for several days at a time, but get old if he was on the road every day. Do MH's throw a lot of rocks or other objects at towed vehicles ?
 
Do MH's throw a lot of rocks or other objects at towed vehicles ?
Click to expand...
On gravel roads and such they may. It depends on a lot of variables in the undercarriage, distance to the wheels, etc. There are various skirts that are supposed to help block stones and such, but they can cause a problem rather than solve it if they hang too low (they may drag and scatter stones themselves). There are also shields that go under the tow bar from coach to toad or across the front of the toad, catching rocks and such. Some people love 'em, but others say they are too much work to put on & take off.

Blue Ox Underskirt

Roadmaster Rock Shield

 
I checked both websites and they are certainly worth investigation. Thank you very much for the tips.
 
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