Double Towing a Motorcycle Trailer Behind a Fifth Wheel

[Samthetramp]

I have searched and not found the info I need. I am considering double towing a small trailer behind my 3791RD 5ver.
Factory hitch specs from Keystone say 300 lbs tongue weight and 3000 lbs max which should be within what I plan. Trailer will be for a motorcycle weighing less than 800 lbs.

I'm looking for info on the pull itself. How it handles at speed, how much wind is too much to attempt it.

I am aware that this is not legal in some places and most have overall length requirements.
What have your experiences been?

 

[Theunz]

While I have never towed a small trailer behind a 5th wheel I have also towed a small motorcycle trailer behind a small car. That trailer could hold up to 3 motorcycles. The center bike was staggered towards the front of the trailer. If I hauled one bike or 3 bikes it towed just fine if I towed 2 bikes it shifted the weight off the front and to the rear and the trailer would easily sway. I have also towed two 28’ trailers, three 28’ trailers, two 53’ trailers, and a variety of aforementioned semi trailers, and I can tell you that the deciding factor is the weight distribution on the trailer itself. I have towed two different bass boats behind a previously owned 5th wheel. Both were on single axle trailers. The shorter boat 17’ was well matched to its trailer and towed excellent. The 20’ boat was not well matched and was a white knuckle experience at anything over 60mph. It would start to sway excessively if I made any kind of quick movement with the steering wheel. I should add that it towed a little nervously even with my pickup. Once with the 17 footer on a 65mph highway a car pulled up beside me and pointed back towards my trailer. When I pulled over I was shocked to see that there was nothing left of one of my tires, I was running on the rim and had not a clue!
All this to say that if you have a quality motorcycle trailer and load it correctly you should be fine. Keep in mind that unless you have a rear camera (highly recommended) you won’t have any idea as to how the second trailer is acting. Also keep in mind that unless you are an excellent backer you will not be able to back your rig more than a couple of yards before jackknifing.
P.S. just remembered that I towed a jet ski behind a 5th wheel a few time with no issues.

 

[Samthetramp]

While I have never towed a small trailer behind a 5th wheel I have also towed a small motorcycle trailer behind a small car. That trailer could hold up to 3 motorcycles. The center bike was staggered towards the front of the trailer. If I hauled one bike or 3 bikes it towed just fine if I towed 2 bikes it shifted the weight off the front and to the rear and the trailer would easily sway. I have also towed two 28’ trailers, three 28’ trailers, two 53’ trailers, and a variety of aforementioned semi trailers, and I can tell you that the deciding factor is the weight distribution on the trailer itself. I have towed two different bass boats behind a previously owned 5th wheel. Both were on single axle trailers. The shorter boat 17’ was well matched to its trailer and towed excellent. The 20’ boat was not well matched and was a white knuckle experience at anything over 60mph. It would start to sway excessively if I made any kind of quick movement with the steering wheel. I should add that it towed a little nervously even with my pickup. Once with the 17 footer on a 65mph highway a car pulled up beside me and pointed back towards my trailer. When I pulled over I was shocked to see that there was nothing left of one of my tires, I was running on the rim and had not a clue!
All this to say that if you have a quality motorcycle trailer and load it correctly you should be fine. Keep in mind that unless you have a rear camera (highly recommended) you won’t have any idea as to how the second trailer is acting. Also keep in mind that unless you are an excellent backer you will not be able to back your rig more than a couple of yards before jackknifing.
P.S. just remembered that I towed a jet ski behind a 5th wheel a few time with no issues.

I really appreciate this info. I have a lot of experience hauling big equipment on lowboys and heavy material on flatbeds. Never wiggle wagon. Will be on a good trailer and I have no intention of backing it. Thanks.

 

[Mikendebbie]

My previous truck (2014 Chevy 3500 SRW) had a ranch hand guard on the front and bumper on the back. I don't know what the weight rating was on the hitch receiver in the pic below, but it was heck for stout!

 

[Mark77]

Been there, done a lot of that. I pulled a crew cab UTV behind my 3295RK Monte about 5000 miles a couple of years ago, and made almost the same trip without it (second trailer) this past year.

I also drove truck for 42 years and pulled double combinations of various lengths (mostly 2 X 45) for probably about 500,000 miles, so the combination and length did not concern me.

What did concern me was getting into an area where I might have to back out... it did happen once but I managed to get myself out of the jam without unhooking. Also had a drawbar break in the middle of Phoenix and that got my attention. Thankful for heavy safety chains and brakes on my second trailer. Saved me for sure!

What I did notice. My truck did not even know the second trailer was there. Obviously you don't pull another axle and 3000# for nothing, but the difference in the 5K miles trips, one with the 2nd trailer and one without was not even noticable in total fuel used on each trip. 10.59 MPG average in 2025 and 10.64 MPG average in 2026. Thats over 5K miles on each trip.

The reason for not pulling it on our 2nd trip south was that on the first one I drug that ATV 5K miles and actually drove it 30 miles! Not worth it to me,

If you ever have time for a read of my stories about that first trip south, double towing CLICK HERE

 

[Jay & Bobbie]

Never double tow, however a rear camera would be on my list of necessities.

 

[jsb5717]

Just make sure it's legal where you live and where you will be towing. I would pull a boat behind the 5er if I could, but not legal in Oregon.

 

[Rvtraveler1]

I have searched and not found the info I need. I am considering double towing a small trailer behind my 3791RD 5ver.
Factory hitch specs from Keystone say 300 lbs tongue weight and 3000 lbs max which should be within what I plan. Trailer will be for a motorcycle weighing less than 800 lbs.

I'm looking for info on the pull itself. How it handles at speed, how much wind is too much to attempt it.

I am aware that this is not legal in some places and most have overall length requirements.
What have your experiences been?

I do exactly what your wanting to do with a swivel wheel trailer. Mounts to the frame and is the legal way to do it. 1200lb capacity and is a breeze to back in to your site since it tracks with trailer

 

[Majorpolk]

We have pulled a swivel wheel trailer for 3 years behind our 3781RL. Got 2 motorcycles on it. At least 20k miles.