Minnesota Pull behind tool towing question?

[mikeinminneapolis]

I repair tractors and machines in the field. Often times I need my aircompressor and my hoist. They are both pull behind units. Hoist has screw type hitch and weighs 475lbs and has lights (even though not req) and a 2" ball hitch. My pull behind air compressor has normal flip 2" ball hitch and weighs 275 lbs and like hoist I installed lights on it for safty. In the field I have pulled both (even backup short distances). All the lights work. 2 or 3 times I have pulled both localy without issue. My question is is it leagal to pull both at the same time?

 

[RaydaKub]

I don't think they differentiate in the law for given trailer weight. That being said, my cousin bought a new 5th wheel camper 2 years ago and specifically got one with a plate style hitch because he wanted to tow his atv's behind the camper and 2 ball hitches in tandem was not allowed. And yes this is in MN.

 

[Reg]

Fairly sure you need CDL with "doubles" - - REGARDLESS of it all being under 26K.
BTW, since you ARE using this in your biz you can't get away with any RV exemptions.

There are a LOT of gooseneck horse trailers delivered with a 2 inch receiver on the rear bumper, they seem to find it most economic to also pull a tag-along horse trailer when delivering. I have always ASSUMED that they are licensed/registered as a semi with an additional trailer, i.e. "doubles".

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

I'm minnesota weight is important. Since they are under 3000lbs weight and are tools NOT TRAILERS! So minnesota trailer laws do not apply to them. No license possible or required. They are not req lights. Even the DMV and the State Tropers can not answer this question. One troper said "there's only one law section on tools and it dose not speciffically limit the number of tools allowed at one time". He also added it helps that they both are under the 3000lbs limit even combined in weight.

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

I posess a CLass A CDL with health card. DoubLe, triple, and tanker. Says valid for any combination in endorcement area. My towing vehical is a 2004 Chevy 2500 6.0 Quigley 4x4 with a 10,000 lb hitch mounted with a intrical 9,000 lb weinch. Its all super heavy duty commercial equipment

 

[bcp]

You could put both on a trailer and have room for other stuff, too.

Bruce

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

Then i wouldnt be saving fuel. Trailers weigh. And then i have to empty out 5 gal of gas from compressor to put on trailer. And to be legal id have to install ball hitchs on trailer and no. I couldnt use it to haul otherstuff. Not even gasoline for compressor. And im sure trailer have sinkin issues in peoples farm fields in sringtime

 

[MHarryE]

If the troopers couldn't answer the question reading the book... If they were behind a tractor no concern - legal. Behind a truck a good question. Troopers up in our northeast corner of the state seem to give us the benefit of the doubt but you have the Big City in your name and they may have a different interpretation down there. Also you are not nearly as likely to run into one you helped out.

 

[MHarryE]

https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.81

The towing regulation looks like it was written around ,several special interests. For example farmers can haul 2 empty trailers behind their pickup as long as they are within 35 miles of their local post office. Up in my neck of the woods several farmers live more than 35 miles away from the post office. They reference tools only as far as overall length but I can't see anything about doubling tools. If you haven't seen this section of towing law before you might scan and see if you spot something.

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

So if theres no law against it in the books and its all safe you think ill be okay? I wounder whats the worst a troper could try to do if he didnt like it. Just give me a ticket for breaking no Law? And send me on my way? I towed it in minneapolis where i do 40 percent of my repair work 2 times and no one stopped me. I just hate waisting time and gas money. Its also extramly short. Prob 25 ft from front van bumper to rear of rear tool when all 3 hooked up. And then theres 9 extra lights with it all hooked up that work

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

Yes ive read it and it says nothing about a limit on pull behind tools. And tools are always "empty" they are incapible of carrying any kind of load on them (no flat bed container or misc area to haul stuff on them)

 

[bigtiller]

Well, if the Minnesota cops don't know,,,,,,,,,, how can we know? I say do it until a cop says you can't do it. What does your insurance agent have to say about it?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I repair tractors and machines in the field. Often times I need my aircompressor and my hoist. They are both pull behind units. Hoist has screw type hitch and weighs 475lbs and has lights (even though not req) and a 2" ball hitch. My pull behind air compressor has normal flip 2" ball hitch and weighs 275 lbs and like hoist I installed lights on it for safty. In the field I have pulled both (even backup short distances). All the lights work. 2 or 3 times I have pulled both localy without issue. My question is is it leagal to pull both at the same time?

Ask a Mpls police officer if it is okay. Minnihopeless does have the slinky buses and I have seen a couple of road trains in my life here in Minnesota and in my neck of the woods, nobody would care, but in Mpls? That's a different animal.

At worst, I think it would be a $25.00 equipment violation and they make you drop the second trailer. A real prick may have the trailer towed to car jail. Silly question, but could both be mounted on a pallet trailer like a short Midsota STO series?

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

Ive asked and they say they cant think of any law its against. But they say it may be illigal and they say they. Wudnt stop me but if some troper wants to he may stop me if it is illigal

 

[Jkott]

Trailers are trailers in Minnesota. And yes under 3000 still need to be licensed if it's on the road (and not agriculture). Under 3k and it's a lifetime sticker on the tongue. Over 3k lbs and it gets a plate and annual registration.

At least in Minnesota, I'm not sure where a non-recreational, three vehicle combination of trailers under 10,000 pounds would fall

https://revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.81

Considerations if you figure out if it's legal are braking/stopping it safely without jack knifing assuming they don't have any brakes on their own, and making sure it's lit properly with tail and brake lights.

I wouldn't suggest trying it without at least having brakes, preferably electrically controllable a ones, on the first trailer. A panic stop going around a corner is not going to end well for you or anyone near you.

 

[Jkott]

And no, most troopers will not know this law on something like this that is quite grey and will probably err on the side of grounding you or ticketing and let the court figure it out. My brother carries copies of the laws and documentation of calls to the state patrol and/or DOT when he started pulling a boat or atvs behind his fifth wheel. Recreational use is spelled out pretty well in the law now, but non recreational trailers are a bit more vague.

Do you have a commercial drivers license at all, like a class A that would allow combination vehicles not specifically listed in the exceptions? I believe you need class A to pull a commercial double, and if you are doing it for hire, you are a commercial vehicle. You may even need DOT stickers and numbers on your vehicle even if it is a pickup. Mn state patrol is very picky on that, and I know several people who have been nailed for bobcat trailers over 10k lbs behind a pickup putting combined vehicle weight over 26k. That's a class A license even for a pickup.

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

Ob u didnt read posts. They are not trailers and i have a class a 2 and 3 and t end valid for all combinations

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Tough question - I think I'd stop in at a local highway patrol office and ask for an official ruling that they can put on letterhead for you.
Then throw it in the glovebox to pull out if needed.

 

[mikeinminneapolis]

I tried that. They said no to letter and said the law dosent mention and number. Only total lenth and im half of it so its more then short enough. I added a pic of it to profile. Van says auto repair but i do more tractors and small landscape equipment repairs these days.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

They don't sound very helpful - but it would appear you are good to go.