Is it legal to tow a converter dolly WITH a trailer attached to it?

My pintle hook is on a frame cross member. Converter towing only or yard towing a trailer. Sure as heck not towing down the highway

 

Never seen it done, cant really come up with a reason you would do it. The small pintle hooks wouldn't last if at all. Might not be illeagal in a yard, but on a highway, it would get some attention from LEO's

 

Looks interesting.

 

In my rookie days, I entertained the idea of building a tow/haul rig along these lines. 26" CDL box truck dolly-towing a 28-40-foot trailer for more versatility in expedited LTL. After driving OTR a few years, however, I can see a few things wrong with this scenario in addition to the drives having no weight on them for traction. Sounds like backing would be a PITA, for starters, if it is even possible at all. Also, it sounds like pintle hooks are not all created equal.

First, I can't see the pintle hook holding together as well in a crash. Secondly, I'm not sure I would stretch tractor air hoses across its own fifth wheel where they could rub on the frame / fifth wheel / drive tires. Good way to chew through them and lock up the trailer spring brakes. Also, since there are two pivot points, doubles/triples endorsement would still be required.

"And foithamohr..." Stability could be a problem, for a couple reasons. One, lots more air getting between the trailer and the cab. Secondly, the longer the vehicle, the worse that 'crack-the-whip' gets with multiple pivot points.

One other thing. I'm sure they are now entering the market, but I have yet to see a converter dolly with air-ride, the lack of which could further upset the potential instability from the lack of weight on the drives, increasing the chances of rollover or jackknife in adverse conditions or hard braking. In my opening example of the 26" box towing a pup, it might work well as long as the tow vehicle has enough weight on the drive axle.

Just my $0.02.

 

As long as your pintle hook is rated for the weight, I don't see why not. You're just pulling a full trailer instead of a semitrailer.

Challenging to back, however.

 

The only legal issue will be that using a converter dolly makes it a full trailer so you become a "truck-trailer" combination rather than a "tractor-trailer" combination. Truck-trailer combinations are limited to 65' overall length in many states, so know where you plan on pulling this combination before you build it.

There may be weight transfer issues, traction issues and the "tail wagging the dog" effect, but legal it is.

 

Also will need a doubles/triple endorsement as there is now an added pivot point. Of course that's probably true with the dolly out back too....

 

Looks to be an RV. While they are exempt from many things what about converter dollies?
Appears to be a bad design and or idea. Probably the reason you are working on your car. If a doubles or triples endorsement is required that maybe your only recourse to the manufacturer. Misrepresentation of the product and required licencining.
I have been in some tough squirly situations with a car on a tow dolly. Surely don't want one of those things in the middle. If it is not ileal it should be. Just my opinion.