What CDL? You don't need no stinkin' license to pull two trailers in Michigan!
Michigan is a state of contradictions. The authorities there are so worried about your focus on the road in front of you that it's illegal to hang anything on your rear-view mirror. Yet if you want to triple tow - that's pulling two trailers at one time, like an RV camper and a boat - you can do it after you pay $10 and take a 15-question test. And you just need to get 12 answers right.
The only caveat worth mentioning is that the total length of the tow vehicle and two trailers can't exceed 65 feet. That's about the length of a semi-trailer combo, the differences being that a semi-trailer has only one articulated point and the folks who drive them need expensive specialized training and commercial driver's licenses.
Incredibly, Michigan is not only not alone with this, it is not the most permissive: Wisconsin and other states allow 65-foot triple-towing combinations, South Dakota allows 75 feet, and Wyoming gives drivers a whopping 85-foot towable length. No wonder Wyoming is the state of The Bucking Horse and Rider...
[Source: Automobile]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brent Malesich 3:16PM (1/31/2009)
I would see these kinds of combos frequently in Montana when I was a kid.... I wouldn't recommend these types of combos in more congested areas though. Some people CAN actually handle this... so why not let those that can, do it.
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notYou 4:11PM (1/31/2009)
Brent Malesich: "Some people CAN actually handle this... so why not let those that can, do it."
Sadly, that is no longer the American way*. Unfortunately, we're now boiling things down to the least common denominator: if citizen-X can't do it, then nobody should be allowed to (see gun laws, arbitrary speed limits, zero-tolerance enforcements, etc.)
Oh, and I love the snide "you can do it after you pay $10 and take a 15-question test. And you just need to get 12 answers right."
12 answers = 80%. Geez, that's a higher requirement than necessary to graduate the public education school system. Yet we pay bazillions for that and they only need, what, 65% to graduate (and, heck, only like 60% of them make even that here in FL). But, I digress...
(* are we even allowed to say that outside of a red state any longer?)
Joe K. 4:21PM (1/31/2009)
Dear Government,
Save me from myself, I'm an idiot.
Love,
Concerned Voter
Polly Prissy Pants 6:15PM (1/31/2009)
The problem isn't those who can, it's those who can't but think they can, at least until they kill a family on the way home from gramma's house. So if you want to blame someone, blame the morons who don't know they're morons who ruin everything for the rest of us. See towing, guns, speeding, smoking dope, fireworks, cellphone laws, etc etc.
Jared 7:53AM (2/02/2009)
Someones actually gotta kill someone first before you start saying that.
akboss302 8:45AM (2/02/2009)
Jared, are you serious? Ha ha! What if its you? In your honor, we'll make laws that should have been in place before it happened, K?
HotRodzNKustoms 3:25PM (1/31/2009)
I see this every now and then in California. This looks waaaaay illegal for California. Anyone know what the actual California law is for this?
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Stuka 4:58PM (1/31/2009)
Here in CA you need a CDL to be able to tow two vehicles (CA DMV Wording) at once.
caddy-v 3:32PM (1/31/2009)
Oh great. Now we have to hear a long speech from SeaUrchin on how they should'nt be driving a pickup because no one needs one and should be driving a Civic with their double chinned wife and three fat kids, how dare they pull a camper causing more waisted fuel when a pup tent will be more than good enouph, and those rv's when everyone knows bycicles use less gas. And the pollution caused by a campfire?
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Tagg 4:20PM (1/31/2009)
Ha ha! That's hilarious!
Sea Urchin 3:57PM (1/31/2009)
So it's you opinion that average pick up owner does this?
Joe K. 4:23PM (1/31/2009)
No Sea Urchin, His opinion was that you were going to whine about it...
Nude Love 6:02PM (2/01/2009)
Haven't seen Vintage in a while....
Do Dodoo Do Dooo...
*Minds own business*
Kevin 3:38PM (1/31/2009)
I saw a YJ once that was hauling a camper followed by a boat. I don't even want to think about what that must have been like on the interstate...
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Mike P. 4:04PM (1/31/2009)
I'm thinking along the lines of, "chaotic pendulum."
cowboy bob 3:38PM (1/31/2009)
We need universal federal drivers liscenses, universal federal traffic laws, universal federal emission standards, and universal understanding that this DOES make sense. Never happen. That's why you see crap like this.
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Kitko 4:15PM (1/31/2009)
I'm with you on that.
kwsdurango 9:44AM (2/01/2009)
Agreed.
Unfortunately you are also right that it will never happen. Imagine the number of people who would have to give up some authority and power, as well those put out of work. These are all things bureaucrats don't like...
...because common sense, reasonable governance simplicity and efficiency are clearly not in the tax paying public's best interest.
Steve 3:41PM (1/31/2009)
This shoudn't be happening at all.
This is PURE Governmental FAIL.
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ajmalzx 6:01PM (1/31/2009)
Since when did the government did not FAIL at anything?