Minnesota Pull behind tool towing question?

[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.