A guy stopped by our trailer earlier this morning when he saw our Airstream and my drift boat parked together on our site here at Yellowstone's Edge RV Park, south of Livingston, MT.
He wanted to know whether I ever towed my Airstream (30' Classic) with my drift boat (16' Clackacraft) hitched behind it.
I told him I didn't do that, and in fact for various reasons would never even consider doing it.
He said he was driving to Montana from Texas 2 weeks ago with his Ford Excursion, towing a 32' Excella, and with his raft on a trailer behind it. He said he'd had a welding shop weld a receiver on the rear of his Airstream frame so he could tow his raft behind it.
While driving across Colorado, his Airstream and raft trailer started swaying uncontrollably, and it ended by him totalling his Excursion, Airstream and raft. Luckily, no one was injured.
Now, he's driving a rental car and staying in a motel - a tough way to spend a vacation. He said he still feels terrible about it, and I'm sure he does.
I know there's plenty of advice on this forum about not hitching things on the back of Airstreams. This fellow said he had sometimes read this forum, but never read that specific advice.
So, one more time: If you're thinking of doing something like that, maybe you should think again what might happen.
I've seen this setup with SOBs before, never a good idea. I wonder how many miles someone would run with a flat tire on the rear trailer before they noticed? A few years ago a MO pulling a toad started a forest fire (Colorado I think) when the toad had a flat tire and they pulled it on the rim throwing sparks and melted wheel into the trees. The MO driver did not have a clue that something was wrong. I think the forest service was going after them to pay for the cost of fighting the fire.
We are considering buying a Clackacraft ourselves (nice drift boat ). How do you transport both it and the Airstream at the same time.
Thanks for posting and allowing us to learn from this unfortunate incident.
The drift boat stays permanently in Montana. Although we have been towing our Airstream back to PA, and putting it in storage there during the winter, we're going to leave it here with the drift boat when we go home to PA in October if we are able to find an inside storage here that is large enough.
There are several places in the Bozeman area that rent 50' storage units that we're on the waiting list for and hopefully one will become available by then.
I do have a ladder rack for the back of my truck and put my 85 pound cataraft on it, but the 280 pound drift boat is a few more pounds than I'm presently able to lift over my head.
Great story John. We've all talked about not doing this for years and this is but one example of why not, let alone the obvious we all know, it'll damage your Airstream trailer no question about it, even if you are lucky and don't put the shiney side down like this guy did.....
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That person was crazy, all right, but not the craziest; I read of some guy trying to move a long distance in one trip getting pulled over with a contrived train of five vehicles!
I think that some states allow 3-trailer big rigs (or are considering it), but I know that in California, passenger vehicles may tow only ONE trailer!
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It seems I love the mountains and deserts more than my friends do. I sure miss them!
1971 Streamline Imperial project "Silver Snausage", 1985 Coleman tent trailer, 1964 Little Dipper, 1975 Northwest "Proto Toyhauler", 2004 Harbor Freight folding, still seeking my Airstream.
Anybody know if they still allow "Michigan Gravel Trains?" One semi tractor pulling several trailers. I know they still do this in Australia, where it's a thousand miles between towns, and nothing between.
but I know that in California, passenger vehicles may tow only ONE trailer!
Unless they changed the law in last 3 years this is incorrect.
I was ready to get double trailer permit, while driving my SUV with travel trailer and PWC to the lake, but later on found $20/month storage at the lake, so dropped the idea. All it took at the time is drive the set to DMV and pass driving exam.
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What kind of hitch, sway control, for that matter electrical connection on that drift boat?
). How do you transport both it and the Airstream at the same time. 
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