It isn't "getting pulled over" if...

... you are already stopped.

A short travel day today.  We stopped at a rest area between Casa Grande and Phoenix - it gives me a chance to do a walk around and check all the tires and connections.

A knock at our door: an Arizona Highway Patrolman was part of a team checking weights on semi trucks in the rest area.  He told me we were driving illegally with our set-up.  I explained to him that, in checking with the AZ DOT, the regulations state that you can legally tow with a 5th wheel or "a farm implement" as the middle conveyance; and keeping total length under 65 feet.  I was told that they do not allow "a trailer behind a trailer" - in other words: something connected with a ball hitch behind something connected with a ball hitch.

He said he was going to have to go back to his truck to check this out.  He pulled it up on his computer and said, "It doesn't say you can have a car in the middle."

I said, "Would you agree that this Honda CR-V is more stable than a farm implement?"

"Well, yeah, but in 24 years of doing this, I have never seen a set up like this."  We discussed the "2 ball hitch" situation.  He asked me about brakes and weights, and I was able to answer all his questions to his satisfaction.  I think part of the issue may be that a larger motorhome with a tow car behind it would not be able to stay under the 65 foot length regulation.  Our Aspect has plenty of towing capacity for our load, and still be under 65 feet total length.

I also told him that we would be happy to unhook and drive separate - and better to do that in a rest area than get stopped alongside the Interstate.  I think he was satisfied that we weren't doing anything outside the regulations and had all the proper equipment and towing experience.  He said, "Nah, go ahead and complete your drive through Arizona... but be careful."

"Yes, sir."  I did get his name, just in case there is any other question with our travels in this state.

Other than a bit of extra time (in a rest area) for this discussion, the day was uneventful.  We planned our timing to go through Phoenix around noon - no heavy traffic and we zipped right on through.

We are here for a couple nights - looking forward to seeing Steph and Dan, and then we'll be gone for a week before we come back and settle in for a couple months.

The RV park where we are staying had a site for us for this short stay, and Joan confirmed our reservation for when we come back.  Easy.

Out for lunch and now just waiting for our sweet daughter to get off work so we can see her smiling face.

:-)