When is enough to pay for a camper

[mamaloya]

It sounds like you may like a hybrid toy hauler. They are lightweight, have a lot of room and many come with a trailer deck for toy hauling. Check out the Kodiak Expandable 314THV at www.kodiak-rv.com . Like someone else mentioned, it is a hard sided trailer, but the beds pop out like a popup. It is easy to set up and less fuel cost. I have a Kodiak myself. It has a hard slide bed though rather than the tent. I had one with tents and wanted one when we got this one, but this was all we could find. We needed the 2 sets of bunk beds.

Happy Hauler Hunting!

 

[CaptKen]

Stacktester, did you weld it to the frame or bolt it? Also my concern is the rear of my 5er bounces pretty good. On a real rough road, it will sling things out of the cabinets if we don't tie them shut. That would mean the tongue of the trailer I'd be hauling would bounce also. I wonder if that is going to cause a problem? Would just have to make sure what ever I load in the trailer will have to strapped down good!!!

 

[stacktester]

Stacktester, did you weld it to the frame or bolt it? Also my concern is the rear of my 5er bounces pretty good. On a real rough road, it will sling things out of the cabinets if we don't tie them shut. That would mean the tongue of the trailer I'd be hauling would bounce also. I wonder if that is going to cause a problem? Would just have to make sure what ever I load in the trailer will have to strapped down good!!!

I bolted it to the bumper. I most likely will not be on bouncy roads. I'm putting on the safety chain rings on tomorrow. I always tie down 4 corners even if it's just behind the truck on a trailer so that will for sure be done. I won't be going more than 2.5 hours away from home triple towing so if I did get nailed I can always leave the camper and haul the trailer to a safe place. I've got places almost all the way to Orlando I could go to if a trooper was making me unhitch. I'm most likely going to purchase a swivel trailer (2 wheeled version) that hauls 2 four wheelers facing forward and a golf cart sideways which is a "gray area" type rig. It has a male receiver type hitch that goes right to the 5'er bumper. Most say this is a "weight distribution platform" and it's not considered a trailer because it doesn't pivot or have a tongue. I asked a trooper about it and he says, yes it's a weight distributor but who knows what another trooper might say. Like I said, for the distance I plan on pulling, if I did have to unhook I have a place I could drop it off. The nice thing about the swivelwheel trailer is it can be used with a truck only as well.

 

[LONE-STAR]

I drove from Texas to FW with my swivel wheel cant tell you how many cops I passed and never had a problem. Just make sure you have enough pin weight. I have the single wheel model my golf cart is gas. So they said I did not need the double wheel model. The manufacturer is only 60 miles from my house.

 

[lisa8200]

I bolted it to the bumper. I most likely will not be on bouncy roads. I'm putting on the safety chain rings on tomorrow. I always tie down 4 corners even if it's just behind the truck on a trailer so that will for sure be done. I won't be going more than 2.5 hours away from home triple towing so if I did get nailed I can always leave the camper and haul the trailer to a safe place. I've got places almost all the way to Orlando I could go to if a trooper was making me unhitch. I'm most likely going to purchase a swivel trailer (2 wheeled version) that hauls 2 four wheelers facing forward and a golf cart sideways which is a "gray area" type rig. It has a male receiver type hitch that goes right to the 5'er bumper. Most say this is a "weight distribution platform" and it's not considered a trailer because it doesn't pivot or have a tongue. I asked a trooper about it and he says, yes it's a weight distributor but who knows what another trooper might say. Like I said, for the distance I plan on pulling, if I did have to unhook I have a place I could drop it off. The nice thing about the swivelwheel trailer is it can be used with a truck only as well.

While I agree with the pivot point etc. I was told that a trailer would be something you could unhitch and leave like a boat. This is not exactly the wording but I think it comes down to if it is bolted and rigid like a part of the camper it wouldn't be a trailer. I know the intent in my head but I am having a hard time getting it in words, hopefully I've done a sufficient job. This information came from a MCCO ( Motor Carrier Compliance Office ) Officer, also known as the DOT police. He also said that alot of officers may not know what they are looking at. The point with that is, if you make an effort to have something that would not be a conventional trailer ( Ball Connection ) they may leave you alone as long as you appear safe. I didn't get the impression that the Triple Tow law is black and white as far as what a trailer is. The next time I get the chance to talk with one of these officers I'm going to ask what the fine for triple tow is so Donnie can budget properly . We are looking into finding an older Class A or C and just pulling a trailer. If we get a gasser the fuel mileage will be a little less but, it will offset a little with the cost of diesal.

Mike

 

[John VN]

I installed a hitch on the back of my 5'er today..... I know it's triple towing but I don't care. I see it all the time. If I get a ticket I'll worry with it then.......

Sounds like a disregard for laws in place to have safe roadways for fellow travelers.

Was told many times that 2 wrongs don't make it right.

 

[stacktester]

Sounds like a disregard for laws in place to have safe roadways for fellow travelers.

Was told many times that 2 wrongs don't make it right.

If it was somethng that could come unhitched or sway out of control, then I would say you're correct. The device I'm looking at bolts very securely to the trailer frame and was designed to haul gof carts/four wheelers/motorcycles.

I would much rather somebody having a swivelwheel on the road in front of me rather than lawn trailer that was designed to be pulled as the first tow vehicle. "Designed" being the key word. The manufacturers of these devices designed them to be safe and an effective way to get those extra toys where you want them.

 

[des1954]

Stack - I don't know if pulling another trailer behind a 5'er would be illegal in Florida. The reason I say this is because you see "piggy-back" semi's all the time, and that is not illegal. Because the hitch for the 5'er is basically the same as what a semi uses to pull a trailer - your 5'er becomes part of your tow vehicle. There is a 53' length limit, however.

The only hesitation I would have would be the swaying that could occur by the second trailer. I would be concerned that I wouldn't have a lot of control - or couldn't sense it swaying. The only way to know that would be to get out on the road and try it.

For safety sake, I would have the hitch welded to the 5'er, and not bolted. (But I'm into over-kill when it comes to road safety.)

IMHO, you should be okay pulling another trailer behind your 5'er. Just to be on the safe side you might want to check with the FHP. Then you'd know for sure.

Debbie

 

[John VN]

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

some helpful information

 

[des1954]

Wow, John! I'm surprised by the towing length for Florida on this chart. You see semi's hauling 53' trailers all the time. Does this chart not apply to the "Big Rig's"? Just curious???

 

[John VN]

Wow, John! I'm surprised by the towing length for Florida on this chart. You see semi's hauling 53' trailers all the time. Does this chart not apply to the "Big Rig's"? Just curious???

I have read elsewhere that the commercial trucking industry has special exemptions available. Fees have to be paid to be legal.

 

[CaptKen]

I think the question may be, is a fifth wheel tow considered one vehicle or two when on the road? UPS tows double all the time and they will drop off one trailer in the parking lot of the shopping center accross the street, deliver the first trailer, then come back for the second.
I see on the chart that Al and Ga has classified double tows illegal also but I still see on their roads also. Could be that its not a big enough offense for law enforcement to deal with.

 

[stacktester]

It's ok for Fed Ex and UPS to haul doubles because they have been given permission to do so.

Like I said, I solved my problem because I'm going to bolt the platfrom to my trailer permanently so there is no tongue. If there is no tongue, then it's not a trailer. Some may agree or disagree. I call it a weight distribution platform. I will have lights on it and probably just for added safety put a orange triangle on the back as well.

 

[John VN]

It's ok for Fed Ex and UPS to haul doubles because they have been given permission to do so.

Like I said, I solved my problem because I'm going to bolt the platfrom to my trailer permanently so there is no tongue. If there is no tongue, then it's not a trailer. Some may agree or disagree. I call it a weight distribution platform. I will have lights on it and probably just for added safety put a orange triangle on the back as well.

Glad you solved your problem.

I'm just trying to think of how the entire set-up would handle the pressures of an elevation change like at the entrance to a gas station or driveway. Also, wouldn't the swing at the rear of the platform be pretty bad since the pivot point is at the toy hauler wheels? Like the overhang of some old gasser MHs.

 

[LONE-STAR]

Stacktester you will be fine just make sure your receive is mounted to the frame of you 5er. When I bought my swivel wheel the manufacture said I should weld either 4"x4" or 4"x3" square tube between the frame rails. Then cut holes in the tube slip the receiver through it and weld it up. I went with the 4"x3" square tube. By the way my friend is a welder makes fab work a lot easier.

 

[LONE-STAR]

When you go threw big dips they do go up and down a lot but my golf cart never hit the trailer. As far as turning you just have to remember its back there. Its kind of like driving a tractor with a shredder on the back or a back hoe just dont forget its back there.

 

[bradisgoofy]

This is the rig I pulled for two years, mostly in Michigan and Indiana. The overall length was 65 feet, the legal maximum. In the second trailer I had either our two Harleys or our golf cart. The hitch was bolted to the frame of the fifth wheel and the whole outfit pulled like a dream. The first trip to FW we didn't yet have the golf cart and we didn't want to bring the Harleys as we don't like riding in the Orlando area so we didn't tow the extra trailer. We had every intention of going to FW with this setup and our golf cart but we traded for our current motorhome. Everything I've read about the laws said this setup was legal in every state from Michigan down to and including Florida. Believe it or not, I got better fuel mileage with this setup then I do with my diesel motorhome. ( the bloches on the trailer picture are flaws from the coping process )

 

[John VN]

Stacktester you will be fine just make sure your receive is mounted to the frame of you 5er. When I bought my swivel wheel the manufacture said I should weld either 4"x4" or 4"x3" square tube between the frame rails. Then cut holes in the tube slip the receiver through it and weld it up. I went with the 4"x3" square tube. By the way my friend is a welder makes fab work a lot easier.

Guess I am reading his post wrong.

I read, I'm going to bolt the platform to my trailer permanently so there is no tongue, then there is NO RECIEVER, therefore no ball and hitch. If this is the case then the 5er has just been extended with a pivot wheel under the platform.

BTW, another helpful link

http://rvtravel.com/blog/jerry/2007/10/can-you-triple-tow.html

 

[lisa8200]

Guess I am reading his post wrong.

I read, I'm going to bolt the platform to my trailer permanently so there is no tongue, then there is NO RECIEVER, therefore no ball and hitch. If this is the case then the 5er has just been extended with a pivot wheel under the platform.

BTW, another helpful link

http://rvtravel.com/blog/jerry/2007/10/can-you-triple-tow.html

Not entirely true, www.swivelwheel.com will show you one concept. While it may not be as traditional as what you would have on your truck, the concept remains somewhat the same. You could almost call it a modified reciever because it has three recievers instead of one. I have basically the same setup on my fiver. You would be correct that there is no ball and the " hitch" would be the whole platform, not just a an insert with a ball. Sometimes things get described in a basic format that relates them to a comparable product. Of course the store bought ones have actual recievers. According to the Law enforcement I have talked with, this is as you said an extention, not a trailer. Even if it is removable.

 

[John VN]

Not entirely true, www.swivelwheel.com will show you one concept. While it may not be as traditional as what you would have on your truck, the concept remains somewhat the same. You could almost call it a modified reciever because it has three recievers instead of one. I have basically the same setup on my fiver. You would be correct that there is no ball and the " hitch" would be the whole platform, not just a an insert with a ball. Sometimes things get described in a basic format that relates them to a comparable product. Of course the store bought ones have actual recievers. According to the Law enforcement I have talked with, this is as you said an extention, not a trailer. Even if it is removable.

Thanks for the link . Looks cool.

Good luck stacktester