Tow with camper on truck

[THoltz]

I have a 2003 Lance camper, model 1010, 3500 lbs when full. It hangs over the rear bumper about 2 ft. I have a 3 ft long receiever extension such that I can tow my 15 aluminum fishing boat. The receiver extension has a 5000 lb rating stamped into it. I am thinking about buying a Jeep Wrangler and hauling it on my 7500 lb gross tandem axle flat bed. Trailer and Jeep will weigh around 6500 lbs including a few tools.



My question is, does anyone fabricate a receiver extension with a higher rating? What do I need to do to safely and within the law, tow trailer and Jeep with my camper on the truck. Is this a bad idea?



Thanks for any info, help, and ideas?

 

[mberry]

My parents used to have a big Lance camper like that and tow their 3 horse slant trailer with tack room. They had an extension made of solid steel with another 2" extension off to the passenger side about 15-18 inches to compensate the side-to-side motion. They never had a problem in thousands of miles with that setup other than it being really heavy to lift up and put into place for my dad. Looked like an angular "h".

If you are going to do this, I would suggest something similar and use a weight distributing hitch if you can. That will help stability a lot.

 

[SSell]

torklift makes the superhitch (dual reciever), probably heaviest duty you can buy off the shelf. I've seen several custom built deals exactly like what you want both flat towing jeeps or mid-size trailers---some of those had added bars from end of hitch extension to the ends of the bumper.

 

[MHoverson]

I just bought a Lance 1020 a month ago and I'll be towing a tandem axle trailer with a Toyota Land Cruiser on it in a couple months. I went with the whole Torklift Superhitch system for camper tiedowns and the dual receiver hitch. The weight of the trailer and Cruiser will be around 5700 lbs. I had to get a 4' extension to be able to tow anything because of the length of the camper. I didn't want to have to go that long but I got a great deal on the camper and couldn't pass it up.



I wouldn't trust a single tube extension pulling what your describing. The Superhitch 48" extension is rated for max 6000 lb load and 600 lb hitch weight. If you can use a weight distributing type hitch the numbers on the 48" hitch go up to 12000 load and 1200 hitch weight. 48" is their longest extension length.



They're about the only game in town for this type of setup.

 

[wcjp]

Ditto-Go Torklift. I'm towing my Jeep/trailer of 5500lbs behind the camper.



Cheapest prices for Torklift is Gib's RV or Craigslist. The Torklift stuff is properly rated for your needs.







Gibs RV Superstore | Coos Bay, Oregon RV Dealer proudly offers Forest River, Holiday Rambler, Northwood, Carriage, R-Vision, Pilgrim International

 

[RVTRKN]

Will you have enough available RAWR for the added weight with that camper? If you load the trailer correctly you will have to move some of the load forward for trailer stability which will increase the tongue weight. I would weigh your rig as you would normally use it, then you will have your answer as too how much you will be allowed. I don't want to seem to be a wet blanket, just realistically answering your question.

 

[S.Morris]

I wouldn't do it

a couple of years ago my brother made a trip from Vancouver to Florida for bike week... ... ... 03 QCDRW CTD.

Camper on truck (retrofitted older READ HEAVY)with airbags, towing a 28' inclosed cargo trailer with 4 HD's and gen on front of trailer.



He used a solid steel extension bar about 3or4'long (bad Memory)so that he could get more clearance for turning with the trailer.



Made the trip in 54hrs ... ... .



Long story short, about 1/2 way in trip had to remove extension and be Carefull of turning clearance as the reciever was being twisted downward by the leverage of the long extension bar and the jarring of the cement slab interstates.



Steve

 

[THoltz]

Thanks guys. I will be checking out Torklift super hitch and extension.

 

[69RoadRunner]

How about towing the Jeep 4 wheels down instead of on a trailer?

 

[THoltz]

That is an option which would unload the hitch. I never considered it since I have a trailer. It is worth considering. Thanks 69RoadRunner.



Any issues or advice with this? Thanks for any input anyone may have on towing jeep with a dolley or tow bar.

 

[wcjp]

What kind of Jeep are we talking about? What's the use of the Jeep? If offroad with the D35 trailer only.

 

[Road Dog]

Up here in BC any trailer (including dingies) over 1,400kg (3,100 lbs) has to have brakes. There's a thing called a Brake Buddy that remotely operates the brakes. You'll also need trailer lights and the vehicle needs to be insured. You can use portable trailer lights or you can use diodes (or a dingy module) to power the Jeep lights from the tow vehicle. (In case you're wondering the diodes prevent the Jeep battery from powering the tow vehicle. )

 

[surfbeetle]

Then there's the other issues, you can't backup when flat towing a car. I have a vw bug that I have done this with for years. Also, you need to make sure that your steering wheel on the jeep doesn't lock. Usually you have to leave the key in and disconnect the battery so that the steering column is not locked. I assume that if you put the transfer case into neutral, you won't have trans issues with flat towing.

 

[69RoadRunner]

Jeep Wranglers are popular dinghies for motorhomes. I don't know about the D35 option.



I believe you can just put the transfer case in neutral and leave it in park and take the key with you. Some vehicles you leave the key in so that the vehicle's transmission is in neutral.



You can back up short distances IF you're perfectly straight. Otherwise, don't do it.



However, you can connect/disconnect a dinghy in a couple of minutes if you hit that situation. It's certainly more convenient than loading/unloading the trailer.



Definitely get a Brake Buddy or other braking device.



I know you have money in the trailer, and setting up a dinghy will cost some money for the tow bar, brackets, braking, etc. but you'll be towing a lot less weight, you'll spend a lot less time loading/unloading and your total length will be shorter.

 

[GO 4LO]

Jeep Wranglers are popular dinghies for motorhomes. I don't know about the D35 option.

wcjp is referring to the Dana 35 rear axle. Prone to breakage, especially offroad, and it's a c-clip axle, so if it breaks, you're not flat-towing it home without fixing it first. Therefore, if he's planning on taking that Wrangler wheeling when he gets wherever he's going, then he needs to think about either using a trailer or taking the spare parts to fix...



Chris

 

[tempforce]

i can't remember if they still make them or not, there used to be a device that would connect to the back of a car or a reciever and then you could hook the trailer to the unit.

the device had a offset coil sping loaded wheel(s) that could steer itself. (follow the truck). it would take up to 2,000 lbs off the back of the vehicle. they were used on cars alot, before trucks became popular.

watch the long, long, trailer, and you can see one.

 

[THoltz]

I am glad I asked about issues when towing the jeep. I think I will stick with the trailer and upgraded hitch and drawbar extension. Great input and very much appreciated.

 

[69RoadRunner]

Go over to RV. Net Open Roads Forum and search through the Dinghy forum about towing Jeeps. They're very popular dinghys for motorhomes.