Advice for towing 5th wheel

[TFlewitt]

We have a '99 2500 longbed and are looking for a 32-36' 5th wheel. I want to haul 3 MX bikes and and ATV - behind the cab and behind the trailer. Is it possible to haul a couple of bikes or an ATV on a platform behind the cab without crushing them or the front of the trailer when maneuvering? I've done some measuring and it appears that the front of the trailers we've looked at protrude approx a foot in front of the center of the kingpin to about a foot behind the center of the kingpin, depending on manufacturer. If I using a slide hitch to move the trailer back 10" or so when maneuvering/backing, would this hauling arrangement work? Even with measuring, it is difficult to determine this without actually seeing some rigs while turning. Thanks for your opinions!

 

[J&LRam]

I would suggest you do some math before adding all that weight to a 2500 pickup. The power is there but your truck has a 8800 GVWR which will limit you on the size 5ers you are looking at. You really need to know the actual weight of your truck[full fuel/kids/wife/girlfriend/tools/etc. Your truck weighs around 6800-7000 lbs. That leaves 1800-2000 lbs for a 300 lb hitch and the 5er pin weight. Then if you add a platform and a bike on the truck your gonna' be wishin' for a DRW 3500. I wouldn't haul anything behind the cab unless its below the bed rails. I would suggest you check some 5er web sites for some hitch weights. 32' to 36' 5er have some hefty pin weights.

We pulled a boat behind our 5er for years and it worked great. Have you thought about a trailer for your toys. Lots of folks are tandam towing.

RV webs can be found at rv.com/mouse on featured RVs/scroll down to bottom left and mouse on "search manufactors". Thats just about all the the 5er manufactors. Time to do the math and good luck... ... . JIM

 

[HBarlow]

You may be able to fit a motorcycle in the bed behind the cab and in front of a fifth wheel trailer . . . until you turn the truck. When the truck swings as much as ninety degrees from straightline in order to park or maneuver I don't see how you can avoid striking anything in the bed.



Harvey

 

[wtfd6]

im with j&l just put the toys on a small trailer behind the fiver. thats what i do. i have a quad cab dually, and a 31 foot 5er, then a 16 foot enclosed trailer for everything else. like the generator, motorcycles, grill and firewood. anything you want.



mark

 

[klenger]

Sounds like you need a 1 ton dually and a toy hauler.

 

[DIESELMAN]

I got sick of cleaning out the Toy Hauler, and its not a very convenient home when you don't have the toys with you. I put a 20' Trailer behind my 29' 5ver. Its a little hard to see here, I am at 67' overall but it really tows nice.

 

[Tony T.]

I've always thought that if I had a 5th wheel, and was pulling a boat or trailer behind I would like a camera set up on the rear of the 5th wheel to monitor the tow vehicle. Any you guys got a set up like that and if so hows it work out.



Tony

 

[CUMMINZ]

I got room

#ad

 

[AfterBurner]

"I got room"

:-laf cool little rig you got there!

I wouldn't suggest stuffing a bike on there- squish, it would say as soon as you went over a speed bump, or turned into wendy's.



I'm with those guys that suggest a 3500 drw. 36' is a lot of trailer for a 2500. We've overloaded ours with just a 20' flatbed trailer; scarey situation especially if you're thinking of taking it in the mountains.

Forrest

 

[jwduke]

Dieselman, I was wondering about that.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Dieselman, I was wondering about that.

About What??

 

[Texas Diesel]

[ /wife/girlfriend/etc.

:-laf



Does that tandem arrangement work ok?

 

[AfterBurner]

:-laf



Does that tandem arrangement work ok?

That's why he's looking forward to the new megacab