RV/5th Wheel Class III Hitch

[DBlackham]

Anyone ever install a hitch on your trailer? I want to take my motorcycle with me on a Joe Hauler Bike Carrier, but I can't find hitches for Fifth Wheels. Located near Pittsburgh, PA.

 

[RustyJC]

Anyone ever install a hitch on your trailer? I want to take my motorcycle with me on a Joe Hauler Bike Carrier, but I can't find hitches for Fifth Wheels. Located near Pittsburgh, PA.

That's because only a few 5th wheel manufacturers authorize double towing. For most 5th wheels, hitch receivers must be custom-fabricated. Also, check the laws for the states through which you'll be traveling regarding legality and driver's license requirements for towing double.



Rusty

 

[DBlackham]

I won't be towing another trailer behind my 5er ever, I think. I don't think I want that much going on. I just want to take a motorcycle sideways across the back. The whole motorcycle platform weighs 80#, comes with a 7' ramp and additional lights on the back. I know it isn't legal in PA to tow behind a towed vehicle.

 

[RustyJC]

How heavy is the motorcycle? If it's like mine (see signature), that's a lot of weight to have bouncing around on the back of a 5th wheel frame that wasn't designed for that kind of "dead hitch weight" - probably 650 lbs plus the carrier in my case.



In addition, adding weight to the rear will reduce the pin weight transferred to the truck - same engineering principle as adding weight to one end of a see-saw. Axle loading of the 5th wheel will increase by the weight of the bike plus the weight of the carrier plus the reduction in pin weight. How much spare axle and tire capacity do you have on the 5th wheel?



Rusty

 

[DBlackham]

The bike weighs 540# the bike carrier which goes into the hitch is 80#, I don't know how much the hitch is going to weigh. My RV is weighs Roughly 8000# empty, pin weight is 1670# according to brochure, probably close. Can gross 9670# on trailer. It has 225/75-15. It's a Coachmen Chaparral 30' 5th Wheel

 

[DBlackham]

I see you are even a fellow BMWMOA member Rusty! I'm trying to get ready for the West Bend Rally in July. Any input is helpful. This bike is a 2002 BMW GS1150. I'll be back gotta take the wife somewhere.

 

[RustyJC]

The bike weighs 540# the bike carrier which goes into the hitch is 80#, I don't know how much the hitch is going to weigh. My RV is weighs Roughly 8000# empty, pin weight is 1670# according to brochure, probably close. Can gross 9670# on trailer. It has 225/75-15. It's a Coachmen Chaparral 30' 5th Wheel

Well, we're gonna have to make a lot of assumptions, but you can plug actual numbers into the formulas below as you get them.



First, if the empty brochure weight of your trailer is 8000 lbs, typically that's without any options and certainly without your "stuff" - let's say that it actually scales in at 8800 lbs - that's axle + pin weight.



Now, pin weight is typically 20% or so of the total trailer weight, so 20% x 8800 = 1760 lbs.



That means your axle weight is 8800 - 1760 = 7040 lbs.



Let's assume that the distance from the effective axle centerline to the pin is 16 feet (this assumes the pin is set back from the front of the trailer) and the distance to the rear bumper is 12 feet.



In addition to the bike (540 lbs) and the carrier (80 lbs), let's say the hitch weighs 60 lbs and the center of mass of the whole kluge (540 + 80 + 60 = 680 lbs) is 2 feet behind the rear bumper, or 14 feet behind the effective axle centerline.



The reduction in the pin weight can be calculated as:



680/16 = X/14

680 x 14/16 = X

595 = X



So, your new total 5th wheel weight is 8800 lbs + 680 lbs = 9480 lbs



Your new pin weight is 1760 lbs - 595 lbs = 1165 lbs. Note that this new pin weight is (1165/9480 = 0. 1229) only 12. 29% of your loaded trailer weight.



Your new axle loading is 9480 - 1165 = 8315 lbs, an increase of ([8315 - 7040]/7040 = 0. 1811) 18. 11%.



Original weights and distribution:

Total loaded weight = 8800 lbs

Loaded pin weight = 1760 lbs (20%)

Loaded axle weight = 7040 lbs



New weights and distribution

Total loaded weight = 9480 lbs

Loaded pin weight = 1165 lbs (12. 29%)

Loaded axle weight = 8315 lbs



You didn't mention the load range (C, most likely) of your trailer tires, but each tire (4 assumed) would be carrying 8315/4 = 2078. 75 lbs. Are the tires rated for that load (hopefully with some safety margin as well)?? According to Goodyear:



ST225/75R-15 load range C = 2150 lbs @ 50 PSIG

ST225/75R-15 load range D = 2540 lbs @ 65 PSIG



Rusty

 

[DogDiesel]

Custom Hitch

I have a rear CL III on my old fiver. Have not used it extensively for towing auto or trailer, as never had the need, even when I lived out west where legal.

Once hooked a 18' trailer with small tractor and brought it 4 miles from the lake to my house. Was using tractor for kiddy rides. Hooking up the trailer that day cured me. Talk about difficult.

Did put in a platform for storage, and also used it with a bike rack, both with un-recommended results.

The bounces are amplified from fiver hitch back thru trailer and I had a SUPER HEAVY DUTY bike rack crack. Caught it and repaired it. Tying things down to the platform was also significantly difficult. The fiver rear ends bounce considerably.



But a hitch is easy to custom install, and mine has held up well, mostly because I seldom use it. But I have it if I absolutely need it.



Wayne

 

[Grizzly]

Anyone ever install a hitch on your trailer? I want to take my motorcycle with me on a Joe Hauler Bike Carrier, but I can't find hitches for Fifth Wheels. Located near Pittsburgh, PA.

I think a receiver hitch with the wiring connector is always good to have on a 5th wheel, even if you don't tow a trailer. When I order a 5th wheel I am going to order a hitch and wiring harness from the factory. I want the hitch for a platform carrier to carry two bicycles and I want the wiring in case I want to add taillights to the carrier. It's cheaper to order them from the factory.

 

[DBlackham]

My tires on the trailer are D rated, the base weight before accessories was 7132# with acc. is 7987#.

 

[MoparDave]

Unless you have a CDL endorsement to pull doubles your not going to get far here in PA

 

[BGlidewell]

Folks, Read:

Anyone ever install a hitch on your trailer? I want to take my motorcycle with me on a Joe Hauler Bike Carrier, but I can't find hitches for Fifth Wheels. Located near Pittsburgh, PA.

not a trailer!



I had an 04 Adventure. What fat pig that thing was.

#ad




Dont let the fellas at advrider know your trailering!

 

[Boondocker]

Here's a really interesting trailer for a motocycle or ATV.

http://www.motorcyclecarrier.net/rv_motorcycle_trailer.html

With the double hitch, you can actually back your 5th wheel. Maybe it would qualify as a trailer "extension" rather than a "double".

I wouldn't want to hang 600 lbs. on the tail of my trailer. This weight is all supported on its own axle and tires.



Neil

 

[DBlackham]

Looks like you found me the Hauler I need to not affect Hitch Pin weight, but now the hard part of finding someone to install a receiver hitch.

 

[FredMaryLou]

RV Double

Hi,



In Michigan, it is called an RV-Double. An endorsement is needed on your drivers license. I have pulled a RV-Double using two different fifth wheels and a couple different boats since about 1990. The first combination was not good - the fifth wheel frame was not heavy enough for the weight of the boat. I had a strong hitch fabricated - the frame was too thin. The newer fifth wheel had a heavy enough frame - in fact, the fifth wheel manufacturer offered a rear receiver as an option. (That usually indicates an adequate frame. ) It has been a good experience.



Assuming the truck and the fifth wheel can handle the weight, lower your speed and you will be okay. When you turn a corner, the overhang on the fifth wheel pulls the boat out behind it. And, you need a good wheel or two on the boat trailer tongue for hitching-up. Fred