Swivel wheel trailers?

[wyhog1]

I am looking at pulling my motorcycle behind a 5th wheel trailer. I am looking at the various swivel wheel trailers... . anyone have any experience with one of these? Any sharing of knowledge or experience would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mrtrombley]

wyhog, what kind of unit are you looking at? I have looked at some online but do not have any experience pulling one. From what I have seen, the nice ones, where the bike rides front to back instead of crossways, can add quite a bit of length to the trailer. It would be nice to have a solid hitched unit back there instead of pulling 2 trailers. Not sure if the authorities would still consider it a trailer even though it doesn't articulate.

Can't find the website I looked at right now, but will look for it and try to post it.

 

[mrtrombley]

Here's one: Flatbed trailer Idaho Tote rv trailer, tow your atv, motorcycle, golf cart behind your rv.

But this is the one I liked, go toward the bottom of the home page:
The ultimate motorcycle RV transportation system.

 

[HBarlow]

I saw one hanging on the back of a HitchHiker fifth wheel at the Chanute, KS city-owed RV park down the street from the HitchHiker factory a couple years ago. The owner had a smaller motorcycle riding on it IIRC. Didn't see the owner outside so wasn't able to ask him about it.

I think the manufacturers of the swivel wheel trailers advertise in Trailer Life magazine. I suppose someone considering owning one could ask the company for a few names of owners so you could make inquiries before purchase.

 

[wyhog1]

pros and cons

Thanks for the responses... . I have located two companies that make them in various forms. I was hoping someone had tried them and had some pros and cons to post about them.

 

[nunya]

I have seen many of these hauling ATVs and UTVs, talked to the guys hauling them and they love em. No issues, haul from Minn. Wi. Wa. all haulin to Arizona for the winter. Some have bought from Manufacturer in Arizona, cant remember name?

 

[surfbeetle]

"pros and cons" I have no experience with these but I do tow a single axle utility trailer behind my fifth wheel. Here's what I see: Pros- I believe there would be no special driver's license required because the mounting system makes the trailer technically part of the tow vehicle, you can back up with minimal trouble (I can't easily back far with doubles). Cons- Cost versus a utility trailer, weight capacity versus a utility trailer. I think the swivel trailer can only be used on the vehicle it was set up for?

 

[SearsK]

I have the dual wheel swivel dolly. I haul my golf cart behind my 5w, works great.

 

[wyhog1]

Thanks for the responses... . It appears the swivel wheel trailers will do a good job. .

 

[jelag]

wyhog... .

Would you publish their(manufacturers) comments regarding the action that will be taken by local law enforcement... I'm going to guess that as soon as they see this thing they are going to assume its a trailer, even though the definition of a trailer is a ball hitch or 5th wheel hitch with this is neither... once they see you I can only assume they are going to stop you and the hassle is on.....

I've wanted one but don't want the hassle... In ID you can pull a second trailer behind a first trailer if you follow the rules... but IN WA you can't...

Said this all wrong but hopefully you understand...

 

[wyhog1]

This is what they say: The ultimate single wheel trailer system.



A frequent question asked is if the Swivelwheel system is legal to tow in all states. There are basically 22 states that do not allow double trailer towing, which some call "Triple Towing". These states are the entire east coast from Maine to Florida, Oregon and Washington. We consider the system an extension of the fifth wheel chassis frame. We do not consider it a trailer. The system cannot jackknife or fishtail. It is not like another ball mounted trailer swinging from side to side. Some states may not have that same view. Always check with the states that you are traveling through for details. There are numerous web sites that will give you state by state information in regards to towing laws. One of the better sites appears to be www.towingworld.com/articles/towinglaws.htm. We have found discrepancies in all of them, but this one appears to be the most complete.



They could hassle you in the states the prohibit double trailers if you can't convince them it is a solid trailer... one piece.

 

[jelag]

Hey... . sounds like what I thought..... I ride a goldwing with a winker... and I now carry the federal statute so that when I'm stopped for a flashing white light in the front I can explain myself to the police officer... .

As much as I'd like to have one of these... I'm at an age where I don't want the hassle... . or some kid with a gun thinking I'm a bad guy... . I'm sure I'd get heated over this...

But I will call and inquire... its almost like a tag axle to support more weight like the hydraulic mechanism on a cement truck... geez, that's hinged as well... . I wonder... .

BTW - thanks for the fast reply. .

 

[wyhog1]

I know what your saying... . sometimes the hassle isn't worth it. I am looking at getting a Montana Mountaineer 347tht. Just enough room in the back for a atv or motorcycle. The room then makes a nice office or den when parked..... bike stays in out of the weather while on the road.

 

[HBarlow]

The swivel trailers look like an excellent compromise to allow taking a motorcycle along with a conventional fifth wheel trailer.

But what about the violent vertical forces that result from pulling the fifth wheel over the broken concrete of deep dips we encounter on the interstate highways of America? I have hit a lot of them that cause the front of my fifth wheel to lift up and try to pull the kingpin out of the hitch and then slam down hard against the fifth wheel again.

Considering the long lever over the trailer axles, 35+ feet back behind me the vertical forces would be amplified and even worse. I just purchased a new Goldwing and would love to take it along on some RVing trips but just couldn't see taking the risk of throwing it off on the interstate highway dips. I'd be sitting in the middle of I-30 or I-40 crying beside my destroyed GL.

 

[jelag]

Harvey

I've changed my 05 from a bed to a flat bed... there's almost enough room in front of the hitch for the wing... this past week I've been working on an adapter to move the companion hitch back 10 inches... more room to load the wing and more clearance to swing the trailer and not hit the wing... .

The key is... when you reach retirement you want things to be easy. . I don't have a clue how I'd load the wing other than roll the truck along side a loading dock or ramp at an implement dealer... I've got a long 8' aluminum ramp but I'm not going to try to push 900 lbs up it... or even try to drive up it... .

That's why I considered the dolly in the rear... . but your right about the bounce... . I even built an air bag hitch to slow down some the violent movement... .

 

[HBarlow]

Yeah, the challenge of loading one is very intimidating to me. And like you said, I'm sure as heck not going to try to ride it up a narrow ramp.

My situation is even more challenging than yours is because I have a 70 gallon TF aux fuel tank across the front of my bed. No way to carry a 'wing up there either.

Fortunately, my wife tolerates me and doesn't mind me loading up and taking off for a week on a m/c trip.

 

[mrtrombley]

jelag, I've seen flatbed bodies like you mentioned with a bike in front of the 5th wheel trlr. Let's see if I can explain this right! They had an extendable arm with a built in winch that they extended out past the bed of the truck, connected/strapped the bike to it, then lifted it up and onto the truck bed. The bike was then crossways on the bed right behind the cab. If you can get your hitch back far enough so that the trlr won't hit the bike when turning, this might work real well. This way, the bike could be put on or off without unhooking the trailer. I'm sure, with your ingenuity, you could build something like this. And it makes putting the bike on the truck much easier and less scary than riding up a steep ramp!

 

[mrtrombley]

jelag, have you seen the motorcycle loaders that are made for in the bed of a pickup? They have a frame that comes bacck out of the bed and down to the ground. You then drive the bike onto the frame, tie it down, and an electric winch then pulls the frame/bike back up into the bed. This would be even easier that the "arm" if you put it crossways on the front of your bed. These are easily available, I see them demonstrated all the time at motorcycle shows and events.

 

[wyhog1]

The swivel trailers look like an excellent compromise to allow taking a motorcycle along with a conventional fifth wheel trailer.



But what about the violent vertical forces that result from pulling the fifth wheel over the broken concrete of deep dips we encounter on the interstate highways of America? I have hit a lot of them that cause the front of my fifth wheel to lift up and try to pull the kingpin out of the hitch and then slam down hard against the fifth wheel again.



Considering the long lever over the trailer axles, 35+ feet back behind me the vertical forces would be amplified and even worse. I just purchased a new Goldwing and would love to take it along on some RVing trips but just couldn't see taking the risk of throwing it off on the interstate highway dips. I'd be sitting in the middle of I-30 or I-40 crying beside my destroyed GL.

I am not sure the vertical force would be any more than a toy hauler with the bike in the garage behind the axles... . ?