Towed my first fiver today.

[BILLUA]

Brought home a 28 ft Sandsport 5th wheel toy hauler. In the preceding days, I installed airbags and a B&W turnover ball hitch with the companion 5th wheel.

What a heavy duty piece of equipment that is!

So, picked this up at the RV dealer, towed it 2 miles to a Discount Tire that I had already worked a deal on a set of Michelin XPS-Ribs to replace the chicomms that came on it and towed it home using about 15 miles of highway.

Man, does this tow nice. Also, this trailer is wide, but not a problem after driving a dually all these years. Normal lane placement worked perfect.

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[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Same setup on an '09 2500 with a '39 TH

 

[BILLUA]

Sweet! Nice rig

 

[HBarlow]

It looks good.

A DOT officer will tell you the brake-away brake switch lanyard should be connected to something other than the hitch. I had a DOT officer walk out of the scale house once and all the way out to the scale lane just to check that my lanyard was attached to a separate fixture in the bed. It was and he may have been disappointed.

 

[BILLUA]

It looks good.



A DOT officer will tell you the brake-away brake switch lanyard should be connected to something other than the hitch. I had a DOT officer walk out of the scale house once and all the way out to the scale lane just to check that my lanyard was attached to a separate fixture in the bed. It was and he may have been disappointed.

Thanks for that Harvey! I can attache it to one of the anchors in the bed next time.



It was many of your posts that had me only tow 2 miles with the chicomms before having the XPS Ribs put on them. That is one stout tire!



Cheers

 

[Wertles]

Great set up. I would only advise against towing with the ladder attached to the side. It clips off easily and I believe with it on you are considered oversized which is why they make it removable.

 

[BILLUA]

Good point!

The ladder is in the extended position in that pic. It pushes up and retracts flat against the trailer for towing. I added "ladder retraction" to my towing checklist

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, I didn't even notice the roof ladder attached to the driver's side rear.

If it makes your trailer wider than 8' or 96" it is a no-no besides it would be likely to strike an object such as a fuel pump you are maneuvering around some time tired or distracted.

An AZ DOT sergeant walked me outside with a tape measure once and gave me a lecture about the awning mounted high on the curb side on some pos trailer I was hauling for hire.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Gorgeous rig - enjoy!

 

[BrianJ]

Yes, I didn't even notice the roof ladder attached to the driver's side rear.



If it makes your trailer wider than 8' or 96" it is a no-no besides it would be likely to strike an object such as a fuel pump you are maneuvering around some time tired or distracted.



An AZ DOT sergeant walked me outside with a tape measure once and gave me a lecture about the awning mounted high on the curb side on some pos trailer I was hauling for hire.

Most toyhaulers (including mine) are 8. 5' wide wall to wall (external), I believe that max width in most states is 102". If not, there are a heck of a lot of toyhauler owners towing illegal.



They have to be 8. 5' wide externally to give 8' of width internally so two atv's can fit side by side.

 

[mwilson]

Most toyhaulers (including mine) are 8. 5' wide wall to wall (external), I believe that max width in most states is 102". If not, there are a heck of a lot of toyhauler owners towing illegal.



They have to be 8. 5' wide externally to give 8' of width internally so two atv's can fit side by side.

Many manufacturers push the 102" envelope if you start watching what is running up and down the road.



Last I knew 102" was the limit sans permit with the exception of safety equipment such as towing mirrors.



They were busting trucks up here a few years ago for headboard mounted rear facing floodlights causing the truck to be over 102" wide.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Most toyhaulers (including mine) are 8. 5' wide wall to wall (external), I believe that max width in most states is 102". If not, there are a heck of a lot of toyhauler owners towing illegal.

They have to be 8. 5' wide externally to give 8' of width internally so two atv's can fit side by side.

Yeah, you're correct. It has been too long since I have been involved and I had forgotten.

The old standard width has been 8' - 96" for years. The newer wide RVs are 8 1/2' or 102".

It is the 8 1/2' trailers with awnings mounted on the curb side that can get the owner in trouble.

 

[BILLUA]

What I like best about the B&W

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[HookMeUp]

You will love that B&W companion hitch. We bought our first 5th wheel last year and bought that hitch because it left a flat bed when removed. We towed over 5,000 miles last year and didn't have a single problem with it. Very well made, and made in the USA!

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

The DOT will not bother private individuals for being overwidth with a 102" wide camper that has an awning out past the 102". DOT can ticket commercial vehicles, not privately owned ones.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[rjones]

Nice rigs guys one day i will have 1

 

[MAshley]

Brought home a 28 ft Sandsport 5th wheel toy hauler. In the preceding days, I installed airbags and a B&W turnover ball hitch with the companion 5th wheel.



What a heavy duty piece of equipment that is!



So, picked this up at the RV dealer, towed it 2 miles to a Discount Tire that I had already worked a deal on a set of Michelin XPS-Ribs to replace the chicomms that came on it and towed it home using about 15 miles of highway.



Man, does this tow nice. Also, this trailer is wide, but not a problem after driving a dually all these years. Normal lane placement worked perfect.



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Airbags and a dully. I know you just got it but do you really think or find that you need them. seems to be a little over kill to me. but I am listening if they really are that much better I may install a set. Oo.

 

[BILLUA]

Airbags and a dully. I know you just got it but do you really think or find that you need them. seems to be a little over kill to me. but I am listening if they really are that much better I may install a set. Oo.

I think the airbags are a great supplement. I adjust as I run down the road and have found that 10 lbs improves the ride nicely with the trailer attached.

 

[NavyDood]

IMO you went with the absolute best hitch available, it is freaking fabulous in every aspect. You get the Goose Neck ball, a perfectly clean bed when the hitch isn't installed, easy to set up, easy to install and remove and it's almost idiot proof when hooking up and properly hitched. If the pin won't go in the release handle when hooking up, then you are not hooked up properly.

I'm confuzzled with a couple of the replies about the scale house and DOT officers though!?!? I have never once stopped at a scale house, I just drive on by.

 

[Grizzly]

I agree with MAshley. Airbags are a waste of time and money, especially on a 3500 dually. Your trailer's not that heavy to warrant airbags anyway.



My 3500 DRW does fine without airbags.