OK, I need to tow a 7' X 14' trailer (total loaded weight under 4300#) behind my T/C that has 68" of overhang behind my hitch. My truck and T/C weigh in at 11,790*(loaded and scaled), which does not leave me much for tongue weight. Just putting on the new Superhitch Magnum and 60" Supertruss would put me over my GVW of the truck.
So I was thinking ... I know, bad idea. I have access to an old tow dolly that needs work ... a lot of it. I could extend the tongue so that the fenders would clear the corners of the T/C while I am rebuilding it. At the same time, I could build a 2 5/16" Ball hitch in the middle of the dolly. Then I could pull the trailer like a full trailer.
I already know that backing up will be a pain, but in my previous career life, I did have to back up Class 8 refer doubles that used a converter dolly.
Just wondering if anyone else has had this idea before, either to reduce tongue weight on the rear axle or to extend behind a long, like a side door, T/C?
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1997 Veri Lite RL1200 on a '02, K3500, CC, DRW, 8.1L, Allison, 4.1 gears, Bridgestone 225/70R19.5 tires.
Just a reminder from one trucker to the next who has pulled and backed doubles many thousand miles. If your weight distribution isn't proper you could possibly have the dolly and trailer wagging their tales behind you which could cause an accident which nobody needs. Also the doubles you pulled were quite alot longer than what your thinking and the kingpins were set back under the trailers which makes backing alot easier. Now you need to consider the braking situation. Will your pick-up be able to pull and more importantly stop. Not trying to throw a bad apple into the bushel, just sharing some insite.
My wife and I love that movie!! It was called a Slip dolly or others called it a Slimp dolly. Here is a thread about them with links of new and old versions.
If you are going the slip dolly route, there are a few places making new versions that you could modify your dolly to match. Make it slide into your hitch receiver and extend past the camper, and then place the dolly on a swivel so that the wheels can pivot, then mount your 2 5/16 ball to the center, and hitch up...
But my question is what camper gives you that long of and overhang? I have a 10ft camper on a short bed truck and I only have a 39 inch overhang...
Just curious
Garry in Kodiak, AK
Garry K
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2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper
Scolew325:
Thanx for the insight. I had planned on having surge brakes on the dolly and electric brakes on both trailer axles.
I also thought that while rebuilding the dolly, that I would make sure that there was sufficient tongue weight on the truck hitch by fabricating the ball mount forward of the dolly axle. I have a 550# (about the present trailer tongue weight) block so that I can move it back and forth on the dolly to get a decent tongue load on the truck hitch side. My thinking is on the lines of California doubles with the long tongue.
garryk6:
I have 12' Real Lite RL 1200, but it measures 13' to the bumper on the back of the T/C. My unit is a side door entry, the reaso for the long overhang.
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Your gonna be what, about 500lbs over GVWR?! If your hitch is rated for the tongue weight of the trailer with that extension I would just pull the trailer and forget about the dolly.
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I would check with the jurisdiction(s) where you plan to travel to make sure the configuration you are wanting to use is good to go.
Otherwise a properly set up full trailer that met the rules would work fine. Sounds like a neat project.
* This post was
edited 01/05/12 07:59am by 06Fargo *
When I had my 10 1/2 ft Lance I used an extension that reached from my original truck hitch to the back of the Lance. Lance in 86 had a bracket for attaching that extension. I towed a small boat. Tongue weight was only a 100 pounds approx. Never had a problem. I haven't seen a Lance camper recently so don't know if they still install that bracket or not.
Your dolly-trailer combination will be viewed by law enforcement as a double tow, and will be subject to the same rules and regulations as if you were towing a 5th wheel and a boat.
Every time there's a ball hitch, it counts as a new trailer. If the dolly were solidly affixed to the truck like a "Hitch Buddy" it would be a different story.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
Dang, what camper do you have? The only camper I can think of that would have that much over hang is a Born Free, most are at max around the 48-50" mark.
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