Evileyes
Oceanside, ca, usa
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Joined: 12/07/2003
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Okay, need to know if anyone has added a trailer hitch to there Raptor fifth wheel to tow double. I am wanting to tow my single wave runner behind my Raptor. I fill the garage with other toys so I am out of room. I was wondering about the frame mounting and if anyone has any pictures to show how it looks. The Waverunner and trailer only weight about 1200 pounds so it is pretty light. Tongue weight is only 100 pounds or so.
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hdbuckwheat
Casselberry, Fl.
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Joined: 08/06/2006
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I've been thinking of doing the same thing so I can tow my airboat.
2005 Raptor 3612 DS
1999 Freightliner FLD120,70" mid roof sleeper, 470 Detroit, 9spd.
2005 Suzuki Vinson.
2006 Suzuki Vinson.
1999 Harley Heritage.
2003 Cobra that wont fit in the TH.
http://community.webshots.com/user/hdbuckwheat
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larnaf
Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 07/06/2006
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I just added a hitch to our Raptor 3712 to pull our honda aquatrax. We just pulled it 400 miles on a recent trip. I had them cut a 2" opening in the center of the rear bumper, then slide in a reciever which is welded to the next cross member. I used a 11 1/2" drop to kept it all level when the aquatrax is hooked up. I will try to post some pictures.
Scott
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F-TROUP
VISALIA, CALIF
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Joined: 05/13/2007
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Don't forget you'll need a CDL with doubles endorsment and max length is 65' see profile. Have fun and run safe.
evileyes, I see the CDL is no problem, but you may blow thw hell out 65'
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Make sure your frame is thick enough to weld to back there. I recently added a hitch to a travel trailer for a customer to haul a cargo/bike carrier. The frame was very thin and I would not have built the hitch for it if I thought it would be used to pull another trailer. It is strong enough for a carrier, but I had to do alot of extra gusseting of the hitch to the frame to keep the stresses spread out on the thin material, even spreading it out to two frame crossmembers and the bumper.
Here are a couple pics of the hitch assembly I built before I welded it up to the trailer frame. I added vertical and horizontal gusseting to it after welding it to the frame and also gusseted the bumper where it mounts to the frame on each side. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take pics of the finished job before the customer came to pick up the trailer.
The hitch assembly is suitably strong for pulling a light trailer, but the frame crossmembers were not suitably thick for towing. If I was building it for towing I would have welded that assembly to my own, much thicker crossmembers (2) and plated them to the main frame rails' vert webs.
In this view left side is the top of the hitch and the end facing up goes forward into the trailer-
Underside view, end furthest away is the end the carrier slides into-
* This post was
edited 06/16/08 09:56pm by SoCalDesertRider *
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
LoadNGo service body
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
B&W TurnoverBall g-neck Curt Magnum rr DrawTite ft
HD springs Rancho9000s Bilsteins poly sway bushings
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & Lock-Rite rear
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s@ndm@n
Moorpark, CA
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Joined: 07/09/2005
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i think you'll need a bigger truck.... 
I've seen plenty of TH's with hitches on the back. I would brace the frame latterly, but frame strength wont be a problem.
2008 F-450 Lariat 4x4 w/4.88s
2006 Coachmen Adrenaline 274FS
2000 Honda XR400 Dual Sport (CA plated) (me)
2006 Honda TRX450ER (wife)
Lots of other toys too....
2 daughters + Shadow the dirt dawg
THH
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navy80to04
Columbia, IL next to St. Louis MO.
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Joined: 02/24/2005
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Evileyes, I like that truck, I drive an 18 wheeler hauling Gas/diesel/propane around St. Louis mo. Makes me want to go out and get one to pull my TH now.
2007.5 Dodge 3500 4door long bed. 4x4 6.7 diesel, 2009 Raptor 3612DS toyhauler 5th wheel. Retired Navy. Tanker 18 wheeler truck driver now.
Wife
7 pugs
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Evileyes
Oceanside, ca, usa
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Joined: 12/07/2003
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Thanks all,
Yes we love the new TV it makes towing much easier when it comes to hauling around 5 kids and the wife. Plus I feel much safer when going down the mountains. The Jake works awesome. Yes I know about beefing up the frame that's why I posted hoping maybe someone had already did it so I could see how they had done it. Thanks for all the information and the pics that some of you posted. Please keep them coming. I am 63ft so yes with waverunner back there would put me over. I guess my question with that is, do they limit MH's to that length because most people don't have a CDL. I do have all the endorsements including doubles. So with that being said I know I am legal for the doubles license wise but I don't know if I am still limited to the 65ft because of the KW being registered as a MH. If so then I guess there would be know reason to add the hitch. But I sure would like to. THANKS again
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s@ndm@n
Moorpark, CA
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Joined: 07/09/2005
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65' is the max length in CA, comm or non-com... unless you pull a permit to be over. I *think* you have to pull it for each trip...
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crazybanshee
Westminster, Colorado
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Joined: 03/27/2006
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Evileyes 65' is max even for RV's.
Doug
1998 International 9200 Eagle
2008 Cyclone 4012 Full Throttle
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