Forum Discussion

travelrider73's avatar
travelrider73
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014

5ers with good enough frames to double tow a Jeep

We are trying to short list our brands and one of our requirements is a frame strong enough to tow a Jeep. We would tow 4 down, not on a trailer, so there would be very little tongue weight, but probably over 3000 pounds of pulling weight.

For structural integrity reasons, would you NOT tow a Jeep behind any of these:

Lifestyle
Carriage
Teton
Newmar
DRV Mobile Suites
Excel

Any other good 4 season quality brands we've overlooked for double towing. (We can't afford New Horizons, Spacecraft, or Forks RV, so they have been purposely omitted from our list - unless we can get a steal on a good used one).

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  • travelrider73's avatar
    travelrider73
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    tsetsaf wrote:
    Looks like a good list. You could possibly go with a mainstrsam manufacturer and spec a stronger frame. In observing a four down toad yesterday cruising down the highway I was surprised at how much all the little wiggles and bounces are amplified at the trailer to toad connection... there is some serious stress going on there.


    I wonder if he had a "good" tow bar and whether his 5er had a good suspension (like Mor-Ride)??? In thinking about it, I can see how the bounces would be amplified considering how far forward the axles are on a 5er. Something to keep in mind. Considering we're going to tow a Jeep, I think it'll handle it, but I hate to put excessive wear and tear on it unnecessarily. More research!
  • tsetsaf's avatar
    tsetsaf
    Explorer III
    Jan 23, 2014
    Looks like a good list. You could possibly go with a mainstrsam manufacturer and spec a stronger frame. In observing a four down toad yesterday cruising down the highway I was surprised at how much all the little wiggles and bounces are amplified at the trailer to toad connection... there is some serious stress going on there.
  • travelrider73's avatar
    travelrider73
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    Yes, we know all about the legality issues - there's tons of threads on this topic. We're going to stick to the Interstate system while double towing and play dumb if we get caught. Hopefully we'll get off with a warning and just have to unhook and follow each other to the state line.

    Staying on task... Looking for that list...

    Thanks!
  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    GON2SKI wrote:
    Check out Northwoods as they are noted to build there own solid frames.


    If my brain is working, 3000# is the limit for Northwoods, the OP says "probably over"

    The list of rigs will be short, as will the list of states that allow double towing where the 2nd "trailer" is a jeep.
  • JoeGood988's avatar
    JoeGood988
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    Dbl check state laws on dbl towing...not all states allow it along with a length limit...check with your insurance if they cover dbl tow. Then the jeep has to have it's own brake system also. Lots of work involved
  • travelrider73's avatar
    travelrider73
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    GON2SKI wrote:
    Check out Northwoods as they are noted to build there own solid frames.


    Such as Arctic Fox? No floorplans we like unfortunately. Their biggest unit is on the small side for what we want.
  • GON2SKI's avatar
    GON2SKI
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    Check out Northwoods as they are noted to build there own solid frames.
  • trop-a-cal's avatar
    trop-a-cal
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    Weld a redundant frame to the existing with X member and they all work.

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