I have a 5th wheel toyhauler that I use to transport my ATV in to different spots where we like to camp in our area. In some places, it would be convenient to put the ATV in the bed of the truck to haul to trails outside of the area where we are camped due to having to take paved highways to get to the different trails. I have the B&W Companion slider hitch which I know can be removed from the truck with a little bit of effort. What I am looking for is a way to put the ATV in the bed of the truck while leaving the hitch in place. I have thought about using 2 x 6's stacked up that I can drive over to get the bottom of the ATV above the head of the hitch & then tie it down to the truck. Has anyone come up with or seen a better way to accomplish what I am trying to do?

Cargo basket off the rear receiver and let the rear of the ATV ride there?

Bedlam - A cargo basket will not haul a 1000# 4 wheeler.

That's a heavy utility quad (looked at your profile this time). Ramps sloping up in your bed to clear the hitch would work as long as height is not an issue. If you have a winch, it could be easier than trying to drive it.

I think the 2x6's would be an easy way to do what you want.

I'm guessing you are not talking about hauling the atv far, as we have been in the position, that the atv must be hauled to the trail head, as in not driven on the roadway. I think you could rig up a way to lift the front wheels off the ground using the receiver hitch, with the rear wheels rolling on the ground. This would distribute the weight from the receiver hitch. Kind of like older wreckers use to do.Johnnie

Hauling ATV In Truck Bed | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Strabo
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
Y-Guy wrote:
Instead of leaving it in the bed, leave it attached to the hitch on the trailer. Disconnect from the bed, raise the nose of the trailer and drive away. Leave the hitch there and when you come back just back in, release the hitch and adjust and lock in place.

Yup perfect solution
WhitehouseLV
Nomad
Sep 17, 2014
if it were me, I'd look at a DiamondBack ATV Carrier

Dirt Trax TV and the Diamondback cover w/a fiver hitch

facebook link w/link to video
Y-Guy
Moderator
Sep 16, 2014
mackyb I've not owned your specific hitch so I can't say how you go about doing it. But I've never come across a 5er hitch that was difficult to remove from the bed of a truck. Your owners manual should go over this, if not check with your dealer.

There isn't all that much weight left hanging so for a day or two it shouldn't be a problem to leave it hanging. I wouldn't let anyone play under it just to be safe.
mackyb
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
Y-Guy - I have heard of people who have done this but having never removed the Companion hitch myself, I am not sure I know how. I have only had the FW & hitch for 2 months now & up to this point have not needed to take out. The dealer told me all I had to do was pull the handle above the rear tire & it would release the hitch. Is there any more to it than that other than the actual removal?
Sprinks542
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
Y-Guy wrote:
Instead of leaving it in the bed, leave it attached to the hitch on the trailer. Disconnect from the bed, raise the nose of the trailer and drive away. Leave the hitch there and when you come back just back in, release the hitch and adjust and lock in place.

Exactly what I was gonna say. If you're gonna carry any lumber at all, I'd support the hitch when still hooked to king pin.
Y-Guy
Moderator
Sep 16, 2014
Instead of leaving it in the bed, leave it attached to the hitch on the trailer. Disconnect from the bed, raise the nose of the trailer and drive away. Leave the hitch there and when you come back just back in, release the hitch and adjust and lock in place.
mackyb
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
fly-boy - I know the hitch can be removed but due to the weight of the base, it would take 2 men to put it back in the bed of the truck. Sometimes in the places we like to go to, it's just me & the DW who is not very big or strong.
fly-boy
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
The easiest would be to remove the Companion- Carrying around lumber or some sort of rack so you can avoid removing the hitch sounds like more work than just removing it.

The ease of removal is the reason I bought the Companion to begin with.
k1hog
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
I'm guessing you are not talking about hauling the atv far, as we have been in the position, that the atv must be hauled to the trail head, as in not driven on the roadway. I think you could rig up a way to lift the front wheels off the ground using the receiver hitch, with the rear wheels rolling on the ground. This would distribute the weight from the receiver hitch. Kind of like older wreckers use to do.

Johnnie
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Sep 16, 2014
I think the 2x6's would be an easy way to do what you want.