Like to hear from users of the Automated Safety Hitch

Thanks for the feedback. The setup I'm thinking about is like the truck in Lyle's pictures above, except a flat bed for more versatility. Couple or three bikes, or tanks and bikes, or camper and toyhauler etc. Side loading capable. Rack above for paddle craft or tinny boat. That sort of thing.

I like the way these fixed to frame style dollies turn the rear of the truck into a 6ft spread tandem when the steering feature is locked - lots of wheelbase stability.

These are not to be confused with an "A" converter dolly that turns the semi trailer into a wagon. The connection does not pivot at the rear of the truck like a trailer hitch. The "5th wheel" trailer is still a semi-trailer.

06Fargo wrote:
I am interested in hearing from people who are actually using an Automated Safety Hitch. What tow vehicle and what trailer, pros/cons etc.

Thanks.

To the non-users:

- DOT has confirmed no it is not a double tow/another trailer where I tow. It's ok.
- I have driven "A, B, & C" commercial truck combinations up to 140,000lbs GCWR.
- yes I know what it costs.

Here's one I saw at Camp Verde several years ago. I believe this was a 2500 series, but can't remember for sure. He also had a fresh water and aux fuel tank in the bed, under the cover. About 60 gallons each.





Lyle

Reese made one years ago and it never caught on! The one we saw, the guy had two quads sidesaddle on a flat bed F350 Ford and a large 5th wheel. He liked it!

Chris

Interesting question, looked at your profile, and think I see where you are going with the question.

2006 Dodge 3500
2005 Snowbird Offroad camper
2007 Carriage C-Force 39SV toyhauler

Just assuming the 2005 Snowbird is a slide in Camper, you would like to carry them both.
It just might work if that is the plan, good luck finding "good" feed back.
It seems when there were postings about these before, there were a couple posters that stated having experience with them.

I do not use one but met someone who was using it last spring, he had a Western Star semi with a jeep & a golf cart on the truck with his 5th wheel using this hitch, was quite the site. He said he is 73' long and had no issues with the length and also said it maneuvered just fine and he really liked it, he was in a pull thru site so I did not get to see how well he could do with it. I was impressed with the set up but not sure I would like the cost involved to purchase one. Good luck with this if you end up with one and report back on how it is.

I did not know what it was and had to google it. At first glance it looks like a good idea but the added length worries me. I had to make a few tight turns with my truck that I never could have made if the truck RV length was a few feet longer. There was a street near Gettysburg that I almost did not have enough room to clear, and there were a few campgrounds that would have been difficult to impossible to make.

I often leave my RV connected to my truck in campgrounds but the extra few feet would have probably blocked traffic.