Motorcycle on 5ver.

Well I decided to give it a try. I got my plan figured out, cut a few pieces of steel and bought a winch to do the lifting. I hope to finish it next week. If the trailer doesn't handle well afterward I'll either move the axles back, add a third axle or I might still scrap the whole idea.



Click For Full-Size Image.

I got my weights. Good news is the trailer axles have room to carry the extra 1800 lbs that the bike and carrier would put on them without moving the axles back. Bad news is that after removing 750 lbs from the pin I will only have about 1700 lbs of pin weight....I think that might be too light. Good news is that the rear axle can tolerate 3700 lbs of pin weight.....So moving the axles back 17 inches would make things work out very nice. I'd have 3000 lbs pin weight with the bike and carrier uninstalled and 2300 lbs of pin weight with the bike and carrier loaded. Total weight of trailer with bike would be about 16000 lbs.

R12RTee wrote:
This pic is my camper after adding the third axle. MorRyde IS and a Trailer Saver air bag hitch smooth things out.


Click For Full-Size Image.

I like the look of your unit....it is definitely set up properly.

Nice photoshop work Barney!! IMO, a third axle would be best, for what OP is trying to accomplish. Myself, if hauling a heavy toy was that important to me, I'd just move to a toy hauler, with factory designed intended purpose. To each their own, lots of options to haul things.

Jerry

ya like I said in another post buddy had to take back roads to florida last week. got pulled over towing a car dolly with his spider 3 wheel bike on it. dot told him not on any toll roads. long drive

4x4ord wrote:

BarneyS wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
Snip... Anyone able and willing to photoshop my axles moved back 16" on this photo?

Here is what I came up with. I think the modified view looks great. Would be very nice if the pin weight worked out ok. Good luck. :)
Barney

Modified using Windows Paint

Thanks Barney. I agree it looks very good with the axles moved back. After getting actual weights this week and getting an estimate on moving the fender cutouts back I will decide what to do. Based on factory dry weights my calculations say that moving the axles back 16" will increase the pin weight by about 600 lbs; then adding the motorcycle and lift will remove about 700 lbs. After getting accurate weights I can decide exactly how much the axles will need to be moved....maybe 10" will be enough. The other number I am unsure of is the amount of pin weight my new F350 can handle. I will find that out this week as well. If after moving the axles back the pin is lightened by 100 lbs with the bike added there will only be about 1150 lbs added to the trailer axles. Without moving the axles loading the bike will place about 1800 lbs on the trailer axles.

If you look at TH 5th wheels you will see their axles are moved further back to offset the weight. This helps with handling as well as pin weight reduction with bike. If you lighten the pin weight to much chucking might be a issue as well.

This pic is my camper after adding the third axle. MorRyde IS and a Trailer Saver air bag hitch smooth things out.


Click For Full-Size Image.

I actually think the modified axle location looks better than factory. Having the same trailer I have always felt the axles should be further back because the overhang and resulting tail swing is huge on this model.

BarneyS wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
Snip... Anyone able and willing to photoshop my axles moved back 16" on this photo?

Here is what I came up with. I think the modified view looks great. Would be very nice if the pin weight worked out ok. Good luck. :)
Barney

Modified using Windows Paint

Thanks Barney. I agree it looks very good with the axles moved back. After getting actual weights this week and getting an estimate on moving the fender cutouts back I will decide what to do. Based on factory dry weights my calculations say that moving the axles back 16" will increase the pin weight by about 600 lbs; then adding the motorcycle and lift will remove about 700 lbs. After getting accurate weights I can decide exactly how much the axles will need to be moved....maybe 10" will be enough. The other number I am unsure of is the amount of pin weight my new F350 can handle. I will find that out this week as well. If after moving the axles back the pin is lightened by 100 lbs with the bike added there will only be about 1150 lbs added to the trailer axles. Without moving the axles loading the bike will place about 1800 lbs on the trailer axles.

4x4ord wrote:

TXiceman wrote:
No way would I hang 800# plus the weight of the lift on the back of a 5er even with a reinforced frame. Think of a seesaw....what happens when you put a really heavy person on the other end of a seesaw. The other end goes up. You will cause the pin weight to go lighter and this can cause serious handling/ride issues.

Ken

Yep that's the concern. Once I get actual weights I'll know how fat the guy is on the hitch side of the seesaw. Then I'll have a better idea as to whether or not the 1000 pounder riding on the back bumper is problem.

You just need to have the boss pack more “stuff” into the front bedroom area of the fiver! My wife is really good at that already. :B