A new way to tow a 5’er!

drsteve wrote:
I promise you there is no chance this guy hooked up the brakes on the pickup bed/trailer. Probably not on the 5er either. Having them both operational would require two brake controllers.

He probably didn't do it but if I were designing this system I would put a hydraulic surge brake actuator on the first trailer and just use the standard hydraulic brakes.

aguablanco wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
depends..... if the pin weight is in front of the pickup bed trailers axle or behind the axle.
The Automated Safety Hitch system has no sway.
If the guy has done his homework nothing wrong with the set up.

I believe that to double tow, which this guy is doing, the first towed vehicle MUST be on a fifth wheel. I could be wrong but I don't think so.
RichH

Not everywhere. In my home state pulling 2 bumper pulls is legal. As for brakes, I have put master cylinder and linkage on a several home built trailers. A couple where pickup beds.
Backing would be more of a challenge than normal, but not impossible. And if having trouble backing was a disqualification to RVing, would not need reservations.

fj12ryder wrote:
As jury-rigged as that outfit looks, I think it's pretty safe to say it would be sketchy at best.

Nah, what could possibly go wrong?

As jury-rigged as that outfit looks, I think it's pretty safe to say it would be sketchy at best.

JIMNLIN wrote:
depends..... if the pin weight is in front of the pickup bed trailers axle or behind the axle.
The Automated Safety Hitch system has no sway.
If the guy has done his homework nothing wrong with the set up.

I believe that to double tow, which this guy is doing, the first towed vehicle MUST be on a fifth wheel. I could be wrong but I don't think so.
RichH

Try to brake hard like a semi-panic stop and there's no telling where that trailer is going to end up.

Not really...for all you or I know he may have the combination brakes set up properly especially for a panic braking event.

jaycocamprs wrote:
So what is the difference between this and a converter dolly used by thousands of trucks pulling doubles or triples every day

Mainly, those dollies are designed expressly for that purpose. It does not appear much design went into this "dolly."

Who knows, the driver could be a brilliant engineer and fabricator, just not concerned with looks... This is the real world though, and that is almost never the case. If it looks haphazardly cobbled together, it's haphazardly cobbled together.

So what is the difference between this and a converter dolly used by thousands of trucks pulling doubles or triples every day

JIMNLIN wrote:
Pickup bed trailer with 6-8 lug axle = 6k-7k lbs with brakes/E tires and wheels. 5th wheel trailer has brakes and the tow vehicle has brakes.

Its simply a poor man version of the high priced Automated Safety Hitch system.

Not really. The Automated Safety Hitch solidly mounts to the tow vehicle, and doesn't pivot like that would. The only pivot point is where the trailer attaches to the Safety Hitch. It would mean a world of difference in the stability of the tow.

Try to brake hard like a semi-panic stop and there's no telling where that trailer is going to end up.

JIMNLIN wrote:
depends..... if the pin weight is in front of the pickup bed trailers axle or behind the axle.
The Automated Safety Hitch system has no sway.
If the guy has done his homework nothing wrong with the set up.

Actually, I thought to be legal double towing, which this guy is doing, the 5er would have to be hooked to the tow vehicle. I don't see any way that is legal or safe.
RichH