Adding a Hitch To The Trailer

With all due respect I don't think you do understand what a bad idea this is.

ScottG wrote:
Let's say you can attach to the frame solidly without issue.
You still cannot put that percentage of the trailers total weight on the rear because it will cause serious sway.
You must have 10~15% of the trailers total weight on the tongue. You would end up with almost nothing and you may even be overloading it's tires and axles by the time you get everything else loaded.
Sorry but this one isn't even close.

BTW, your trucks frame is far more sophisticated and strong even though it doesn't look any bigger than the trailers frame, which is simple and cheaply made.

I understand that you have to load the trailer properly, I've towed a lot of cargo trailers and awkward loads that caused sway issues trying to get huge loads to the dump.

But again I see the receivers rated at 350-500lbs and I see guys towing boats behind these trailers so some amount of weight is possible.

Short answer NO way. 400 plus pounds plus you have to figure how much torque it's putting on it when it's X distance from the back of the rig.

I have a FW pulling a utility trailer. The FW is old school heavy 10" box tube frame. I used 1/4 inch wall 2x2 sq tubing about 6 feet long and all sorts of triangle corner plates and cross members and this is just to hold a tongue weight of 2xx pounds. The bumper itself is absolutely useless thin wall. I left my bumper on and gusseted the corners but about 8 inches in front of it I used a cross member right at the back edge of the FW wall.

I'm not an engineer so someone else can give you calculations but you also have to consider what effect putting 4xx pounds is doing that far back. I would think that it would be best if you could keep the weight sucked up close to the back of the TT so the torque is less and maybe put the other bike on the front of the truck? Could you put the bikes in the truck?

Look closely at the "I" beam frame because most of them are not I beam like the I beam we are used to seeing. Some a three pieces of metal welded together and people have posted on here about spring brackets and stuff being torn off when turning sharp.

Here's a great description of what is going to happen: Link

Let's say you can attach to the frame solidly without issue.
You still cannot put that percentage of the trailers total weight on the rear because it will cause serious sway.
You must have 10~15% of the trailers total weight on the tongue. You would end up with almost nothing and you may even be overloading it's tires and axles by the time you get everything else loaded.
Sorry but this one isn't even close.

BTW, your trucks frame is far more sophisticated and strong even though it doesn't look any bigger than the trailers frame, which is simple and cheaply made.

FIRE UP wrote:
Well Sir,
I'm by far, no expert on those type of trailers but, of the ones I have sort of, "inspected" or, maybe looked under, the frames are not very strong. Yes, they're designed to do what's needed to support the load placed on them from the factory but, not much more than that. Let's just say the two dirt bikes are right at 500#. Then, the hitch, and any possible additional supports, are say, about 75#.

Now, while the hitch is bolted or, welded to the original frame, the load on that hitch, is out considerably farther. So, there's a cantilever effect here. And since that frame is not all that stout in the first place, the potential for bending that frame and or, doing what's called "collateral" damage is highly possible too. Collateral damage being something like, damaging some floors, cabinet fitting, and things like that.

Cantilevering leverage is a lot more of an issue that one realizes. It's quite OK if the original frame is stout enough to handle additional forces. But, if it's not, then it will bend and, when that happens, things attached to it, on the top of it, will be affected too.

So, I'm kinda like you, I like to think outside the box and challenge certain situations. But, this one, if I were you, I'd do some serious thinking and or, if there's a way to beef that frame of that trailer up, PRIOR to adding the hitch, I'd seriously consider it.
Scott

I am not saying you're wrong but the frame doesn't look any smaller than my truck's frame and the recievers for the hitches to attach to trailers say they're rated at 500lbs...

Not being an ask hole here.. Someone who asks for an answer and then denies the person answering but sort of thinking out loud.


How much tongue weight do you guys that dingy tow put on trailers?

I had a Primetime Crusader FW and the short answer is NO they will not support anything but a spare if it on there, if you modify the frame it will void your warranty. I now have a Grand Design and it has a hitch on the back and will only support 300#

ScottG wrote:
I would bet that the rear bumper isn't even close to being capable of carrying that load.
Also, that's way, way too much weight on the back for handling purposes.
I hate to say it but yur wife is right.

I am not considering attaching this to the bumper, I would attach directly to the frame.

I would bet that the rear bumper isn't even close to being capable of carrying that load.
Also, that's way, way too much weight on the back for handling purposes.
I hate to say it but yur wife is right.

Well Sir,
I'm by far, no expert on those type of trailers but, of the ones I have sort of, "inspected" or, maybe looked under, the frames are not very strong. Yes, they're designed to do what's needed to support the load placed on them from the factory but, not much more than that. Let's just say the two dirt bikes are right at 500#. Then, the hitch, and any possible additional supports, are say, about 75#.

Now, while the hitch is bolted or, welded to the original frame, the load on that hitch, is out considerably farther. So, there's a cantilever effect here. And since that frame is not all that stout in the first place, the potential for bending that frame and or, doing what's called "collateral" damage is highly possible too. Collateral damage being something like, damaging some floors, cabinet fitting, and things like that.

Cantilevering leverage is a lot more of an issue that one realizes. It's quite OK if the original frame is stout enough to handle additional forces. But, if it's not, then it will bend and, when that happens, things attached to it, on the top of it, will be affected too.

So, I'm kinda like you, I like to think outside the box and challenge certain situations. But, this one, if I were you, I'd do some serious thinking and or, if there's a way to beef that frame of that trailer up, PRIOR to adding the hitch, I'd seriously consider it.
Scott