Adding a Hitch To The Trailer

Bionic Man wrote:
Wether you call it double towing, triple towing, or tandem towing, it is one of the consistent hot topics on this forum. Most here will warn you that you can't or shouldn't do it. And most have no 1st hand experience with it.

I on the other hand have been doing it mostly trouble free for close to 20 years.

For your specific question, I think it can be safely done. Here is what I would do/consider.

In regard to your trailer warranty, the only thing that the manufacture can void is the frame warranty. If that is a concern for you, might want to wait until you are out of warranty.

Have a qualified welder custom build a hitch. If you buy something off the shelf, be prepared to do lots of modifications.

Have that same welder reinforce the frame of the trailer at least up to the rear axles. My reinforcement goes up forward of the rear axles.

Regularly inspect the hitch to make sure it holds up. It will be under a LOT of strain.

More of the downside. Those that say the hitch/trailer/bike mount can cause trailer sway are right. I have a 5th wheel, and even on my old set up, I did experience it once. Not a good feeling. Make sure you test your tongue weight, and use a good weight distribution hitch. Even with this, the ride in your truck is going to suffer. That extra weight on the back is going to cause a lot of bouncing.

Expect more wear and tear on the rig. I had a weld brake on my boat trailer that I am sure was caused by towing tandem. I also had the original hitch on my 5er crack and need to be replaced.

Its not all roses to do what you are suggesting, but it is possible. I will agree that less weight on the back end would be better. would it be possible to put one bike on the back of the trailer, and one on a front hitch on the tow vehicle? Or haul the bikes on the truck?

Just other thoughts.

THANK YOU for the helpful post. So far the plan seems to be developing into something similar to this. One bike on the back at most, possibly move the bottles up on the tongue a bit and put one more rail on the front.

My truck only has a 5.5' bed so Full size bikes only fit with the tail gate down or I can get one in if I go 100% diagonal. I'll have to remove my bed cover to do this which I was trying to avoid but am willing to do.

I'd be open to leaving two in the bed and doing nothing to the trailer so long as I could tow successfully with the tail gate down but I highly doubt that's possible without wrecking the trailer and tailgate in a jack knife situation.

Edit: another possibility is one onthe tongue of the trailer and one in the bed. I've even seen people put one on the front of the truck. Need to keep exploring options.