Swivelwheel or Idaho Tote experience

[cybrbykr]

DOes anyone have experience wiht a Swivelwheel or Idaho Tote pull-behind wiht a Fifth Wheel? I'm very interested in using one to carry a motorcycle. Would like to hear all comments.

cybrbykr

[Winged_One]

I have a swivelwheel 58dw. Been using it for the last few years. Put about 6000 total miles on towing a bike (Michigan to Montana and back, all states where it is legal to double tow). Bought it off craigslist.



Works well, does what it says it will do. Got caught in two places I had to back up. Worked slick.

Also got caught in one tight place with the wide swing issue. Made it through.

Last year added a Rampage lift. Much easier for me to deal with.



In a couple years we will be taking it to California. I guess that is a recommendation.

[fj12ryder]

jeb5 wrote:
My neighbor in Florida has used a 2 wheel Swivel Wheel. The units are legal in any of the 50 states IF it is legal in your state of residence. You will never be stopped by any police. They may question if you have an accident. It is connected directly to the RV and does not pivot, therefore it is not a trailer and does not need additional license. It will add to your toll. If you send me a PM, I can connect you with my neighbor.

Just some friendly advice from one who has used a swivelwheel-type trailer: Do not bet the farm on any of the advice you just posted.

[RustyJC]

jeb5 wrote:
The units are legal in any of the 50 states IF it is legal in your state of residence.

Reciprocity between states applies to driver licenses under the Drivers License Compact. Maximum weights, lengths, speed limits, towing single or double, etc. laws for each state are not covered and must be complied with.

Rusty

[jeb5]

My neighbor in Florida has used a 2 wheel Swivel Wheel. The units are legal in any of the 50 states IF it is legal in your state of residence. You will never be stopped by any police. They may question if you have an accident. It is connected directly to the RV and does not pivot, therefore it is not a trailer and does not need additional license. It will add to your toll. If you send me a PM, I can connect you with my neighbor.

[Mile_High]

They seem to work well, but they do add some additional back swing you need to be careful of. Watched a guy pull out of a fuel station by Telluride with his carrying an ATV, and he needed some room to turn, made me a little nervous just watching him clear the pump island.

[Crazy_Cooter]

I have no experience with the Idaho tote, but I have one that I built that measured 7'x8.5' with two swivels under it. It attaches with two 2" receivers with enough space to haul a pair of atv's.

I did have some undesirable swaying while underway and loaded. I tried moving the load, removing the upper bearing and replacing it with the supplied bushing with not much change. Most of this was just amplified as my rig towed more like a tail heavy TT than a 5er to start with.....I figured the swivel could make it better with more tires on the ground or worse because of the weight at the tail end.......well is was worse...

I towed the combo before it was complete for testing with one atv on board but the garage was empty. It towed like a dream, so I added the tie downs, rails, spare tire, flooring and paint. I guess that extra weight took it a little too far.

I have since added a third axle to the 5er and she tows like a dream now with and without the swivel....

Before axle:


After axle:



I see Idaho makes one 11' long? With every option added it seems like it would be a crazy amount of weight added to the tail....

I like towing doubles more as there is a lot less to think about with the extra tail swing,sway, and connecting/disconnecting takes two people. We like to take trips to the Oregon dunes and double towing is not allowed in Oregon....

[C_Schomer]

A friend got a Toytote swivel wheel cuz it was cheaper than the Idaho tote. I thought it looked scary the first time I saw it. So much length behind the 5er axles and it looked like a Rube Goldburg contraption. His first trip with it loaded was a disaster. It got the 5er to whipping on a curve and totaled the 5er and bent up the tote. The truck bed sides were crushed down and that kept the entire rig from flipping. The said his f250 was sliding all over the road and he couldn't do a thing about it. Craig

[Ready2BRetired]

We use a swivel wheel behind our Mobile Suites for our Roadking.Have towed it approximately 20-25k throughout the U.S. Towed it up-down the East coast from Maine to Florida no issues, but you have read the other posts so you decide. We will continue to use it as long as we ride. Got 120k on the King so we do ride quite abit. The only down side as far as I'm concerned is the swing-out at turns.... be aware. I have weighed all points at an Escapees park. The swivel wheel adds 750lbs at the hitch and approx 1000lbs to the rear axle. We had the Suites built and had the frame reinforced for this expected load. Also have the larger axle,tires and disc brakes. Pull it with a dually with the 6.7....very happy with the git-up

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

We used a Idaho Tote (IT) for seven years fulltiming. We first carried a Yamaha Rhino and the last couple of years a Smart Car. We traveled from Texas to almost all the lower 48 including the west cost (California, Oregon and Washingston) and also the east cost (Florida, even the dreaded New York, Connecticut etc..). We've taken it to Alaska and the Canadian Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova S,cotia, PEI and Newfoundland). In all our travels we have never been stopped by LEO, we have had them pull alongside and look long and hard then wave when they passed. The IT is and extention of the 5er and all I ever did was move the 5er plate to the rear of the Tote. I would highly recommend the IT as it is a well built and engineered peice of equipment, and I always receiced great customer service from the owner of the company. They are more expensive than other totes but i can say personally that younget what you pay for. We have a new Toy Hauler now but I had no problem selling my used Idaho Tote in fact I had people wanting it before I even mentioned it was for sale.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[fj12ryder]

Just as a FWIW: just because we did it doesn't mean you won't get stopped, but it seems that the LEO's look at swivel wheel type trailers a bit differently than a regular trailer.

We have pulled through West Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia more than once and never garnered a second look from any of the authorities. But as I said YMMV.

[MPI_Mallard]

I was going to build a Swivel-Wheel Trailer for my cart but bailed after finding that the fuzz WILL consider it a second trailer and it would be verboten! The guy who owns my resort in Canada had a hydraulic lift attached to the rear of his fiver to haul his hog and it looked pretty snazzy, perhaps something to consider!



Red Green;
Remember, If it moves and it shouldn't, duck-tape,
if doesn't move and it should,WD40!!

[Nutinelse2do]

The Idaho Totes are a great little invention. They really are the best of both worlds ... Then the controversy begins....
Is it an extension of the 5'r, or is it double towing? Apparently it depends on the LEO, if you get pulled over.
We have yet to hear of anyone getting cited for having one, and we see them quite often in Nevada RV Parks.
Another disadvantage, is it extends your 5'r length, so it can limit your camping spots.

We were considering purchasing one, and the above two variables changed our minds.

Good luck with your decision. Hope it works out whatever you choose.

[fj12ryder]

I used a Smart Trailer pulled behind our 34' Big Sky, for a few years. It worked very well and we had no issues with it.

Be advised that some states do not allow double towing. FWIW we traveled through, and stayed in, some of them and had no problems. YMMV.

I would definitely advise getting and using a rear view camera to keep an eye on things back there. Also a person needs to be aware of the increased rear end length and how it affects the rear swing of the 5th wheel. We carried about 1200 lbs. on our trailer and it had no real effect on how the 5th wheel handled. It pulled fine and never mis-behaved.