Weight Police is in trouble now

[rsbabson]

[avvidclif1]

06Fargo wrote:
So if the safety hitch system plus the trailer plus the truck that is no longer overloaded by stupid trailer design does not exceed the Holy GCWR then what?

Uhhh Go camping. That is the reason for the trailer, right???

[noteven]

So if the safety hitch system plus the trailer plus the truck that is no longer overloaded by stupid trailer design does not exceed the Holy GCWR then what?

[neal10a]

It looks no one cares if the GCW is outside of the manufacturers spec, except for Ford, GM, Dodge and me. :h

[DutchmenSport]

The idea of the tow dollie has been around for a long time. In the movie "The Long Long Trailer" from the 1950's there are a few scenes that clearly show the dolly. In the movie, when "Mickey" is talking to the guy where he buys the hitch, he clearly discusses the need for the dolly. I have the video and was able to capture the screen shots below. Remember ... this was back in the 1950's and used for towing a regular bumper-pull hitch trailer. It's not a new concept at all:

[laknox]

neal10a wrote:
The trailer suspension is the weak part for RV fifth wheel trailers. Most manufacturers put the bare minimum suspension which in includes flimsy hangers, grade 3 half inch bolts, minimal springs, minimal wheel bearing and last but not least minimal brakes. This new towing product does not help with the trailer suspension, but helps for allowing the trailer to track the TV. The only disadvantage I can see with this product is it increase the gross combined weight and increase the total length. Also the cost is $10,000 so one needs to consider if the cost is worth the advantages. One still needs a 1 ton truck to tow a 16,000 GVW trailer because of the GCW. A F350 GCW would be out of specification with this additional towing device with a 16000 lb trailer.

Don't forget the junk tires. 🙂

Lyle

[momanor]

rdhetrick wrote:
Wow, the number of armchair engineers and the amount of speculation never ceases to amaze me.....let alone the statements that are just flat out wrong....

Yeah Dude, and they vote...Just scared myself...

[ependydad]

The 2 biggest reasons that I'd consider this are:

a) adding a Cowtown Sleeper to my truck in order to carry an additional row of seats easily. I often times travel with my in-laws and the extra seating would be very convenient.

b) being able to carry a golf cart in the truck bed. I'm already kicking around ideas of fabbing up a roof-top rack for a golf cart. With my current setup, that would grossly overload my truck's payload (by about 700-1,000 pounds). With this ASH, I'd have to be more aware of gross-combined weight than the truck's weight rating.

The biggest cons for me are:
a) the price. $10k is a lot to spend on it.

b) the added length. I'm also just shy of 60' long. That looks like I'd end up closer to 70'. (best guess)

My big issue with the posts and reviews are all glowingly positive. Nothing is perfect and they always smell a little fishy. maybe it's all legit, but the times I've seen, they always seem like the poster ends up being friends with Joe (ASH owner) in some way. Maybe they're friends because they gave him $10k and are genuinely happy with the product or maybe they're giving glowing reviews because they were friends first. It's hard for me to discern.

[Rbertalotto]

Contact patch....weight over steerable wheels....much greater braking surfaces.....all adds up to a much better 5th wheel situation. Nine out of ten engineers would agree!... 🙂

[2012Coleman]

downtheroad wrote:
Well that proves that it's all about payload, NOT, "Can I pull it."

Keep in mind that a Toyota "pulled" the Space Shuttle with basically the same kind of hitching system.

Gee OP - downtheroad got you on that one. LOL!!!

[mich800]

Johnnyvans wrote:
As a Class A driver, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that there is a reason why 8 tires are underneath a trailer that weighs up to 25 tons...cause you have to have the proper base under that weight, a base that is the rear of the tow vehicle, with that weight on those driven wheels to hopefully safely control all of that combination vehicle, 80,000 pounds, in ANY driving circumstances. Even in doubles the lighter trailer is the second one.

Isn't the whole point of a fiver over a TT to have that big solid hitch squarely riding over the load bearing center of the TV?

The laws of physics in regards to mass and motion will not change if a person wants to haul more stuff in his SUV. God be with you Sir.

I admit my experience towing things does not yet include a fiver, but when that day comes (hopefully next year) a DRW diesel will be the only tow vehicle I will trust with my family.

The goal is to have the weight over the load bearing wheels. This minimizes the impact of sway acting on those wheels due to leverage. This product does that but the loaded wheels are not the drive wheels.

[neal10a]

The trailer suspension is the weak part for RV fifth wheel trailers. Most manufacturers put the bare minimum suspension which in includes flimsy hangers, grade 3 half inch bolts, minimal springs, minimal wheel bearing and last but not least minimal brakes. This new towing product does not help with the trailer suspension, but helps for allowing the trailer to track the TV. The only disadvantage I can see with this product is it increase the gross combined weight and increase the total length. Also the cost is $10,000 so one needs to consider if the cost is worth the advantages. One still needs a 1 ton truck to tow a 16,000 GVW trailer because of the GCW. A F350 GCW would be out of specification with this additional towing device with a 16000 lb trailer.

[Johnnyvans]

As a Class A driver, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that there is a reason why 8 tires are underneath a trailer that weighs up to 25 tons...cause you have to have the proper base under that weight, a base that is the rear of the tow vehicle, with that weight on those driven wheels to hopefully safely control all of that combination vehicle, 80,000 pounds, in ANY driving circumstances. Even in doubles the lighter trailer is the second one.

Isn't the whole point of a fiver over a TT to have that big solid hitch squarely riding over the load bearing center of the TV?

The laws of physics in regards to mass and motion will not change if a person wants to haul more stuff in his SUV. God be with you Sir.

I admit my experience towing things does not yet include a fiver, but when that day comes (hopefully next year) a DRW diesel will be the only tow vehicle I will trust with my family.

[BulldawgFan]

For those interested, worth a read... Funny how the author notes the ignorance sometimes found in forums...

http://fifthwheelst.com/automated-safety-hitch-system.html

[Rbertalotto]

You just knew this was going to pop up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sHmDxwZlXQ