What 5th wheels have strong frames for double towing?

[paul_arc]

Hello all, I am looking to change my camping set up and go with a 5th wheel camper which will double tow my flat bed trailer. I am looking for which manufactures and companies have strong frames that could handle a trailer behind it. The trailer is approx 6k lbs loaded, so not too much weight. Tongue weight is pretty minimal.

I am just not too sure what decent manufactures to start doing research on.

I would say frame strength is priority #1.
#2 would be the quality of the trailer its self.

Thanks

[paul_arc]

GrumpyandGrandma wrote:

F-TROUP wrote:


CDL with doubles endorsement and DOT physical every other year

65' form TV front bumper to rear bumper of 2nd trailer

Brakes required on second trailer

But still only in certain states. Just about every state on the east coast prohibit double RV/trailer towing.

Yes, here in CA double towing is fine as long as you have the requirements like F-troup said.

Also you can be upto 75' bumper to bumper as long as both of your trailers are 28.5' or less.

[paul_arc]

laknox wrote:

paul_arc wrote:
Hello all, I am looking to change my camping set up and go with a 5th wheel camper which will double tow my flat bed trailer. I am looking for which manufactures and companies have strong frames that could handle a trailer behind it. The trailer is approx 6k lbs loaded, so not too much weight. Tongue weight is pretty minimal.

I am just not too sure what decent manufactures to start doing research on.

I would say frame strength is priority #1.
#2 would be the quality of the trailer its self.

Thanks

Depending on what you get, you'd likely need to reinforce the FW frame all the way to in front of the front axle, to support a 600-800 lb tongue weight. A very few mfrs =might= consider beefing up a frame to handle this kind of weight, but they're very few and far between. Hell, give Space Craft a call and see what a full-on custom would cost. 🙂

Lyle

Thanks for the spacecraft name, its good to know a company that can do something custom.

[paul_arc]

memtb wrote:
Paul, if you are considering a used 5'r, take a look at the Teton Royals and Grands. They are pretty "beefy" in frame structure. But, 6K is a pretty good load! memtb

I will check them out too. I am not sure if I will go new or used yet, so its good to know. Did those companies go out of business? I am a little hesitant of going with a company that is no longer in business.

[GrumpyandGrandm]

F-TROUP wrote:


CDL with doubles endorsement and DOT physical every other year

65' form TV front bumper to rear bumper of 2nd trailer

Brakes required on second trailer

But still only in certain states. Just about every state on the east coast prohibit double RV/trailer towing.

[laknox]

paul_arc wrote:
Hello all, I am looking to change my camping set up and go with a 5th wheel camper which will double tow my flat bed trailer. I am looking for which manufactures and companies have strong frames that could handle a trailer behind it. The trailer is approx 6k lbs loaded, so not too much weight. Tongue weight is pretty minimal.

I am just not too sure what decent manufactures to start doing research on.

I would say frame strength is priority #1.
#2 would be the quality of the trailer its self.

Thanks

Depending on what you get, you'd likely need to reinforce the FW frame all the way to in front of the front axle, to support a 600-800 lb tongue weight. A very few mfrs =might= consider beefing up a frame to handle this kind of weight, but they're very few and far between. Hell, give Space Craft a call and see what a full-on custom would cost. 🙂

Lyle

[rjstractor]

Paul, I think the biggest issue you may face is the tongue weight of the rear trailer unloading the fifth wheel pin to the point of making the entire combo unstable. Having the brake controller capacity to operate all those brakes could be an issue as well. Reluyog's tow vehicle is designed to tow about 8 times as much weight as yours so he likely doesn't have an instability issue.

[memtb]

Paul, if you are considering a used 5'r, take a look at the Teton Royals and Grands. They are pretty "beefy" in frame structure. But, 6K is a pretty good load! memtb

[reluyog]

Paul, I used a commercially manufactured receiver rated at 20000 trailer weight, and 2000 tongue weight. That part is bolted to a 1/2" thick steel plate which is part of the hitch assembly I built. I don't know what the rating would be for my hitch, but I know that a 5000 pound trailer doesn't stress it or the trailer it's attached to.

[paul_arc]

reluyog wrote:
I double tow sometimes, and the 2nd trailer weighs about 4800 with a car inside. I'm headed out shortly to pick up a new tandem axle 16 foot open car hauler to have the option of bringing a different car. That will result in about 5800 lbs for the second trailer. I do run two brake controllers with paired 10 gauge wires for each braking circuit to the rv plug on back of the 5th wheel, plus 3 cameras on the back of the 5th. All lighting is 10 gauge, and entirely independent of the first trailer. I built the hitch myself. Trailer is a '95 Carriage that has a 2x6 box over 2x6 box frame.

That is what I will be pulling behind the 5th wheel. It's a 16' tandem axle open car hauler. My buggy's weight that goes on it is 3,600 lbs and i'm just estimating the trailer weight at 2k lbs.

I have no problem building a stout receiver my self, the only thing I am worried about is "if" there was an accident to happen, even if it is clearly not my fault that they can point the finger at me for the receiver not being rated for the weight.

Possibly there is a company where it can get taken too and they review the work and rate the receiver..

[paul_arc]

R12RTee wrote:
DRV has a 15 inch rectangular boxed steel frame. When ordered I had DRV increase the wall thickness that is standard at 1/8 inch, to side walls with 1/4 inch thickness. It does add a bit of weight to the camper.

Very good to know, I just added DRV to my list of trailers to research. Does anyone know if many manufactures will work with you like that customizing the frame?

[reluyog]

I double tow sometimes, and the 2nd trailer weighs about 4800 with a car inside. I'm headed out shortly to pick up a new tandem axle 16 foot open car hauler to have the option of bringing a different car. That will result in about 5800 lbs for the second trailer. I do run two brake controllers with paired 10 gauge wires for each braking circuit to the rv plug on back of the 5th wheel, plus 3 cameras on the back of the 5th. All lighting is 10 gauge, and entirely independent of the first trailer. I built the hitch myself. Trailer is a '95 Carriage that has a 2x6 box over 2x6 box frame.

[ford_truck_guy]

My trailer came with a pretty stout receiver on the back.. and that only is rated for 300# tongue -- 3,000# max

[R12RTee]

DRV has a 15 inch rectangular boxed steel frame. When ordered I had DRV increase the wall thickness that is standard at 1/8 inch, to side walls with 1/4 inch thickness. It does add a bit of weight to the camper.

[paul_arc]

Earl E wrote:
I can't say much about what you are trying to do but contact Northwood and ask them. I do know that there aren't many fivers with a better frame than Arctic Fox. Northwood makes their own frames: no Lipperts in the bunch. They are great to work with and will be upfront and honest with their answers.

When you look at maximum tow weight for your truck--you are going to take a mighty big truck to tow the weight of the trailer and the additional tow.

So Northwood builds the Arctic fox? or there are a few different companies that build Arctic fox, but northwood does it better?
Are lipperts a bad company that makes trailer frames?

I have seen the name Jayco while doing some research. are they a decent company with a good frame?

Thanks

[paul_arc]

I first need to figure out what companies are pretty decent, then need to start calling them and asking about their towing capabilities. I didn't realize though that most of them are limited around 3k lbs. reinforcing wont be a problem. The trailer does have brakes on it as well. And that is a good point about the double trailer taking weight off the pin of the 5th wheel.

Sofar I have Arctic Fox to research. I heard the name fleetwood, are they a decent company? Any other names come to mind?