How the pro RV transporters tow

[mkirsch]

If you travel Interstate 90 through Ohio, PA, and NY you see a *LOT* of professional RV transporters moving units East this time of year. I paid close attention any time one passed by and tried to gather as much detail as I could.

1. They ALL run big diesel dually crew cab trucks. Big heavy diesel engine to counterbalance the tongue weight of the trailer, and that long wheelbase makes a great lever arm to maximize the effect. Plenty of "junk in the trunk" to keep the tail from wagging the dog too.

2. The ones headed West for another load all had heavy-duty aftermarket receivers installed on their trucks for maximum weight-carrying tongue capacity. No need for WD bars to prevent overloading the receiver.

3. The trailers they towed were generally far below the maximum capacity of the truck. Tail's not big enough to wag the dog.

4. The trailers they towed were almost always hitched severely nose-down. Good for stability, and not a big deal with an empty trailer on trip from factory to dealer, but hell on tires and springs over the long haul.

Oh, and they *DO* use WD bars in some instances, such as the big park models. Almost all the RV transporters I noticed were using WD shanks to tow with, even if they weren't using the bars on the smaller units.

These guys aren't fooling around with a midsize SUV on 4 P-rated tires with the stock receiver towing at 99% of its advertised factory tow rating. What they do is akin to towing a Radio Flyer wagon with a freight locomotive.

[Passin_Thru]

Yss they do need a CDL if the truck is hauling for compensation even if it's a1/2 ton and they do need a Liscense from DOT & DOT inspection + state inspection to haul including 1 million $ worth of liability and a relatively clean inspection record + a relatively accident free record over 3 years to haul. Must either log on paper for have electronic logging. I used to haul trailers and boats so I'm pretty sure I know the rules for Commercial vehicles. If you go past the scales in KY with a 1 ton they will come after you and see if you own the trailer or not, saw them stop 2 at once. Most never pull over 65 because it's a safe speed and above 65-67 fuel consumption goes up rapidly, just try it. My truck will do around 95 so coming home ety I run 75. I also carry 129 gallons of fuel, enough to get me from Oklahoma to N VA on 1 fill passing all the hi $ fuel stops in mid states. Going to NY from VA next then from VA to OK, NM, CO, and then back to VA.

[bmet2000]

I talked to a transporter at a rest area that was delivering a new TT. I asked him if be liked it and he said he was delivering it. (Didn't realize he was delivering it at the time since I was still new to RVing). He had just bought a new to him diesel and it was running rough. Most have been a smoker because he was putting a nice thick film of black soot all down the side of this new camper. He was trying to clean it off and it was t going well. He also told me that coming down a grade you should manually use the brake controller and let the TT brakes slow you down. I'm glad it wasn't my camper!

[NMace]

The way they do it with big rigs is from the bill of laden which shows the weight of the load.

With a rv it is not possible, and has not happened, yet. Don't see how it could.

[mooky_stinks]

Is someone going to pick up all the debris from an accident scene, weigh it and determine you're 300lbs overweight?

[NMace]

Bigtoe,

Do you have any real facts to support your claim. I have done Google and Lexes/nexus searchs with no hits.

Now you will find commercial big rig examples of liability based on overloading. But I think you could wreck a 150/1500 with 20,000 pound RV trailer with no legal ramifications.

There are lots of reasons to use wd hitches, proper weight limits, and other safety measures, but fear of jail or rejection of liability insurance does not seem to be amoung them.

Were it, it would surely show up with a search.

[BigToe]

Another poster above already answered this point prior to the following post...

brooks379 wrote:
"I...bought a 29' TT and the dealer was pushing the WD at me hard. I asked him what was a good one to buy and he said he wouldn't put one on ...you don't need one. He nor his wife were using a WD hitch."

Those two may not need a WD hitch, but I sure do.

If the ratings on the label of my hitch state that x amount of trailer and tongue weight is permissible only with a WD hitch, then sure as shootin I need a WD hitch. Either that, or a lot more extra time and money than I currently have to pay out legal settlements while cooling my jets in jail for gross negligence should an unforeseeable wreck happen that costs someone's life and my set up ignored that label.

[gkenworth]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

gkenworth wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


That tells me he likes the Ford but does not like their Diesel.

Don't like Ford, don't like their diesel. It was and is more important for our family to go camping in one vehicle, not having the dw follow in the minivan while I pulled the fiver with the regular cab. Wanted a crew cab for legroom for our three sons. I worked as a mechanic for Ford for 4 yrs. Great job security. Just putting my family before my Dodge pride.

[brooks379]

I talked to a guy in a rest area the other day that pulls TT's to the dealers for a living and so does his wife they both were driving Dodges Duleys with Cummins he had 553,327 miles ( I saw the speedo. I was impressed, I'm a F350 guy) on his and said when the motor goes he is going to buy a new diesel motor, put it in and keep the truck. He has been delivering TT and 5th wheel campers for 20 years

The reason I was talking to him is I sold my 5th wheel and bought a 29' TT and the dealer was pushing the WD at me hard. I asked him what was a good one to buy and he said he wouldn't put one on ...you don't need one. He nor his wife were using a WD hitch.

[larry_barnhart]

I have told this story once before. We had our inbed fuel tank built in Havasu City in march of 05 at the KSH factory. This hot shot hauler was getting his inbed tank at the same time. He had an 04 F-250 that he just bought used because his Dodge was costing him lots of money to keep going. This is not a dodge or ford bash but at that time I was thinking how his story would play out in his future.
chevman

[Cummins12V98]

gkenworth wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you go to campgrounds where the FULL TIMERS are this holds true also. If you look at the weekend warriors it is Ford #1. I explain that as being "blinded by the BLUE OVAL" ! HA

Not that I'm blinded. $ for $, I got into an F250 crew cab diesel 4x4 with 135,000 km for $ 6 -10k less than a Dodge Cummins. I know it could have issues. At the time I couldn't afford a Dodge. I now have $ set aside if I blow a head gasket.

Back on topic. The 'pro' that delivered my brothers 39' th had a srw Ford with a V10.
????

I hope you don't have to spend the money you have set aside for the possible repairs. Don't forget to factor in the removal of the cab. Good luck!

That tells me he likes the Ford but does not like their Diesel.

[calewjohnson]

arkidog wrote:
During our annual trip out west last month we passed five transporters towing. 3 pulling TT's west of N. Platte, Ne, a large TH 5W north of Casper, Wy and a long goose neck with two TT's strapped down on it in western Montana. All were going 65 mph because I was towing about 65 to 66 mph. I played leap frog with the large TH 5W for about 100 miles. I'd slowly pass him on the upgrades and he would slowly pass me on the downgrades, I was towing a lot less weight than him. Can always tell that they are transporters with white sign on each front door. Led me to believe that these guys are running with governed (sp?) engines set at 65 mph.

I doubt they are governed. I had a dually with a Cyclone pass me today up a hill on I-40 in TX near NM. He had a white plate on the license plate and orange zip ties on all the locks. I had cruise on 62, I bet he was pushing every bit of 75 (the speed limit). No wonder there are blow outs of factory tires when a trailer is bought new.

Cale

[gkenworth]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you go to campgrounds where the FULL TIMERS are this holds true also. If you look at the weekend warriors it is Ford #1. I explain that as being "blinded by the BLUE OVAL" ! HA

Not that I'm blinded. $ for $, I got into an F250 crew cab diesel 4x4 with 135,000 km for $ 6 -10k less than a Dodge Cummins. I know it could have issues. At the time I couldn't afford a Dodge. I now have $ set aside if I blow a head gasket.

Back on topic. The 'pro' that delivered my brothers 39' th had a srw Ford with a V10.
????

[Oaklevel]

NMace wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
"MANY" of these folks since they drive for hire, and are above 10K lbs total, some possibly above 26K, they have to follow many of the can not drive over 10 hrs a day, have a log book, check into weigh scales in some states etc. Hence why many will stick to 65 mph, if the LEO that looks at the book on the border, figures out they were ave 65 including stops, a speed ticket will occur out of no where! or other fines, tickets etc.

The rv limit in wa st is 60 mph on ANY interstate or state hwy. Cars under 10K can go upwards of 70, BUT, if you pull ANY sort of trailer or equal, your max speed is 60. If you drive a one ton dually, or have a sw truck with a paid gvw over 10K, your max limit is 60 mph. Hence why I see no reason to have 373 gears in a dually and a dod tranny! you may never get to use dod at 60 mph depending upon many factors!

Marty

Marty,

I do not believe they can issue a speeding ticket based on time and distance, they must observe and document the offense. Plus most would have trouble with the math. What factor would they use for stops?

Neil

The PA Turnpike toll roads did it & may still. When you get on there was a record & the next toll booth calculated the speed if you were over the speed limit the LEO sitting outside the toll booth would pull you & give you a nice high $ ticket. Yes they can do it for time & distance if the state law allows it.....

[NMace]

blt2ski wrote:
"MANY" of these folks since they drive for hire, and are above 10K lbs total, some possibly above 26K, they have to follow many of the can not drive over 10 hrs a day, have a log book, check into weigh scales in some states etc. Hence why many will stick to 65 mph, if the LEO that looks at the book on the border, figures out they were ave 65 including stops, a speed ticket will occur out of no where! or other fines, tickets etc.

The rv limit in wa st is 60 mph on ANY interstate or state hwy. Cars under 10K can go upwards of 70, BUT, if you pull ANY sort of trailer or equal, your max speed is 60. If you drive a one ton dually, or have a sw truck with a paid gvw over 10K, your max limit is 60 mph. Hence why I see no reason to have 373 gears in a dually and a dod tranny! you may never get to use dod at 60 mph depending upon many factors!

Marty

Marty,

I do not believe they can issue a speeding ticket based on time and distance, they must observe and document the offense. Plus most would have trouble with the math. What factor would they use for stops?

Neil

[mkirsch]

People frequently come on this forum and whine about needing a WD hitch and sway control for their trailers. "The pro RV haulers don't use WD or sway control, so why do I need it?"

THAT is why.