Using the front Bumper to park a TT vs the Rear Bumper?

[Blanco1]

Will it make that much of a different in making a tight 90 degree turn with walls & stuff in the way.
Of where I need to park my Trailer?

[RDMueller]

Blanco1 wrote:
Will it make that much of a different in making a tight 90 degree turn with walls & stuff in the way.
Of where I need to park my Trailer?

The answer to your question is yes, you will definitely be able to maneuver into a tight spot that would be impossible hitched up in the normal way. It has to do with the fact that the truck’s steer axle is now near the hitch (pivot point). Picture how the vehicle moves when backing in a conventional manner - cut the wheel hard over and the rear axle only slowly begins to move laterally at first. Now imagine the trailer connected to the front of the vehicle - cut the wheel and you can very rapidly (in a short forward distance) create a sharp angle between the tow vehicle and the trailer. You can also “take out” that angle in a short distance.

If you watch how aircraft are pushed back from the gate, you will see that the pushback tractor is always facing the aircraft. Granted there is a towbar connecting the tractor to the nose wheel of the aircraft, but the principle is still the same.

As has been stated though, your visibility will be greatly reduced. Highly recommend a spotter!

[Dick_B]

We used to maneuver our boat with a front hitch which made it easy. BUT the tongue weight of our TT is close to 800 lbs, way more than our boat.
A hitch on the front (not the bumper) will not have the benefit of a weight distributing so the front of the truck will sag big time. We tried it once but never again.
There is a toy out there that will park your rig without a truck. That may ultimately be the answer for you. Check out www.powercaster.com. And no I don't benefit from that advice. Their ad is in the back of Trailer Life magazine.

[Bumpyroad]

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Seems to me it would be easier to navigate with a front hitch. My H2 Hummer had one front and rear.

yep, lots of boats launched that way.
bumpy

[Ivylog]

There is a big difference in what you can see with a boat on the front. IF the 90 degree turn is to the left with the TT on the front then you should be able to see what's going on...to the right you will not be able to see anything.

[classic_31]

Delete

[j-d]

If you use the Ram 4x4 to park your TT, I'm sure a front hitch would help. I agree with the note above: To hancle a TT, you need a good solid hitch, not some bumper clamp thing that might be OK for a 16-ft boat. When we had a Dodge van, I adapted a Frame/Bumper hitch as a front hitch for it. Made boat parking so much easier.
If you park it with that Sammy, front hitch would help but no where like it would on the Ram. The higher the ratio of Towed Wheelbase (hitch to wheels) to the the Towing Wheelbase, the more maneuverable you are. Tractor/Trailer is best case. Motorhome with a little U-Haul is worst case.

[Blanco1]

old guy wrote:
you front bumper will more than likely fall off

LOL!!! I doubt it!

[Butch50]

I have used a front hitch in the past with boats and it sure makes it easy to maneuver.

The front hitch on my truck is only rated at 500# tongue weight and 9000# trailer weight. It doesn't take a very big trailer to get to 500# tongue weight than you also have to figure how much capacity you have on the front axle before exceeding the GAWR and tire capacity.

I have a Curt below bumper hitch.

Curt Hitch

[midnightsadie]

did my boats with front hitch, worked fine.

[old_guy]

you front bumper will more than likely fall off

[moebedick]

I have a truck camper and often tow a boat. I use my front hitch to launch and retrieve the boat because I can see where everything is and where it's going. It is much easier than backing a trailer that can only be seen when it's at an angle. I am not a novice at trailering since I have nearly fifty years experience. If there is an easier way to do something,and your vehicle is capable of accommodating a front hitch, why wouldn't you use one?

[K_Charles]

You can see both sides of the TT in the mirrors when backing. You won't see anything with the TT blocking your view.

[Ivylog]

You have more overhang off the rear, especially if you add a hitch extension making it possible to make tighter turns BUT it takes more skill than a hitch on the front.

[Blanco1]

Mandalay Parr wrote:
See s to me it would.

Please explain?

[Mandalay_Parr]

Seems to me it would be easier to navigate with a front hitch. My H2 Hummer had one front and rear.