pulling a 5th wheel with a diesel van or diesel Excursion - Diesel Forum

TravelingOn · 08-21-2006, 05:05 PM

Here is a neat solution that enables van and SUV owners to pull a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer without buying a pickup. Pickup owners can also tow 5th wheels and gooseneck trailers without having a hitch use up the bed of their pickup! Pretty Neat! There are pics and info at www.tiny1.net/hitchbuddy.jpg and the manufacturer's website is www.hitch-buddy.com I've pulled a 40' 5th wheel across the U.S. with a motorcycle in the bed of the pickup and it performed GREAT! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

drcampbell · 08-22-2006, 10:08 AM

Is thinly-veiled advertising permitted here?

mflores · 08-22-2006, 10:43 AM

Yea, this product was talked about on here about 6 months ago. Generally speaking about 95 percent of the people on here thought it was stupid and the other 5 percent thought it was fine.

crzybowhntr · 08-22-2006, 01:40 PM

If you do use this please call and let me know where you`ll be so I can keep my family clear of the road you`ll be traveling. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

FastDEW · 08-22-2006, 06:14 PM

I am not interested in using one of these, but I don't really see a problem with it. It seems to me that this thing is very similar (if not the same) concept of the dolly for a semi trailer. If the tow vehicle is rated properly, like a 250 / 350, I think that this wold be fine towing. I think it does look strange though.

NickKent · 08-22-2006, 06:49 PM

It will get you that much more at the tolls too.

oldmikegraham · 08-22-2006, 08:54 PM

4500 pin weight, of that what gets loaded as pin/tongue weight on the tow rigs bumper? Looks like a worst case scenario to me...9K of vehicle towing twice its weight with no load on rear axle and a seperate articulation point in the mix. Hope it works great. I wouldn't take it for free let alone 5k.

Maintain · 08-22-2006, 09:16 PM

Looks like it would work to me. Provided you'd use a properly rated vehicle to do the towing.

I wonder what would happen when you SLAM on the brakes.

oldmikegraham · 08-22-2006, 09:18 PM

Why would you need it if you had the proper tow vehicle?

Maintain · 08-22-2006, 09:25 PM

But it's pretty obvious the picture on the front w/ the the avalanche was doctored -- here http://www.hitch-buddy.com/

Also, unless the avalanche was a 2500, which pictured was not (was a 1500 showed)... I doubt it could haul such a load safely.

Also, You can never see how big these TT's really are... they always show it with half of the TT not in the picture.

Also, since I edit/doctor photo's myself quite often... I can tell you this one is edited as well..
http://www.hitch-buddy.com/Images/Photo.jpg

That GN is not really sitting on the buddy itself.

FastDEW · 08-23-2006, 01:22 AM

[ QUOTE ]
4500 pin weight, of that what gets loaded as pin/tongue weight on the tow rigs bumper? Looks like a worst case scenario to me...9K of vehicle towing twice its weight with no load on rear axle and a seperate articulation point in the mix. Hope it works great. I wouldn't take it for free let alone 5k.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think if you look at it, it is a rigid beam between the dolly and the tow vehicle. No added articulation point. Also, I would bet that there must be some sort of weight distribution setup that transfers weight to the rear of the tow vehicle.

GruntTorque · 08-23-2006, 11:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder what would happen when you SLAM on the brakes.

[/ QUOTE ]

awww you dont need to stop.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I would pay to see that avalanche slam on the brakes with that fiver [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

truckdrivindave · 08-24-2006, 04:56 AM

Ive seen one a few times going down I-65 I travel on daily on my daily runs. Seems to me it works pretty well. Theres no yaw sway or fish tailing, nothing. I run along side it with my rig and the tow vehicle tows pretty straight. I followed one into a truck stop. It looks to me it works pretty well. It was being towed by one of those pick up trucks that delivers new campers to dealers....Seems to me like it works well......I would not mind trying one out just to see how well it works [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]