[pfznik]

I have some further thoughts on the use of a powered trailer as a means of pulling a trailer with a car that would also be practical for everyday use from a green point of view. In the future I will call this the guide vehicle as opposed to tow vehicle. My first concern is to determine why a portion of the weight of all trailers is supported at the hitch. Why not have four wheels out at the corners, wagon style, so that the trailer could stand on its own with out landing gear. After all, small autos brought along behind motorhomes are towed four wheels down. Is there some simple dynamic reason why this is not a good idea (ie, reason manhole covers are round)? Am I missing something? Of course, front wheels (possibly rear as well) would have to pivot or be under a fifth wheel in order to track properly.

My reason for asking this is that by taking the vertical load off the hitch, opens the choice for guide vehicles to even even further (to smaller cars) since concerns added weight and weight distribution no longer exist.

Come to think of it, I guess the next thing would be to eliminate the physical connection between vehicles alltogether and communicate relative positions by radio or light waves. You could then lead your 32' trailer along with a moped. At a camp ground, you could stand by your trailer with electronic gear such as an radio control model enthusiest would use and fine tune your trailers parking.