Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[elhigh]

I just now noticed the debate about the towing point on tractors, and the statement regarding hitching points in relation to the axle height is a valid one.

That's the whole point of the three point hitch (3pt). The lower arms provide the load bearing capacity and couple the implement to the tractor's chassis at a point below the axle centerline, AND ALSO the top link provides a rigid connection from the tractor back to the implement. Being rigid, the tractor and implement have to remain in alignment (more or less) even as lots of hitch designs allow the elevation to change.

Sorry, threadjack over.

[freebeard]

Can You Find The Weirdest Car On Your Local Craigslist?

[cosmick]

The value of a teardrop trailer lies in the extra protection against wildlife and hail, that it offers compared to a tent.
Front wheel drive vehicles should never tow anything, so if you must use a minivan, the Astro / Safari is worth a look, even though they have been out of production since 06. I daily an 03 AWD version myself.
Hitch height is mostly about keeping the trailer level or very slightly nose down while cruising the interstate, and the tow vehicle should never be tail down. That's where the load distributing hitch comes in. But misusing it can result in tweaking the rear chassis of the tow vehicle. That's what air shocks are for. If after all that you still can't get everything level, then you need to change tow vehicles. Assuming you already balanced the load properly on the trailer.
With a bumper hitch, you only need 10% of the total trailer weight on the hitch. With a Gooseneck it is commonly closer to 35%.
And i have had occasion to laugh my booty off, more than once, watching someone pop their back window, then crunch the cab of their pickup, from trying to Gooseneck or 5th wheel with a shortbed. Get the 8-footer, that's the whole entire point of a fullsize anyway. The hitch center should be 4-6" forward of the rear axle centerline.

[freebeard]

The comments at that link do suggest a 1 7/8th inch ball hitch on the 5th wheel. Now that I look again, there's no notch in the 5th-wheel plate.

First time around, I was wondering if they notched the dual gas tanks, or the body.

[freebeard]

Just A Car Guy: amazing, semi trailer converts to carnival ride. The Rabbat family F1 traveling carnival ride

Wondering how to make an expandable unit? You could do worse than this:





It appears to start the size of a 40ft shipping container, and expands to maybe 56x24ft.

I could see a 20ft hi-lo trailer with with a pop-up pedestal in the center with the bath and kitchen, and 5ft drop sides that expands to 30x18 with a 8ft ceiling.

[oil pan 4]

I recently towed my snowmobilefrom Maine to new Mexico with a car. The total weight of the trailer with the snowmobile, some new tires and my tool box should have only been no more that 800 pounds.


What I found was towing moderately heavy loads long distance with a front wheel drive car on the interstate may not be the best plan. The V6 Hyundai did the job and it struggled a little. I can only imagine that a 4cyl car would struggle quite a bit more.
Now behind my firebird formula 350 that has 12 inch corvette C5 brakes (much larger than the stock brakes) and a V8 engine with 6 speed transmission that car towed the snowmobile trailer with ease.
It was going up east coast mountains in 6th gear with ease.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by cosmick

The value of a teardrop trailer lies in the extra protection against wildlife and hail, that it offers compared to a tent.
Front wheel drive vehicles should never tow anything

Met this guy in Indy, he and his wife were pretty happy with this setup (he even has AC and a 115v genset!).

[MetroMPG]

Bears!

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...nts-34498.html

[freebeard]

"If you go out in the woods today..."

How's this for a potential 5th wheel hitch?


http://jalopnik.com/what-car-has-the-aftermarket-completely-ruined-1788543183

Maybe a Wally Byam#1 replica with a curved aluminum box beam to the hitch?

[Miller88]

I just bought a house that needs a lot of work. In a town that has no residential trash pickup.

I still don't own a pickup and just don't have the money to spend on one. Over the weekend I planned on renting a Uhaul to move some stuff to the house before I officially "move in".

Unfortunately, UHaul canceled the last minute. I impulse bought a small utility trailer for my Focus. Tows great and will be super useful in the future! Just need to drop some money on a spare tire for it

Got 30MPG towing this empty. Oddly enough, fuel economy went up with it loaded.