Anybody here ever tow a small travel trailer and use a sled deck. I have a short bed dodge and the sled overhang is pretty significant (probably close to 5 ft) and will hit the TT. Was thinking of a hitch extension but am worried about it getting all wobbly. Anybody?
Sled Deck + Travel Trailer
- Thread starter sledskiing
- Start date
well Ive got a story for you, I picked up our brand new travel trailer, came home put the deck on the truck, threw the quads up there, hooked up the trailer, took the truck and trailer around the block for a spin and.................. $%&# #&%$ son of a ^$*#& I gouged a big *** hole in the trailer with the corner of my deck...well it was nothing a little speed tape couldnt fix up 
T
Tackbtch
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Well I dont doo a T.T. but we have a nice two place trailer and a short bed dodge. When we use the deck and the trailer we use a hitch thats extended about 18 inches. The trailer tounge is fairly long compaired to a T.T. I know of a fella that tows a 4 place and uses a deck but his hitch is scary long. He claims it works good? Dino
S
snoboy
Active member
Torklift SuperHitch with a 48" extension The only way to tow
http://www.torklift.com/p.php?w_page=superhitch
The only way to towhttp://www.torklift.com/p.php?w_page=superhitch
Yes extremely expensive. do you think of something a little more simple
I will only be towing a small Travel Trailer under 21 ft
I will only be towing a small Travel Trailer under 21 ft
S
snoboy
Active member
I use a 24" to tow with when the camper is on. Looks like the 48" is still rated for 6K. Torklifts stuff is as heavy-duty as it gets. Lucky for me they're 10 minutes from my work
*12,000 lb. pulling capacity, 1,200 tongue wt. achieved only when used with weight distribution type system. See Dealer for details, Weight carring capacity on 48” extension, 6,000 lb. pull, 600 lb. tongue wt. Consult your vehicle owners manual for specific towing capacity. Your truck and trailer weight cannot exceed your vechile manufacturers towing, cargo, or GCVWR.
OOps just saw your stinger picture. What's the rating on it. Does it utilize side chains with turnbuckles? If so I'd use it.
*12,000 lb. pulling capacity, 1,200 tongue wt. achieved only when used with weight distribution type system. See Dealer for details, Weight carring capacity on 48” extension, 6,000 lb. pull, 600 lb. tongue wt. Consult your vehicle owners manual for specific towing capacity. Your truck and trailer weight cannot exceed your vechile manufacturers towing, cargo, or GCVWR.
OOps just saw your stinger picture. What's the rating on it. Does it utilize side chains with turnbuckles? If so I'd use it.
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Dont forget to check the ratings after you use that little extension, drops the tongue weight and towing capacity WAY down.
Who cares----It is a class 5 hitch on the vehicle
Why would it change me ratings to extend it out 18"The superlift hitch is the way to go--only a 21' travel trailer--and how much do you think that trailer weights?
H20SKE...
Play on the safe side.
D
DARKO
Well-known member
Who cares----It is a class 5 hitch on the vehicle
LOL, i hope your not serious.
You will lose at least 1/3 capacity
(Class 5 or not)The campers I am looking at are under 3k lbs dry. Tongue weigh is less than or equal to 260lbs. I think you loose 1/3 you tongue weight capacity every 6 inches.
I have a Dodge 3500 (single rear wheel) long box that I have a deck for and I tow my 27' travel trailer. I have a hitch called a TowBeast. It works similiar to the super hitch.
I have twoed all over WA state, over the passes, down hood canal and basically all over. I have had absolutely no trouble at all. I am one of these guys that loads things by the book. I do not overload my truck, trailers or my hitch, OR my reciever (the slide in portion).
I would not tow with the extension that is shown above. I am certain that it is not rated for enough weight for any tandem axle trailer.
Just my .02
Tharin
I have twoed all over WA state, over the passes, down hood canal and basically all over. I have had absolutely no trouble at all. I am one of these guys that loads things by the book. I do not overload my truck, trailers or my hitch, OR my reciever (the slide in portion).
I would not tow with the extension that is shown above. I am certain that it is not rated for enough weight for any tandem axle trailer.
Just my .02
Tharin
so at 18 in you can't pull anything?...
i must be old..... i remember the old truck bumpers that extended out of the frame for campers that over hung the back of the truck. that is something i would look at if it where me...
K
Kong
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Some time back I used to have a 3/4 ton truck with a 12' camper on it. I used a trailer hitch extensioin (had it made). Looked like the one on here but a lot longer.
Towed a 3000# boat behind the camper from California to Lake Powell many times and no problem
However, you really need to deal with your tongue weight and payload. The extension givers your trailer more leverage on the back of your truck so all depends on tongue weight I would think.
You could always buy the right length and then if it doesn't work sell the extension.
I don't suppose double pulling would work? I would hate to double pull where I live in the winter.
Towed a 3000# boat behind the camper from California to Lake Powell many times and no problem
However, you really need to deal with your tongue weight and payload. The extension givers your trailer more leverage on the back of your truck so all depends on tongue weight I would think.
You could always buy the right length and then if it doesn't work sell the extension.
I don't suppose double pulling would work? I would hate to double pull where I live in the winter.
Double pull is not an option for me. I either figure out a way to get this to work or stick with the truck camper and snowmobile trailer. I'll call a few RV and trailer dealers today. There is also an RV show going on right now here locally.
Ditto on the reduced capacity with extension. Also, the 18" simple tube extension will allow mucho flex because you now have 2 pivot points so you will want to install one or two anti-rattle hitch devices. I believe the better ones with multiple bolts are around $25ea.
If you went with an 18" solid bar with a ball on the end it would only require one anti-rattle device and probably cost less.
Jim
If you went with an 18" solid bar with a ball on the end it would only require one anti-rattle device and probably cost less.
Jim
Never said that it couldn't be done. Just seriously doubt that you could get a "legal load" when doing so.
Check with your local law enforcement.
You may not care much about keeping your self safe on the road but what about the others that travel the roads.
BigT
Check with your local law enforcement.
You may not care much about keeping your self safe on the road but what about the others that travel the roads.
BigT
I hear ya. towbeast and superhitch seem to be the best option. costly also. I may need one either way as if i get a new truck camper it will have an overhang that i would need to clear.
I just really like the idea of not having to load and unload the truck camper all the time
I just really like the idea of not having to load and unload the truck camper all the time
have you tried hookin it up? I tow a 6x12 cargo trailer w/sled deck on, shortbed ford. I cant turn full or it will hit, i know approx my turning radius. If your only using it a couple times a year it might be ok.
I also use a tow extension flat towing my jeep, i welded chain hooks on it for side to side movement. I pretty sure my 18" said 1/3 tounge weight. I really dont like the extension idea but i see them in use on small travel trailers and 2 place open sled trailers all the time. I would go torq lift if i was going to spend the money on a good extension, i've seen people towing jeeps w/those, they seem pretty stout.
I also use a tow extension flat towing my jeep, i welded chain hooks on it for side to side movement. I pretty sure my 18" said 1/3 tounge weight. I really dont like the extension idea but i see them in use on small travel trailers and 2 place open sled trailers all the time. I would go torq lift if i was going to spend the money on a good extension, i've seen people towing jeeps w/those, they seem pretty stout.
I use that 18" extension on mine. I pull a 22' TT with a Sky High deck with beavertail on my long bed Ford 350. I use a weight distributing hitch and sway control. Have towed about 5000 miles so far on this setup with no problems. My hitch on the truck is a standard class IV hitch from the factory.
My extension says tongue weight limit is 350 lbs regular or 700 lbs with weight distributing hitch. I think my tongue weight is somewhere around 500 lbs, though I haven't weighed it.
See pic for my rig in with quads on it.
My extension says tongue weight limit is 350 lbs regular or 700 lbs with weight distributing hitch. I think my tongue weight is somewhere around 500 lbs, though I haven't weighed it.
See pic for my rig in with quads on it.
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