sleddeck with enclosed trailer

[rsoukup37]

i have a dodge ram megacab with a 8 foot deck. was looking at trying to figure out how i can load a sled on the deck with the trailer hooked up. can hook the trailer up with nothing on it but cant pull it with a sled on top. thought about making a hitch extension but was looking for something to buy if there was something out there to buy or if ill have to do some fab work. thanks

 

[Weaselracing]

I use a SUPERTRUSS hitch and extension, thus allowing me to haul my 26ft enclosed & sled deck .

 

[rsoukup37]

i was looking at that and was wondering how that worked since i dont have the weight distribution. i really aint to worried about sag cuz i have airbags on my truck so that really isnt a problem for me. but i know my trailer and sleds inside is pry over that tongue weight. and if you have to have a different reciever to make it work.

 

[Mafesto]

I wouldn't do it with anything less than a tonner w long wheelbase.

With a short box, the hitch would need to be extended so far that it would adversely affect handling & simulate an exagerated tongue weight.

Consider how far your hitch point would be from the rear axle.
The hitch becomes essentially a lever.
Let's say you start fishtailing.
Imagine the exagerated left & right movement your hitch goes through being at the end of this "longer lever".
This will handle worse than anything you've driven.
Not ideal on winter mountain roads.

 

[hypnotoad]

it can be done, a friend has a extended hitch of some sort. one thing you have to keep in mind above the odd handling chacteristics is axle weight. it can really add up fast with out you realizing it, just something to keep in mind.

 

[Weaselracing]

I have a 2008 F350 4door short bed with a 24inch extension & use a adjustable hitch. I've never had any issues towing at all.

 

[sandorsnow]

I have a 2008 F350 4door short bed with a 24inch extension & use a adjustable hitch. I've never had any issues towing at all.

yet




I've seen hitch extensions cause some pretty bad damage. I wouldn't trust one with my life. Single axle open trailer, maybe, but not anything bigger. Check the load limits from the mfg, they seem like they're built like a tank, but they are for light duty only.


Have you thought about modding your sled deck on an angle so the skis are just over the cab? That would move a little weight further towards the front of the truck as well.

 

[Mafesto]

If you're hell bent on doing it, leave the truck hitch where it belongs & extend the trailer tongue.

 

[Weaselracing]

yet




I've seen hitch extensions cause some pretty bad damage. I wouldn't trust one with my life. Single axle open trailer, maybe, but not anything bigger. Check the load limits from the mfg, they seem like they're built like a tank, but they are for light duty only.


Have you thought about modding your sled deck on an angle so the skis are just over the cab? That would move a little weight further towards the front of the truck as well.

Supertruss/Superhitch is what i use - capacities @ 24 inch extensions are 7,500 lbs, and 14,000 lbs with weight distributing.

 

[bdoe22]

SUPERHITCH (OR SUPERTRUSS WHATEVER)

THE SUPERHITCH IS EXTREMELY STRONG AND DURABLE AND USES CHAINS TO TRIANGULATE THE EXTENTION. I BELIEVE THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR PICKUP WITH SLIDE IN CAMPERS PULLING HORSE TRAILERS. I WOULDNT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PULLING AN ENCLOSED WITH A DECK AS LONG AS THE TRUCK IS SETUP WITH TIMBRENS/AIRBAGS AND IS AT LEAST A ONE TON. IS IT AN IDEAL SETUP> PROLLY NOT, WILL IT WORK> ABSOLUTELY.

 

[rsoukup37]

yeah i have a tonner and air bags on it right now. but i cant seem to get a price for something like that and what it all consists of

 

[bdoe22]

parts

it consist of a "super" hitch which replaces the existing hitch on the truck. it has two receivers stacked on top of each other. the second item is the truss or hitch extension which has two inserts that slide into both of your new receivers. the third component is the chain and turnbuckles for the side support. you then would use your current solid hitch (hopefully solid) and weight distribution bars. my good friend has one of these (the f350 in the pic above) and uses it alot. he has a 11ft. s&s slide in camper and a large searay weekender that he tows all over. it is a very nice setup and i wouldnt hesistate to use this for your application.

 

[bdoe22]

another pic

pic of the setup loaded. one thing to remember is the weight ratings on the tires AND WHEELS!!!! the standard one ton wheels on this exact setup FAILED from overloading and luckily didn't cause an accident. The guy upgraded the tires/wheels (shown in the pic) to HANKOOK G rated commercial HEAVYDUTY setup.

 

[Mafesto]

Take a gallon of milk, you could hold it close to your body all day long without a problem.

Now hold this same gallon of milk with your arm straight out, seems alot heavier than it actually is, right?

This is the same theory of extending the hitch of a tow vehicle further away from the axle center.
Why do you think 5th wheel trailers are so desireable & tow so much better than a bumper hitch trailer of similar size?

Will it work? yes
Safely? Certainly not as safe as a properly located hitch.

To suggest otherwise is absolutely irresponsible & a dis-service to the individual who came on here asking for advice.

We increase the odds of having an accident simply by pulling a trailer with a proper set-up.
These odds are multiplied by johnny rigging your set-up, especially when you fully expect to experience icy roads & high winds.

 

[dragonryder800]

I run a 24" exstention with my sledd deck pulling a 22' v-nose enclosed,no prob.

 

[rsoukup37]

dragon where did you get the extension at.

 

[dragonryder800]

I got mine at my local trailer place,i think they make one size longer,i paid about $60 for it.And upgraded it with mud flapps to keep the road grime off my trailor works great! I also run air ride air bags to level my load and rancho rs 9000' to smooooth the ride,but keep in mind the load rating of your tires !!! And you will need to exstend the 7 pinn with a female and male end, about two feet,as far as loading with every thing hooked up, i can be done but is a hasle, i find it easyr to just load the deck first then hook up the trailor and if have long track be to spead them apart so you dont hit your trailor,hope this helps!

 

[rsoukup37]

i thought about doing the same thing but was just worried about the part that i dont know what the tongue weight would be with two sleds in the front of the trailer and two in the back with the enclosed. i havent tried to weight it yet but am thinking about taking it to my friends scale and doing it. do you have any issues with the tongue weight at all

 

[dragonryder800]

sounds like a good idea to weight it to see where you are at,i try to keep most of my weight closer to the axel as i can,i normaly run three sledds in the trailor plus gear, it pulls great! not sure what the tonge wait is!

 

[whitefish]

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