Tongue weight reduction wheels

[284 International]

I have seen several RVs with some assembly like that on back, to tow large enclosed trailers. The hitches on a motorhome are weak, and the stresses of pulling an overloaded trailer can distort the body, and foul up the slides and cause other problems. A guy down the street has one of these: TrailerToad.com

He uses it behind a big motorhome to pull his race trailer. It seems less dangerous than some other designs I have seen.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would not say the hitch on a Motor Home is weak. Its the long distance from the rear axle to the rear bumper/hitch area. That creates a long arm and its forces applied from a trailers tongue weight can severely alter the handling characteristics.

Chris

 

[284 International]

I would not say the hitch on a Motor Home is weak.

I shouldn't have made such a blanket statement. Not every motorhome hitch is weak.

I have seen several hitches on motorhomes that are not strongly designed, and are insufficiently strong to handle loads well within the rig's GVWR and GCWR. The most egregious example is an uncle's motorhome on a Chevy C6500 chassis. It came from the coach builder with a 5000 pound rated hitch, though the tow rating for the chassis is several times that. After the first trip (to the gas station, thankfully) with a 4800 lb trailer (documented on scales) the hitch tube had bent several inches. Other family members have had similar experiences, though none as bad as this.

 

[homedad]

Actually, I don't think backing would be a problem...looks like it pins in the receiver to replace the ball mount, so it's basically a really long ball mount with its own wheels?

If it's rigid and the wheels are on the ground they will scrub sideways while turning the front wheels on the tow vehicle while backing. If it is a ball it will jack knife while backing. I've been towing a car (4 down) and a car on a dolly behind a motor home for years. You can back up but only straight and for a short distance before the trouble starts.

 

[JDgreen227]

I would not say the hitch on a Motor Home is weak. Its the long distance from the rear axle to the rear bumper/hitch area. That creates a long arm and its forces applied from a trailers tongue weight can severely alter the handling characteristics.

Chris

Concur with you there....my '94 Airstream 34' has a hitch on the rear that appears to be as strong as the OEM 6000 lb. weight carrying hitch on my GMC, but the MH hitch has a rating of only 2000 lbs although the MH is capable of towing 5000 lbs. according to the GCWR specs GM publishes. The prior owners towed a 3000 lb Saturn all the time (no brakes on the toad) but they never had any issues with the hitch. When I purchased the MH I told them they were overloading the hitch by at least 50% and they said "But the dealership who sold it to us said it was okay...."

 

[Viperdave]

what came to my mind was a product called tuff tow...

 

[PapaPerk]

I have seen several RVs with some assembly like that on back, to tow large enclosed trailers. The hitches on a motorhome are weak, and the stresses of pulling an overloaded trailer can distort the body, and foul up the slides and cause other problems. A guy down the street has one of these: TrailerToad.com

He uses it behind a big motorhome to pull his race trailer. It seems less dangerous than some other designs I have seen.

Wow what happens when you drive it through a dip in the road or into a drive way! Looks like a big bandaid to me for not having the right equipment.

 

[PapaPerk]

I would not say the hitch on a Motor Home is weak. Its the long distance from the rear axle to the rear bumper/hitch area. That creates a long arm and its forces applied from a trailers tongue weight can severely alter the handling characteristics.

Chris

Your avatar is about as factual as Paul Ryan! LOL! :laughing: :jump::rotfl::sarcastic::sarcastic::sarcastic:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Your avatar is about as factual as Paul Ryan! LOL! :laughing: :jump::rotfl::sarcastic::sarcastic::sarcastic:

I guess the truth hurts?

I have plenty more liberal border line communist ones I can post but feel its unnecessary since we get a full dose of it via the Obama loving liberal media.

Chris

 

[PapaPerk]

I guess the truth hurts?

I have plenty more liberal border line communist ones I can post but feel its unnecessary since we get a full dose of it via the Obama loving liberal media.

Chris

I'm sure there's many on here greatful to still have a job at GM. GM is too large to fail and an asset to the country and it's security. Is it the best scenario for the gov to own 26% of GM? No. Is it best for long term stability?... yes. Was GM poorly run? Absolutely!