Moving 26' 5th wheel camper with a loader/backhoe

Darryl N · Mar 28, 2023

I think pin weight is less than 1600. Bucket lift spec is 1800. I dont' want to buy a stupid adapter. I'm thinking I will wrap a 3/8 chain tight around the pin and box, then tie that to the bucket with a 30k web strap. Tires are liquid filled and the backhoe is 1200 including subframe. New Kioti CK2610. Backing it into a garage, no more than 100', smooth flat ground.

Anybody done this? Pics?

grsthegreat · Mar 28, 2023

I just mounted a ball on top of bucket

jb1390 · Mar 28, 2023

Darryl N said:
I think pin weight is less than 1600. Bucket lift spec is 1800. I dont' want to buy a stupid adapter. I'm thinking I will wrap a 3/8 chain tight around the pin and box, then tie that to the bucket with a 30k web strap. Tires are liquid filled and the backhoe is 1200 including subframe. New Kioti CK2610. Backing it into a garage, no more than 100', smooth flat ground.

Anybody done this? Pics?

Not sure that's going to work out great with your size machine. You'll need to lift, and push, so pin weight is only part of what you need to overcome. At least if it's on flat ground, I don't think you'll be in serious danger of hurting anything, I'd be extremely cautious around hills.

I lift and move my goosenecks all the time with my machine, just using chain, but my machine is a fair amount heavier, and the goosenecks don't weigh more than 5k empty.

You might be able to rig up a hitch using a piece of wood or two, hole saw, then strap that down to the top of your loader bucket. Or set the wood inside your bucket if you have the depth to clear the hitch. You don't need to strap the camper to keep it from lifting, only enough to prevent side to side and forward to back motion, which a piece of wood with a hole would do if fastened well enough.

But if it were mine, I'd move it with a truck.

If you do try it though, go slow, don't lift the jacks very much off the ground, and be sure to update us on how it goes.

grsthegreat · Mar 28, 2023

My tractor lifts 2700#, on yours, id try lifting the trailer up with bucket to make sure it can even lift it before you make anything.

on mine i added a welded on 1/4” plate so i can add some stronger hook points for chain attachments, then i drilled a 1” hole and added a 2-5/16 ball. I can move my 30 foot horse trailer very easily and maneuver it into shed.
the shed is only 5” wider than trailer, so have to be precise.

Darryl N · Mar 28, 2023

I looked up the trailer weights: dry 7235, payload 2565, hitch 1310 max. Cargo is only about 1000 lb, so figure 8500 lb gross.

Tractor is 5900 lb with everything attached and rear tires filled.

jb1390 · Mar 28, 2023

grsthegreat said:
My tractor lifts 2700#, on yours, id try lifting the trailer up with bucket to make sure it can even lift it before you make anything.

on mine i added a welded on 1/4” plate so i can add some stronger hook points for chain attachments, then i drilled a 1” hole and added a 2-5/16 ball. I can move my 30 foot horse trailer very easily and maneuver it into shed.
the shed is only 5” wider than trailer, so have to be precise.

He has a 5th wheel though, not a GN, they connect differently. It's not quite as simple for something permanent. The advice to try lifting it first is good. Should be able to use the top lip of the bucket to lift on the plate, then push on the kingpin.

grsthegreat · Mar 28, 2023

Ahh, ive never owned a 5th wheel….only goosenecks. Have no idea how those work

azbinder · Mar 28, 2023

5th wheel trailers use a "kingpin" similar to a semi trailer. You may be able to fabricate a mount for the top of your loader bucket using a piece of flat steel with a piece of pipe welded to it as a socket for the "kingpin" to set in.

Farmer495 · Mar 28, 2023

Backing into a garage? I'd move with the truck, mirrors and the regular secure hitch. Only way I'd personally consider moving with TLB would be if the truck wasn't available and the trailer had to be moved asap.

Smaller TLB and 5th wheel I have visions of the loader lifting it ok, start moving it ok but then having the rear end lift and cause an incident resulting in damage to trailer and/or tractor. The trailer will keep rolling whether all the tractor wheels are on the ground or not.

Tinhack · Mar 28, 2023

See this thread for some ideas.

grsthegreat · Mar 28, 2023

i back 4 different trailers with my tractor. have 1000# ballast box installed if no rear implement on tractor. have never lifted rear off the ground. i like the persist control i have with moving trailer into storage shop using tractor over truck and mirrors 1000%.

heres the horse trailer. i have 2" clearance in rear of trailer and 3" in front to allow door to come down. have never hit wall.

grsthegreat · Mar 28, 2023

i saw someone make this doing a search. same idea

Kioti Dave · Mar 28, 2023

grsthegreat said:
i saw someone make this doing a search. same idea

View attachment 791616

I like that idea. More secure. Make sure the weld holds.

WranglerX · Mar 28, 2023

You would be foolish to try to use "micky mouse" hook up.... Use a real 5th wheel hitch or don't do anything.... Nephews back bumper of his Toyota has a imprint for tie down points on rear of a car carrier trailer because it got away from a stupid lashups of clamp on hitch and no way to secure safety chains... All the tractor operator could do was watch it happen, it happened fast and no time to stop the incident from happening....

aircommuter · Apr 17, 2023

Sounds risky by weight. Flat ground helps. Maybe the pipe like pictured with an electrical connection to power to activate the trailer brakes.

Shenandoah MF1760 · Apr 17, 2023

grsthegreat said:
i saw someone make this doing a search. same idea

View attachment 791616

Interesting idea, but I'd add some stiffeners to the sides and back.

dcarman · Apr 17, 2023

Darryl N said:
I think pin weight is less than 1600. Bucket lift spec is 1800. I dont' want to buy a stupid adapter. I'm thinking I will wrap a 3/8 chain tight around the pin and box, then tie that to the bucket with a 30k web strap. Tires are liquid filled and the backhoe is 1200 including subframe. New Kioti CK2610. Backing it into a garage, no more than 100', smooth flat ground.

Anybody done this? Pics?

The tractor is to small for this job. You need about double that weight.

NUTTERDW · Apr 17, 2023

Kioti Dave said:
I like that idea. More secure. Make sure the weld holds.

I moved my sons fifth wheel trailer in and out of my pole barn for years with my loader. We mounted a cheap fifth wheel hitch on top of the bucket and would unbolt it when we were through. Our reason was that his front air conditioner would not clear the door, so we had to lower the front of the trailer down to clear. My tractor would lift 3000 lbs on the end loader but it still seemed real heavy hanging on the bucket. Tongue weight was supposed to be 2000 lbs. Never had an issue though.

ch1ch2 · Apr 18, 2023

Flat ground should be ok but think about the trailer pushing the FL left or right on a hill or turning with momentum. The weight of the trailer could be more side force than the tractor can handle.

not2old · Apr 18, 2023

I move my 25' 5th wheel with my GC2610TLB frequently and use some dollies on the wheels to be able to park it close to a wall for winter storage inside. I have some adapters I made with a "cup" near the top edge of the bucket similar to the picture in post #12. but without the locking bolt. My trailer has pin weight of about 800# and my loader will lift it. I'm on level ground so don't worry about brakes. A neighbour needed to move his 5th after building a residence and didn't leave enough room to get a pickup attached. His was a 30' model and my tractor wouldn't lift the front until two men stood on the rear bumper and I was able to move it to a position where the truck could attach,