Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[Grumpycat]

Yes, of course. But what pickup truck capable of carrying a camper has a max hitch weight that low?

Round numbers, let’s say the receiver is 3 feet from rear axle, and a “normal” drop hitch extends that 1 foot, so 4 ft from axle to ball. Max tongue weight for a 2500 series pickup is 1500 - 2000 lb, depending on configuration (I used 2023 Ram 2500 chart).

If extending the ball another 3 feet, to 7 feet total, the equivalent moment would drop that rating down to 860 - 1100 lb., still way beyond the 300 lb rating of the bar itself.

This all ignores the weight of the camper itself, which must be taken into account as well. But the hitch itself is going to be fine with a small sailboat or waverunner trailer, having tongue weights 100 - 150 lb.

You are pretending the lever is from the axle. The Principle of Moments teaches us that a moment ("torque" in the popular vernacular) is the same all along the length of the beam.

300# applied 8" from the receiver is 125 ft-lbf of torque.

300# applied 36" from the receiver is 900 ft-lbf of torque.

 

[WinterDeere]

You are pretending the lever is from the axle. The Principle of Moments teaches us that a moment ("torque" in the popular vernacular) is the same all along the length of the beam.

300# applied 8" from the receiver is 125 ft-lbf of torque.

300# applied 36" from the receiver is 900 ft-lbf of torque.

Not pretending. I just know the receiver is not the weak link, in this equation. Tongue weight is limited by rear axle and suspension.

Your numbers are correct, but I have no concern the receiver will handle the said 900 ft-lb. After all, tongue weight rating is 1500 - 2000 lb., in the example I gave above, and in that they're accounting for typical receiver length.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

If extending the ball another 3 feet, to 7 feet total, the equivalent moment would drop that rating down to 860 - 1100 lb., still way beyond the 300 lb rating of the bar itself.

This all ignores the weight of the camper itself, which must be taken into account as well. But the hitch itself is going to be fine with a small sailboat or waverunner trailer, having tongue weights 100 - 150 lb.

With an 11'3" camper on my pickup I had to use the longest extension Reese offered. It was solid, so no real worries about strength, and I also triangulated to to the frame, in both planes.

Still, it was the Reese Dual Cam WD hitch that made it not only possible to tow a small trailer with my Jeep on it, it also made the whole thing handle better and took weight off of the rear axle.

 

[California]

I don't know that this is really hauling anything "wrong"... I took my truck in for service today and I pulled in right behind this guy.
What in the world would this be used for?

View attachment 878460

As noted, likely for a big camper.

But the same geometry exists on logging trucks to get the hitch swivel point far behind the drive axles.

The reason for this is to make the last axle, track wide around primitive tight curves in logging country. Ideally, precisely in the tire tracks of the truck. Instead of falling off the inside of the curve.

Here's an extreme example for long logs.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

But the same geometry exists on logging trucks to get the hitch swivel point far behind the drive axles.

The reason for this is to make the last axle, track wide around primitive tight curves in logging country. Ideally, precisely in the tire tracks of the truck. Instead of falling off the inside of the curve.

That was a nice side effect of the long extension I used. The trailer followed almost perfectly in the rear axle's tracks.

 

[WinterDeere]

But the same geometry exists on logging trucks to get the hitch swivel point far behind the drive axles.

I know I can't be the only one routinely backing up hay wagon style wagons, with a steerable front axle. I found this is pretty easy to do, if you move the hitch far aft of the rear axle, on your tractor. In my case, I put the hitch receiver on the back of my ballast box, and that works great.

Prior to realizing this, I tried to back up that trailer with the regular drawbar, mounted under the rear axle. Boy, was that ever an exercise in futility...

I suspect people who claim those wagons are difficult or impossible to back up, just haven't realized their hitch is too close to the rear of the tractor.

 

[masseyrider]

I know I can't be the only one routinely backing up hay wagon style wagons, with a steerable front axle. I found this is pretty easy to do, if you move the hitch far aft of the rear axle, on your tractor. In my case, I put the hitch receiver on the back of my ballast box, and that works great.

Prior to realizing this, I tried to back up that trailer with the regular drawbar, mounted under the rear axle. Boy, was that ever an exercise in futility...

I suspect people who claim those wagons are difficult or impossible to back up, just haven't realized their hitch is too close to the rear of the tractor.

A friend of mine owned a fairly large nursery.
They transported the potted evergreens on that type of trailer.
One of his offshore guys could backup 3 trailers at one time. Believe it or not I saw him do it.
I couldn't do that with a train of 3 regular trailers.
I can put 1 in with inches to spare on either side just aboot anywhere.
But 3 with a steerable front axle, not a chance.

 

[WinterDeere]

...just aboot anywhere.

Spoken like a true Canadian!

 

[masseyrider]

Spoken like a true Canadian!

Go love your brother, Eh!

 

[WinterDeere]