Towing options for a Kenworth T2

[cjtinkle]

Okay, looks like we're going to go ahead with the John Deere 4320 purchase, loader, brush hog, grapple... backhoe undecided yet. We'll need a flatbed trailer, but this is going to be too much for our 1/2 ton Dodge to tow. Our only other option is our T2, which doesn't haven't a gooseneck as it's been converted to haul our RV (32k lb 5th wheel hitch).

We prefer a ball hitch so we can use the trailer with the Dodge for other things, so does anyone know if there's a ball type recieve that can be added to a semi tractor?

 

[Bird]

It might require a little fabrication and welding, but it's not that unusual. Mobile (manufactured) home movers have ball hitches that are usually NOT the 2" receivers, but other trucks that move oversized loads and need a pilot car are frequently equipped with hitches so the pilot car can be towed instead of driven, and the pilot car driver can ride in the truck, on the return trip.

 

[wushaw]

TJ all you need is a goosneck adapter like this one.Putnam

The GN hitch needs to be square instead of round and if you have the Trailersaver air hitch or one that doesn't have a means to keep the hitch from raising up too high then you need to make sure the trailer has some kind of jacks in the rear to keep the trailer from lifting up on the hitch and ripping the airbags up.

 

[cjtinkle]

I'll have my husband take a peek at that thanks. I'd still prefer a ball hitch though, so we could use the trailer with our 1/2 ( I don't want to install a hitch in it).

 

[Builder]

Can't you weld a pintle plate to the rear frame of the truck, then bolt a hitch to it?

I've done that on several trucks including my current dumptruck. These pictures don't show the hitch up close, but you get the idea from them:

 

[Lynkage]

We are fabbing a receiver hitch to my dump truck as well. should be starting in the next few days. I will post pics as well. Currently I have a 40k pintle hitch and would like to have a receiver hitch as well. This way I can tow any of my other trailers.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I see truck tractors with fifth wheels pulling goosenecks via a ball adapter that locks into the fifth wheel jaws. They look like a round plate with what must be a kingpin underneath and a reinforced ball on top.

I don't know if these are custom fabbed or commercially available or if someone makes them for an RV style fifth wheel hitch or not.

With a gooseneck, it seems to me the kingpin tube may be stressful on your hitch inverse to a ball hitch being hard on an RV pinbox.

 

[Builder]

We are fabbing a receiver hitch to my dump truck as well. should be starting in the next few days. I will post pics as well. Currently I have a 40k pintle hitch and would like to have a receiver hitch as well. This way I can tow any of my other trailers.

I am moving up to a 40 ton pintle and I would like a removeable smaller hitch tube installed with it. I need air to the back with glad hands as well. No more electric brakes for me!

Lynkage, did you buy that dump truck?

 

[KubotaSteve]

I remember when my parents had a house trailer moved to their summer place, a guy with a big rig moved it for them. He had to order a special piece to hook to his rig so he could hook up to the 2 5/16" ball type tongue on house trailer. I wasn't there but dad was telling me about it.

 

[cjtinkle]

I know it's doable, I've seen others. I just wasn't sure if there might be an existing product already available that we could weld onto the frame. I should probably be having my husband do this part of the research, I am SO not mechanically inclined!

Exactly like L39's dump truck setup, that's what I'm looking for. We dont want to modify the 5th wheel or get an adaptor for it, 90% of the usage for the flatbed will be with our baby Dodge, so a ball hitch is what we'd like to add to the T2.