http://youtu.be/b734eSPO1gI

 

Many states have combination vehicle length limits so this may not be legal. Would the state consider it to be a double trailer?

 

Darn. I showed my wife a picture of he Ex pulling a fifth wheel and now she wants one and she is looking at the website.

 

Fifth wheel type floorplan without the added cost and other issues/questions with the ASH/Hitch Buddy and without the extra height, weight and wind drag of a 5er. As long as you aren't looking for and actual second bedroom.
2016 Eagle Travel Trailers 338RETS | Jayco, Inc.
Our '14 is a little different than what's shown there, we opted for the dinette and two Denver tri-fold sofas. Quality is pretty darn good for a TT, our only issues since new have been a torn bulb gasket and leaky LP pigtails, both replaced under warranty without any issues.

 

I am reviving this older thread. I looked at the website and the You Tubes on the hitch dolly, looks interesting.

We love our Ex, it is paid for and has a place for the dogs. We look at the price of new F450s and have trouble swallowing $75 Grand. Heck, I could buy one of the dollies, replace the engine in the Ex and still not be at half the cost of a new truck.

My question would be the weight the Ex has to pull, not carry with a fifth wheel and the dolly, my DW wants a Grand Designs 42 footer

 

No reason you need a $75,000 truck, buy an F-series 6.0 and sell the Ex, probably won't cost you anything. The dolly will possibly require a driver's license change to allow dual trailers (tho dollies might be exempt) and backing with it will probably be quite challenging. Also, I believe that the max legal length is 65' so between the Ex and the dolly it'll leave very little for the trailer.

 

Did you read this thread? . That fiver dolly attaches at three points to the tow vehicle and does not pivot, its axle has passive steering so it is considered a vehicle extension, not an additional trailer. And backing with one is a non issue, just like normal backing because of it not pivoting.
Max legal length varies by state with 55' being the shortest and I think over 75' in a few states. Fivers tend to be heavy and have greater aero drag so dragging one with one of those hitches would be considerably more taxing to an EX than even the biggest TT would.

 

Considering that it's a vehicle extension, but not additional load (weight) on the X, I'd imagine you could crank up the towed weight a bit. You'd have to contact the local DMV (or BMV) to see what they allow as far as a total weight. Pin weight shouldn't be an issue, and if there's brakes on the dolly (can't remember, but I bet it has them), you're only really limited to how much physical weight the X can move safely, and more importantly stop safely.

I'd contact the dolly maker and see what they say and then take that info to the DMV and see what they say. There has to be some standard for it I would think. In any case, you're looking at roughly 15K unloaded weight on a 5th wheel that large, and add another 5K to get to GVWR, so plan on 20K as a starting point. Plus the weight of the dolly. I'd say you're at 25K pretty easy by the time its all said and done.

 

Tom is correct it is a vehicle extension.

Safety Towing Systems, Inc. ? Now Manufacturing the Automated Safety Hitch System.

Braking will actually be a little better because there are 2 extra wheels with brakes. Tom is correct in thinking 5th wheel surface area is increased. A pickup with a 5th wheel has the truck to help deflect air. An Excursion will deflect some but it looks like to me air would swirl down to the lower half of the fifth wheel causing drag. A roof wing in the EX might help but that would take up valuable kayak hauling room..

As for the length, any time I cross the MD line with my car or travel trailer I am over limit, I believe they are 55 feet, NC is 65 and I am close to that.

Before doing something like a dolly I will have to research and talk to owners, especially those who live in the East and pull the Appalachians. It does concern me that it will be too much weight (over 26,000 lbs)

I admire the inventor's idea, who knows it may actually be a good alternative being pin weight seems to be the major issue when pulling a fifth wheel. It would definitely allow for a pickup owner to use the truck bed for a golf cart.

 

I inquired about the system, yes, it is about $12,000. I spoke with Mr Jamison. You buy the unit and go to Texas to pick it up. When you get there they remove the factory hitch, clean and modify it for two additional bars to connect. They paint and reinstall the hitch. He described the unit as being an additional fixed axle to the truck, making it a tandem. The unit is equipped with F250 disk brakes. All of the weight goes on the dolly, the truck basically just pulls. The dolly and trailer handle their own braking, the truck does its own thus increasing the stopping ability by 50%. Turning radius is cut down because the unit can jack-knife the trailer to where the tires are spun in place.
He owned a 2004 Ex and designed the system because of it. He states that in increases towing capacity to 21,000 lbs. My concern at that point is the engine and drivetrain being stressed. The dolly weighs around 1500 lbs, the factory Ex GCWR is 20,000. He states that manufacturers really can't give a true GCWR because you can tow more than what is stated.
The DOT considers the unit to be a towing aid. As for length he sort of kicked it aside saying that if used commercially it may be a problem but not recreationally.

What are your thoughts?

 

My thoughts are "Holy crap, that is expensive!"
Keep the EX and shop for a large quality TT with the features (or at least most of those features) that are driving you look at fivers. With ours the only thing we are really missing out on is the basement storage the fivers offer vs what we have in the TT. Our TT floor plan was built by Jayco as a fiver prior to them building a TT version.
We will be shopping for fivers in a few years along with a dual wheel truck as we plan to hit the road full timing for a few years and doing that with a 17+ year old truck just doesn't seem like the best option for us.

 

My personal recommendation is to get a truck to tow the fifthwheel and keep the excursion. Last camping trip I drove the F450 with the camper and the wife followed in the excursion. BEST IDEA EVER. (not my idea sous talked me into it)

 

Sounds great for shorter trips but kind of a drag for longer farther adventures.

 

I don't think I will be going this route because the Ex is not designed to pull a rig that big and all I have in my mind is pulling Fancy Gap or Old Fort Mountain being too heavy. I wanted to bring out the discussion because it is an interesting concept. The owner of the company has a vision that the future of towing will rely on one of these dolly's because of the safety factor and lighter weight tow vehicles. He may not be wrong. A few years back the Hensley and ProPrides were unknown but now they are more common place.

 

While it's a really neat concept, and I really, really, like it, I don't think I'd use it for camping (5th wheel). I'd agree with Tom in that TT's these days have some really great floor plans that at least rival the 5th wheels out there.

Having said that, using it for a gooseneck trailer for hauling equipment, or even a gooseneck box trailer, I could really get behind (in front of?).

21K total weight behind the X, if properly equipped (proper gearing, drivetrain and engine in great condition, etc, etc), would be a stretch I think, but could be done. Certainly for trips around town or even short state trips. Not sure I'd want to pull the continental divide with that much weight.

Very interesting piece of equipment for sure.