[updated:LAST EDITED ON 18-Jan-02 AT 10:20 PM (EST)]1. What's the difference between a gooseneck trailer and a 5th wheel?

2. I used, while in the Army years ago, a "trailer" that was nothing more than a king pin plate (corect term??) hooked onto a dually axle that hitched up to my 10K articulating steer forklift. I used it move semi trailers around the "yard". Ever seen one or something like it? It would allow me to be able to tow a 5th wheel trailer with my X. (It's just a wild thought. )

You know I had another strange question but seem to have forgotten what it was....

 

A 5th wheel has a plate and hookup for a trailer with a kingpin and plate. In order to unhook a 5th wheel, theres usually a pull bar that releases the king pin lock. A good bit of grease should always be used on the 5th wheel to prevent friction between the plates. A gooseneck is a hitch ball in the back of a pickup bed. They call it a gooseneck cuz the part of the trailer that hitches turns down and is shaped kinda like the neck of a goose. There's a reciever that hooks onto the ball and has a lock like a regular bumper hitch.

 

Monsta, I think what your talking about is what we call a dolly.
It allows a tractor with a trailer to hook a second trailer. The dolly hooks on the first trailer with a pintle hitch, the dolly has dual wheels , brakes, lights and hitch (5th wheel), now you just back the unit under the second trailer- lock in, pull up your landing gear and go as long as your air is hooked...
I saw an American in Elk Lake Ontario during the fall and he had a custom frame hitch off the rear of his Ford with a custom bumper and had a goose neck attached there, it looked to be about 4,000lbs of trailer. I didn't think I'd want this set-up but it worked.

 

Thanks to both of you for your replies! I'm much wiser now. I also remember what my other question was...

While travelling across country this summer, I saw a lot guys pullin TWO trailers at a time. Like a TT and boat hooked up together! Is this common practice for guys who live out west? I've never seen anyone do it here in the Northeast.

And if YOU do it. How in the world do you back up???

 

Monsta, I see this practice everyday here in Nevada. It is not uncommon. You do have to get a CDL to be legal though. I'm not sure what rating.

Les

 

Monsta, the setup you describe (the dolly behind your X, trailer hooked to the dolly) would be very difficult to back. A regular semi only has one pivot point, the king pin. To make the trailer go left, steer to the right, etc. Your setup is going to have 2 pivot points: the connection of the dolly to your X, and the king pin of the trailer. This would be a royal pain to back up! Think about it and I'm sure you'll see why. The double semi trailers you see going down the road don't get backed. They get to the terminal and get unhooked, then backed separately. If you do go this route, a word of caution: NEVER unhook the dolly from your X with the 5th wheel still attached to the dolly! The tow bar can fly up with tremendous force and it won't care if your in the way or not! Just some thoughts from a guy with a class "A" CDL.

 

Monsta;

What you are describing with 2 trailers is allowed as long as the first trailer is a 5th wheel. Here in Michigan, as long as you keep it under 49ft long, you don't need any permits. Over 49ft you need a CDL-A. I've got one and checked with Mi. St. Police for the ruling. I pull a 27ft 5-er and a 16ft Boat. Lots of fun at the lakes.

Jim

 

>Monsta, the setup you describe (the dolly behind your X,
>trailer hooked to the dolly) would be very difficult to
>back. A regular semi only has one pivot point, the king pin.
>To make the trailer go left, steer to the right, etc. Your
>setup is going to have 2 pivot points: the connection of the
>dolly to your X, and the king pin of the trailer. This would
>be a royal pain to back up! Think about it and I'm sure
>you'll see why. The double semi trailers you see going down
>the road don't get backed. They get to the terminal and get
>unhooked, then backed separately. If you do go this route, a
>word of caution: NEVER unhook the dolly from your X with the
>5th wheel still attached to the dolly! The tow bar can fly
>up with tremendous force and it won't care if your in the
>way or not! Just some thoughts from a guy with a class "A"
>CDL.

No I wouldn't do this...there's really no need to, I just had a wild thought as stated before. However, I can tell you from experience that it is much easier to back a trailer with the 2 pivot points. But then again, I was doing it with a articulated-steering, 10K capacity, rough-terrain Army forklift. Since it "steered in the middle" I could easily dictate where the dolly would point. I guess I'll wait till they make an X with articulated steering.

 

Monsta:
The reason you don't see tandem RV/Boat trailer combos here in the east is that it's illegal in most states east of the Mississippi. It's ok in TN and possibly SC. That doesn't do me any good starting in GA and heading to FL or up your way to visit family in NY and NE. I'd also be over my GCVW with trailers that each weigh 7000+ lbs.
It would look pretty neat though, towing with the F350 and both trailers I'd be close to 90' long and have 7 axles/14 tires on the ground and have a combined weight of nearly 21,000 lbs. :7 Cool!

 

>Monsta:
>The reason you don't see tandem RV/Boat trailer combos here
>in the east is that it's illegal

Too bad...It woulda solved the; "How do I take the four-wheelers camping with us when I don't have a bed on my Excursion?" question. :-(

 

That's an easy question Monsta.... Toy Hauler trailer!

 

Taking it all with you ... get yourself a "monstah" flatbed trailer and drive everything up on THAT.
Tandem trailer setups = wiggle wagons.

 

Need a trailer that hauls a 4 wheeler. Check this one out. I saw it at an RV show

http://www.keystone-goshen.com/tailgator.html

 

>>>"How do I take the four-wheelers camping with us when I don't have a bed on my Excursion?" question. :-(

You could always do what my brother-in-law does--he has a Ford F250 that he pulls the 5th wheel with, and his wife pulls a trailer with the ATV's on it. Good excuse to get a pickup truck ("This way, dear, you get to drive the Excursion").

I have doubled up before--a utility trailer with the ATV's hooked behind my travel trailer. I did it for one trip, and it wasn't even close to fun. Hard to keep track of that second trailer, and if the roads were the least bit slippery, you would really be hazardous.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-Jan-02 AT 12:50 PM (EST)]>Need a trailer that hauls a 4 wheeler. Check this one out.
>I saw it at an RV show
>
>http://www.keystone-goshen.com/tailgator.html

Thanks V10man! Good idea! And look, Cmprspecial even provided a link to get me started.

Cmprspecial,
Thanks for the link. We got another RV show going on here in Boston this week (I think) I'll go see if they got one on display. That space is useful even if I don't take the 4-wheelers!
Thanks!

Pullin' a flat bed will surely get some stares!

Although getting another truck sounds like fun too. But I'D get the Excursion! I'd get her a SuperCrew...