What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

[Ripsnort]

So far, I've only found one manufacturer of an aftermarket Class IV hitch with a 36" extension (I need the clearance, as I'll have a 11 ft. slide in camper on my F250 HD) that being Torklifts Superhitch. Are there other manufacturers of the same type hitch or possibly other options?<br /><br />Also, can anyone recommend some quality, frame-mounted camper tie downs?<br /><br />Torklift here in Kent, WA, wants approx. $1000 for both the camper tie downs (frame mounted, spring loaded, and turn-buckles and hardware) as well as a Super hitch with the 36" extension. Seems high to me, but what do I know? I'm transgressing from towing a trailer, to towing a boat with a camper....<br /><br />Advanced thanks!

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

With that much of an extension you are gonna have to have a light tongue weight. Iy sounds as if the truck will handle it, just a lot of extended weight. Make sure to mount whatever you use extemely well with grade 8 bolts and plenty of them.

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Thanks for the reply. Another fellow on the Ford Truck forums mentioned he added some air bag assists to the springs, roughly $295, to adjust the level so the truck would handle better. Damn, I didn't expect to plunk down roughly $1400 just transgress from towing a trailer to slide in camper towing a boat! AH well, the financial burden of family fun!

 

[Bigfun]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

what about extending the trailer tongue, maybe an adj. one?

 

[kd6nem]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Is that SuperHitch anything like an EZ-lift hitch? If so that would explain the expense and how you might get away with that much extension. Hitches like these not only are very well made but move the effective "center" of attachment farther forward. This and through the use of springy rods going all the way back to the trailer the tongue weight becomes less critical. These can really help distribute the load better for the towing vehicle's sake.

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Originally posted by Bearcat Powered:<br />Is that SuperHitch anything like an EZ-lift hitch? {snip}... through the use of springy rods going all the way back to the trailer the tongue weight becomes less critical. These can really help distribute the load better for the towing vehicle's sake.

Superhitch looks like this, is this what you're describing above?<br />

<br /><br />Bigfun Yeah, considered that option too, but I wanted to be able to easily unhitch the trailer from the camper once the boats in the water. It'd be a PITA to crawl under 3 ft. of Camper overhang off the back of the truck.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Hard to tell from a single picture, but if that is all there is to it that is NOT anything like an EAZ lift load equalizing hitch. Sure is long, though. Almost scary. How much tongue weight is that rated for? Not much I bet! Adding tongue length won't help anything unless maybe the camper sits way up above the height of the receiver.<br /><br />Hey, here's a novel approach! Ever see those front bumper ball mounts folks like for maneuvering and launching? Are you any good at backing that camper down the road at high speeds using only your mirrors?.... Oh well, bad idea I guess....

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Specs:<br />

<br />~Dual Receiver with compression tube <br />~Extension Towing Capacity up to 10000 lbs <br />~Designed for up to 12' campers <br />~The only towing system designed specifically for truck and campers <br /><br />Super Hitch with:<br />

(Pull Weight / Tongue weight)<br />28" extension 10,000LBS / 1,000LBS <br />36" extension 6,500LBS / 650LBS <br />

Tongue Weight on our boat and trailer would be 200 lbs. max. Pulling weight would be roughly 3400 lbs.<br /><br />LOL at the front hitch idea

 

[kd6nem]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

The draw weight rating doesn't surprise me at all, but the tongue weight does. I saw the "compression tube", but just seems like it should put an awful lot of twisting moment on the mount itself where it attaches to the vehicle and on the cross piece. Of course that is just my unqualified eyeball assessment of a picture. At a third of the rated tongue weight you should be just fine. Can we assume that the spare tire is still accessable after this is installed? Or do you have to go with one of the front grill mounts? (Not that I'd care to crawl that far under to pull a tire out out from under there!)

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Originally posted by Bearcat Powered:<br />The draw weight rating doesn't surprise me at all, but the tongue weight does. I saw the "compression tube", but just seems like it should put an awful lot of twisting moment on the mount itself where it attaches to the vehicle and on the cross piece. Of course that is just my unqualified eyeball assessment of a picture. At a third of the rated tongue weight you should be just fine. Can we assume that the spare tire is still accessable after this is installed? Or do you have to go with one of the front grill mounts? (Not that I'd care to crawl that far under to pull a tire out out from under there!)

Good question!

 

[ISLANDS19]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

I got the same problem as you... after experimenting myself a rig like this with a 1750 lbs trailer and boat, and 50 pounds on the tongue, i am ready to bid a lot of bucks that you never ride more than 1000 miles withou loosing your boat and trailer. Except if you drive 25 mph on a velvet road. the frame of my f-350 have been bent by a boat weighting half of your. I am actually building a new hitch that will be fixed 2 foot long on both side of the frame,and joined by a 5x5 crossmember, its shur that the 2 or 2.5x2.5 cross piece showed ther will not resist the twisting motion for a long ride. <br />this gadget looks like bull.... for me!

 

[ISLANDS19]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Looking further at the specifications. They are really foolish.. Do you imagine what a f250 with 650 pounds, 36 inches away from the rear of the box will look like? You will be lucky if the front wheels already touch the ground! I hope you have a Crew cab and a big diesel to couterbalance this!!!

 

[Bigfun]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

This is how I saw it done once. Extended tr. tongue added a wheeled tongue stand. Tohitch and unhitch he pulled the receiver pin leaving the ball with the trailer.

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Originally posted by Bigfun:<br />This is how I saw it done once. Extended tr. tongue added a wheeled tongue stand. Tohitch and unhitch he pulled the receiver pin leaving the ball with the trailer.

AHA! There is it! Whoop! Right on! I knew you guys would be a wealth of information!~ Excellent! <br /><br />Now, off to the web to find such a trailer. Thanks!~

 

[Ripsnort]

Re: What other options do I have for trailering a boat with a camper?

Update:<br />EZ Loader said depending on the trailer number, they do come in optional extention lengths for the tongue! I called Puget Marina and they're going to get in touch and see what type of extension length they can get for me, for this particular boat. I'll find out later.<br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />Edit: Extended trailer tongue- $100 more. Gives me 24" more for a total of 5 feet from the point where the wince bar rests to the ball hitch. My overhang on the camper is 32" so I should be good to go.