"Beefing" up the frame of our Filly

[LADYROWAN]

We would love to put a hitch on the frame of our Palomino pop up, but don't think the frame can hold the weight.   I'd like to use our 'hitch haul'....put in on the camper...and load it up with firewood (instead of loading up the back of the Explorer).  Are there any recomendations for strengthening the frame of our camper...or should we forget the idea completely???   :confused:

[mike4947]

Completely. Even if you reinforce the frame until it could take the cantilevered weight off the back end. The reinforcing would cause even more problems by taking more weight off the trailer tongue.

Check your tongue weight and trailer weight. If it's REALLY over 10% the amount over the 10% could possibly be used at the rear of the trailer on a pound for pound basis if the weight were at the same distance from the axle as the ball connector.
Figuring apx 40 pounds for the receiver, 50+ pounds for the rack, and then god only knows how much to reinforce the frame from the axle back at least, that's a lot of weight before you put on piece of wood one. Say only 20 pounds of reinforcing would mean apx 110 pounds taken off the trailer tongue not to mention adding 110 pounds to the trailer axle as well.

[tlhdoc]

Hi LADYROWAN and welcome to PUT.  I would not recommend putting weight on the back of the PU, because it will take weight off of the tongue and you should have 10% to 15% of the weight of the trailer on the tongue.

[NadMat]

Interesting thread, as I was wanting to add 2" reciever to back of my pu to hold bike carrier. As I am also planning on adding some weight at the front end, it looks like I should be ok and long as I keep the end tongue weight at 10 to 15 % of vehicle weight. I am assuming that would be vehicle weight after the mods. Another thing I am thinking about is to create an 'over the roof' carrier for a small RIB using supports that come up from rear bumper of pu and tongue of pu. Still looking into weight totals for RIB and engine, but figure if I keep the weight balanced properly I should be ok.
Thoughts and comments are appreciated, currently is only in design stage.

[mike4947]

Don't forget our PU's have limited CCC. Get the RV weight before getting to far with any plans on adding weight, no matter where you add it. The GAWR is usually right at or slightly lower than the weight rating of the two tires and exceeding the tire loading can be dangerous.

[wavery]

Interesting thread, as I was wanting to add 2" reciever to back of my pu to hold bike carrier. As I am also planning on adding some weight at the front end, it looks like I should be ok and long as I keep the end tongue weight at 10 to 15 % of vehicle weight. I am assuming that would be vehicle weight after the mods. Another thing I am thinking about is to create an 'over the roof' carrier for a small RIB using supports that come up from rear bumper of pu and tongue of pu. Still looking into weight totals for RIB and engine, but figure if I keep the weight balanced properly I should be ok.
Thoughts and comments are appreciated, currently is only in design stage.

You can figure about 84-150# for a small RIB. Outboards run from 23# for a 3HP to 75# for a 8-15HP (basically the same engine) heavier for 4 strokes.
http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/2006_inflatable_boat_comp_chart.pdf

[NadMat]

Don't forget our PU's have limited CCC. Get the RV weight before getting to far with any plans on adding weight, no matter where you add it. The GAWR is usually right at or slightly lower than the weight rating of the two tires and exceeding the tire loading can be dangerous.

Thanks for the tip, I am also thinking of replacing axle and suspension to give me more ground clearance and ability to use larger tires (would really like to go to 29X10.50 s on trailer, as am running 33X12.50s on 4 runner, but gotta look long and hard at other issues such as trailer jacks before deciding on that) so will look at increasing the GAWR thru that process as necessary. I am no trailer expert, but I have a buddy who is and has access to a manufacturing facility, so I plan on doing it right or not doing it.