Dolly Trailer to hold Tongue Weight

[edwardr132]

I can't find it.  I saw it when doing research on something else.  It cost around 2 grand or so, but now can't find it.  Wonder if anybody knows what I am talking about.

It is a two wheeled "dolly" is the best way to describe it.  the tires are around 12" or 13" tires.  the front of the trailer/popup attaches to it and it attaches to the 2" receiver on the TV.  I thought it could be a "perfect" solution to handle tongue weight issues.  Then the TV has no tongue weight to deal with.  With it on, I believe you can then "load the Tongue Weight of the Popup" pretty "huge" like adding a full size truck box if you want and with the weight distributed over "4 tires", no worries then.....

I know I didn't go crazy.  I know I saw it on the web.   :eyecrazy:

Anyway, if someone knows what I am talking about and can find the link that would be really great!

[beacher]

I remember visiting the website and seeing the pictures.  It was kind of like the dolly in the movie The Long, Long Trailer.

Didn't the video on the website show a 5th wheel trailer being towed by a 2' ball hitch?

In the trucking world the large semi tractor sized unit is called a converter dolly:


IIR the one for RV connected to the TV at two points, making backing up easier/possible.

[copcarguy]

edwardr132 - I know what you're talking about.  It was a super heavy duty dolly / sway control thingy.  The dolly went in the hitch, and the trailer went on the dolly.  I am going nuts trying to find it for you.  I remember it having two 8 inch tires.  
 
beacher - the video I think you're talking about would let you tow a 5th wheel with a bumper pull hitch.  I remember seeing that video too.

[copcarguy]

I FOUND IT!!
 
The "Trailer Toad":
 
http://www.rvsupplywarehouse.com/product/detail.cfm/nid/221/pid/3177
 
_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
 
beacher - I think you were talking about this??  http://www.digisys.net/bics/

[wavery]

I'll bet that backing up would be fun :-()

I think that I would buy a bigger TV before I'd spend $3K on that silly thing. :eyecrazy:

[edwardr132]

Thanks copcarguy!   You have restored my sanity  :-()

I was thinking that would be "perfect" for Minivans.  One of the biggest problems with Minivans and other smaller SUV's is not the "towing part".  The 6 cylinder engines and the transmissions should be able to handle them just fine.  It is the tongue weight I was thinking is the first limiting factor in only having a 3,500lb tow capacity limit versus say 4,500lbs.

[mountainrev]

I'll bet that backing up would be fun

I second that!  Years ago, I towed a vehicle from Texas to Wisconsin behind a U-Haul van using a U-Haul tow dolly.  If I recall correctly, we were instructed to leave the ignition in the on position (although the engine was shut off) so that the steering wheel remained unlocked.  In effect, this made for two separate pivot points when backing up:  the ball on the hitch, and the movement of the car on the dolly via the unlocked steering.

I had to back into a few tight spots along the way, and it was nearly impossible for me to figure out how to do it.  I would think this Trailer Toad thingy would be 10x worse.  Sort of like those rigs we see on the Interstate consisting of a fifth-wheel pulling a jet ski.  Fine when going straight down the road, but I would think next to impossible to back up.

[ScoobyDoo]

I can't see any problem backing other than the sideload it would put on the TV when turnning sharp. It looks like the front of the dolly pins into the reciver in place of the ballmount. The pivot on the ball would be a long way behind the axle so a turn of the steering wheel will make more change in the front of trailer. BUT if the trailer ever sways then the extra length will cause more input side-to-side on the TV.  you will have a double handful of seat and both hands on the steering wheel!

[AustinBoston]

I can't see any problem backing other than the sideload it would put on the TV when turnning sharp. It looks like the front of the dolly pins into the reciver in place of the ballmount. The pivot on the ball would be a long way behind the axle so a turn of the steering wheel will make more change in the front of trailer. BUT if the trailer ever sways then the extra length will cause more input side-to-side on the TV.  you will have a double handful of seat and both hands on the steering wheel!

Actually, I would expect it to be very difficult to sway with this thing.  Why?  The "rear axle", in this case, is the dolly's axle.  The hitch point is directly over that axle, much like a 5th-wheel.  Ever see a 5th-wheel sway?  Well, getting this thing to sway (and affect the tow vehicle) would require the dolley wheels to loose traction.

I have seen much smaller and less expensive dolleys that work the same for hundreds rather than thousands.  And these do work.  It doesn't increase the tow rating, just teh tongue weight rating.  You still can't tow a 4,000 lb. trailer with a minivan.

If you've ever seen "The Long, Long Trailer" with Luceile Ball (sp), if you watch carefully, you can just catch a glimpse of one of these in a copule of the shots.

I seem to recall discussion the last time these came up about how many axles you pay for at toll booths.  I don't recall whether the question had a definitive answer.

Austin

[fallsrider]

I can't see any problem backing other than the sideload it would put on the TV when turnning sharp. It looks like the front of the dolly pins into the reciver in place of the ballmount. The pivot on the ball would be a long way behind the axle so a turn of the steering wheel will make more change in the front of trailer. BUT if the trailer ever sways then the extra length will cause more input side-to-side on the TV.  you will have a double handful of seat and both hands on the steering wheel!

I think you're right. It looks like the dolly wheels are steerable, thus allowing the dolly to follow the TV around turns, etc. Therefore, backing up would be no more difficult than normal.

[ScoobyDoo]

Ever see a 5th-wheel sway? Well, getting this thing to sway (and affect the tow vehicle) would require the dolley wheels to loose traction.


   Never saw a 5er sway, but using something like what "beacher" pictured yes. ( one thing a rookie at pulling triples is told "Don't look in your mirror when on the 'pike")
   If the wheels on the Dolley pivot to follow the TV, that would elimanate the sideload strain put the sway problem would be much worse. If your TV needs this much help go bigger in front or smaller in back.

[AustinBoston]

Ever see a 5th-wheel sway? Well, getting this thing to sway (and affect the tow vehicle) would require the dolley wheels to loose traction.


   Never saw a 5er sway, but using something like what "beacher" pictured yes. ( one thing a rookie at pulling triples is told "Don't look in your mirror when on the 'pike")
   If the wheels on the Dolley pivot to follow the TV, that would elimanate the sideload strain put the sway problem would be much worse. If your TV needs this much help go bigger in front or smaller in back.

There is a huge difference.  What Beecher pictured has two pivot points.  This only has one.  Normally, I would say that lengthening the stinger that much would be a terible idea, but I believe the introduction of both weight support and a new traction point makes for a much more stable situation.

Believe me, I am rather paranoid about trailer sway.  If wasn't convinced it would be more stable, I would not say so.  I very nearly rolled our van and trailer several years ago.  It took all three lanes of the interstate plus the breakdown lane to regain control.  For a good deal of that time, I was far from sure that we would.  Since then, I've learned so much about sway that I've forgotten more than most have ever known.  I am convinced that this thing is stable.  

From their web site:
"Carries the majority of the trailer tongue weight. Also reduces trailer sway, improves ride."

And expensive.

Austin

[wavery]

There is a huge difference.  What Beecher pictured has two pivot points.  This only has one.  Normally, I would say that lengthening the stinger that much would be a terible idea, but I believe the introduction of both weight support and a new traction point makes for a much more stable situation.

Believe me, I am rather paranoid about trailer sway.  If wasn't convinced it would be more stable, I would not say so.  I very nearly rolled our van and trailer several years ago.  It took all three lanes of the interstate plus the breakdown lane to regain control.  For a good deal of that time, I was far from sure that we would.  Since then, I've learned so much about sway that I've forgotten more than most have ever known.  I am convinced that this thing is stable.  

From their web site:
"Carries the majority of the trailer tongue weight. Also reduces trailer sway, improves ride."

And expensive.

Austin

How fast were you going??   hehehehe :p

[ScoobyDoo]

If the wheels on the dolly pivot, it would not be a "traction point", it would just go with the tounge. If they don't pivot, you better put those spring bars somwhere else, you want all the weight on the tires for traction. All in all I think that thing was built to sell, not to use.
  BTW a van on 3 lane interstate can be hairy,but try grossing 90, running 70, on a two lane blacktop, and have the pin that holds one side of the tounge in the 35,000lb trailer. I got stopped, mostly on the road, nobody hurt, but the cab of that truck smelled for months!

[AustinBoston]

How fast were you going??   hehehehe :p

65 MPH.

Austin