Fifth Wheel Trailer From Scratch

Discussions about all things to do with buses, trucks, and the homes made within them.

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tamangel
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Post by tamangel »

might want to do searches and become familiar with the term Toterhome .
These are semi tractors with living facilities on the back registered as motorhomes but retaining the 5th wheel capability.... here's a couple of links:

truck conversion group forum:
http://www.truckconversion.net/forums/

forum discussing toterhome registration/problems:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f21/truck-to ... 53820.html

google search using ' licensing toterhomes ' as search term..:
http://www.google.com/search?client=saf ... 8&oe=UTF-8

how about that chopped school bus idea from before and a shorter trailer? split interior functions..one unit set up for one thing, the other set up for another function.. or maybe a box truck and a small trailier

photos of big rigs..
http://www.truckconversion.net/photopost/index.php

just a thought..

Mike
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Post by graydawg »

This in a idea that some one might want to do, is have a bus pulling a fifth wheel trailer with a dolly like they use on double/ triple big trucks I think the trailers are from 28 to 32 foot would have to have a super type hitch and put a trailer air brake set up out of a 18 wheeler, sure would be nice
tamangel
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Post by tamangel »

like this?

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that setup may be considered as 'doubles' for the vehicle code which gets you into Class A licensing and possibly other legal HD trucking concerns...unless some sort of RV exeption..

Mike
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Post by dburt »

I have seen such a tow dolly as shown under that Jayco 5th wheel trailer. I always wondered if it would be difficult to back that set up in a straight line or not :roll:

But if you have a 5th wheel trailer you really like, and don't want to use your pickup bed for the hitch- then such a setup might just be the cat's meow :wink:
graydawg
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Post by graydawg »

at a campground here in La a guy has a similar rig its about a 38 foot fifth wheel with a small dolly he had built and pulled it with a lincon navigator and said he had no problems pulling or backing it in a spot but preferred a pull thru spot. He worked in the oilfield business and the company he worked for would not let him put a hitch in their trucks and he preferred a suv type vehicle, it was a high dollar travel trailer he had. this is where I got the idea from, now I wish I would have taken a picture of it
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stuartcnz
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Post by stuartcnz »

dburt wrote:I have seen such a tow dolly as shown under that Jayco 5th wheel trailer. I always wondered if it would be difficult to back that set up in a straight line or not :roll:

But if you have a 5th wheel trailer you really like, and don't want to use your pickup bed for the hitch- then such a setup might just be the cat's meow :wink:
It would be easy to back up with. Having such a short draw bar on it makes it very responsive.

The technique is to point the back of your tow vehicle in the direction that you want the trailer to go, then start chasing it. (Tip: use both of your side mirrors, don't turn around to look) To reverse in a straight line, start it turning slightly, then turn the other way to correct and repeat. If you try to just go straight back, you will have trouble, which is why you do it with the turning method.

I find longer draw bars harder to do it with, because they track better, which makes it harder to correct when they start to veer off track. The only way to fix it when it goes to far out of wack, is to pull forward a bit to straighten it up again. Like most things it just takes a bit of practice, but it's not hard when you know what to do and take your time.
tamangel
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Post by tamangel »

saw this posted somewhere..

"My 2009 40ft Gooseneck low profile is 2 1/2ft off the ground and can carry 11+tons. It cost $6900.00 brand new last year with dovetail and triple ramps."

in case big bucks was thought to be a problem for a decent trailer..

Mike

come to think of it..these days any amount of $'s is considered a big deal..
Jones'n4chrome
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Post by Jones'n4chrome »

These would not be from scratch, but they would be good to start with.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/39-Trail ... 3f06ae3276

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Internat ... 51976c75d9
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Dennis The Bus Dweller
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Post by Dennis The Bus Dweller »

I'd like to have the wheels off the truck for my 4905 8)
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Dennis the bus dweller N.Y.
graydawg
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Post by graydawg »

I know a few truckdrivers that would argue as to whether or not that truck had a sleeper, Dennis if you got the wheels you would greatly reduce the value of the truck, especially if there was 6 aluminum wheels on it, IF it sells it will head to mexico one way, if they would even let it into the country, they got flat floor cabovers for 5 to 6 k each 10 years ago, but then again someone might want to restore it.
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White 3000 and trailer..

Post by tamangel »

found this..always liked this truck style..

this blog entry describes the truck and trailer..

http://white3000.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

and some trailer photos..

http://picasaweb.google.com/ltlgrntruck/Trailer#

here's the main blog, although last entry was from July 2010

http://white3000.blogspot.com/search?up ... results=24

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Mike

****
Jones'n4chrome
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Post by Jones'n4chrome »

Cool links....well thats what I thinks :D

Thanks for posting Mike.
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Post by Jones'n4chrome »

Jones'n4chrome wrote:These would not be from scratch, but they would be good to start with.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/39-Trail ... 3f06ae3276

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Internat ... 51976c75d9
OK, the IH cabover went for $1,776.00 after 3 bids.

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The moving van went for $2,425.00 after 14 bids.

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Dennis The Bus Dweller
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Post by Dennis The Bus Dweller »

So all and all it went pretty cheap
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Rudy
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Post by Rudy »

A prominent member of our group asked if I would post these photos of a converted trailer.

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