Double tow - Page 2

Jiffy · 05-07-2018, 06:40 PM

Someone I know that fabricates on the side liked at this evening his thoughts are remove the 4 grade 5 bolts , weld bracket solid instead of the 1" stitch welds. On both sides of acc bracket re-instal receiver with grade 8 bolts

Donpop · 05-07-2018, 07:12 PM

Let me tell you what I did to beef up the hitch on my 2016 Pinnacle. I'm here to help you with the hitch and not discuss pros, cons, length laws or anything else that does not pertain to the subject. I have towed a second trailer behind four different fifth wheels over a twenty year span so I have been there, done that. Prior to getting the Pinnacle our last two trailers were Cardinals and I ordered a factory installed hitch on both of them. The Jayco hitch is a very strong but as I understand it is mainly there to haul bicycles.

I had a certified welder install another cross member about two feet behind the factory installed one. This is the same size and strength as the factory installation. He than welded a heavy duty tubing across the top of both cross members and overlapped the two inch receiver tube about half way back. The receiver tube as comes from the factory has no support and thus a lot of leverage working against it without additional support. I also had safety chain loops welded under the receiver tube. I removed the license plate light and found all the wires right above it to complete hooking up a four way plug. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the rear cap right by the receiver and was able to pull the four way plug wires up and tap right in without any difficulty. I paid the welder $200 for his work and I guarantee I can safely tow anything I could ever hook up to the hitch.

Jiffy · 05-07-2018, 07:17 PM

That does sound beefed up for sure, do you happen to have a picture of final product?

Donpop · 05-07-2018, 07:28 PM

Jiffy: I have lots of pictures but do not know how to post them. Sorry, just a mature senior citizen that only knows how to turn the computer on and off.

Jiffy · 05-07-2018, 07:39 PM

Your factory recieved had the 2angke brackets that just have the short welds to them correct, and the crossmember that the hitch receiver is welded to is bolted to the angles correct, or was from factory

Donpop · 05-08-2018, 03:54 PM

Jiffy: There is no comparison between the frame on a Pinnacle and your trailer. Two different worlds. Nothing is bolted on my Pinnacle. It has a two inch tube about a foot long welded to the frame on each side and then a 3.5 inch cross member welded on the bottom of the 2" tubes and of course the receiver tube welded to the cross member. The 2" tubes on each side lowers the cross member so that the receiver clears the back cap. I am just describing how it came from the factory. My post above describes how I had it beefed up.

You may be able to get some ideas from others but I recommend you have a welding shop make and install a custom hitch. Can't help you any more. Good luck.

Jiffy · 05-08-2018, 04:22 PM

Thank you for your feedback. I did stop in today to get 1200# Reese trunnions bars for my weight distribution the dealer I got trailer from said my old 800# bars would be perfect match. Was able to weigh my tongue weight and found out with water I'm close to 1100# , anyways he installs hitchs for all our local rv dealers and he said stop in with trailer for him to see what it needs and he will do the work?
He has done work for family members before never any complaints

Bobx2 · 05-18-2018, 11:37 AM

Find a shop and have a real hitch built for your trailer. We have a couple here on the front range that the local dealers send their customers to, to have hitch's built. Guy that built mine said he would not hesitate to hitch it up to a 400# tongue weight. It's worth the $$$ to have a quality hitch custom built, and have it done right.

Grumpy · 05-18-2018, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobx2

Guy that built mine said he would not hesitate to hitch it up to a 400# tongue weight. It's worth the $$$ to have a quality hitch custom built, and have it done right.

The hitch isn't the problem, it's the trailer/fifth-wheel frame. They are spec'd very close to capacity for the unit built on them

catzr · 05-18-2018, 08:57 PM

Bobx2 clean, simple, effective, Nicely done.

wags999 · 05-18-2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

The hitch isn't the problem, it's the trailer/fifth-wheel frame. They are spec'd very close to capacity for the unit built on them

X2

SloPoke · 05-18-2018, 10:17 PM

Are we talking about double towing from a 5th-Wheel trailer with to a Ball Hitch trailer __OR__

A Ball Hitch trailer to another Ball Hitch Trailer???

A big difference here.

blujay40 · 05-19-2018, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SloPoke

Are we talking about double towing from a 5th-Wheel trailer with to a Ball Hitch trailer __OR__

A Ball Hitch trailer to another Ball Hitch Trailer???

A big difference here.

I was thinking the same thing with the OP mentioning a 28bhbe. I know in Michigan it is illegal to double tow with a bumper pull but is ok with a 5th wheel.

TCNashville · 05-19-2018, 07:22 AM

On our previous rig, I tandem towed ball to ball for about 5 years here in Indiana. Before I did anything I checked with the Indiana State Police and they said as long as I wasn't over the length limit I was good to go. Never had an issue but you couldn't back up before unhitching the boat.

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