Introducing the Tow All 5th Wheel Dolly

http://extremecarvideos.com/meet-th...vanced-towing-system-for-hauling-5th-wheel/2/

It seems like a pretty neat idea, but I don't like how they're marketing it to people with smaller than capable vehicles. One of the major factors for having control over such a large heavy object, is the weight of your own tow vehicle. Also, in the video he advertises it as not disconnecting the electrical when unhooking it. This is just a recipe for an electrical disaster. Most plugs are designed with a little notch in them so they specifically do not unhook while driving.

 

For moving around the yard, absolutely. For hitting the highway, no way in hell.

Let's take a really heavy trailer, extend it so it's even a longer lever than before, and then remove all tongue weight and put a few extra pivot points in place behind an underweight truck to make breaking really interesting! Great idea.

The leaving the electrical part, its the only way to unhook as he's describing. With the electrical hooked up he's locking the trailer brakes and pulling away. No electrical and you're going to drag the trailer.

I bet trying to back into that thing with a loaded trailer and get lined up is interesting all by itself.

 

I am just thankful for the shirt and excitement in the video haha.

 

That thing is actually a lot more sophisticated than you guys are giving credit for.

I *do not* see that braking would be so much of an issue with it, since between the "carrier" and the trailer, all of the trailer braking will be implemented. Similarly with steering, since the carrier wheels themselves steer, it really turns the truck into "pull only".

Having said that, that is one heck of a complex mechanical device. In terms of reliability, I would be extremely hesitant. Maintenance is probably very high, and mechanical failures would be catastrophic.

 

You're not wrong. I don't know the cost but I am willing to bet you can buy a used tow rig and put a gooseneck in it for the same price, and put a lot less strain on your truck in the process.

 

You can probably pull some sweet U-turns in that thing.

 

If memory serves they did the same thing with a cj5.

Bad ideas, but I want one of each

I'm guessing overseas where 'caravanning' is a stronger thing (according to top gear) the low power/tow rating of the bug wouldn't have been that big an issue.

 

I think the military still use tow Dolly's like this!

 

$$$ depending, but that get up looks like overkill and built for some serious 5th wheel weight. If they had/have a lighter version, there are some very nice small 5th wheels that are a lot for the money that bumper pulls.
Interesting.