Maintenance & Restoration

Earl E. November · 06-08-2012, 03:54 PM

Somewhere I think I saw a thread on it, but can't find it.

What I would like to do is make a "Bolt on" adapter to convert to a bumper pull..

You ask "Why?"

Trying to back it with the hitch ball directly over the differential is difficult at best. In confined areas, nearly impossible.

Presently I am thinking a post with a bolt on plate dropping down from the existing hitch, Possibly braced back to the frame? All bolted.

Certainly someone has done it and can relate tails of woe or misfortune, or hopefully, glowing success, and eternal bliss.

Side benny would be to reclaim the pickup box.

Darwin Maring · 06-08-2012, 06:43 PM

For around $6,000 USD you can purchase a dolly to do this.

Earl E. November · 06-09-2012, 07:00 AM

Well that's helpful..

**cpaharley2008** · 06-09-2012, 07:35 AM

you could always make one like here

Earl E. November · 06-09-2012, 07:45 AM

Well I guess I am still looking.

Roy in TO · 06-09-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl E. November

Trying to back it with the hitch ball directly over the differential is difficult at best. In confined areas, nearly impossible.

If that is your major concern (parking), you could have an elevated ball made to fit a regular receiver. That is for occasional use at low speeds.

More finite control could be gained using a front receiver so you could drive it in. The front receiver could double for attaching other things like a bush guard, bike rack, or racks for ladders, canoes ...

Front Trailer Hitch - YouTube

I would not want to hang out the door like that to see where I was going. I'd use a spotter or rear view camera, which would be a front view camera in this case.

Darwin Maring · 06-09-2012, 08:29 AM

You could go to an empty parking lot some Sunday and practice backing up.

Roy in TO · 06-09-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

You could ... practice backing up.

A little humour on the topic of backing up.
A little ditty on "Backing up is hard to do" based on the song "Breaking up is hard to do".

Backing Up Is Hard To Do (Redux) - YouTube

**rabbit** · 06-09-2012, 09:49 AM

I can't imagine how maneuvering in reverse with a bumper hitch can possibly be easier than doing the same with a tractor-trailer or inbed fifth wheel. What am I missing? Is it the characteristics of your rear axle and diffy that make it difficult? My wife thinks I can put a big kink in a bumper hitch lashup and "now straiten it up!" without pulling forward. Unless I mistake, her views of how things work would prevail with a 5er.
jack

Greg H · 06-09-2012, 01:21 PM

I'm with Darwin and Rabbit.

Earl E. November · 06-09-2012, 01:22 PM

The problem is the hitch is centered directly over the center of the axle. not 4' in back of as in a moment arm...
Consequently the only way to get it to turn is get the front of the vehicle grossly out of position and "Push" the hitch, there is no reverse movment via pivoting.
Believe me front end movemnt of the tug is sever next to that of a bumper hitch.
On a straight push that is good, on maneuvering tight corners and near obstacle such as a wall or fence, it gets to be near impossible.

That is why genuine fifth wheels use slider hitches to get the pivot point away from the tugs rear axle.

Greg H · 06-09-2012, 01:28 PM

Maybe, but the only time I've seen sliding fifth wheel hitches is in short bed trucks. I pulled my 31' fifth wheel with a 3500 ram with 4 doors and a long bed without any issues, I also drove a semi for 23 years so I had plenty of practice.

**rabbit** · 06-09-2012, 02:28 PM

I've never backed up anything but bumper hitch so I'm learning. Is it the case that the pivot point for a tractor trailer is in front of the axle? Is the pivot point of an inbed hitch behind the axle? If you get the two exactly coincident vertically, does that mean you can't turn the steering wheel or tires scrub or what?

**rabbit** · 06-09-2012, 02:57 PM

I checked out some internet discussions of the trials and tribs of 5th wheelers. The major thought there was that short box pickups needed at least a manual slider to get cab corner/trailer corner clearance in jacknife turn situations, which I'm thinking backing into a driveway from a narrow street demands. All I know is I can get a little 17' trailer into the "mouth" of a narrow driveway. I can either leave the tug in the street and unhitch or I can back and fill until I get the tug strait with the driveway but I sure can't "now straiten it up!"

jack