Community Forums

greywynd · 06-30-2006, 06:12 PM

Hi everyone,

We are hoping to upgrade our current trailer to a 5th wheel this year, but have some 'odd' requirements for what we need. We do a lot of dog events, mostly agility, but others as well. Some of the events we supply the equipment. With these, we have 4 pieces about 12" wide, 12' long and 2" thick, and another 2 pieces that are 3' x9' and about 3" thick. Currently I've been using a set of racks on the truck to carry them so they are up over the cab, it works well with our BP rv trailer. If we go 5th wheel though (which we'd like to) that is no longer an option. I'm wondering if it would be possible to find a trailer with enough clearance underneath to have a frame where this stuff could slide in (would have to be lengthwise of the trailer). More so, does anyone have a trailer that seems to have lots of space underneath where it would be possible to do this? I'd love to hear about it if you do. As much as we'd like to go to a new trailer, it's not in the budget, so would likely be looking at, say, 5-10 year old trailers. (Still a big improvement over our current 30 year old trailer!)

Thanks for the advice!!

Mark

greywynd · 06-30-2006, 06:12 PM

Hi everyone,

We are hoping to upgrade our current trailer to a 5th wheel this year, but have some 'odd' requirements for what we need. We do a lot of dog events, mostly agility, but others as well. Some of the events we supply the equipment. With these, we have 4 pieces about 12" wide, 12' long and 2" thick, and another 2 pieces that are 3' x9' and about 3" thick. Currently I've been using a set of racks on the truck to carry them so they are up over the cab, it works well with our BP rv trailer. If we go 5th wheel though (which we'd like to) that is no longer an option. I'm wondering if it would be possible to find a trailer with enough clearance underneath to have a frame where this stuff could slide in (would have to be lengthwise of the trailer). More so, does anyone have a trailer that seems to have lots of space underneath where it would be possible to do this? I'd love to hear about it if you do. As much as we'd like to go to a new trailer, it's not in the budget, so would likely be looking at, say, 5-10 year old trailers. (Still a big improvement over our current 30 year old trailer!)

Thanks for the advice!!

Mark

RV Wizard · 06-30-2006, 11:23 PM

Mark, almost any 5th wheel could accomidate the 2 & 3" thick pieces you are speaking of. I have even hauled an extension ladder under our DP which is much lower than a 5th wheel. You would want to attach the rack to the frame and you should be fine. Good luck and be safe.

greywynd · 07-01-2006, 05:30 AM

I tend to agree with you, at least from some of the trailers that we have looked at. Maybe just to clarify, when everything is 'bundled' together, it's about 6" thick, 5' wide, and 12' long. The length is the one that I'm somewhat concerned with, simply because the trailer size that we'll be looking at will put this stuff going over the axle(s). To weld up and fabricate a set of brackets isn't an issue, I can do that myself quite easily. I'll likely do that in such a way that I can take it off easily and move it to another trailer is we get something else down the road. I'm thinking that the better way to have this would be to have it load from the under the front of the trailer, because most of the time that this is involved we'll end up unhooking when we get to the event anyway.

I am wondering if anyone else has done something like this before, I'm thinking someone has somewhere along the line, but it would be nice to hear from someone that has.

Mark

Jeff_in_The_Dalles · 07-01-2006, 10:07 AM

If you are a competent welder (which it sounds like you are), you could do the "axle flip" thing and probably have plenty of clearance for your equipment to fit between frame and axle tube of most setups.

Though some people fabricate spring perches, new ones are so cheap that I think it is better to buy a set...