Pulling small trailer |
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podderfj
Groupie Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
Topic: Pulling small trailer Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 7:01am |
I have a r pod 172 that I pull with a Chrysler Aspen. I also have a 3 wheel trike that I ride for exercise, which is long, wide and bulky. My problem is: When we go camping, I have no where for storage for my trike, so it stays at home. Would love to take my trike with me. Is it legal, safe, or not very wise to pull a small trailer behind the pod with my trike on it. I would try and find a very small trailer that would just fit my trike. I thought about removing the spare tire and take it in the back of the Aspen, but I am afraid that my receiver hitch on the back of the pod may fail, or, worse, it could damage the channel iron support under the pod. Any advice would be appreciated.
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john in idaho
Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 11:03am |
Does your state allow two trailers? We call that an "Idaho Parade" in Idaho, and typically consists of a pickup, 5th wheel and either a boat or a horse trailer.
I would worry about the back chassis support on the POD, and the axle attachments. two single axle trailers would be a lot of up and down movement. Sort of like watching a snake.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 11:17am |
The states that allow double towing, state that the "1st" tow, must be a 5th wheel.
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ToolmanJohn
Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 1:42pm |
You can't double tow safely with a bumper coupler ball like the R-Pod. The first tow MUST be a 5th wheel. And it is not legal everywhere either. Some states don't allow it.
It would be exciting to see how much sway would happen though!! From a safe distance behind of course. Drive safe!!
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2017 at 2:37pm |
The other factor is the hitch on the back of the R-Pod is not sturdy enough to support that type of load. It is meant for a load of up to 150 lbs, and that close in to the body of the trailer. The dynamic loads of a second trailer would likely exceed the capacity of the hitch and would also void your frame warranty. Your fears are justified. In short: Don't do it!
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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podderfj
Groupie Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 9:16pm |
Another question on r pod hitch attachment: If I place one of the aluminum platform carriers on the r pod hitch with my trike, would it be feasible to attach 2 wide straps, one on each outer end of the platform and run the straps over the top of the pod and secure straps to frame on front of hitch close to TV hitch. I would put padding between the straps and the top of the pod to prevent scratching. Would this be feasible or a bad idea. Straps attached in this manner would relieve some of the weight on the r pod receiver hitch, but, am I compromising the top structure by doing this? I hope this is clear to everyone what I am suggesting
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 18 Sep 2017 at 10:21pm |
I think it is a bad idea. Even with padding, you are putting stress on the fiberglass roof which is not meant to take that kind of stress. Transferring some weight that way does not change that you are talking about grossly overloading the rear hitch for a purpose for which it was not designed. It will void your warranty if you have one. It may also get you or someone else hurt should the welds on the small cross-member that support the hitch and the default spare tire break, dumping your trike.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4517 |
Posted: 19 Sep 2017 at 6:04am |
+1
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595 |
Posted: 19 Sep 2017 at 8:27am |
The force on the hitch when you carry things that it was not designed to carry are magnified by the fulcrum effect. If you were to attach your straps to the aluminum wall frames instead of open space on the roof, you may be able to counter that additional force, but the risk is that you will develop leaks as the attachment screws move from the irregular force applied.
Maybe you should consider a roof mounted bike rack for your trike. I'm sure you can easily adapt a 2 bike roof rack by moving the wheel support in the front rack to the middle of the rack. The only drawback is that it is a lot of windage that will further reduce your mileage. If your frame warranty doesn't matter to you, another possibility would be to figure out a way to extend the two frame rails beyond the end of the trailer and build a platform big enough to hold the trike. But doing something like that changes the all of the weight distribution designed into the trailer and you'd need to make sure that you keeping things in balance. A consult with an engineer would be advisable.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2654 |
Posted: 19 Sep 2017 at 9:43am |
Yeah, the strap thing is highly questionable.
You probably could extend the frame to hold a platform, but it would depend a lot on how big & heavy the trike is. Have we defined that yet? IOW, how "big" is this trike in the first place? How long, how wide, how heavy? Perhaps it would be easier to trade your Aspen in on a Tacoma, or Colorado? Then just pop the trike in the bed of the truck. That's what we do with our bikes.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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