Boat/5th wheel

[Mt-1]

I was wondering if any of you pull a boat behind a 5th wheel? Also what's the size of the 5th wheel and boat? What are the pros and cons?
THANKS!

[Mike A]

I pull a 32ft fifth wheel and a Skeeter on a tandem trailer. I used to do it every weekend however, now I only do 2 or 3 times a year because I have a place to store the 5th wheel and basically pull my boat back and forth in back of my V10 Ford. We've been doing it for 10 years with no problems.

Pros:

1. It's legal in North Dakota, I'm not sure if that's true in every state.
2. It gives me flexibility to not have to pack every thing up each to put my boat on the water.
3. My rig is very stable being pulled down the highway.

Cons:
1. It's hard to see that boat trailer and make sure nothing is wrong.
2. Make sure you make wide turns.
3. Some rigs are not stable with the boat on behind and I would consider a rig like that dangerous.
4. I would never pull a boat back of a travel trailer. Again I would consider that dangerous especially in windy conditions.

[Muleskinner]

MT-1,
I have a Ford F350-crew cab which I pull a 26.5 ft Prowler 5th wheel connected to last years 1800 lund fisherman. I have traveled all over with this set up. I converted the 5th wheel attachment to a goose neck hook-up. This works for me due to my flatbed and mule hauling trailers being goose necks. The secret to traveling safely tandem is keeping it all level. I had to put a 6 inch lift on the 5th wheel to keep it level with the F350. On the back of the 5th wheel I drop hitch back to the boats level. Surge brakes on the boat trailer which I have on the new boat are also a plus. So did you sign up for Glendo yet or are you keeping your $$$ in montana? Hope to see you on the water this year.


Good catching,
Kevin Herbert

[Brushpile]

Hey when you do this keep in mind any DOT regs. for your state. Here in NE it must be under 70' I beleive. 20 ft truck, 30 ft camper and it doesn't leave much room for a boat.

Just know the rules before you start. also for any states you may travel through.

[Sparky]

Remember, with a 5th wheel part of the trailer is over the truck bed. So you get a few extra feet to work with. I's usually total length that is measured. I would imagine that backing up could be exciting.

[Muleskinner]

Most states measure from the 5th wheel pin back for the total length. If your not weaving down the highway or creating a hazard chances are you would never be checked for length. As stated in a earlier post some states do not allow tandem pulling so check ahead. It would be a bummer to have to unhitch and pull the 5th wheel across a state and then go back after the boat. I will be pulling tandem from Colorado to Devils lake North Dakota this summer. I think I'm good to go through South Dakota and North Dakota. Someone let me know if I'm missing something would ya.

[Phil T.]

The boat trailer neeeds brakes, or at least some kind of hitch stabalizer. Almost all the upsets that occur while double-hauling happen on downhill slopes. The invisible boat starts to sway, and when the boat is whippping around hard enough, it takes the 5th wheel with it into the ditch. That last hitch linkage is obviously the weak point in the system.
Also, look at he rear of the 5th wheel trailer's frame with a critical eye. Some of those don't have enough structure at the rear to do a decent job of supporting themselves on rough roads, much less support additonal tongue weight.
When travelling to Devils Lake, check with the ND Highway Department's road construction report in www.discovernd.com. Avoid anything that's colored red. Don't trust the local chamber of commerce's reports, they never see anything bad about their area. Don't want to chance losing customers, you know.

[MadMax]

I pull a 30' fifth wheel with a 20' glass boat behind it. It pulls great!! To me it is the only way to go. Make sure you have good mirrors on the truck that stick outside of the camper so you can see all the way down both sides, along with a good convex mirror. Even with good mirrors you will not be able to see your boat behind the fifth wheel untill you make a corner. If a ol boy pulls up beside you and points at the back of your rig....it means you have a flat tire on your boat trailer....lol...been there done that! Take your time and don't be in any hurry. Look twice before you pull in any where knowing that you can get turned around. Hope this helps.

[Mt-1]

Thanks for the replys!! I'm considering a 22ft/24ft.5th wheel pulling a 2025 lund. Do you have to add any additional welding to the bumper of the 5th wheel for support, what kind of hitch do you put on the bumper?
Muleskinner- I'm keeping my money in MT,NE, and maybe CO. I just can't see putting up that kind of coin when it's the first year for the WY tournment director. I guess I like to see some kind of track record. Fish On!

[Don__SD]

I just ordered my 34'er and I will pull my Tyee behind the 5er, It will put my New Durmax to the test. Im looking right at 73' but here in SD 75' is the max.

[hgmeyer]

Best addition to all are the auto sensing rims that tell you you have a flat....mind numbing takes over on long hauls and without the alarm to let you know you have a flat even minutes count...really seconds before it all goes out of alignment and into the ditch (if you're lucky...the other lane of traffic is real bad..)!!!!!

[MadMax]

MT-1... You have to come to Glendo and see what its all about. Its a great tournament. Your back bumper...All its good for, is putting that sewer tube in it. I welded a hole new hitch for the back and added a rack to store gas cans. I ran suports up from the hitch and tied it into the frame a good three foot from the back of the camper. If you don't weld...go talk to your local welding shop and get a quote and ask questions on how he is going to do it. I know some of guys build the rack and bolt it on to the frame. Then if they trade off there fifth wheel they can re-use the rack. When you get your hitch put on have them fab in a receiver tube. Then you can put in a receiver with the proper drop for the right hitch heighth. Hope this helps.

[SDMIKE]

I did what your doing for 5 years and for the most part it worked really good. The length limits of course is the issue. The length starts at the very front part of the truck and goes all the way to the very back part of the engine (ie, the prop if the engine is tilted up) not just to the back of the boat transom. The other issue you need to be concerned with is the insurance liability. My agent explained it to me very simple. If you are breaking the law (length limit) and you have an accident and become liable for the accident they won't cover you, if your legal your covered. The one area you do want to stay away from is Minnesota. I know of several incidents of people being picked up, because Minnesota's length limit is very short. One additional note is the boat hitch on the 5th wheel-make sure it's mounted to the frame not the sewer tube and the other thing is that you need to considered the tongue weight of the boat trailer. I could lift my boat trailer tongue, but I did move the axle forward on the boat trailer to minimize any potential problem.

[bellbuoy]

I've looked into this a few times and debated whether I wanted to take the plunge. I don't know if the length law is the problem in MN, it is 65 ft. total per http://www.rvsafety.com/state.html. It could be the law about towing tandem during rush hour in Hennepin & surrounding (Minneapolis metro area) counties which I recall from somewhere but can't find at present.

Bellbuoy

[Muleskinner]

Not to argue the point but several states measure from the 5th wheel pin to the boats prop. This is the same way they measure tractor trailers. Like I said before you need to check each state before you enter to make sure your good to go. As for the hitch attachment on the 5th wheel I had mine custom made and it bolts into place on the main frame in 3 places on each side. The receiver tube is welded to the hitch tube steel. My new 1900 Pro-v sits on a shorelander and I can see the tires and some of the boat in the extended mirrors on the F-350 so the flat tire issue on the boat trailer is not an issue. Remember it's not the size of the rig that counts it's the size of the eyes in the live well.

[TM]

You better double check with your agent, or contact the company direct. I have never heard of an auto policy not covering you if you are breaking the law. If this was the case, most claims would not be covered.