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Post Info TOPIC: Is this a crazy idea?


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Is this a crazy idea?


Instead of towing get-a-round vehicle, what about carrying it?  I know there are smart car carriers for HDT's and gargages in toyhaulers and even a few examples of toyhauler MH's.  I'm thinking something akin to the flatbed they use for towing cars with.  You attach it onto the back of MH and it's folded up when not carrying a a small car and dropped down to the ground to load a smart car for instance then lifted up couple of feet for clearance.  It need not be more than about a 8 foot platform plus the mechanism to raise and lower it.  Or would that unbalance the MH with all that weigh on the back?  Could one of the larger coaches with tag axle be capable of handling it? Would it be legal? Any issues with DP set-ups?

Any thoughts on this concept?



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2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
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That amount of weight placed that far behind the axle on an add on platform would create problems on the steering axle right off and create a very unsafe operating condition.....to put the platform on the rear would require some extensive modifications including to the coaches frame just to attach and support it.....all of this would become costly and in most states 4' is the maximum overhang on a vehicle

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Kinda figured that but I'm not an engineer. Oh well.  Time to ponder the next idea.



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Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



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the only time it is tough to tow a toad is when you get out and look at how long it is.....not to mention it doesnt cut your fuel mileage enough to worry about

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



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Your best bet is to tow the vehicle 4 wheels down. I see hundreds of MH towing various types and sizes of vehicles.

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Why not tow 4-down, as Bear said?

But if you insist on a platform for a smart you could use an Idaho Tote. There is a version that can handle a smart.  In some states this is considered towing doubles if used behind a trailer, though. And if used behind a motorhome you have the same issues of what to do with it when getting into camp as with a Dolly. 4-down is much better. And easier.



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Saw a picture of a 40'+ MH in Quartzsite last week with a Smart Car "on the back". MH had dual-dually rear axles (I'm sure that's the technical term) but other than being able to back up I don't know what the advantage was.

There wasn't much ground clearance so I would be very skeptical about driveways and such.

Jodee

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Jack Mayer wrote:

Why not tow 4-down, as Bear said?

But if you insist on a platform for a smart you could use an Idaho Tote. There is a version that can handle a smart. ... 


 That would be the the simplest and most common way to do it.  The Idaho Tote is interesting. 

The whole idea came to me when I was looking at the PowerHouse conversions website.  They had one model with an extendable 5th wheel and I thought, if it could handle the weight of a 5er, why not a smart car for example.  Yeah it would be complicated and expensive.... The pro would be less wear and tear on the toad.  As I think further, it now seems more pie in the sky thinking and impractical.



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Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Everything out here is possible.....

depending on how much you want to save or spend.......you will see million dollar coaches with portable garages and full workshops!! you will also see fulltimers in pop-ups or riding a Bicycle towing a trailer , its how you define your budget and what your looking for.........

if you have it and it will be convenient and affordable you can have it!!!

By the way......Pie in the sky..........I like pie!!!!

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!



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You may want to check this out!! Go to ElioMotors.com It looks like that Can Am reversed tricyle but has a cabin; gets 84 MPG and costs $6800.00. I can't remember if it is just a rider or has room for a passenger. Also don't know if the power is driven from the front or rear wheel.



-- Edited by PIEERE on Wednesday 5th of February 2014 06:37:28 PM

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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...and then I just saw this on FB...

Von Husbands's photo.

Now I'm curious about the platform being used to carry the Smartcar. Also, would it unbalance the MH with all the weight being carried on the rear axle(s).  I'm guessing the whole shooting match (car, platform and supporting frame mounts etc) would add about 4,000 lbs. One would have to allow extra room for "swing" making turns. Probably would only be possible on a large MH, like the one in the pix.



-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 18th of July 2014 07:08:59 AM

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Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!



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I would interested on just how much weight that smart car is adding to the MH. Even it had a tag I would imagine the rear would be overweight. When I checked into adding a hydrolift to the back of my MH with my Harley ultra classic it was going to add 2200 lbs. that eats up a sizable portion of my CCC. The Harley only weighed 870 and the lift was roughly 400lbs.

The problem is the distance from the center point of the rear axle to the center point of the lift. In my case that was 13'. Then you have the problem of cooling if the a coach has a rear radiator. Most coach mfg. like you to have an obstructed flow to the rear of the coach.

Towing 4 down is the easiest way to go. You have less stuff to deal with when you camp. Box trailers may not fit into your camp site. Then there's the additional maintenance.

I like the concept of the smart car on the back of the MH but it creates concerns for me.

Now that I think about it a 36' to 38' tag might be possible. The rear axle and tag would be closer to the rear of the coach, just a thought. Might be worth investigating.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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I was wondering about the airflow  for the MH engine also. Looks like the MH in the pix has its air intake high on the drivers side. Don't know about where the radiator heat is dispelled. Cool factor is high, but the expense of it is hard to justify against expenses incurred(wear and tear, equipment needed etc) towing 4 down. Still, something to think about... if we go the MH route vs 5er.



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Brian, Cindi & Josie (our fur baby)
2017 RAM 3500 Laramie 4x4 CCLB, CTD, Aisin, B&W hitch, dually
2020 Keystone Montana Legacy 3813MS w/FBP ,
MORryde 8k IS, Kodiak disc brakes, no solar  YET!

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