First Pull with New Hitch Design

Very first pull with a zero shock, fully isolated RV Hitch design.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Air
• Hitch
• HDT

[Jinma224]

The rear suspension of the truck does verly little to dampen road shock, it's primary function is to keep the load level regardless of the weight. Air bags only level the load and the suspension is massive metal springs.

With the weights of the RV on the pin, it gets very little in the way of shock absorbsion from the truck, so to provide a cushioned ride for the trailer, the airbag under the hitch head is the primary shock absorber in this set up.

[1pinchipendejo]

Too bad the tongue weight is behind the rear axle.

[Jinma224]

Why too bad? My guess is that you tow with a light duty truck like an F-450 or even smaller.

By placing the tongue behind the rear axle, I unload the front by 1500 lbs, and get even distribution of weight per tire with about 9000lbs remaining on the front axle when connected. I also have much better manueverability backing into tight spaces.

Besides better mileage than a pickup and better TCO/mile in general, a converted class 8 tractor has tremendous flexability in configuration options.

[MnTrucker1984]

its not the same, hes pulling with a 15000 lbs volvo single axle from what I seen with the other vid. His motor is roughly 1500 lbs depending on what he has, and 7 to 800 lbs for the trans. The weight is still balanced out safely

[Jinma224]

Yes, It's a singled out Volvo 770.

I get 9.0-9.2 with the trailer and 10.6-11.2 bobtail. (most recent set of numbers from my last trip TX to NY)

[KLsemperFi7]

i dont get why the fifth wheel is so far behind the axle. why wouldnt it be placed over it so you have the weight is on the axle and no towarss the end? it can really screw tih the traction up front then.

[Jinma224]

The front axle is at 11,000 without the trailer and drops to 9,000 with the trailer. It's just one of the advantages of pulling with a converted class 8. The others are cost and mileage.

[nightwind928]

A very cool concept. You might want to display this unit at the I I S A trade show in Feb. I can see a lot of interest in this.

[regdapimp06]

Ive never seen a camper with air brakes.

[chuckrl]

This isn't something new, Calumet Coach (Now Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles) used air supended 5th wheel plates on their trailers for years.

[alexrex20]

god blessed texas!

[dustinby15]

very nice and the truck sounds nice to

[littlejr92]

Wats the point with having the hitch shocked? how dose that help?

[TheHitchHog]

On a truck of this size it would make not a bit of difference that the tongue weight is behind the axle. The only reason we enjoy 5th wheels with pickups is the weight is placed just ahead of the rear axle which allows good weight distribution and balance. Here the truck overcomes any bad physics because of the shear size of the truck. People have a very hard time understanding that weight placement means less with large trucks until enough weight is added to max out the truck. Bet it tows nice.

[ryanthescooterguy]

Geez! The truck has a noisy engine!

[PIchillin456]

awesome tow rig. i love it