I have a 2003 Bambi pulled by a 2002 Tundra with a solid bed cover. I would like to be able to carry a couple of kayaks, but because of the bed cover I can't mount any kind of a rack on the bed rails. I found a receiver extension (10") that carries another receiver slot on top of it that would allow putting a "T" rack at the back of the truck and another rack on the cab which would allow carrying the kayaks.
The receiver extension is very substantial, but I am concerned that adding the weight distribution hitch to it to connect the trailer may change the physics of the hitch behavior and the hitch weight. I have searched the forum for a possible answer, but to no avail. So, if anyone has an answer or experience with a similar situation I would appreciate hearing from you.
I have a 2003 Bambi pulled by a 2002 Tundra with a solid bed cover. I would like to be able to carry a couple of kayaks, but because of the bed cover I can't mount any kind of a rack on the bed rails. I found a receiver extension (10") that carries another receiver slot on top of it that would allow putting a "T" rack at the back of the truck and another rack on the cab which would allow carrying the kayaks.
The receiver extension is very substantial, but I am concerned that adding the weight distribution hitch to it to connect the trailer may change the physics of the hitch behavior and the hitch weight. I have searched the forum for a possible answer, but to no avail. So, if anyone has an answer or experience with a similar situation I would appreciate hearing from you.
DON'T DO IT!
I.M.H.O., I would advise against an extension. Here is a thread I posted on about a near miss where I was involved in strong crosswinds and I nearly had a bad accident. I was using a hitch extension so my spare tire would have enough clearance while it was mounted on the back of our van. I believe that the further you push back the pivot point where the ball is mounted, the more likely you will get sway.
If I interpret what you have written correctly, the hitch modification you propose would increase the distance from the rear axle of the tow vehicle to the ball mount for your coach. When I towed with a conversion van with a spare tire on its rear door, I had special extended draw bar that placed the ball mount approximately 8" furter rearward than the typical ball mount - - it did not produce a desirable towing situation as the coach went from basically neutral manners to one that wanted to constantly twitch. I suspect, but cannot confirm, that the probability for changes in towing characteristics would likely be greater with a single axle coach than with a tandem axle coach (the coach that I had when towing with the special extended hitch was a single axle). Generally, the consensus, according to my interpretation, is that the ideal is to have the shortest distance possible between the the tow vehicle's rear axle and the ball mount on the hitch.
It is difficult to predict the precise results of extending the position of the ball mount 10" to the rear of the stock location, but my intuition says that you will likely experience a greater tendency toward sway. I know with my G20 GMC Vandura and 4,000 pound single axle coach the addition of 8" between the stock ball mount location and the modified position resulted in a noticeable increase in sway tenedency.
Good luck with your investigation!
Kevin
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Kevin D. Allen WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC/Free Wheelers #6359 AIR #827
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 VORTEC/4.11 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)
Seems to me that every tow vehicle has a somewhat different distance from rear axle to hitch ball. Therefore I don't see how it would make that much of a change to add the extension.
On my own rig I use a Hensley hitch which moves the ball location about one foot further away from my rear bumper. The pivot point is just in front of the ball receiver on the trailer a-frame. I've never had a problem but that could be due to the characteristics of the Hensley hitch.
Your load distribution system should still work fine.
Al
I've never had a problem but that could be due to the characteristics of the Hensley hitch.
Your load distribution system should still work fine.
Al
The advantage of the Hensley is that it moves the 'apparent' pivot point well ahead of the hitch, using some pretty neat trapezoidal geometry. This supports Kevin's point about keeping the pivot point as close to the rear axle as possible.
I want to thank all of you who took the time to respond. I was reasonably sure that there would be a problem if I attempted to use the receiver extension, but I had not read any thing that spoke against it.
The solution to the boat problem seems to be to buy a folding kayak and I have found one from the Folbot company (see URL below) . They have been around since '33 and have great products.
Bugdoc -- Folbot is American made and once was my solution to a number of issues. It is beamy and short -- hard to paddle in a straight line on flatwater and no folding boat is without problems on thin water with rocks. Being beamy it is harder to reach over the edge with a standard double paddle. At least it would get one on the water (Woo-Hoo!!!!) and it is much more affordable than the following.
Klepper (Germany) is the classic quality folder but rates about a $$$$ on the pricey scale. Nautiraid (French) is probably better than the Folbot but expensive for what you get -- don't recall exactly -- I used to subscribe to Sea Kayaker until carpal tunnel told me I wasn't going to paddle Pacific islands...
Rob Roys by Bell are pretty neat and carried deck-up -- probably on top of tow vehicle with something like a Yakima Hully Roller. One uses a coaming cover to keep rain out of it while transporting
Take a look at http://www.foldingkayaks.org anyway. We used to call catalogs 'wish books.' I'm sure there's such a name for websites...
Bugdoc -- Folbot is American made and once was my solution to a number of issues. It is beamy and short -- hard to paddle in a straight line on flatwater and no folding boat is without problems on thin water with rocks. Being beamy it is harder to reach over the edge with a standard double paddle. At least it would get one on the water (Woo-Hoo!!!!) and it is much more affordable than the following.
Klepper (Germany) is the classic quality folder but rates about a $$$$ on the pricey scale. Nautiraid (French) is probably better than the Folbot but expensive for what you get -- don't recall exactly -- I used to subscribe to Sea Kayaker until carpal tunnel told me I wasn't going to paddle Pacific islands...
I have to disagree about some of your statements about FolBoats. I currently have an Aleut and have had a Greenland II in the past. FolBoats are noted for quality and for tracking well. The frame acts as a series of mini-keels to provide great directional stability. If anything, they are hard to turn. My 11' Aleut, due to short waterline, isn't real fast, but I can keep up with faster boats because it does track so well. I have no problems reaching the water with the OEM supplied paddle or with my current aftermarket paddle. Being 72 years old, I appreciate the stability of the FolBoat. The current FolBoats have a number of improvements over my '96, but I have upgraded mine with the latest aluminum frames and washboards and the new, more comfortable, seat.
Last I hear, Klepper has gone belly up.
__________________
John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
I have a 2003 Bambi pulled by a 2002 Tundra with a solid bed cover. I would like to be able to carry a couple of kayaks, but because of the bed cover I can't mount any kind of a rack on the bed rails. I found a receiver extension (10") that carries another receiver slot on top of it that would allow putting a "T" rack at the back of the truck and another rack on the cab which would allow carrying the kayaks.
The receiver extension is very substantial, but I am concerned that adding the weight distribution hitch to it to connect the trailer may change the physics of the hitch behavior and the hitch weight. I have searched the forum for a possible answer, but to no avail. So, if anyone has an answer or experience with a similar situation I would appreciate hearing from you.
There is one more option and that is to mount a front receiver and then put the "T" bar up front and the kayaks back over the cab. I know that I would not give up my prijon for a folding kayak. Anyway good luck and many good floats.
Jerry--you beat me to it --the front reciever would certainly work . One thing I'll add is to be sure the T bar has some type of pivot or flex. When it's plugged into a front reciever it's mounted to the frame and the rear rack mounts to the cab on moveable mounts. If a rack is used between the cab and T mount it will have to have some flex. as the cab moves quit a bit in relation to the frame.-Just a thought ---Pieman
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