The HITCH BUDDY????

Silvercamper · 11-01-2005, 04:49 AM

Has anyone seen or used this towing device? Go to www.hitch-buddy.com and let us know what you think.

We are interested in any anything which will make our 28' Safari and Tahoe combination a safer and less stressful experience.

Sharon and Winston

nickcrowhurst · 11-01-2005, 03:22 PM

If you type "hitch buddy" in the search facility at the top of the screen, you will be directed to 13 threads on the subject, one of which is yours! Happy reading.
Nick.

markdoane · 11-01-2005, 04:08 PM

Nick,

All those search results are different type buddies. This is the first time I've seen a bogey set up like this on the airstreamforums. What tongue weight! What $$$!

cosmotini · 11-01-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvercamper

Has anyone seen or used this towing device? Go to www.hitch-buddy.com and let us know what you think.

We are interested in any anything which will make our 28' Safari and Tahoe combination a safer and less stressful experience.

Sharon and Winston

I think that would work great. Of course you would have to convert your Safari to a 5th wheel and that may be a little difficult

Dennis

**wahoonc** · 11-01-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmotini

I think that would work great. Of course you would have to convert your Safari to a 5th wheel and that may be a little difficult

Dennis

Dennis,
Go look at the website...it is also set up to tow a conventional trailer too. IMHO if you are that concerned about safety and tow weights, consider the possiblity of a Hensley or a change in tow vehicles.

Aaron

markdoane · 11-01-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmotini

I think that would work great. Of course you would have to convert your Safari to a 5th wheel and that may be a little difficult

Dennis

Many years ago I saw an Airstream that had been converted (badly) to a 5'er. It looked like the framing was done with 2x4s and the aluminum was laid on like roofing shingles.

It was parked outside a metal recycling yard.

LowellN · 11-01-2005, 06:58 PM

Seems like a little bit "overkill". Looks like it should be hitched to a pup trailer behind a Freightliner. I think I'll just tow the old fashioned way.

overlander63 · 11-01-2005, 07:04 PM

The next time any of you watch "The Long, Long Trailer" take a close look at how the tow vehicle is attached to the New Moon. They just dusted off the plans, updated them a bit, and started making them again.

SafeHarbor · 11-01-2005, 07:06 PM

Hi, Silvercamper,

I am well familiar with that over-campered, under-vehicled feeling (I towed a 31' Excella over 2,000 miles with a Dakota), but I don't think that adding yet another pivot into the system would be a good answer. I've watched the tandem U.S. mail trucks before and noticed that the rear trailer tends to wander a bit on the road. I wouldn't want to TOUCH that with my travel trailer.

With the Dakota, I wanted to make the interface between trailer and truck MORE rigid, not less.

Folks, am I understanding this right -- that it does add an additional pivot point some few back from the receiver?

Lamar

**wahoonc** · 11-01-2005, 07:18 PM

Lamar,
If I interpert the drawings and pictures correctly it is a solid link at the TV, I think the main advantage is the ability to tow a 5'ver with a conventional hitch on something like an Excursion or Suburban. I suspect it would help in a marginal weight situation, but IMHO it is just going to add more complexity to the situation, and for the cost involved...

Aaron

**john hd** · 11-01-2005, 07:32 PM

what a laugh!

when you get done camping you could tow over the road for ups!

just get a 3/4 ton truck and be done with it!

john

SafeHarbor · 11-01-2005, 09:05 PM

Hi, Aaron,

I am probably misunderstanding this, which is a specialty of mine, but the very first picture you come to on their website shows the tow-behind at an angle to the tow vehicle.

I just read through "What you will achieve" at their website, and I don't see yet where the unit locks to the TV and does not make an extra pivot.

Coastalview · 11-01-2005, 09:06 PM

I've been a commercial driver in the past, mainly 7 and 9 axle heavy equipment hauling. In that business, they call this type of device a jeep, still transfers a percentage of tow weight to the hitch, but decreases axle loads, by adding more of them. But this one, has me concerned with minimal towing weight transfered to the tow vehicle, and with a narrower track width of the tow vehicle.There's a nice formula between hitch weight and tow weight, and this gizmo isn't going to get it.

**wahoonc** · 11-01-2005, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SafeHarbor

Hi, Aaron,

I am probably misunderstanding this, which is a specialty of mine, but the very first picture you come to on their website shows the tow-behind at an angle to the tow vehicle.

I just read through "What you will achieve" at their website, and I don't see yet where the unit locks to the TV and does not make an extra pivot.

What I was looking at was the 3 point hookup...it looks to me like a solid hookup except in the up and down plane....

Aaron