hitches

[stanger1944]

Hello all, I am new here and working up plans to build a teardrop camper with curved front and squared back. Sorry do not know all the terminology yet. One thing that I am wondering is if anyone has put a hitch on the back of their teardrop to tow a 15 foot aluminum boat tandem? I know that I would have to do some beefing up especially if I were to use say the harbor freight trailer kit. Any help would be appreciated and I am sure that there will be plenty more questions both before and during the build..

[lrrowe]

There has been some discussion here on tandem towing. Try the search box and hopefully you can find them and maybe get some ideas from them.

[Dale M.]

Calif allows it (or used to)if you have COMMERCIAL LICENSE, but I very rarely see it........ Rules for your state may vary check with your state police....

Knowing the construction of bolt together trailer, IF I were to attempt this I would get a single length of square steel tubing to span length of trailer from front of tongue (hitch at TV) to ball mount (receiver?) on rear of trailer... Completely replacing what HF provides for tongue...

Would also consider brakes for TD if tandem towing....

Dale

[wagondude]

If I recall correctly, towing tandem requires the front trailer to have active braking installed and operating. This would require replacing the axle at the very least. I would doubt that any harbour freight trailer is really up to the task. Have a proper custom trailer built to do it safely. Also, you will want quite a bit of tongue weight on your tear as the boat will lighten it up. The base trailer, without the boat, will require a substantial tongue if you don't want it to fail when you decide to leave the boat at home. Also, you want your tear to weigh at least a little more than the boat.

[jonesnforcampin]

If I was going to use the HF kit I would have it welded instead of just bolted together in addition to the beefing up, trailer brakes and other suggestions previously mentioned. All that considered, you may be better off using a different trailer for your build.

Edit to add: I have HEARD (not looked at actual regulations) that here in AZ the front trailer has to be a gooseneck/5th wheel type trailer.