Extreme practicality tow rig

[Cody]

so I have to say, I came across this on POR

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=561070

and I am just enamored of the idea. Save 1500-2000 on a trailer, no extra storage for said trailer. Easy on, easy off. Much more maneuverable--probably gets better mileage than pulling a trailer.

Still could pull a buddy's trailer if you wanted to as well. Long bed, reg cab dually's are usually not the hot commodity (everyone wants extended cabs). I tell you what, I'm going to seriously consider this when I get my next tow rig....

Am I missing and obvious downside to this?

Cody

 

[mbryson]

Check your insurance VERY carefully. It's a great way to go if you can insure it.

 

[Cody]

would it insure differently? whats the difference between hauling a rockbuggy licensed as an ATV on the back of that vs. all the people that run those over-bed ATV setups with like 4 atv's on them? Is there some insurance issue with that? Cargo is cargo right?

Cody

 

[Caleb]

I'm pretty sure (though I may be wrong) that most pickups (1ton or not) do not have a pay load capacity high enough to haul a rig on it's flat bed...something to look in to.

 

[mbryson]

would it insure differently? whats the difference between hauling a rockbuggy licensed as an ATV on the back of that vs. all the people that run those over-bed ATV setups with like 4 atv's on them? Is there some insurance issue with that? Cargo is cargo right?

Cody

I'm pretty sure (though I may be wrong) that most pickups (1ton or not) do not have a pay load capacity high enough to haul a rig on it's flat bed...something to look in to.

I think Caleb hit it right on the head. Most ins. companies insure 1 ton and less vehicles on private insurance. If you've got a 1 ton truck, safely modified by a reputable company, I know you can get commercial insurance to carry the kind of payload that a vehicle would be, but I really don't know about the private party thing.

At the very least, I'd have your agent look at the vehicle before purchase and tell them what you planned to carry with it. You could carry 8,000 lbs of bricks on a flatbed and probably not have any real issues with the ins. company in the event of an accident. However, it it's a passenger vehicle and isn't bonded/insured, it gets kinda weird.

 

[Cody]

the newer dodges have a 3580 payload capacity. I'm sure the older ones are less so I suppose it would have to be a pretty light buggy.....

always a catch...

 

[Hickey]

I'm pretty sure (though I may be wrong) that most pickups (1ton or not) do not have a pay load capacity high enough to haul a rig on it's flat bed...something to look in to.

Well, my camper is about 3200 fully loaded on a 3/4 ton truck single rear wheel. It handles it okay, but dual wheels would be nice.

I have often thought of doing this exact thing. I would build two beaver tails that could be removed from the back of the bed when not hauling a rig. The rear tires could ride on the beaver tails when a rig is loaded, then you wouldn't need such a long bed.

 

[Cody]

Well, my camper is about 3200 fully loaded on a 3/4 ton truck single rear wheel. It handles it okay, but dual wheels would be nice.

I have often thought of doing this exact thing. I would build two beaver tails that could be removed from the back of the bed when not hauling a rig. The rear tires could ride on the beaver tails when a rig is loaded, then you wouldn't need such a long bed.

Those would be some damn large beavers!

 

[Caleb]

Well, my camper is about 3200 fully loaded on a 3/4 ton truck single rear wheel. It handles it okay, but dual wheels would be nice.

I have often thought of doing this exact thing. I would build two beaver tails that could be removed from the back of the bed when not hauling a rig. The rear tires could ride on the beaver tails when a rig is loaded, then you wouldn't need such a long bed.

I don't doubt the truck couldn't haul it on it's bed, especially if you have airbags, etc but I don't know about the legality of being loaded higher than the rated payload???

 

[Caleb]

the newer dodges have a 3580 payload capacity. I'm sure the older ones are less so I suppose it would have to be a pretty light buggy.....

always a catch...

so what you're saying is your gonna build a sami

 

[Hickey]

Those would be some damn large beavers!

I should draw a pic. Start with a 9' flat bed. Now build some ramps to drive onto that bed.

I don't think you would get better mileage vs. a trailer. The buggy would give a lot of wind resistance being up so high. I notice that a LOT with my camper.

 

[Coreshot]

Those would be some damn large beavers!

Hickey likes them big beavers....don't ya Hickey???

 

[Cody]

Hickey's beaver hunt.

art by Cody

 

[Hickey]

Awesome!

 

[Hickey]

'

 

[Cody]

my art is more awesome

I'll be selling autographed originals at the EJS vendor showcase. proceeds will go to the charitable foundation "cody's buggy fund"

 

[Hickey]

Someone had an old Chev 2wd dually on PBB years ago that they had made into a crawler hauler with some round tube. There was no flat bed, just open grids for the tires to ride on.

 

[spencurai]

one of the janitors at my high school used one of the new rams when they came out for this exact thing. HE used to haul his cj7 back and forth to Moab, he was one of the original red rockers and seemed to do just fine.

 

[Unimog]

Well, my camper is about 3200 fully loaded on a 3/4 ton truck single rear wheel. It handles it okay, but dual wheels would be nice.

I have often thought of doing this exact thing. I would build two beaver tails that could be removed from the back of the bed when not hauling a rig. The rear tires could ride on the beaver tails when a rig is loaded, then you wouldn't need such a long bed.

Not exactly a pickup, but that is what I did. The beavertails remove so I can use the fifth wheel hitch when I want. Makes it so I don't need to carry around ramps either.

 

[Hickey]

That's exactly what I was talking about.