Safety tow hitch

[Buffalochip]

Does anyone know of or used the safety tow hitch? It is another axle setup you tow behind your tow rig. Also known as, automated safety hitch.

[8.1al]

A nice article on it.
http://fifthwheelst.com/automated-sa...ch-system.html

[Virginia Young]

I, too, would love to hear from someone who has used one of these. Looks pretty awesome.

[WeBeFulltime]

To me it looks like a good option if someone wants to tow a fiver with something like an E350 or similar van. If wanting to tow with a truck there is not much difference between the cost of a 3/4 ton and a 1 ton truck. If the person writing the article had to pay $30,000 to upgrade he must have been upside down on his trade in! I'll stay with my F350.

[Buffalochip]

My problem is, I have a ram 3500 srw 4x4 2012 truck that with my new 2016 3910 Montana is overloaded by all the numbers but I won't know till I pull it over the scales. This hitch system may be just what I need instead of upgrading to a dually. For the 11k the hitch system costs it would still save me a whole lot of money.

[GLS3950]

Question: Would that be considered triple towing?

[1retired06]

Wonder how it handles when backing up?

[mhs4771]

It takes an alreay long setup (TV+5er) and makes it even longer, which could actually put you over the legal length in some states.

[Buffalochip]

These are certified as a tag axle or drop axle so it wouldn't be triple towing, but if it was, it would be legal here in Arizona and within 5 miles of an interstate in any state, I believe.

[Art-n-Marge]

Don't like the extra pivot point which I would never try to back up with (regarded as a double tow or not), the added weight of this device to the overall weight limit numbers (there is some weight for that device, too), the additional overall length of the rig now that the fiver pin is not in front of the TV axles, but some distance back of the TV bumper.

Too many negatives and still might not satisfy the weight ratings. It's the risk you run nowadays when buying a newer, more equipped and heavier trailer. One must remember also that turning your fiver tow into a bumper tow really lowers a tow vehicle's rating even if the tow weight sits on this dolly because it still needs to pulled at the bumper.

[Buffalochip]

There actually isn't another pivot point. It comes with a receiver hitch that has two, 2" receptacles the system hooks up to. I agree tho on the length and weight issue but it does look interesting

[oceandansar]

I bet for 11k you could turn that dodge into a dually. I have an 07 srw chevy I plan on doing if the rearend ever goes out.

[Buffalochip]

Oceandansar, you are probably right! I need to pull it across some scales to get the actual numbers, but I plan on towing with what I have anyway. I had a class A CDL with tanker endorsement for years and I know I drove over loaded and everything was fine. I won't be over by much. Common sense driving and watching my speed and I will be fine.

[prfcdoc]

I have researched the Automated Safety Hitch to the point that I visited the factory and pulled a 44' flatbed with one. It's quite interesting. It's built like a tank. Backing isn't an issue because there's only one pivot point. It's fixed to the back of your truck, essentially lengthening your truck and making into a dually but with the wheels in series instead of parallel. The hitch is on a one ton axle and has wheels that can track when you turn your directional signal on to allow the trailer to swing out. That makes for tighter turns than you could do otherwise. One of the best things, aside from the fact that you have no worries about pin weight, is that it has robust disc brakes on it making stopping much shorter than without the hitch. The hitch weighs about 1,300# making the GCVW a potential concern and it adds about 6' to the length of your rig which could, as someone mentioned earlier, make you illegal in some states. The issue with the GCVW is interesting because that number is derived from a combination of things about a truck that includes the engine hp/torque, the suspension and the braking to name a few. The hitch actually negates some of those issues but it doesn't change the door sticker! It's, as I said, interesting but, just like with any combination, you must crunch the numbers and do the math and do what's right. BTW it's going to cost you in excess of $1,200 by the time you get it put together.
Bob

[Buffalochip]

Bob.... I think you meant to say 12,000 dollars?

[cumminalong]

Theres no weight on the truck for handling,could be nasty on a slippery road ,just like pulling a farm wagon.

[prfcdoc]

quote:Originally posted by Buffalochip

Bob.... I think you meant to say 12,000 dollars?

Yes, thank you. $12,000.

[prfcdoc]

quote:Originally posted by cumminalong

Theres no weight on the truck for handling,could be nasty on a slippery road ,just like pulling a farm wagon.

Not exactly a farm wagon but a good point and I would want a 4X4 to tow with in inclement weather if I were to purchase one.

[mhs4771]

How does that work if it's on a 1 ton (2000 Lb) axle if you're running a pin weight of say 2 tons (4000 Lbs)??

[prfcdoc]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The axle is the same as a 3500 or 350 SD (one ton) truck. That's not the payload. The hitch system is rated for 10,000# pin weight, or more if you want to upgrade up to 20,000# pin weight hitch. (http://www.automatedsafetyhitch.com/...-safety-hitch/)
Bob