Gladiator "5th Wheel"

[hamse]

This was the coolest 5th wheel ever

I seen that before, its pretty awesome! A guy i bought a vw bus from once had a trailer for his bus with 1 wheel in the back that rotated. Vw trailers are pretty unique.

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[Panthers65]

I'd do it because it's nothing more than cool.

traditional trailer is 10% hitch weight, 5th wheel is 20%.

100# hitch
600# trailer weight (20% of 3000#)

I doubt any of us would second guess throwing 500-600 lbs of luggage, gear, tools, ect.... at 1700 lbs payload, you're way under still...

 

[WXman]

Should work great. Just make sure you mount it so that when you turn sharp it won't hit the cab. The fiberglass top won't like it.

 

[jeepin48]

I see tons of benefits and I would consider going that route only the scamps are a bit tight.

Standard good size camper requires 100 lbs of weight distribution hitch vs 100 lbs 5th wheel mount.

Tongue weight(650) vs payload(1200) as the weight is in the bed.

Weight distributed better across both axles.

Aerodynamics is a big improvement having filled in the bed section. While towing a standard camper the air collects behind the cab and truck only to be split again by the trailer.

 

[Gren71]

If you still feel baffled, look up scamp 19 tow vehicles... you would be surprised at what people use to tow... these things are small and lights... this is an example

haha just cause they can use a vw bug doesn't mean it isnt still baffling lol. I can use a spoon to cut meat, and a butter knife as a screw driver, doesn't mean it makes sense to. lol

neat, just not my cup of tea

 

[ShadowsPapa]

.

Aerodynamics is a big improvement having filled in the bed section. While towing a standard camper the air collects behind the cab and truck only to be split again by the trailer.

Actually the area behind the cab is a low pressure area, causing drag. With Chevy and Ford trucks I've owned, I've demonstrated that with pop cans and/or leaves in the back - they collect at the front of the box. Wind tunnel testing shows air isn't collecting behind the cab.
It's similar to the effect of the back end of a car and why design changes have been made to actually increase the pressure back there and reduce drag.

One also has to consider the shape and length of an object combined when figuring in drag. It's not all the frontage presented, it's also the length of the sides. Because frontage is figured on the amount a trailer increases the square footage of the front of the truck, you have to figure the same no matter the type of trailer. So if this trailer increases the frontage of the truck by xx and a conventional trailer does the same, it's a wash - but in this case it appears the front of the trailer is TALLER than a conventional trailer so it increases the frontage presented!
In short - because this sits taller that height has to be added to the frontage presented by the truck, increasing the total frontage. My bet - based on what I've studied, the increased height is going to hurt.
The length of the sides present drag, which is just as important to consider.
A square going through the air produces less drag than a rectangle going through the air if the end is the same size as the side of the square.

It's a lot more complex than most people believe. I see no benefit aerodynamically. Could present an increase in drag.

 

[brianinca]

Those are super cool, as I've been informed by my wife.

She has already had her remodeling fun with our big trailer, and it's very comfortable but she doesn't like to drive it. She thinks, and I agree, the Scamp is something she can handle on her own - the torsion bars for the WDH are just not cool for her.

With that weight profile, the automatic+gas JT's with tow packages, any model, will have NO problem.

I'm pushing for an Opus and she's looking for both, so it's cool! I'd like to see how you mount the hitch in the bed - are you going with a removeable type, I hope?

I have a 21 Gladiator Overland V6 3.6 with tow package that im wanting to use to tow a Scamp 19 "5th wheel" fiberglass trailer. Has anyone done this yet? Im thinking of installing curt #16200 universal rails and curt #16055 bent plate with ball in it. Trailer weights under 2900 lbs and has a hitch/tongue weight about 400lbs or so. I see Tacomas and frontiers to them all the time so I figured why not a gladiator.

 

[brianinca]

EDIT: I looked up on e-trailer, fifth wheels use a 20% balance, so that's quite a bit closer to our bumper pull trailer. 700 lbs is still easily managed by JT's with tow packages. Put all your stuff in the trailer still applies.

12% of the 3,500 lb max gross on that trailer is only 420 lbs. 100 lbs of hitch, 1200-1600 lb payload, put all your stuff in the trailer, easy peasy. We hit our 12% on the big trailer at 700-720, with only 1200 lb payload, so we put EVERYTHING in the trailer.

Comes under the "because you can, should you?" heading.

Hitch weight - 100 pounds from payload - what's the "tongue weight" so to speak of the trailer? What does it put on the truck when hooked up?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

12% of the 3,500 lb max gross on that trailer is only 420 lbs. 100 lbs of hitch, 1200-1600 lb payload, put all your stuff in the trailer, easy peasy. We hit our 12% on the big trailer at 700-720, with only 1200 lb payload, so we put EVERYTHING in the trailer.

If I had to haul some heavy stuff to or from a swap meet - I'd do the same thing. Put it on the trailer. Let the trailer axles carry it as I'm still 1,000 under towing spec. Keep it low, keep it fairly centered weight-wise over the trailer axles, keeping the tongue weight about 10% or so (10% for my aluma trailer is what the factory says). I can keep a cooler and my bag of clothes in the car on the trailer to keep some weight off the truck. Heck, if I lose 25-30 pounds that would help my truck, too (and wouldn't do me any harm, either)

I can see, after reading the numbers, a trailer like shown in these pics being easier on the truck than something hanging off the very rear of the truck.
As long as the hitch is secured properly, installed well (not doubting the OP or posters here - but the population in general is my fear) it would be fine in that respect. It's the dopes on boobtoob that worry me.
I think the OP has his ducks in a row.

 

[mog]

It certainly would be a good looking combo IMO
(ya, I 'upgraded' the Scamp's wheels)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It certainly would be a good looking combo IMO
(ya, I 'upgraded' the Scamp's wheels)

View attachment 214370

Oh hell yes.

 

[Elff]

Someone has to be first.

This falls under the why the hell not category and is cool.
Subscribed because I am real curious on this now

 

[NotSo Bright White]

It certainly looks better than the 1969 Kaiser Jeep CJ with factory optioned camper!

 

[KVJ]

@hamse

I had a Scamp 19 Deluxe which is what your photo is showing. The deluxe model, Identified by the gold graphics, has wood interior and weighs a little over 3000#. Mine had closer to 500 # tongue which takes a bit of the load rating of the truck. The weights from the manufacture are as bare (no AC or other options). If your truck is lifted or your off-roading you can lift the camper some too. The JT will pull it. I was pulling mine with that Tacoma 4.0L, the leaf springs were too soft and needed suma-springs to help.
Scamps are not 5th wheel trailers, they are modified goosenecks using a 2" ball on an elevated post or frame. The standard model without wood paneling is much lighter.

 

[Gren71]

Goose neck....devil birds

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