Longer Bed -

[Figmo]

Not sure about license requirements....but you would not be able to turn without bending the extension. There is such a trailer that has two mounts near the rear frame, with a single wheel at the back. Designed to carry a load with added advantage of being able to back up easily. I've seen these on RV to carry a motorcycle. But you will have more expense and material to store when not in use

I actually considered that after I thought about it more. Never one to give up on an idea easily, in my mind, I came up with an articulating wheel mount similar to a motorcycle front wheel. That would actually turn left/right to follow the tow vehicle.

But….the final nail in the coffin for me was: what about VERTICAL articulation? Going over a speed bump MIGHT work if the receiver hitch had enough play to allow the support wheel to rise up and down that slight amount without binding and bending. But any approach steeper than that could possibly rip the receiver mount right off your Gladiator.

So I would need to invent some type of mount that allows left/right articulation for following the tow vehicle AND has a certain amount of up/down articulation so it can handle bumps and steep hills.

This is when I threw in the towel because I realized somebody else had already beat me to this invention……..

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[NHJeep4x4]

I really like having a cap on my truck too. Between the cap and cab, there is so much real estate up there for carrying long items like lumber, etc. I got my cap with the Rhino Rack bars, but one of my favorite mods is the additional Rhino Rack bar on the hardtop. I needed a 59" bar (longer than on the cap) and I used the same gutter mount leg as in the typical Jeep hardtop roof rack kit (leg part # RL110), plus the fit kit for the Vortex bars, plus two of their 3/8" spacer kits. This made it exactly even with the other two bars. They do have different height RL legs, but the next size up was too tall. The first time I carried lumber, I was really happy with it. I could have added another bar to the hardtop, but chose to leave the freedom tops removable.

Not a good example of load capacity, but it was the most recent item on the roof...

 

[A 2]

Thought experiment for the day: if you installed a single 10” wheel under the end of that contraption so that it could support more weight - would that legally be considered “a trailer”? (e.g. would it require registration, lights, etc)

I’m no lawyer - and it probably wouldn’t matter if I was because I doubt there’s any case law out there on this. But I can see the argument that it is merely an extension of the motor vehicle, not a separate vehicle.

A modification like this could easily double if not triple the capacity of such a device. Making it safer while only minimally impacting the portability and storage space when not in use.

Any lawyers out there specializing in motor vehicle law?

This one comes with a VIN number.

 

[Figmo]

This one comes with a VIN number.

Bastards stole my million dollar idea!!!

I like how they have what looks like a torsion suspension on it to handle the articulation. I don't know the tire diameter so not sure about that. Looks kind of small. Probably has a big warning "MAX SPEED 55MPH" sticker or some such due to the small tire size.

But overall...pretty much exactly what I was imagining. Cool find.

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