TowRig.com - Diesel Discussion and Tow Tech

http://hitch-buddy.com/index.htm

And for only $6k you too can have something else in your way in the garage...

That's kinda neat, but I could never justify the cost

Yes that is different, I could not justify the 6K wow, beats the Lincoln I seen the other day on the freeway with the fifth wheel hitch in the truck towing a 20 ft trailer nearly dragging the bumper on the ground, where was my camera when I needed it :popcorn:

That is just plain stupid. It completely negates all the advantages of a 5th wheel.

Yeah I dont see how stable it would be. I would think it would be all over the road.

I don't see why anyone would want that, just save the money and buy a bumper hitch.

I like to see the dummies that buy that, to try to back it up. I bet they don't even think about that. rotfl

What a pile of crap. Inexperienced people that can barely pull a trailer strait (you know, the people that can't seem to grasp that you have to swing wide when you turn, people that don't understand turning is backwards when backing up) would never be able to back up 2 ft with that stupid thing.

I don't know what kind of brake setup is on that thing but I'm sure many people have managed to stack up the trailer and pickup when sliding with that pile. Thats a disaster waiting to happen in slick conditions, or locked up brakes.

Not to mention taking all the weight off the drive axle...

:eek: WOW, thats all I can say.

I like Mr Beers comments on backing that up, talk about a jack knife :doah:

I don't think that thing pivots between it and the vehicle judging by the pictures. I say if you can affor the fifth wheel trailer, you can afford the right truck to pull it with.

I don't think that thing pivots between it and the vehicle judging by the pictures. I say if you can affor the fifth wheel trailer, you can afford the right truck to pull it with.

i agree fully. i dont think it pivots at all. i think the wheels may turn a bit. i see a lot of dead transmissions for the people who try to use that thing.

WAY over GCWR for most people who will try to use that as well.....

the idea is cool, but needs to not exist. people will get hurt.
Grant

About the only three things that I can see handling that are an Excursion, 3/4 ton burb, or 3/4 ton avalanche. Those would be marginal at best.

It says it has a 23,000 pound towing capacity. I don't think I've seen a 2" receiver that can handle that? :doah:

And please explain this to me:

The Hitch Buddy’s unique design independently carries the full load of the trailer pin weight. This means that 100% of your vehicle’s horsepower can be dedicated to pulling, rather than having that power reduced by a typical hitch.

How does having the trailer attached directly to a truck vs. attached to the truck via this pos effect the vehicles horsepower?

Also, watching the videos you can clearly see the "hitch buddies" tires scrubbing like crazy around corners, bye bye tires...

Just emailed them this:

Hello, I just stumbled upon your site and have a few questions:

1) You mention various towing capacities of ~23k pounds. How does this work with a class IV or V rated receiver only rated for 5,000 and 10,000 pounds? Not to mention the added 1,000 pounds of your unit. This seems that it would grossly overweight the tow vehicle especially when using SUV's and smaller pickups not designed for towing heavy loads.

2) While watching the videos I notice that the units tires slide on the ground quite a bit due to the rear tires of the tow vehicle being the effective "pivot point" and the tow buddies tires being behind this. How does this factor in on tire wear and possiblities of blow outs?

3) You mention: "The Hitch Buddy’s unique design independently carries the full load of the trailer pin weight. This means that 100% of your vehicle’s horsepower can be dedicated to pulling, rather than having that power reduced by a typical hitch." My question is, how does using your unit affect horsepower? The vehicle has the same amount of horsepower and torque going to the rear wheels no matter if the trailer is attached to the vehicle or to your unit.

4) And last but not least, what is to keep a consumer with little to no towing experience from buying one of your units and hooking it to his Tahoe and pulling a 40' fifth wheel then being shoved off the road during an abrupt maneuver since the only weight on the vehicles tires are the vehicle weight, no added traction due to pin weight. Not to mention a Tahoe is far too light for these applications.

cool let us know what they say in their replywaytogo

Jason, Allot of good questions and statements. The Hitch Buddy is a weight distribution hitch that disperses the load over 2 1/2 feet behind the vehicle with a three point hook up verses one point concentrated to single 2 inch connection. The Hitch Buddy carries its hitch load rating based on testing with Class IV and V hitches. This is not a towing capacity of the vehicle, we clarify both the preceding in the Q & A section of our web site it is the # 1 clarification. Yes if you subject the Hitch Buddy to an extreme (jack turn) our unit will slide this is not common place but is designed to withstand this. Typically when under load both axles will turn together as in the semi spread axle design. We use heavy duty trailer rated load D and E in the commercial models these tires are designed to be in a tandem formation with scuffing. This scuffing typically accounts for less than 1/2 of 1% of usage. We have transport companies that get 20,000 to 25,000 under heavy usage on the tires. Note: since 1999 (inception) we have never had a blow out it is important that I note we emphasize the importance of proper tire pressure be maintained. Lastly a Tahoe with a 350 V8 can not exceed its manufactures recommended towing capacity I'm guessing a 26 to 28 ft fifth wheel would work but the towing capacity would need to be verified with the owners manual. Almost forgot the horsepower, this is an added bonus for pick up truck owners. Pick up owners that switch to the Hitch Buddy have reported getting 20% better gas mileage by taking the pin weight off the bed of the truck this is how we make a reference to a more effective use of horsepower. Also note there is a weight transfer system with each Hitch Buddy that is adjustable and does send tongue weight to the vehicle.

The HP and gas mileage claim has me rotfl

Wierd, how could you get better mileage, especialy since you would be towing the extra weight of the hitch buddy? :confused:

Is he saying that bumper pull trailers would get better mileage that 5ers?

And a magnet on your fuel line is worth 10 hp and 1.5 mpg. Add a swirly thing on the top of the intake and pick up another 15 hp and 2 mpg. Or, add an extra 1000 lbs and extra wheels for more rolling resistance plus turbulance and you'll magically pick up even more! I know it's true 'cause I read it on the internet! :rolleyes:

And a magnet on your fuel line is worth 10 hp and 1.5 mpg. Add a swirly thing on the top of the intake and pick up another 15 hp and 2 mpg. Or, add an extra 1000 lbs and extra wheels for more rolling resistance plus turbulance and you'll magically pick up even more! I know it's true 'cause I read it on the internet! :rolleyes:


But why would ya? just add 20 stickers @ 15hp each... unless they're jegs (who I just noticed is a new sponsor here, howdy guys!) or summit those count double... Lest we forget adding the "Type R" badge behind anything that says "Cummins"...

I think somebody is making $5801 more than Harbor Freight is for their trailer dollies...

Anybody wanna buy a trailer dolly with a 2" hitch mount? Call me. :pimp:

Jason,

You could let him know his product is being "evaluated" at TRC.:popcorn:

4) And last but not least, what is to keep a consumer with little to no towing experience from buying one of your units and hooking it to his Tahoe and pulling a 40' fifth wheel then being shoved off the road during an abrupt maneuver since the only weight on the vehicles tires are the vehicle weight, no added traction due to pin weight. Not to mention a Tahoe is far too light for these applications. Excellent question! I had first hand experience with this years ago while flat towing an old fullsize car behind a regular cab pickup. I find their reply to your question lacking. It would be nice to know what percentage of tongue weight can be applied to the tow vehicle.

Pick up owners that switch to the Hitch Buddy have reported getting 20% better gas mileage by taking the pin weight off the bed of the truck this is how we make a reference to a more effective use of horsepower. Are threse the same pickup owners that claim to get 30+ mpg empty??? Could it be the front of the trailer rides lower for less wind resistance? Is it plausible that two heavily loaded tires have more rolling resistance than four lightly loaded tires? Sounds fishy. Maybe they were just scared to go fast while towing with the thing!

those tires look to be 22.5 inch rims, they can take the pin load any trailer out there can give them. i still say its an unsafe way of doing things. the idea is cool and would work well behind a small goose neck trailer to pull another small goose neck trailer if you had a good brake controller... but i wouldnt do it.
Grant

those tires look to be 22.5 inch rims,

What picture are you looking at? All I see are what appear to be 15" rims with car tires :confused:

What picture are you looking at? All I see are what appear to be 15" rims with car tires :confused:

im stupid and was thinking about something else... they do look like 16 or 16.5 though.....

They look like the same 6 hole 15" trailer tires and wheels we have on our enclosed race trailer.

I can see someone who wants to look like a fool going down the 285 in Atlanta and cause a twenty car pile up.

Look at me I'm like big rig with this Dumb Buddy and my Ranger and 40FT 5TH Wheel talking on my cell phone and eating.

I dont see any reason for this product and its a highway hazard is it even been tested by DOT?

... beats the Lincoln I seen the other day on the freeway with the fifth wheel hitch in the truck towing a 20 ft trailer nearly dragging the bumper on the ground, where was my camera when I needed it :popcorn:

now that would be worth paying money to see!