Towing a 45' Mobile Home Frame

[nc_beagle]

Our company has two mobile home frames that are roughly 12' x 45' with three axles. One has a bit of wood framing (deck and subfloor) on it and has a tongue weight of 700#. The other is just the frame and should have a lower tongue weight and less overall weight. We're ballparking the frames at 4-6000# each, just based on research. We could be off but shouldn't be off by much.

So......assuming we got permits, flag cars, etc... and made it all legal, would you tow it with a 2021 EcoDiesel short bed? For more details, it's going about 15 miles on two four-lane highways that have speed limits of 45-55mph. There are some hills, but none very long.

We're in a time crunch and having trouble getting someone to move them.

My concern isn't the weight, it's the length and whether it could become the "tail wagging the dog."

What are your thoughts? I'm balking at using my truck because of the uncertainty but one of the guys is gung ho to tow them with his lifted, two door Wrangler, which makes me wonder if I'm worrying about nothing.

 

[silver billet]

Have a guy shadowing you in a car with his blinkers on, keep the speed down, 15 miles isn't much if you're careful. If it's just the frame then you shouldn't have that much trouble with wind.

 

[Wild Bill]

I would be more worried about a lifted, two door Wrangler towing these frames.
I tow a 22', 5k lb RV with my 1500 gasser. (Agreed my setup is different than these frames. I just wanted you to know that I know about towing)
I agree with silver billet.
But with the jeep, I'm going to say no.
JMHO...

 

[PurpleRT]

What about renting a F250 or similar from home depot and using that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nc_beagle]

What about renting a F250 or similar from home depot and using that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That was actually my suggestion, though I mentioned Enterprise.

I notice the wire to the trailer brakes on the frame is just a bare wire. I have idea how to make use of that.

Funny thing is we have a guy who hauls around grading equipment and he didn't want to move the frames.

 

[PurpleRT]

I damn sure wouldn’t be using my personal truck potentially damaging it for a job (small trailer sure, something with three axles)….nah rent something more capable.. at the end of the day its still probably be way cheaper then hiring someone thats willing to tow it and do it currently aka have insurance coverage, a flag vehicle..etc not just anybody off of craigslist.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[John Kloehr]

My eyeball says the ECO diesel can do it, subject to verifying tongue weight is in spec for the truck. No way would I attempt it with the Jeep.

Definitely will need permits and such for that width and length (subject to details in your state). Driver may need a CDL or at least non-commercial endorsement to pull those loads, which may increase insurance rates for the driver. Also if this is a commercial activity, personal insurance will not cover the activity. Might be simpler overall to work this job with a tow company.

 

[Granite Goat]

15 miles? I would do that in a heartbeat.... but only if the trailer brakes were properly connected.

 

[Gren71]

Fwiw I regularly pull a 30ft 6500lbs camper with a tongue weight in the mid 800s with a gas truck…these are rated for 1,100ish lbs of tongue weight. So the weight is a none issue IMO.

As far as the length, i doubt it will be any problem at all with functioning trailer brakes.

I agree with some of the other members though with using a pov for work stuff. If your pov is damaged you have no guarantee it will be repaired or replaced. I suggest just hit up a Lowes / home depot or find an enterprise that rents 2500s for towing.

If you’re planning to go to a rental place to get a vehicle to tow with just know that usually you have to look for the specific trucks that are allowed to to be used for towing. Last year when my truck was in the shop I had to rent a truck to tow my camper on a camping trip and found out that only very specific enterprise rental shops will rent 2500 or 3500 for towing and hauling. Enterprise as a company doesn’t allow any of their regular rental vehicles, even their half ton pick up trucks, to be used for towing

 

[Trooper4]

Our company has two mobile home frames that are roughly 12' x 45' with three axles. One has a bit of wood framing (deck and subfloor) on it and has a tongue weight of 700#. The other is just the frame and should have a lower tongue weight and less overall weight. We're ballparking the frames at 4-6000# each, just based on research. We could be off but shouldn't be off by much.

So......assuming we got permits, flag cars, etc... and made it all legal, would you tow it with a 2021 EcoDiesel short bed? For more details, it's going about 15 miles on two four-lane highways that have speed limits of 45-55mph. There are some hills, but none very long.

We're in a time crunch and having trouble getting someone to move them.

My concern isn't the weight, it's the length and whether it could become the "tail wagging the dog."

What are your thoughts? I'm balking at using my truck because of the uncertainty but one of the guys is gung ho to tow them with his lifted, two door Wrangler, which makes me wonder if I'm worrying about nothing.

Check local regs, but you may need a trip permit.