On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:57:04 -0800, Gunner Asch
wrote:

On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 09:28:53 -0600, Ignoramus32197
wrote:

On 2014-02-12, Karl Townsend wrote:
On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 06:02:29 -0600, Ignoramus32197
wrote:

On 2014-02-12, Karl Townsend wrote:
I'm looking at hauling a heavy boat (7K with the standard trailer)
2000 miles twice a year...

A perfectly designed 5th wheel or gooseneck would be far more stable
than the standard bumper hitch. I've been looking and can't find one
to copy (my best design method)

Does anyone know of an engineering design service for this project?
I'm very willing to pay for a great design.

7k gross trailer is not a lot of weight for a regular 3/4 ton pick-up
truck. Just have a frame mounted hitch. For added convenience, use a
pintle hitch instead ofa ball hitch. I tow a 10k trailer regularly
hauling a forklift, with a 3/4 ton pick-up, it works just fine if I
drive conservatively.

i

You're right for short distances and drive conservatively.

Now think 40K miles over ten years. Sometimes sleepy, sometimes wife
behind wheel, sometimes icy. Now a jerk cuts you off and you're going
75 to keep up with traffic.

Driving a large load is years of boredom punctuated by seconds of
terror.

Do not go 75 keeping up with traffic, and 90% of those problems never
appear. The jerks do not cut you off, you get plenty of time to brake
gently, and save wear and tear on your transmission.

I could not care less about "keeping up with traffic" when I tow
anything of significance.

A lot of problems, like icy roads, etc, are very significantly reduced
if you go slow and keep good distance from vehicles in front of you.

i

Hear Hear!!

That's not how they do it here or in Russia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDsclaXxy6c

--
The most powerful factors in the world are clear
ideas in the minds of energetic men of good will.
-- J. Arthur Thomson