Truck Length Question
 

I don't have a truck yet, but I want to get it close to right the first time. How long of a frame do you need between the cab and hitch to put a Smart Car on the back? Also, besides a Smart Car, what other vehicles fit there? Wife says it must have four wheels if that helps.
Tom

Sorry, I cant help...I flat tow ours ;)

That is an option for some, but I plan on towing a fiver. I know there are some on here that know the numbers!

If you don't get any answers here, try over at the Escapee's forum
HDT - Escapees Discussion Forum

There are a lot of guys over there that run the HDT's with a smart car on the bed, and pull a 5er behind it. There is a lot of information in their resource guide as well. The Heavy Haulers Resource Guide & HDT Rally Site - HDT - Escapees Discussion Forum

Another option if you don't get many replies here, is to try the Escapee's forum.
https://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showforum=32

There are lots of people over there that use their HDT's, with a Smart loaded on the bed, and pull a 5er behind that. There is also lots of useful information (licensing, insurance, bed designs, pictures, etc) in their resource guide.
https://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=88214

The best resource I've seen for HDT's hauling 5vers is this: HDT - Escapees Discussion Forum

Make sure to read through the first few sticky threads there. Tons of info. I've gone to the HDT rally about 5 times in Kansas. It's by far the best place to go to learn everything you need to know for this type of setup. Definitely plan on attending next fall if you haven't been to one yet. Maybe we can caravan down there.

Depending on the width of your rig, 126" or 130". you need 65" for the smart, plus half the width of your 5'er plus a few inches.

Since the legal width is 102" what do you do about the overwidth issue?
Bob, I really do want to go to the HDT Rally next year. When it gets closer I would be happy to run down there with you.

There are some hauling the newer longer Smarts on their deck sideways. Don't ask, don't tell. That works best. I think you'd have to do something very dumb to attract the attention of a law enforcement officer to the point of bothering to measure that extra 3" wide per side. I wouldn't worry about it. Or else build the deck long enough to load it fore/aft. I'd do that and make it long enough to haul a wide variety of cars that way. That doesn't limit you to a Smart. And if you did have a Smart you could load it sideways and maybe put a scooter or some other toy along side that. Did you see some of the guys that put a box on their truck to put the car in? You can buy a used box with roll up door pretty reasonable. 1rod, J&V, and Rick and Alana have done that. I think some others have too but not sure. I really like that setup. 2014 HDT Rally Truck Photos

Maybe J's Rig is a little confuzzled with his numbers? He has 126" or 130" for a length. That comes out to be 24 or 28 inches wider than the limit. That is a bit harder to hide.....
I thought about loading a car length wise. I have a VW Jetta Sportwagon that would fit, but then I am looking at a longer truck. That probably won't be a big deal, but I will continue to contemplate things. I wish the 2015 HDT rally was sooner. I want to see some other trucks for ideas.

I tow side by sides (Rhinos and Razors) on my deck over and they are right at 120" with no problems. You do have to pay attention on tight winding 2 lanes and some signs in construction zones. I typically don't have problems with guardrails as they are up above them. No problem with law enforcement so far. At least you can see it in the mirrors. :)

I must be confused. Your Razor is 10' long and you tow it sideways with no problem? If you put a 10' wide load on an 8' deck I would think it would be quite noticeable.

MnTom- the original question was about the length of the deck, not the width. A Smart car 2015 and earlier is 106.1" long, and 61.38" wide. The 2016 models are 4.?? wider so to be safe you need 65-66" for the smart car alone. Then you need the turning radius for the front cap of your 5'er. If your rig is 101" wide, like mine, then you need a minimin of 50 1/2" to clear the car. But if you take into consideration any turns that have a dip or hill, you need more space between the side of the car and the front of your trailer. Then since you will most likely not be able to load the car in the exact spot time after time, you need a few more inches for room.
So the numbers are-
62- car+
50 1/2 trailer turn radius+
6 space between trailer and car +
4 extra space for error in loading car+
5 extra for the new Smart car width =
127" mininum from the back of the cab fairings or your drom box to the center of your pin.
I said nothing about a smart car being that wide...

Ok, Sorry J's Rig, I guess I misunderstood what you said. You gave me the numbers I was looking for. Now I can look at the wheel base and figure out what I want. To bad I can't afford that! :p I will be doing some looking and calculating. Thanks!

Go the to escapee's HDT forum. There are tons of threads discussing all the different ways to set up a bed. The HHRV guide is also invaluable in this area.
Escapees Discussion Forum

Home | Heavy Haulers RV Resource Guide

The deck over is 8'6" wide. The Rhino in the picture is 10' long on the nose. It does stick out but when you are 80' long and 13'5" tall....the last thing anybody is looking at is a side by side hanging over an extra 9" on both sides......at least in my experience. I mean......we are not talking about moving earth moving equipment around. The Rhino in the picture is bigger than a smart car. It's over 7' wide due to long travel suspension. Obviously, towing all of this stuff is not for everyone in every situation. Don't do anything that your not comfortable with. People tell me all the time that you can't do this and you can't do that...and this is illegal and that is illegal. I am not taking sides......I am just sharing real world experience of towing this stuff all over the southeast and I have even pulled the boat out west with very few hassles. Illinois is the only state that has ever hassled me and I talked my way out of that. (The law ended up on my side because it is all in my personal name and registered as a motorhome). It is also governed by your home state if you are non Commercial.

Thanks for the clarification J. Now I understand what you guys are talking about. I actually thought about this tread on the way home in mine yesterday evening. I met a really nice Sportchassis towing a fiver and I started thinking about this. :) What the hell is wrong with me?

Taking all the length issues into consideration, If you want to keep the truck tandem axle, its very easy to do, and your can extend the bed even further than 11foot.
If you single the rear, then some design considerations come into play.
Single long, and your turning radius is the same as staying tandem.
Single short- the truck doesn't look proportional in the deck length, axle spacing etc
Single to a "Mid" position- drop the front axle and roll the rear axle forward to where the center of the tandem position was. This looks the best but you are still limited some in your length.
The other issue is that while moving the hitch aft of the rear axle is nice for tracking and backing into tight spots, there is a limit to how far aft you can go. 6ft has been determined to be about the max distance the hitch can be placed behind the rear axle without issue. More than that and you start getting travel trailer type problems like sway control.

It wouldn't bother me any to go down the road over width. I have had loads behind me that were up to 14' wide, 15' tall, had trailers stretched out to 60' with the load overhanging that by 8', and been as heavy as 122,000 pounds. Try being 80' long and 12' wide then drive through New Jersey!! I am just surprised that you don't attract more attention than you do!

Since I am still in the 'discovery' stage I am looking at all options. I need to measure the car I have now just so that I can try to determine what is my best solution. Keep the info coming! I need it.

Alright.....you are definitely over qualified for all of this nonsense. Carry On! :D

Oh, I wouldn't go that far........ I have been out from "behind the wheel" for 26 years and haven't pulled an oversize for about 30 years! You know, sometimes we forget things??:) Actually, I am looking forward to getting my truck. Too bad it will be a while yet........

I figured out that my car is 180" (15') long, so obviously it won't go cross ways. So I am looking at having a deck that is about 20 feet from the back of the cab to the center of the pin. If I have the pin 4 feet behind the rear axle would that present much of a problem? I know J's Rig says 6' is about the maximum, so I should be OK then? I would like to keep the truck as short as possible, but the longer it is the better it rides too.............

I'd want at least a foot in front of the car so it's not ramming up against the back of the sleeper. Then the other measurement you need to make sure of is from the hitch pin to the back of the car. 5th wheel trailers need a certain amount of room there so they don't hit anything when you're turning tight turns. I'm sure you can find that dimension out. As far as how far back you can put the hitch. I don't think there's much concern there. I've seen lots of HDT's with the frame extended back and the 5th wheel hitch hanging way off the back. The owners tell me it actually makes it easier to back up and maneuver when it's moved way back there.

Here I go thinking again....Somebody pass the aspirin, please? lol.. I was wondering, other than a few roads I have been on (Needles Hwy, Black Hills for one), is there a real need for hauling a car with you? If I put my car on the back my truck it getting quite long when what I want is something comfortable and fun to pull my trailer with. What about the times when you really need or desire a car for a couple of days you rent a car? For the overall cost that may be my solution.... HHHMMMmmmmm.

If you use it like a true RV and not running a race operation, you need a car. I've done it both ways. For me, just the peace of mind in case of an emergency is worth the trouble. Sometimes we stay a few days and never use it....but anything more than a long weekend. ..you will be glad you have another set of wheels. Personally, I would just get a Sportchassis if I was pulling a 5ver and use the truck as my get around once I got there.

Doggonit...... Now you got me second guessing myself again..... My wife and I are looking at liquidating our assets and going full time so I want to make sure I get it right the first time. I have had to re-think and re-do things too many times!! Maybe I should put this on the back burner until the 2015 HDT Rally and let my wife see what I am thinking of doing. Once she sees and understands my plans then it might be easier to make a decision.

when we 1st bought the coach - i didnt thing we'd really need a toad....and quite honestly we didnt factor it in (not that it broke the back or something, it was just unexpected cost).

i figured if anything i'd put my wifes miata or another car on our car trailer and go....but after our 1st couple of times out we realized once the jacks go down & the slides go out, we were there to stay.

we rented a car a couple of times (but that was a PIA getting to the rental location and dropping it off).

sometimes we haul the toad (jeep wrangler) even when we don't expect to use it....consider it insurance ('case something happens to the coach)....i can use the toad to run and get parts (if were broke down) or i could put the wife in the toad and let her continue on (to her parents or a hotel) while i wait for roadside assistance etc.

there are plenty of times that we leave the toad at home - camping locally or when we WANT to be trapped (no need to do anything other than relax).

while i like the MTD / sport chassis - they seem pricey & a weak value (when compared to a larger, more capable class 8)....you can buy a clean used 40+ foot (truck conversion) coach for less than what a tricked out MTD would cost.

Like I said, Don, I am going to be pulling a fiver, so I will have the truck to get around with. After driving big trucks for a living I would be comfortable even city driving in it. That is why I am questioning bringing a car. If I was going to do like you and stay in the truck/MH, then absolutely I would have a car with me.

Bush, I agree with you on the cost of the Sportchassis. ..BUT, I shopped around when cut a good deal when I bought mine used and I almost got my money back out of it when I sold it two years later. We were pulling a 53' gooseneck race car trailer with extra height, LQ, & a slide out with it. I almost broke out on the truck and trailer. That sale was what allowed us to pull the trigger on the Renegade a little sooner than expected. That truck and trailer was the only depreciating asset that I ever got my money back on. I have lost my shirt on everything else that has had wheels on it my entire life. :)

The only "problem" I see with a Sportchassis is the ones I see are about double or triple the price of what I could comfortably spend. For $15K I can set up a road tractor as a motorhome. I could spend the same money on a pick up, but I am thinking that at age 59 this in all reality would probably (hopefully?) be the last truck I ever buy. That is why I am looking in the direction I am.

I totally understand. Even owning one and enjoying it, there is definitely more bang for the buck out there if you are going to keep it. I just wanted to share that even though they are overpriced (relative), you can get really good $$ back out of them if you take care of them and get a good deal on one a few years old when you make your initial purchase.

As far as a MDT vs. HDT, I think HDT has a lot of advantages. Many of the HDT owners I've talked to at the 5 HDT Rally's I've attended have owned MDT before going HDT. Most of them will tell you they wished they hadn't gone MDT at all and gone straight to the HDT. Okay, now that we have that decision figured out.

Do you need a car on deck? There's plenty of people that use an HDT to pull their 5th wheel and then use it to drive around. There's probably more that bring some sort of shopper/touring veh. along. What are the cost differences? Building the deck is going to cost more. It's going to be a bit longer (which will make it not as nice to drive around for shopping, etc...) and it might make it harder to get into some camping areas. It's going to be more desirable for resale. This is a pretty important point here. Remember above where I said a lot more people are bringing some sort of veh. At some point you (or your kids after you die) are going to have to sell this truck. Maximize the sales potential. Even if you have a long deck doesn't mean you have to toss a car up on it.

For sure don't do anything until you attend a rally. The East Coast rally is in the spring. That would be a good one but it's a bit farther from us in MN. The National Rally in Hutchinson is great. Lots of rigs and info sessions.

I believe that will be my plan. I just looked and the dates are posted, but that seems to be about it for now. Guess I need to keep an eye on it to see when I can sign up.

You can sign up when you show up too. But you have to pay cash, no checks or charge. And there is a small late fee. I usually do that because I'm not organized enough to pre-register.

I think I will pre-register if I can.

If you pre-register then you get the t-shirt. I'm never organized enough to know for sure if I'll be able to make it.

Where and when is the east coast version?

we should have a truck conversion/super C rally in the "south".

I am definitely down for that. We could probably use the Nashville Super Speedway. They built it for Nascar but they never came. It is never used but extremely nice. It is on the 840 loop right outside of Nashville. I could make a call if anyone else would be interested. I would think that we could get a couple of manufactures to show up as well.