I am seriously considering getting a Suzuki Samurai to bring during our camping trips. In state only trips within the state law of towing. No explicit prohibition of tandem tongue pull, no license endorsement required. The question, how to tandem/double pull for consideration. Tow vehicle F250 Crew cab short bed 7900# dry, probably 9500# loaded camp ready. 10K hitch & ball. Travel Trailer ~6500# packed Double axle brakes on each, I lose 800lbs if I drained all water white/brown/black. Not likely to lose much weight on return home. Tongue rated @ 10K. Suzuki Samurai documented @ 2100# stock but I assume reality is ~3000# I know some people are going to think I am crazy. I did the math I have the GCW/GVWR. So here are the two setups I am considering to ensure safety. OPTION 1. The 23' travel trailer (tongue pull) will ALWAYS have the anti sway engaged. It works and will never go with out it ever regardless if I tandem pull. The Samurai flat towed behind travel trailer OPTION 2. The 23' travel trailer (tongue pull) will ALWAYS have the anti sway engaged. It works and will never go with out it ever regardless if I tandem pull. Place the Samurai on a single axle trailer and ADD an anti sway bar. Problem is second trailer weight may place me over the GVWR. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thoughts on which option? I would prefer not to add a second trailer and not sure how to Samurai would behave flat towed in option 1. Did I just make you shake your head. Did you utter something profane? Or possibly since the invention of the trailer anti sway bars does this seem reasonable with option 2?
I definitely wouldn’t trailer the Suzuki. The travel trailer isn’t designed to carry the tongue weight of the trailer/suv combo. Have a reputable welding shop fabricate a hitch that attaches to your travel trailer frame, do not pull anything with the bumper! Also, make sure your weight distributing hitch/anti-sway is up to snuff. You want two anti sway devices. Obviously a 5th wheel camper would work better in this scenario. The issue with a lot of smaller travel trailers is that they’re built very light in order to be towed by smaller vehicles, this means yours might not be strong enough to handle the extra weight being pulled behind it.
As far as I knew you could only tow double with a 5th wheel setup, and only in a few states. (not including commercial trucks) and typically pickup truck type setups dont do that great, but it has been done. ANY weight you add to the back of your bumper pull travel trailer will take the much needed wight from the tongue and this gets dangerous as the trailer starts to sway. "tail wagging the dog"
Get a motorcycle or quad that fits in The bed of the truck. Way safer. I pull doubles on occasion but it is the "big" truck kind. Sux in the wind. Once yours sways you will know and I bet after the white knuckle activity and cleaning your drawers out you wont want to pull it again. And that is if you get it back under control. Even worse would be to "loose it" and cause more damage or take a life. Bad Plan in my opinion.
I see guys pulling tandems like that once in awhile. Can't recall a car as the tandem. My concern is your adding 3k pushing on the bumper of your camper with no brakes. Seems to me that would be a disaster in a panic stop/swerve maneuver. I could see the samurai pushing the camper to the side. I say get your wallet out and buy an RV and be done with it. Edit- i reread your post. If you're considering doing this off a bumper hitch and not a 5th wheel you're out of your mind..
I double pulled behind a 2500 Hd duramax crew cab / 32’ fifth wheel and 16’ jet ski trailer combo. It was 1’ under the 65’ state law. I don’t miss those trips to the lake . White knuckled all the way. Other drivers cutting in my cushion I allowed to the vehicle in front of me caused more than a few cases of road rage. Typically the trailer frames aren’t designed for such a heavy 2nd pull and definitely not behind a tongue type trailer. I eventually switched to a toyhauler and winched in the jet ski. A much better set up
Im not sold on the idea of tandem tow but I do like considering all options with discussion. Here is the one video I have found. I have seen definitively only one person doing a tt pull with a fishing boat. Most others have been 5th Wheel with trailer or 2nd vehicle pull.
The samurai in stock form will fit in an 8' bed with tail gate down. Rear tires rest at the seam of the gate and edge of bed. I know because I did it with my last samurai and my old 1989 F250....but now with this 2004 f250 I have a 6.5' bed
I'll admit the 8' did the job. 10' flat would be much better. Or https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/04/chevys-8-12-foot-bed-longhorn-truck-hauls-more-ass/
You claim your truck weights approximately 9,500lbs loaded, I assume the GVWR of your truck is 9,900lbs or so. That leaves you with 400lbs of reserve payload capacity. If the tongue weight of the trailer is not factored into this 9,500lbs you’re already overweight. No way you can put 2-3K lbs in the bed and tow a travel trailer.
wrong term used, GCWR or GTM or GCW, though I did use GCW. The numbers are 20,000# max GCWR, towing is 13700 based upon truck OEM configuration.
Maybe you'd be better off putting the samurai directly behind the truck and then hitching the camper to the samurai. The suzuki probably has a bumper mounted ball rated for 500 lbs..
Not all states will let you tandum pull. Those that will have length regulations. Check regs for truck pull or tractor pull as they are different. Mikey
