Use class 8 tractor to haul RV

http://www.sportchassis.com/

 

I've used one to pull a gooseneck horse trailer for a farm I worked at... mid-90s Freightliner FLA or FLB COE with a 14 liter Cat and a seven speed Eaton Fuller... think it was an old Consolidated Freight truck. Pulled the horse trailer fine.

 

If you're going to use a class 8 truck to haul an RV, you should install a fifth wheel hitch from a pickup on it. The pickup units allow more side to side pivoting whereas the fifth wheel on a big rig does not rock side to side. Apparently using the larger fifth wheel is risking damage to the kingpin mount on the RV.

There is also an inherent flex in the chassis of a pickup truck which the class 8 unit does not have.

 

I seen a few of them in FL doing it when I was staying in my unit down there. I have started looking into some myself. I have a friend in New England who has been doing it for a few years now. She pulls a very large fifth wheel toy hauler. Most pickups would have trouble pulling her trailer. She hasn't had any issues that I know of.

 

The biggest concern is leaving enough room for the trailer to swing so not to hit the mud flaps. Sliding the 5th wheel all the way to rear fixes that. They have on the market a special brake adapter that is plumbed into the truck air brake system to activate the electric brakes on the RV trailer.. RV trailers don't have air brakes. Just the motor homes so far. A class 8 tractor is more stable. Not as easy to navigate camp grounds as a pickup is. More room in the cab. I think better visibility when towing.
I am considering going that route. I can put a RV or Motor home tag on my Freightliner . Easy as changing registration from commercial vehicle to RV . You don't have to pull a trailer . Tag says RV you are good to blow by the scales. Unless the sign says RV's and buses must enter.

 

I put a electric brake controller in my Pete when I was pulling my 2 car enclosed. You hook it up the same as you would in a standard vehicle.

 

Sho-Tyme
I haven't researched it much as I have to work another two years or so before I can convert it. I am considering converting my 48 foot air ride van to a useable camper type . Still figuring out how to adapt the swing doors.

 

Before you entertain yourself with this idea, you should go to a place where they actually use discuss them in depth -

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showforum=32

This is where we discuss the use of a tractor pulling an RV or being one.

To the admin/mods, I don't know if this is allowed, it is isn't, just delete the post.

 

Having explored this in the past the first hurdle you need to check into is getting the vehicle re-classified in order to tag it and the bigger one, insure it. Some states are a whole lot easier than others. Then just remove the Class 8 5th wheel, the front drive axle, move the rear axle to where the front one was, cut the frame rails off and install a rocker hitch designed for RV's. Electric brakes for the trailer, re-wire the light plug on the truck and roll on.