renn911

Can you get two Porsches back to back with a fifth wheel trailer safely? Tow vehicle is a Ford F250 diesel.
Thanks in advance

sleder

How long is that 5th wheel?

renn911

I’ve seen them advertised up to 48 feet and my 993 is about 14 feet long. I’m not sure how much of that 48 feet would be usable floor space? How much space would you need between the cars, and the front and rear of the trailer? The smallest size I could safely get away with would be what I’d be looking for.
Has anyone found a standard (non fifth wheel) trailer that could accommodate two cars?

Tony356993

I do not but I'm thinking about it also.

Crazy Canuck

It can be done without too much problem. With an F250 you're going to have to keep that 5th wheel relatively light so that the combined weight of trailer, car 1, car 2, tires, gear, beer cooler etc. are under the tow rating of the truck.

You'll like how the fifth wheel (more likely a gooseneck) tows.

It can also be done with a stacker but then you're into greater height, higher weights, bigger tow vehicle and more $$$.

cavlino

You could easily get two even three cars, especially 993s in a Gooseneck trailer but an F250 would not legally (and probably not safely) be able to tow it because you would be easily exceeding your maximum Gross Combined Weight rating. Gooseneck trailers, think of a Horse Trailer is what are used for Car Haulers. Fifth wheel trailers are used for Campers. The hitch on a Gooseneck can take more pounding then a Fifth wheel so they are used on trailers that will most likely be driven on rough surfaces. In any case you need at least 2 feet between the cars and the front and back of the trailer. So for 2 Cars at 14 feet each that means you need a trailer that is at least (14' X 2 Cars) + (2' front, 2' between, 2' back) = 34 feet. A 34 foot Gooseneck trailer that is strictly a Car Hauler (no living quarters included for camping) will probably weight about 8,000 pounds. Add the weight of the cars at say 3000 pounds each, that's a total weight of 8,000 + 3,000 + 3,000 = 14,000 pounds. This pulling weight alone is under the maximum a F250 can pull but I expect your truck weighs a bit more then 6,000 pounds so your GCW would be at about 20,000 pounds and I think that is close to or just above the maxium legal weight for the truck.

I pasted in here some text from the Ford Site that details Towing Capacities.

For a 2 car Goose/5th wheel trailer you would be better off with a F350 Dually. If you are wondering why I know so much about this its because I had an F250 PSD and need to upgrade to a F350 PSD to safely and legally pull my Gooseneck Living Quarters Car Hauler. I don't pull 2 Cars instead I pull one car and have 22 feet of living/camping space. Its what I call a House on Wheels with attached garage

SUPER CA B: MA X. CON VENTIONAL /MA X. 5TH -WHEL TO WIN G
F-250/F-350 SRW — 12,500/16,700 lbs.
F-350 DRW — 15,000/18,800 lbs.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/s...eatures/specs/

cavlino

Chris knows a lot about trailers so I would definitely listen to him

Crazy Canuck

Gooseneck = 2 5/16" ball (used almost exclusively with horse trailers and about 90% of car/equipment/enclosed trailers.)
Fifth Wheel = Kingpin (used almost exclusively with RV trailers, sometimes with car/equipment/enclosed trailers at the request of the customer.)

Gooseneck is stronger - 25,000#, cheaper and less obtrusive in the box of the truck

34' + 8' riser area (elevated area above box of truck) requires a 42' trailer (at a minimum)

Specs for such a beast. Bare the trailer weighs a shade less than 8000#. Lighter trailers are also available but I'd be surprised to see one less than 7000# unless it is aluminum.

Newer 3/4 tons have a tow rating in the 12,000 to + - 14 000 # depending upon engine, transmission, differential, alignment of the stars etc.

It can be done. But it's getting close to the max tow rating of the truck.

Z-man

Two couples in our club (NNJR PCA) trailer their two Porsches via open two-car gooseneck trailers they pull with their heavy duty trucks.

If you wish, I can get contact info for you - PM me if you want this info.
-Z-man.

Weston Dillard

I towed a 32 foot Kauffman tag with 2 944s behind an F250 for a couple of years, no problem. A gooseneck should be even easier. Get brakes on both axles and a good brake controller. I like the tag hitch because if can also be hauled by a Suburban or Excretion, which is what I have now.

Highly recommend Kauffman. They are out of North Carolina.

West

Hot Oil

You should have no problem towing that rig witth the F250, though you didn't indicate the model year, cab configuration or wheelbase.

Wait until you see the new 2008 Ford F450 Pick Up Truck! Maximum 5th wheel trailer weight is an amazing 24,500lbs so throw in the hot tub and pool as well for after the race. I should have one at my dealership at the end of February.

Good luck and have fun.

Bob

smlporsche

I have an F-350 SRW that I use in my business (construction) and hauling my enclosed car trailer.

I tow a fair amount of different trailers and will tell you that a gooseneck (like Chris said) is definitely better for towing heavy loads than a tag. The hitch is just forward of the rear axle which makes the ride much smoother. Also, they now have gooseneck hitches where the ball can be pulled out and reversed in the slot thereby giving you a completely flush bed again. Very nice.

Darth Coupe

I tow our two Porsches in an open steel 2 car hauler in our F250 and are under the tow rating of the truck. I am anywhere from 8000-9000 lbs. I use a weight distributing tandem pull set up, not gooseneck or 5th wheel, and it pulls great. The rating on my weight distribution hitch is 10K lbs and the truck can handle up to a 12.5K lb weight distribution set up.

MarkPcar

Aluminum stacker with aluminum lift - 6,500lbs empty. 20' box with 4-5' Vnose. Tows great with the toter or an F350 dually.

see http://www.aluminumtrailer.com/

944Cup

Have been towing 2 944's with a small ATV behind the cars for the last 6 years with no real problems in an F350 and 32' tag along. Have 110k miles on the truck, 75% of which are tow miles. Have only had to replace turbo and front brakes once.

Would suggest 3 axles for the trailer. Previously had a Gooseneck. Prefer the tag as it requires much less room to make turns.