Towing a fifth wheel toy hauler w/ LMTV

[Poolboy 7631]

First post, looking for direction. Starting to plan for retirement and the plan is travel the states with a toy hauler. Last night I conjured up this idea of getting LMTV, putting a fifth wheel plate in/on the bed and using it as a tow vehicle. Looking at a GVWR on the toy hauler of 20,000 lbs. Before doing too much research, I am looking for input. Not afraid of brutal honesty, so bring it. Thanks ahead of time, this may save my long days of going down a rabbit hole to only be disappointed in the end.

 

[simp5782]

Your 5th wheel is going to be 5.5ft in the air with it in the bed at the minimum and 4ft off the ground with it on the frame with no bed.

Bed floor height to ground is 60.5in frame height to ground is 44in.

 

[Crazyguyla]

The LMTV bed isn't designed for things to be bolted to it. We ran into this problem when our unit turned in deuces for LMTVs. You'd have to fabricate a mounting plate for the fifth wheel.

 

[coachgeo]

The LMTV bed isn't designed for things to be bolted to it. We ran into this problem when our unit turned in deuces for LMTVs. You'd have to fabricate a mounting plate for the fifth wheel.

someone put a goose neck ball on the A1's extendable hitch. All I know is it worked....... but have not heard how well.

 

[Third From Texas]

someone put a goose neck ball on the A1's extendable hitch. All I know is it worked....... but have not heard how well.

I thought I had that "bumper fifth wheel" bookmarked but I don't see it.

I'd love to do a full custom fifth wheel bed, but as pointed out you'd be pretty damned tall.

Jobsite Assault Vehicle

Happy to help. Were gonna need pics now...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[Mullaney]

First post, looking for direction. Starting to plan for retirement and the plan is travel the states with a toy hauler. Last night I conjured up this idea of getting LMTV, putting a fifth wheel plate in/on the bed and using it as a tow vehicle. Looking at a GVWR on the toy hauler of 20,000 lbs. Before doing too much research, I am looking for input. Not afraid of brutal honesty, so bring it. Thanks ahead of time, this may save my long days of going down a rabbit hole to only be disappointed in the end.

.
Other than height, what about brakes on the trailer? Guessing that most toy haulers are electric brakes. You will need to install a trailer brake controller - and most of those are for hydraulic (standard vehicle) brakes. You would need an air actuated controller. I did a quick search and didn't find one?? so that might be a real problem.

WITH MORE DIGGING, I found a Hayes Brake H79-100400C Air Actuated Controller
Good bit more expensive than a "pickup truck" controller.

 

[Third From Texas]

.
Other than height, what about brakes on the trailer? Guessing that most toy haulers are electric brakes. You will need to install a trailer brake controller - and most of those are for hydraulic (standard vehicle) brakes. You would need an air actuated controller. I did a quick search and didn't find one?? so that might be a real problem.

I've seen folks add electronic brakes to LMTVs.

Never really looked into the specifics, but it's been done.

 

[Mullaney]

I've seen folks add electronic brakes to LMTVs.

Never really looked into the specifics, but it's been done.

I found an air actuator for the toy hauler idea...
See Post #6 above.

 

[Bill Nutting]

I added electric breaks to my M934. I already had a 12 volt system for the camper section so I have a good 12 source. I used a 24 volt relay that operates with the break lights. The relay switches 12 volts to the controller. I use a Draw Tight controller that has graduated output when the breaks are applied. I tow a 32' covered trailer with a M37 and M151 inside. The loaded trailer is around 13,000 lb. The breaks work very good. I would not tow that kind of load without them. Instead of a fifth wheel could you use a straight hitch toy hauler? I don't even know if they make such a thing. I mounted a class 5 hitch on my 934. It turns out that a GMC 3500 has the same frame rail width as our AM General 5 tons. I set the ball height to match my F250 so the trailer sits level.

 

[Bill Nutting]

Here is a photo of my “toy hauler”…

 

[Mullaney]

Here is a photo of my “toy hauler”…
View attachment 845984

.
That's a nice looking rig!
PLENTY of room to haul stuff along with a place to hang your hat if you get tired.

Kinda interesting that there is an adjustable intensity from just the light bulb wire to energize the trailer brakes. The ones I have seen and installed were cut into the brake line. The harder you press the brake, the more action in the trailer braking. That air operated version does the same thing (after I did some reading). The one in my one ton van has a hydraulic and you can actually see the lever move to the right during braking.

It always amazes me what people can create with a little ingenuity

 

[eric67camino]

I believe that brakes and lights would be best done with a 12v/24v converter and use the electric trailer brakes.

As far as the hitch issue, would the tractor version of the lmtv be an option? Or the same hitch height issue? If low enough, then would tires clear the trailer in a turn?

 

[Mullaney]

I believe that brakes and lights would be best done with a 12v/24v converter and use the electric trailer brakes.

As far as the hitch issue, would the tractor version of the lmtv be an option? Or the same hitch height issue? If low enough, then would tires clear the trailer in a turn?

.
The LMTV tractor, M-1088 will be really tall too at almost 5 feet. These trucks, the Stewart & Stevensons followed later by Oshkosh were built to have 90% of the same components. Frame rails, brakes, air systems, seats, lights, all the "common" parts. The beds are what gives each model its "character". So, aside from all my rambling - they are all pretty much the same height.

You could build a drop hitch. Several of the guys have done that.



This particular one is the M-1088 that has a drop hitch and a 5th wheel ball on it along with the pintle hitch.

 

[eric67camino]

.
The LMTV tractor (M108 will be tall too at almost 5 feet. These trucks, the Stewart & Stevensons followed later by Oshkosh were built to have 90% of the same components. Frame rails, brakes, air systems, seats, lights, all the "common" parts. The beds are what gives each model its "character". So, aside from all my rambling - they are all pretty much the same height.

Makes sense. I wasn't sure if the hitch mounted I'm the bed of the 2.5 ton M1078 would be higher that mounted on top of the frame rails of the 5 ton M1088. My thought was that losing the bed thickness might shave some height.

 

[Mullaney]

Makes sense. I wasn't sure if the hitch mounted I'm the bed of the 2.5 ton M1078 would be higher that mounted on top of the frame rails of the 5 ton M1088. My thought was that losing the bed thickness might shave some height.

.
The picture (Post #13) that I finally found actually drops almost a foot of height - down to the frame rails.

 

[simp5782]

I believe that brakes and lights would be best done with a 12v/24v converter and use the electric trailer brakes.

As far as the hitch issue, would the tractor version of the lmtv be an option? Or the same hitch height issue? If low enough, then would tires clear the trailer in a turn?

LMTVs have both 12pin 24v and 12v 7 round plugs

 

[simp5782]

This works as well

Hay Train

Who's Baling?

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[chucky]

This works as well

Hay Train

Who's Baling?

www.steelsoldiers.com

This is pure genius !!! I have never seen such a thing (poverty the mother of all inventions) This is crazy cool my farmer buddies will lose their minds when they see this ! Thanks for posting the pictures.

 

[TomTime]

Here you go... Look at #6, #7 and #9

LMTV pulling a Gooseneck

Decided to equip the LMTV to pull a gooseneck. Will have trailer brakes and lights. More to come. Pulled the receiver hitch out of the frame section and prepping it for the cody hitch I use in my F350. More to come this weekend. Justin Wehring 979 997 3112

www.steelsoldiers.com

...and this...

Wehring LMTV Mods

The crimpers and pins arrived today. Time to wire up the cruise control. justin

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[TomTime]

Here you go, room on the top!