Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Donmystic1 on July 20, 2012, 10:41:05 am

Title: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Donmystic1 on July 20, 2012, 10:41:05 am
Has anyone added a small trailer hitch to their front ends to make launching a small boat easier and to keep the drive wheels out of the water.
It could even be removable.
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: GMC_jon on July 20, 2012, 11:28:21 am
Your Foretravel probably has a receiver in the front if it's an earlier model.

FWIW

John
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Donmystic1 on July 20, 2012, 11:30:22 am
This is a 2000 36 ft U270
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: GMC_jon on July 20, 2012, 11:34:16 am
No MH listed in your profile 

Sorry,

John
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Donmystic1 on July 20, 2012, 01:52:33 pm
I don't own one yet, But have several on the burner that I can buy tomorrow.
Just getting all my ducks in order as to what I want to accomplish with a unit.
Don
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: oldmattb on July 20, 2012, 02:22:04 pm
I have one on my pickup.  It is called a spotting hitch.  I have used it to move our boat 1/4 mile from storage to the ramp, through a narrow residential street, around corners, and launch it.  Driving and pushing a trailer is easier than you might think, a lot easier than backing!

Matt B
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: red tractor on July 20, 2012, 04:33:53 pm
I think that might be a little tricky as there is no bumper on the front, only the generator access door
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Caflashbob on July 20, 2012, 05:45:54 pm
I think that might be a little tricky as there is no bumper on the front, only the generator access door

Figure out how to do it.  Need to launch watercraft with my u320. Please?

Bob
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Bill Willett on July 20, 2012, 06:28:13 pm
Watched one in camp ground, the ramp was wet from others launching the boats, motor home and boat were both in the lake.
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Caflashbob on July 20, 2012, 07:07:02 pm
Watched one in camp ground, the ramp was wet from others launching the boats, motor home and boat were both in the lake.

A diesel pusher with a front hitch?

Bob
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on July 20, 2012, 09:46:14 pm
Watched trucks with boats pulled out of the ocean several times. If the ramp is wet or slippery, I always approach at almost a right angle to the water and then jackknife the boat/trailer into the water. Don't have to spin the tires when pulling the boat back out either.

Pierce
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: John Haygarth on July 20, 2012, 11:50:30 pm
Bob, had one of the front ones on my old 93 GV. Great for putting my now sold Pontoon boat in the lake here.
John
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: John S on July 21, 2012, 06:43:33 am
I saw it done that way too. The newer FT have two recovery sleeve in them. I am sure a hitch could be put on. Be careful of the front brakes and front end if it is salt water as well as the genny.  But a older GV is better suited for this with a side mounted genset.
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Chuck Pearson on July 21, 2012, 10:11:10 am
A diesel pusher with a front hitch?

Bob

 
Figure out how to do it.  Need to launch watercraft with my u320. Please?

Bob

Front hitch will be tough to do.  You can't drop anything lower than the front lower channel of the genset subframe as it will scrape on inclines (flatnose bus style).  You'd need to cut a hole through genset cover.  Hitch will need to be tied back to front frame in a substantial style, lots of fabrication, the generator subframe is not adequate for additonal load, my opinion after rebuilding the one on my coach.

Really, the Grand Villa with its higher ground clearance, front receivers would be better for this job.  I'm pretty sure my unicoach would high center on most of the boat ramps I see around here, even with the suspension aired all the way up.  There's some advantages to those Torsilastic suspensions. 
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Caflashbob on July 21, 2012, 12:41:14 pm
 
Front hitch will be tough to do.  You can't drop anything lower than the front lower channel of the genset subframe as it will scrape on inclines (flatnose bus style).  You'd need to cut a hole through genset cover.  Hitch will need to be tied back to front frame in a substantial style, lots of fabrication, the generator subframe is not adequate for additonal load, my opinion after rebuilding the one on my coach.

Really, the Grand Villa with its higher ground clearance, front receivers would be better for this job.  I'm pretty sure my unicoach would high center on most of the boat ramps I see around here, even with the suspension aired all the way up.  There's some advantages to those Torsilastic suspensions.

The ramps I use are huge.  No high centering but I would be the talk of the day launching with a 40' Rv.

Old enough to have the Rv.  Young enough to have personal watercraft.  Hmmmm

Bob
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Bill Willett on July 21, 2012, 01:05:32 pm
On my early post I should have said it was a Journey with a front hitch.
Title: Re: Front Trailer hitch
Post by: Donmystic1 on July 21, 2012, 04:29:34 pm
Another option would be to have the campground where one stays launch the boat for you.
Anyone have any experience with this option.
I will be towing a 17 ft Zodiac rigid hull inflatable with a 60 hp motor, Weight less than 2000 ibs.