Using front hitch to park TT?

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Camerong

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In another thread, I mentioned that I have a pretty tight spot to park my new TT at our house (the alternative is a storage lot nearby, but would prefer to park at my house). A couple people suggested getting a front hitch. I didn’t think much of it, because I didn’t want a front hitch welded on, but I found and purchased a front hitch that just bolts on and off our Nissan NV3500–so it’s not a permanent addition.
So, my plan is to install the front hitch and park it using that. I’m also planning to get a jack like below to take tongue weight off the front of the van
Questions:
1. Does this make sense? Am I missing anything?
2. Will having a WD hitch cause problems with this plan? Will I need to uninstall the WD hitch in order to get on the jack wheel and hitch to front of the van?

TT specs:
Hitch Weight:752 lb.
UVW6,028 lb.
CCC1,724 lb.
Exterior Length:33' 5"

Thanks for any thoughts!

1627346021840.jpeg
 
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Thread 'Can I get my TT into my driveway?' Can I get my TT into my driveway?

This is the previous post


Your going at this all wrong . That jack is really not for moving anything more than a few inches here or there and its on the trailer not the tow vehicle.
A front hitch accepts a ball mount thats all.
Your issue was the slope entering the drive way a front hitch is not going to change anything. The front hitch just makes it easier for some people to maneuver.
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Can I get my TT into my driveway?' Can I get my TT into my driveway?

This is the previous post


Your going at this all wrong . That jack is really not for moving anything more than a few inches here or there and its on the trailer not the tow vehicle.
A front hitch accepts a ball mount thats all.
Your issue was the slope entering the drive way a front hitch is not going to change anything. The front hitch just makes it easier for some people to maneuver.
To clarify, the jack would go on the TT, to keep too much weight from going on the front of the van. And I’m talking about moving the trailer less than 100’. It didn’t seem all that different than using a motorized trailer dolly, which have similar sized wheels, but this set up would obviously have a lot more power.

I believe the front hitch decreases the space needed to maneuver. It doesn’t just make it easier for some people but might make this doable in a space that it otherwise wouldn’t be possible. In looking at this in person, that was my concern and the concern of my father, who has been towing campers for a long time. He doesn’t think anyone could back it in, given the space.

As far as the slope goes, that may be true. I don’t know how to evaluate that without actually trying. Folks on the other thread didn’t seem to think it was impossible due to the slope, but maybe it is. If that’s the case, there’s probably no solution.

I do appreciate the thoughts though. I recognize my ignorance!
 
Lol not ignorant its all good. Those tongue jacks are solid wheels, and if you move your trailer a 100 ft with your tongue weight you will need a new one every time you move your trailer. There are optional tongue jacks that are better suited but i think you may find them quite expensive.
We would all like to keep our rvs at home me included, sometimes its just not feasible


Like this maybe but this is only 3600lb trailer you need 2or3 times that

 
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Unless the hitch weight lowers the front of the van so much it hits your slope, you don't need a trailer dolly. I used to have a front hitch for a boat trailer and it is way more maneuverable than the rear hitch. And you have a really good view out the front. You might need to put some weight in the back of the van for traction going up the slope.
 
Unless the hitch weight lowers the front of the van so much it hits your slope, you don't need a trailer dolly. I used to have a front hitch for a boat trailer and it is way more maneuverable than the rear hitch. And you have a really good view out the front. You might need to put some weight in the back of the van for traction going up the slope.
Hmmm, this will be interesting to see. The van actually was upfitted for 4wd, so I suppose if I have difficulty with the slope, I can kick it into 4 low! But I am not terribly excited about putting 752 bs (dry) on the front of my vehicle. I guess we can see how far down it sinks as I raise the tongue jack. I am afraid the front hitch will start out pretty low anyway, but I have not installed it yet to measure.
 
Lol not ignorant its all good. Those tongue jacks are solid wheels, and if you move your trailer a 100 ft with your tongue weight you will need a new one every time you move your trailer. There are optional tongue jacks that are better suited but i think you may find them quite expensive.
We would all like to keep our rvs at home me included, sometimes its just not feasible


Like this maybe but this is only 3600lb trailer you need 2or3 times that

Okay that is a good point about the wheel. Has me thinking about fabricating something with heavy-duty swivel pneumatics. But maybe my full-ton van can handle the weight without a dolly. Just for me to bottom-out on the slope anyway...
 
Make sure that your front hitch can support the tongue weight.

Here is a picture of what can happen if the tongue weight is WAY to much.

The first picture001.JPG is before. The other two show what can happen with a 25.000 pound Stacker Trailer with a hitch weight of about 3800 pounds.

I think that qualifies as a pretty dumb move. After I got my Trailer Toad to was easy and safe to move it that way.
 

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With a 1 ton upfitted for 4x4 (is it a Quigley?), I would not worry about the tongue weight. While the receiver may be low, you can get a ball mount that will make the trailer level - just reverse a drop hitch. You will need to tie up the WDH arms and just use the ball.
A front receiver can be handy. I have a winch stored in mine.
 
I am not sure what the suspension is like on the front of that van but if it is anything like a 1 ton truck they take plows that are very heavy so I don't think it would be too much weight for the van. Like someone else said make sure the hitch will take the weight.
 
I am not sure what the suspension is like on the front of that van but if it is anything like a 1 ton truck they take plows that are very heavy so I don't think it would be too much weight for the van. Like someone else said make sure the hitch will take the weight.
And besides, you are not driving at hiway speeds so handling isn’t an issue.
 
Why not just practice using the rear hitch. The benefit will be that you'd be able to back the camper into any State or Federal campground site.
Practice at the local church lot - bring sacrificial cones - or mediocre friends.
 
Here is my take and i apologize in advance for my bluntness.

If you cant back up your trailer properly you should not be driving it on the road period.
You need a licence to drive a bike,bus,semi,dump truck,taxi. You need to know what your doing - what if you get into a jam, you going unhook and hook up every time. Sorry no!
 
Here is my take and i apologize in advance for my bluntness.

If you cant back up your trailer properly you should not be driving it on the road period.
You need a licence to drive a bike,bus,semi,dump truck,taxi. You need to know what your doing - what if you get into a jam, you going unhook and hook up every time. Sorry no!

As I said before, the concern is that there is not enough room to back up the trailer, not that I won’t be able to handle it. A front hitch requires less space to navigate than a rear hitch.
If you can’t take the time to read posts earlier in a fairly short thread, you should not be posting. Period. Sorry to be blunt. And blocked.
 
As I said before, the concern is that there is not enough room to back up the trailer, not that I won’t be able to handle it. A front hitch requires less space to navigate than a rear hitch.
If you can’t take the time to read posts earlier in a fairly short thread, you should not be posting. Period. Sorry to be blunt. And blocked.
i saw your posts ( and looked at the pictures thank you ) from before there is enough room to park a bus in that spot i stand by my comments
 

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Here is my take and i apologize in advance for my bluntness.

If you cant back up your trailer properly you should not be driving it on the road period.
You need a licence to drive a bike,bus,semi,dump truck,taxi. You need to know what your doing - what if you get into a jam, you going unhook and hook up every time. Sorry no!
If this was the case there would be far less folks allowed to own RV’s.
 
If it can be pulled out from where it's parked by the rear bumper and can be backed in with the rear. Maybe little easier being parked by the front though.
 

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