mini 5th wheel trailer option

[JBG3]

discussing with the GF teardrops, for either her car or mine

Im sure that lots of us have seen this vid, but who wants to build one of these?   

Strikes me as a genius idea, perfect for a mk1 or mk2, bolting the hitch to the roof.  I wonder how hard this would be to build as a structure attached to a existing small trailer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLe3kiNGWyk&feature=related

I just want to be the guy driving around and around in circles with a trailer attached like this   

[R.O.R-2.0]

at first mention of mini 5th wheel, i thought it was gonna be something SUPER GHETTO...

but it turns out to be SUPER DUPER COOL!!!

[JBG3]

right?  why arent there a million of these things is my question?

The one in the video seems like it might be easy to tip, but I wonder if there are any sway issues with this.  My favorite part is you take the concept of tongue weight and throw it out the window. 

[camboscams]

At first glance of the title i thought it was gonna be for a caddy, which would be cool, but this kicks ass!

[JBG3]

Just thought of a potential issue with this setup.  It would cut the corner on turns pretty sharply.  Wouldn't follow behind the car, you'd have to be super careful on turns on where the trailer was tracking.    Still awesome though

[410]

That is Awesome!  You could park that fifth wheel anywhere you could imagine.  Do you have difficulties backing up with a Trailer?  No problem, just spin the car around and away you go.

[ORCoaster]

Couldn't we use this idea for a more normal trailer that was less tall and would be used more or less for hauling things like engines, rock and scrap metal to the recyclers?   You really have to think about that roof attachment though don't you?  I would be looking for something that didn't just attach to the rain gutters.  Just look what they use in the back of a pickup truck for a true 5th wheel trailer.  Rather stout. 

[GTiTDi]

Holy sheeat! I'm sketching out an adaptation of that design to work for a mk2 GTI..screw westphalias! I'd rather park my camper at the campsite and take the gti out on some nice scenic twisties!
 

[8v-of-fury]

Just look what they use in the back of a pickup truck for a true 5th wheel trailer.  Rather stout. 

Those trailers are grossing what 15,000lbs? lol. I think it is a slightly stupid idea, if it were really as brilliant as it seems.. Don't you think it would still be around?

[pointynoggin]

if you brake on a corner the car will flip.  the load needs to be applied as low as possible to reduce the overturning moment.

Although the idea looks cool enough for some sucker to spend money to develop it.  kind of like that flying car that looks cool but doesn't fly.

[rabbitman]

if you brake on a corner the car will flip.  the load needs to be applied as low as possible to reduce the overturning moment.

Although the idea looks cool enough for some sucker to spend money to develop it.  kind of like that flying car that looks cool but doesn't fly.

That's kinda what I was thinkin'. It would be awful tempting to load up the trailer and haul lots of weight but that would be asking for trouble......

[ORCoaster]

The tow car in this case already had a name that VW never endorsed.  The Flip It!  So now you can attach a trailer to the base model and get extra roll when you roll.  How cool is that? 

This trailer has to be made out of Crete paper and cardboard and would likely collapse in a good rain.  What do you think 600 lbs with wheels and axle?

 

[JBG3]

if you brake on a corner the car will flip.  the load needs to be applied as low as possible to reduce the overturning moment.

Although the idea looks cool enough for some sucker to spend money to develop it.  kind of like that flying car that looks cool but doesn't fly.

well, heres a dose of reality.   

That makes perfect sense, non only would the trailer track from the midpoint of the car and make it more than a little difficult to negotiate turns since it would be constantly cutting corners, it would also flip the car just as easily as you say.  Even if you cut a corner and popped one of the trailer tires up on a curb, it would pull the car up and maybe over, the thing would be hell to actually drive. 

That would be a heck of a price to pay for being about to drive around in circles like the video.  Makes more sense to just buy a regular teardrop, and get good at backing it up. 

[JBG3]

The tow car in this case already had a name that VW never endorsed.  The Flip It!  So now you can attach a trailer to the base model and get extra roll when you roll.  How cool is that? 

This trailer has to be made out of Crete paper and cardboard and would likely collapse in a good rain.  What do you think 600 lbs with wheels and axle?

 

it does look pretty flimsy, bet your weight estimate is close.  Another concern is winds, that thing would get blown over pretty easily, and pull the car with it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwOqARlw1EI&feature=related

[R.O.R-2.0]

i haul a small 4x8 utility trailer with my GTI, and it gets hairy sometimes, and ive loaded my car/trailer down with almost as much weight as the car its self..

mind you, i wasnt going very far towing that 1900 lbs.. but it was kinda scary, for sure..

that roof hitch, bad idea.. thats why its a commercial, not something we can go buy..