Laredo - moving with landing gear dollies?

[gkainz]

My new Laredo 245RL won't go in my back yard parking spot where my old 27' Tioga C used to live.

I can't (yet) pull forward into my back driveway, as the rear bumper scrapes before the trailer tires clear the dip. I will address this issue this spring, either with blocks and planks, or regrade and re-asphalt the approach.

I can, however, back it up the driveway and not scrape, but once even with the house, I can't make the corner due to truck ending up in the gate area and no room to maneuver. It's currently on the level area, and needs to turn 90° and then back up about 20', whereas I could rehitch and finish parking.

So, are the landing gear legs strong enough to stand up to moving the trailer with the gear down on some vehicle or equipment dollies (strong enough to bear the hitch weight, of course)?

Thanks!
Greg

[Jim W]

Greg,
In my humble opinion the landing legs will not withstand any side loading at all. These are hollow tubes that are designed for column loading only and supporting the load in placed on them from above. If you apply any type of bending load on them they will bend and then collapse damaging the camper.

If you want to move the camper not attached to the TV. I would suggest some type of power dolly that will support the camper from the king pin as a TV would. This should be sufficiently strong enough to support the camper and any bending and twisting that would occur in positioning the camper.

There is an aftermarket tow dolly manufacture that is selling a 5 wheel tow dolly that will support the 5er if towed by a bumper pulled hitch. I forgot the manufactures name.
I think this could be modified by adding an electrical motor and gear set that could be used to move the camper. Just a suggestion.
Jim

[hankpage]

I have been in a few campgrounds that were so tight they used a bucket loader or Bobcat to put your trailer in your site.(lifting from the pin) This is an option until you can make adjustment to your property. I agree with Jim on the design of the landing gear.
I know what you mean by the gate ....... I have to be dead on at that point or I have to pull all the way out and start over. See if a local landscaper with a Bobcat can help and make sure he's insured. Good luck, Hank

[Ruffus]

Forklifts work too, got any friends with a forklift?:D

[gkainz]

Thanks for all the feedback - much appreciated. I grew up in a construction company so my standard answer for all the points about bobcats, forklifts, buckets, front end loaders, et al is "I used to have that..." :( but now I'm 200 miles away from all of those fun toys.

So, for now, it will just stay parked where it is.

this one
http://www.powermoverinc.net/htmls/pmfift3.jpg

found on Power Mover Inc (http://www.powermoverinc.net/htmls/pmfifthwheelmover.html) looks like the idea I've been thinking about, sort of - but I'm picturing a tripod setup on a 3 castor base with either a pipe section welded at the top to capture the pin, or maybe a full pipe from king pin to base and still use a tripod leg setup. I have a spare aircraft power mover setup that should be able to push my unit around on the flat concrete enough to turn and park it.