hmm i wonder if the roof of a festiva could handle one of these?

[25Horseplay]

Well its obvious the trailer didn't work out so well, you don't see any being towed that way today!

[htc]

Aha!!! Not so fast... I did some searching trying to find out more about this trailer/towing setup and ran across this little piece of info. It turns out that its functionality might not be to blame for its extinction.

"Harmon Industries in Warrensburg, MO actually produced these campers for a couple of years and they were a lot nicer than the one in the video. My dad worked for the company and we owned one around 1973-74, we pulled it with a Toyota Celica. The 70's oil embargo doomed the RV industry at that time. Harmon industries quit manufacturing them and concentrated on its Railroad Electronics division. My dad worked for them for 37 years. Harmon Industries was bought by GE around 2002."

So, I did some physics and It yould take roughly 34mph to tip the festiva on 2 wheels (IF YOUR TOWING 1 TON TRAILER) Then the trailer needs to apply at least 45lbs of preasure to do the rolling... But you guys have fun driving like snails!!!!:laughing4:

I don't see any recent activity since 2010, but if you/anyone else can replicate and show your calculations, I'd like to see some numbers. I know that at 17/18 years old I had trouble with frictionless pulley and weight/acceleration calculations.

Anyway, sorry to kick a dying horse but I love this 5th wheel idea for its front -rear load balancing and its aerodynamic potential. More to research...

[htchbck]

alright, that's IT!!!! i'm building one.

Right behind ya! I'm sure Dustin will make one too Would love to see the looks we'd get with a couple of those in the middle of a festiva caravan!

[Safety Guy]

If trailer CG and whole shebang CG is that important, then make the connection an arm instead of an upper level trailer extension. This will simplify the build and help lower trailer CG, which I would ensure is very very low.

I love the 360 degree aspect, as it also promises to greatly ease "backing in" by eliminating "backing in." Instead, you can "front the trailer in."

I also see possibilities of a more aerodynamic pull while going fairly straight on the road. Maybe use some heavy duty rubber panels to "connect" car and trailer body along sides and top with those flexible panels.

If it's light and aero enough, we could easily beat the old Beetle/Shadow trailer's 18-20 mpg. I'd say we could easily up that 8 to 10 mpg.

Karl

[1988festivazoom]

U don't need one of those! This is my buddy phills testy pulling a 22ft camper trailer lol he just totaled the car but its been a real trooper!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWpe6eSmp7JA%26feature%3Dshare&feature=share&v=Wpe6eSmp7JA&gl=US

[htc]

...make the connection an arm instead of an upper level trailer extension. This will simplify the build and help lower trailer CG, which I would ensure is very very low.

Is this what you mean - as far as the general shape/structure... scaled down to festiva appropriate size/weight/capacity ect...

[FestYboy]

^ yup!