Now before i get attacked let me clarify, this wouldnt be for hauling loaded trailers down the road, this would just be for moving empty trailers around the property. Could a 1 ton with a flat bed and a standard fifth wheel pull a big rig trailer? or is the kingpin on the trailer too big.

Would need to raise the fifth wheel in your truck at least a few feet above the rear lip of your bed. Remember, semi trailers are not designed for trucks with a bed, they are flat front to back.

You wouldn't be able to turn once you're hooked up, straight ahead only. Kingpin is far back on a semi trailer, the front of the trailer would touch (or maybe actually be beyond) the cab of your truck.

You'd need air to release the parking brakes. Potentially, if you have an old leaky trailer, a LOT of air. You'd then need some method to apply the service brakes once you get the parking brakes released.

Empty 53' weighs about 15K empty and in some wind it'll push you around like a toy.

Translation: Not very realistic.

Not really possible.I move my empty's around with my loader after I manually release the brakes.

Now before i get attacked let me clarify, this wouldnt be for hauling loaded trailers down the road, this would just be for moving empty trailers around the property. Could a 1 ton with a flat bed and a standard fifth wheel pull a big rig trailer? or is the kingpin on the trailer too big.

My friend, who owns and operates his own small trucking business, has a fifth wheel dolly that attaches to his hitch (pintle, I think) on his CC dually, and this is how he moves his two van trailers around his property when the tractors are on the road with the flatbeds. No sure of the details of how it's connected, etc.

I would say the 1 ton could handle it, but it would take some modifying and make it a purpose-built truck.

You would need a flat bed and a way to mount the hitch near the back of the bed. Then you would need an air supply to disengage the parking brakes. I would guess if you are moving them around a property at like 5mph you really wouldn't need service brakes.

You can probably buy an old semi that would work a lot better than a 1 ton for about 10K

Yeah, a set of truck converter gear would get the job done. Converter gear is what you see when pulling doubles. It won't make backing that easy though.

Yeah, a set of truck converter gear would get the job done. Converter gear is what you see when pulling doubles. It won't make backing that easy though.

Two pivot points makes that a pain in the ass. Especially if you are trying to get the trailers maneuvered around a small yard.

A converter dolly will make it easier versus hooking it directly to the truck, that's for sure....it'll also take all issues of pin weight off the truck as well which I forgot to mention would be sizeable.

However I still wouldnt do it without the ability to apply the service brakes, especially using a dolly. Anyone who has ever pulled a trailer of this weight (15k) without brakes knows how well they stop...or rather, don't. Adding a converter dolly into this already dodgy mix without brakes is just asking for a fold-up situation while stopping. Bad situation.

yeah get a dolly.... would make it pretty easy. the longer the distance between the pintle and the king pin the better! this will give you room to get that dolly positioned anywhere you need it and no have to worry about the trailer getting close to your p/u truck.
but you can usually find old ratty dolly at local equipment auctions and even if you only find a short tongue one couple sticks of metal tube an a welder can easily get you where you wanna be!
if you happen to have any old propane tanks, or similar, tanks laying around they make good tanks for releasing the spring brakes(if you trailers are new enough to have them) buy a couple fittings and a valve and then you can just charge up the tank wherever you have a compressor. usually doesn't take to much air to release the brakes, unless your trailers are air ride... then they will hog up more air of course.

Get a dolly and eliminate the worries. If you can back a grain trailer, you can back a dolly.

thanks for the advice guys, i think i'll look into a dolly, if not, i have been seeing a few old tractors on craigslist on the cheap. maybe i'll look into one of those.

I had thought about getting an old 28ft pup trailer and putting two 10k axles under it with electric brakes. I wonder how a dually would handle that?

I had thought about getting an old 28ft pup trailer and putting two 10k axles under it with electric brakes. I wonder how a dually would handle that?

Empty weight will be about 8K or so before you ever put anything in it. You'd want tandem Dually axles under it probably for stability and effective braking.

Getting it hitched is your next issue, as discussed in this thread already. Pup trailers are potentially even worse in this regard as the kingpins can be further back if the trailer was originally spec'd for train usage.

If you use a converter dolly then you may have liscencing issues, assuming you plan to use it on-road. A converter dolly and a trailer hooked to it is technically considered double trailers, so state and Licence level limitations may apply. You would also have to convert the brakes on the dolly to electric as well since at those weights all axles (including dollies) must be braked.

yeah get a dolly.... would make it pretty easy. the longer the distance between the pintle and the king pin the better! this will give you room to get that dolly positioned anywhere you need it and no have to worry about the trailer getting close to your p/u truck.
but you can usually find old ratty dolly at local equipment auctions and even if you only find a short tongue one couple sticks of metal tube an a welder can easily get you where you wanna be!
if you happen to have any old propane tanks, or similar, tanks laying around they make good tanks for releasing the spring brakes(if you trailers are new enough to have them) buy a couple fittings and a valve and then you can just charge up the tank wherever you have a compressor. usually doesn't take to much air to release the brakes, unless your trailers are air ride... then they will hog up more air of course.
I've had a set of pups hit when making a sharp turn with our short tongue dollies.....just barely, but the pintle is a few inches under the trailer and it would be a foot or so behind your truck so that should give enough clearance.