Please bare with me while I explain what I want to do. I am looking at getting a flat bed to pull my 5th wheel (don't own anything yet...but lets say it is 16K lbs loaded). I want to be able to take my Harley with me, strap it down right behind the cab. It would be even better if I could take the Harley and my 4 wheeler. That would take about 7 feet behind the cab of the truck. Also for the times I go 4 wheeling with my brother on our little vacations I would just like to use the flat bed to haul 2 or 3 4 wheelers and pull his small travel trailer behind. I will be doing all this when I retire in 2 years and I have NO experience at all.

So the questions are:
What size flatbed do I need to pull a fifth wheel and at least 3 feet clearance behind the cab, what if I want 7 feet clearance?

What wheelbase size do I need to look for? I am under the impression that the 5th wheel hitch has to be right over the rear wheel axle, again I have no clue. So I know there is a clearance issue from the 5th wheel hitch to the bumper of the truck, what is that distance?

Is there a 5th wheel hitch that can be easily removed to allow me to use the whole be for my 4 wheelers?  

If I were to get say a 16' flatbed how hard would that be to park the 5th wheel at campgrounds, assuming there is no pull through spots.

Since I am new to all this, maybe there is something I didn't think about so feel free to educate me on all the questions I didn't ask

Thanks for reading.

I cannot answer your questions about the flat bed but what I see has been the hitch is more to the rear than regular trucks. Just 2 weeks ago I followed a (guess) 35 ft toy hauler and noticed how the side winds were causing him to weave back and forth and he semed to not be able to go faster then 45 mph because he was really fighting the wheel. Finally after several miles we could pass and it was a 3/4 ton dodge flatbed with the fifthwheel hitch at the rear of the bed. I then knew why he was working so hard to drive when we were not feeling the side winds in our 35 ft fifthwheel and dually chev.
chevman

It sounds like it could work, but I've got to say that after 4 years on the road, I've never seen a flat bed pulling a fifth wheel. That should tell you something. I also think you might have problems in RV parks maneuvering with a long truck. Also the hitch has to be directly over the axle, which may be a spacing problem with a long flat bed.

What you have in mind may seem unique, but there's ALWAYS someone who has done it before or is doing it again in the present.

You really need to go and check out "going' RV Boondocking" a site and blog by "Brian" a self described "Cowboy" and motorcycle enthusiast.

You can find his site here:  http://www.rv-boondocking-the-good-life.com/

And his blog here: http://daily-blog.rv-boondocking-the-good-life.com/

He's doing exactly what you're wanting to do, and has towed with a flatbed rig 2 tow vehicles ago.

Enjoy!

Thanks, I will check that site out. I may just go with a HDT, lots of people seem to be doing that.

I use an HDT (Heavy Duty Truck aka converted semi tractor) to pull my 5th wheel and I haul our Goldwing on the back of the truck using a Rampage electric ramp system.

I am not sure what size of truck you are considering but would agree with the others on hitch placement if you are considering just a regular pick up with a flat bed in place of the regular bed. With a class 7 or 8 truck (heavy hauler type) you can move the hitch back on the frame rails behind the rear axles. Remember these trucks are designed and built to carry a lot more weight than what we would (or even could) ever put on them hauling our 5th wheels.

My truck had already been converted for RV use. One of the rear dual axles has been removed and the box/bed built and mounted. My hitch is centered over the axles just because my truck has a fairly long wheelbase and I have the room I need between the back of the cab and the hitch. I could move the hitch to the very rear of the frame rails if I needed more room.

There are several places I can reccomend you look for more information, One is Jack Mayer's website.  http://www.jackdanmayer.com/

and the other is the Escapees HDT forum: http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?s=72457565218d5cec74d3b96d133e7d70&showforum=32

Browse through both of these and you will find lots of information to consider. You will find folks that haul Smart Cars, motorcycles, golf cars and 4 wheelers on the beds of their trucks.

A nice used HDT can usually be purchased for quite a bit less than a new dually diesel pick up truck and if you shop around you may find one that is already set up for what you are wanting to do.

Here's another option http://towingdiversity.com/

Look  at this.  We also are looking for something to haul 2 bikes and I don't want to double tow.  I  talked with the company that makes these and they stated that it has a mount that needs to be welded onto the frame of the 5er and that it is considered an extension of the 5er.  He also states the axle is rated for 3000 lbs.

http://www.idahotote.com

I am leaning more towards a heavy MDT or an HDT that I can move the fifth wheel hitch to the back of and load the toys in the front. The reason I don't want a toy hauler is because I have yet to see one set up nicely... Some of these other options look nice, especially if I already had a capable truck, but since I will be starting out from scratch I might as well do it with an MDT or HDT... Thanks for all the responses...