:? Hey guys - looking for advice. My wife and I have been using a tent for camping for past few years and the idea struck me to look into buying a small 5th Wheel, like 17 or 18 ft. Just wondering if anyone has had experience pulling one with an elky. I have an 87 with a strong 350, but just wondered if there might be problems with the mounting of the hitch and turning etc. Thanks in advance. Bob.

Bob, I dont think your problems would be those, but rather your rearend....how strong is it, is the correct question to ask. I mean both the gear ratio and the shocks and springs and tires etc...thats a lot of weight to put into an Elky bed, even as a small 5th wheel trailer.

I think you need to find out what the weight and torque spec's are as recommended by the trailer manufacturer, and see if your Elky can meet them. Also, the mounting point for the trailer (the part that goes into the bed) would have to be analysed for the requirements necessary to keep it from ripping out of the bed. That bed wasnt designed for that purpose, and I would think - but indeed could be wrong - that you would have to beef up the frame with some crossmembers to hold the hitch point in place and not overstress the bed floor.

do all your research carefully....the last thing you want to do is find out the answer to your question going up the winding road on the side of a mountain, or in high cross-winds on the interstate!!

Thanks Mike, that's the kind of input I'm looking for. I'll do some checking before I do anything. Thanks again. Bob.

Hey guys I am thinking of the same idea. Has anyone come up with anything new since this was posted? I have a real nice 74 small block 400 elky, which I am thinking about upgrading to meet the requirements of a 5th wheel. I have a spare 402 which I am thinking of using instead with a cam modification. Going to a 5speed auto trans and different gears in the rear. If I can find a 5th wheel assembly that will fit the bed (I hate to put holes in it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0

If the VW can, why not the Camino?

Two problems that I can see right off the bat,, like 72SS454fla stated, the 3rd member (stock) will not hold up to the weight/load of pulling a trailer, if I remember right the payload for an camino in the bed alone is 700#. The brakes is the second issue, a 5th wheel trailer would be 3500# to 5000# plus,, the brakes would have to be upgraded to the B body bigger brakes and a 7 pin connector with trailer brakes would have to be installed,, the frame would also have to be beefed up, the factory frame would have to be reinforced, now I have seen Camino`s on a Blazer 4wd frame, why not take a 2wd blazer frame (that would hold up to the task) and grafft it in,, that you tube video showed it could be done, but the VW 5th wheel was way high and thats another issue, the bed in the Camino is way lower than most pick ups, tow trucks. We as gearheads can make anything work but it is a saftey issue to me that it aint a good idea, I would love to see one but would it be safe in a loss of control issue?? Matty man