Conversion of Tag-along trailer to gooseneck

[Reg]

Somewhen a long time ago I saw some sort of an "adapter" that a tag-along (bumper-pull) trailer could be hooked to and become a gooseneck.
Basically a ball mount, rails going back from there to a bar that fitted across the A-frame and forward from the ball mount an up and over structure to reach the truck's gooseneck ball.
Hmmm, maybe not a good description, but if anyone remembers it and knows if it is still available I would appreciate some details.

I guess the "Why would you even WANT to ?" is;
to use an existing trailer
with a gooseneck hitch equipped truck
to get a bit of an upper deck
to improve the ride

The biggest con is short tracking, but if the driver is used to that it isn't a problem.
There might be a legality issue, dot approval, but if it was(is) made and certified for highway use I'm interested.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have seen them for both GN and 5th wheel campers. It looked like a lot to go wrong to me. I would stay away.

#1 You will be changing the geometry of the trailer.
#2 You will have to re-title it as "Home-built" that will = less value
#3 The were expensive. Somewhere in the 3-5K range.
#4 You will loose a considerable amount of weight carrying capacity due to the weight of the GN contraption, probably close to 1,000#

If you really need a gooseneck trade you trailer on a new one or sell it on CL and take the cash to put towards a new one.

If you want it because its cool then throw your money at it.

Chris

 

[Reg]

I have seen them for both GN and 5th wheel campers. It looked like a lot to go wrong to me. I would stay away.

#1 You will be changing the geometry of the trailer.
#2 You will have to re-title it as "Home-built" that will = less value
#3 The were expensive. Somewhere in the 3-5K range.
#4 You will loose a considerable amount of weight carrying capacity due to the weight of the GN contraption, probably close to 1,000#

If you really need a gooseneck trade you trailer on a new one or sell it on CL and take the cash to put towards a new one.

If you want it because its cool then throw your money at it.

Chris

I see the geometry change as positive.
As an "adapter" the trailer is unchanged, there is just a different method of attaching it to the truck.
I see no need to re-register the trailer itself as anything different, or to take a loss of value as it is unchanged.
I was assuming the capacity loss due to weight would be less than the gain, generally you can carry more pin weight than rear hitch weight - and its more stable.
Of course if the truck is maxed out for pulling it that is another story.

Price might still be the show stopper, but lack of dollar$ keeps me from many pleasures, so I won't be suicidally disappointed.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I saw a guy using one on a tri axle boat trailer that was a GN. I have dealt whit 100's of boat trailers and have only seen one other GN and it was factory built. Anyway, it was pushing down on the "A" frame of the trailer right about where you would put weight distribution bars and actually made the trailer sorta sway backed.

I agree you could carry more weight in theory. But in actuality your trailer has a GVWR and adding all that steel is going to put you at a loss at the end of the day. You are also increasing the arm from the axles to the coupler by some 8 feet or so. This will over stress that area of the trailer. The standard 60/40% split on the trailer will now be 70 or 80/30 or 20%.

Chris

 

[john_bud]

If you look at it from a $$ view point, you can probably sell the current trailer and buy a used GN for the same or less outlay and have a GN trailer much quicker.

 

[Reg]

If you look at it from a $$ view point, you can probably sell the current trailer and buy a used GN for the same or less outlay and have a GN trailer much quicker.

The situation is that I do HAVE about a 40ft gooseneck trailer and I have grown to really LIKE the ease with which I can back it, the better ride (vs see sawing on mild bumps with tag-along), and of course spin around U-turns on two lane roads when I get lost and have to (literally) double back.
So, I got to thunkin' through how nice it would be to be able to drive any/all of my other four trailers (one at a time) the same way - so that is how I got to this and I'm fairly sure I've seen it as an adapter that didn't weigh half a ton and didn't cost half a pound of precious metal.
No way I'm going to trade two boat trailers that are semi-custom built and fitted to their boats, one horse trailer and one equipment trailer... JUST to get gooseneck features on all of them. THAT would put me WAY too much money behind and I wouldn't be able to switch back to using the SUV to move them when the truck is tied up.
Perhaps this added perspective makes it a little less idiotic ?
(-:

 

[john_bud]

Perhaps this added perspective makes it a little less idiotic ?
(-:

Uh, not really (couldn't resist!)

But seriously, if you want a do-dad that slides over the front of a tag trailer and "converts" it into GN attachment - that does have some drawbacks.

It will weigh a lot. Maybe a half ton, maybe more or less. Don't know exactly, as that would depend on what trailer size it was going onto. A 12k tag would need a lot more beef than a 3k, etc. It would also move the original tag hitch back about 5-6 foot so that it can clear the rear bumper/fenders. That would really change the weight and would probably make some balance issues surface. If it is to be universal for 3 trailers, that will take some engineering.

A buddy used to tell me that you can do anything with metal, time and money. So, I won't say it's not possible. Just not the cheapest ....

jb

 

[Reg]

Uh, not really (couldn't resist!)

But seriously, if you want a do-dad that slides over the front of a tag trailer and "converts" it into GN attachment - that does have some drawbacks.

It will weigh a lot. Maybe a half ton, maybe more or less. Don't know exactly, as that would depend on what trailer size it was going onto. A 12k tag would need a lot more beef than a 3k, etc. It would also move the original tag hitch back about 5-6 foot so that it can clear the rear bumper/fenders. That would really change the weight and would probably make some balance issues surface. If it is to be universal for 3 trailers, that will take some engineering.

A buddy used to tell me that you can do anything with metal, time and money. So, I won't say it's not possible. Just not the cheapest ....

jb

Right,
It isn't a "project" and won't become one unless/until I get the dimensions of at least two of the trailers down on paper and do a design sketch.
I will almost certainly start with the largest/heaviest and the smallest/lightest.
If I can come up with a reasonable design that spans those two and at least looks as if the other two will fit - I might go ahead.
The size range isn't huge anyway, so it isn't as if I want something that would work on an 18K equipment trailer without crushing a 2K home despot saturday morning expedition to the land fill trailer.

 

[bigdad]

The outfit I work for converted a GN to a bumper pull and is it ever a screwy set up now.
Pulls like a sled. Axles are in the wrong place for bumper pull. I won't pull it with my pickup.

I am skeptical of any conversion.