Bumper Vs. Gooseneck Payloads

[Iplayfarmer]

No, you do not NEED 23-25%, that is the recommended MAX tongue weight. With the setup you are talking about you should be fine. Generally speaking I would think that tractor & GN flatbed would have a similair tongue weight as your camper or horse trailer. Those probably put more weight on your truck then you think they do.

Ever since I read this comment I've been looking for an opportunity to axle out my truck and loaded trailer. I had my two horses at the vet's office for Coggins tests last week. I was only 1/4 mile from work, so I took a detour to weigh the truck and trailer on the scale we have at work...

Front axle loaded: 3220
Rear Axle loaded: 2940
Trailer Axle loaded: 4100

Compare to my empty axle weights...

Front axle empty: 3200
Rear Axle empty: 2260

My tongue weight is only 700 Pounds or 15% of the trailer's weight.

One thing that came out of this exercise is that I realized I have plenty of room to add some weight to this load. My trailer axle is a 5800 pound axle. I could haul a third horse if I can figure out how to fit him in the trailer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It has a 5,800# axle? Most axles in that class are either 5,200# or 6,000#

Chris

 

[Iplayfarmer]

It has a 5,800# axle? Most axles in that class are either 5,200# or 6,000#

Chris

You're right (again).

I walked out to the pasture and checked. It's 5200 lbs.

I still have room for another horse if I load the trailer right.

 

[grsthegreat]

You're right (again).

I walked out to the pasture and checked. It's 5200 lbs.

I still have room for another horse if I load the trailer right.

have them ride sidesaddle :laughing:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

have them ride sidesaddle :laughing:

That's a good way to put it.

I have loaded three horses before by slanting them. I now know that it's not overloading the truck or the trailer to do that. I may haul three more often now that I know.

See what good a careful axle weight check does.

 

[slowzuki]

You'd better make sure its even side to side if you do that, wouldn't want to overload the tires on one side and have a blow out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Slowzuki brings up a good point. Make sure the tires meet or exceed the axle/trailer rating.

Chris

 

[QRTRHRS]

Been reading through this thread and a couple thoughts have come to mind. Swaying may not be as much of an issue with a gooseneck but ride quality can be terrible depending on the truck and trailer due to the natural flexing of the trailer. Jacking around can roll the tires off and put a lot of stress on the suspension. Right turns with a gooseneck require a little more planning ahead so you don't drag the trailer wheels over a curb, etc. One advantage for KY residents is that there is no sales tax on a gooseneck.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Slowzuki brings up a good point. Make sure the tires meet or exceed the axle/trailer rating.

Chris

Yeah. Tires are good.

This little gooseneck horse trailer only has a single axle, so raking the tires is not an issue. It does track to the inside a bit on turns, but I learned to account for that long ago when I was driving 18 wheelers.

As for my flatbed trailer, I decided to go with a bumper pull tongue. The choice was mostly due to fabrication costs. The gooseneck coupler alone would cost more than the total fabrication cost of the bumper pull style tongue. Add to that the cost of the extra steel that would be needed for the gooseneck arm, and I was priced out of that option.

 

[Reg]

Here's a general question for debate. Is it true that a tow vehicle can haul more with a bumper pull trailer than it can with a gooseneck?

Let's use my setup as a reference. I have a Silverado half ton with about a 1000 pound payload capacity after figuring passengers, etc. A typical bumper pull setup uses about 10% tongue weight. A typical gooseneck setup uses 25% tongue weight. My trailer payload capacities therefore are 10,000 pounds for a bumper pull or 4,000 pounds for a gooseneck.

I love my 5th wheel camper and my gooseneck horse trailer. I'm planning a full re-build on my flat bed trailer, and I was tempted to convert it to a gooseneck until I started looking at the above numbers.

I seems odd to me that I can haul less with a gooseneck trailer. What am I missing?

Without arguing the SPECIFIC figures you offered.... (yet)
The simple point is that with a goose you are "CARRYING" more of the load,
with a bumper-pull the TRAILER is doing the "CARRYING".
So yes, it is often true - especially with 1/2 ton trucks.

OK, now lets niggle away at the specific numbers that you offered;
(-:
I think the 25% is high, quite possibly worst case.
Many/most goose neck trailers have very little load "up there, over the truck".
MOST of the load for MOST owners is on the floor, which puts it at least 8ft 6 in back from the coupler.
Your horses are likely farther back than that, e.g. behind the tack room if you have one and pretty much ON the axles.
I would figure closer to 20%, possibly 15% on the pin.
Even then.... ??? .....Yeah you would have to get down to 10% for a match with a 1K payload limit.

Ah Hahh !!!
Mayhap 1/2 ton trucks aren't very good at that PAYLOAD thang ? (-:

OTOH, I'm not THAT comfortable with the thought of 10K wiggling around on a ball BEHIND a 1/2 ton truck either (-: