Another Gooseneck Trailer Question

[Beltzington]

Considering replacing my BP Car Hauler with a longer GN trailer for a variety of reasons. My tow vehicle is a 2500HD Diesel without dualies and my tractor plus attachments are about 7,000lbs and tractor is about 21' long with FEL and RC. Truck is rated for 16,000 for GN hitch.

Would appreciate some input on a used trailer I am considering buying.
- Custom built deckover tandem axles rated at 8,000lbs
- Trailer was rated at 10,000 before owner upgraded to the heavier axles
- Trailer has not been used or licensed for 3 - 4 years
- Oil bath axles with electric brakes on both axles
- Metal 24' Deck
- Not a dove-tail, deck is 30" off the ground
- Trailer appears to be well constructed and heavy duty

Is this too much trailer for my rig/needs? Will loading the tractor be a pain with ramps and height of deck? Any other issues I should be looking for? I would prefer to have more trailer than I need but don't want more then I can handle. TIA

 

[drivadesl]

Main consideration to me would be keeping the rig under the GCVW rating.

With 16k lb capacity it appears your truck has enough room for the trailer weight to pull it.

Make sure it has a title, at least in nys it can get complicated to register.

Make sure no clearance issues with non Dovetail approach. Also be sure you can handle the pucker factor, it's a bit to get used to compared to a lowboy riding up the ramps.

The metal deck can get slippery when wet, but otherwise sounds like a beefy trailer. Pulling a GN is a dream over a BP particularly on long trips, feels much more stable at higher speeds.

Good luck!

 

[WM75Guy]

Is it too much trailer, depends on the year of your vehicle. I used the specs for a 2012 GMC 2500HD 2WD 6.6 Duramax for my answer. My 2003 GMC 2500HD 4WD 6.6 Duramax GVWR is 9200 and GCWR is 22,500.

Curb weight 7068 pounds
GVWR 10,000 pounds
Max payload 2932 pounds
Max GN trailer 16,700 pounds
GCWR 24,500 pounds
GN hitch should carry 15-25% of trailer weight not to exceed 2500 pounds (which is 15% of 16,000)

If you max out the trailer at 16,000 pounds, load it properly with 15% of that weight on the hitch and drive by yourself with a full load of fuel you end up with 10,000 on the vehicle and 13,500 on the trailer, still within GCVR. You could add another 1000 to the trailer, keeping tongue weight at 2500 pounds, and still be legal. My 2003 would be overloaded at 16,000.

As far as the trailer itself consider loading in the rain or after a rain. Nothing on the sides to stop you, slick metal deck, and 2 1/2' feet off the ground. I bought a lowboy pipe top GN for that reason, to keep me from screwing up as I get older and slower (now I am just old and slow). Depends on what you are comfortable with and the price.

Why has it been sitting? Was the trailer hitch and frame built for 16,000 pounds or 10,000 pounds? Is there a manufacturer's plate showing 10,000 GWR, then that is what you legally can carry if you get stopped or weighed.

I would try it out first before buying it to see if I liked it and that it is mechanically sound.

 

[Bigfoot62]

A few concerns/questions.
What does the trailer weigh? Steel deck sounds like it might be heavy.
It's still a 10k trailer. It now has heavier axles, but that doesn't change the frame or gvwr.
Not only is there a "pucker factor," but it could be a safety issue as well. Without a dovetail, ramps have to be longer.
JMHO, but I would pass.

 

[jeffsw6]

GCWR is not meant to restrict you from towing a trailer with a weight rating of whatever, it is meant to limit you from actually exceeding GCWR which is based on, among other things, at what point the transmission will fly apart or other driveline details. I can go put a 16K trailer behind my Suburban right now, if I don't load the trailer to the max. He says he is only wanting to use it to haul 7K worth of tractor and implements. The weight of the trailer itself is unknown but a quick trip across the scales can eliminate any doubt there might be about that if it's likely to put him remotely close to GCWR of his truck.

 

[WM75Guy]

But isn't it a law of nature that if you get a bigger trailer at some point your neighbor will ask you to max it out to haul stuff for him. :laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

i was going to suggest a single tandem 14k deckover with a beavertail and either fold down or flip over ramps.. say.. 25' so you have some play to ballance.

soundguy

Considering replacing my BP Car Hauler with a longer GN trailer for a variety of reasons. My tow vehicle is a 2500HD Diesel without dualies and my tractor plus attachments are about 7,000lbs and tractor is about 21' long with FEL and RC. Truck is rated for 16,000 for GN hitch.

Would appreciate some input on a used trailer I am considering buying.
- Custom built deckover tandem axles rated at 8,000lbs
- Trailer was rated at 10,000 before owner upgraded to the heavier axles
- Trailer has not been used or licensed for 3 - 4 years
- Oil bath axles with electric brakes on both axles
- Metal 24' Deck
- Not a dove-tail, deck is 30" off the ground
- Trailer appears to be well constructed and heavy duty

Is this too much trailer for my rig/needs? Will loading the tractor be a pain with ramps and height of deck? Any other issues I should be looking for? I would prefer to have more trailer than I need but don't want more then I can handle. TIA

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I have a 3000 series with lots of attachments too. I had purchased a 15600lbs gvw 20+5 gn to haul it. It's amazing how fast you use up space with attachments. Plus your able to shift your load around if needed. As far as tandem duals, do you need them well no but will it hurt? I doubt it. I ended up selling the gn since I couldn't store it on my property and picked up a BP tilt bed. As you can see it's a much tighter fit than the GN. Here's a few pics. (the one with the 110 isn't mine)

 

[flyingcow]

Curious what's the asking price?Don't need an answer on that, but it would be a factor.

How long are the ramps? How are they constructed?

Check and make sure brakes(all 4) are working properly. Nickel here and a dime there, can make a difference in asking price. Quality of rubber? Are they E-rated tires? Same with the rims? Are they 8-hole rims? probably everything is OK, but I've seen some hacks running LT tires on a trailer like that, with 6 hole rims. It's homemade, anything goes sometimes.

And figure "repowell"s input. At some point you and or your neighbors are gonna push the rating.

 

[wmonroe]

Going from the description I would probably pass on that trailer. For loading equipment in rain/snow/ice I would want the dovetail and ramps. My other concern would be that you still have a 10k built trailer with heavy duty axles. If you get into a panic stop situation or maneuver and the trailer is loaded heavy will it handle it or come apart. Just some thoughts.