Is this right? I can tow MORE with a bumper pull than I can a Gooseneck?

[94BULLITT]

A downfall to a gooseneck is the gooseneck adds 700lbs~ to the trailer over a comparable bumper pull.

Here is a new deck over for $6k. It has a title Does your state title trailers?

Bri-Mar EH824-14

 

[Piston]

They do title trailers, but I just checked again, and they don't require a current title, however they'll charge me 80 bucks so they can issue me a nice pretty MA state title for my new trailer. sheesh.

 

[redprospector]

When considering a bumper pull vs. a gooseneck trailer, ask yourself why OTR tractors utilize a fifth wheel rather than pintle hitch.
The answer is weight distribution. You'll have a hard time putting any weight on your steering axle with most bumper hitches.
If you're more worried about the extra weight of the neck, than the distribution of that weight, you probably need to move up to a bigger truck anyway.
Bumper pull, and goosenecks both have their place. It's up to the owner to decide which is best for them. But all the facts need to be put on the table before making that decision.

 

[TBarD]

I have both a 22' 14K bumper pull and a 16K GN dump trailer (also a 35' 16-17K fifth wheel). For lighter loads the bumper pull is fine, probably the simplest, but for towing heavy it is a pain - the GN and fifth wheel are much easier to use, although a bit heavier as you note. The thing about a bumper pull when towing heavy is that one has to use a weight distributing hitch which is harder to set up, the tongue weight is more critical or the trailer can (will!) fish tail, the rig will porpoise going over a bump, and turning sharp can be an issue with the weight distributing hitch due to the torque levers hitting the trailer. Weight on the rear axle can however be an issue with the GN or fifth wheel hitch. My single rear wheel truck can carry about 3300 payload on the rear axle stock, and I am near or at the limit when towing maximum loads (the bumper hitch has limits too though). A dually, or 19.5 wheels on a SRW, will address the rear axle limit.

 

[Piston]

I'm really not concerned with too much tongue weight. I don't see myself having much more tongue weight with a longer trailer than I have now.

I'm currently using the standard hitch that came with my truck from the factory, which is probably highly overloaded, and aside from the uneasy feeling of it being overloaded, I've never felt the handling of the truck to be compromised. I will be upgrading to a Reese Titan hitch as to not overload the hitch with tongue weight.

I also do not see the need for a weight distribution hitch, but maybe I'm missing something? I understand what they do, but again, I've never felt that I had too much tongue weight on the truck, it's the hitch I worry about.

With the longer trailer, I will be able to move the load more easily and balance it better. If you look at the pic I posted, you can see that I had quite a bit of weight forward, and absolutely zero room to adjust and balance the load.

 

[Ken45101]

With a bumper trailer, the hitch weight is hung way behind the truck axle. That lightens the front end (steering) and reduces control. If you don't have the weight properly distributed, including to the steering axle, you will have less control.

With a bumper pull, you should have 10-15% of the weight on the hitch.. What you want to haul is more than your hitch and truck is rated for without a weight distributing hitch.

If the trailer sways at all, it will "wag the tail" of the truck. Scary and dangerous.

With a gooseneck, the trailer is attached above the rear axle and the "wagging" can't happen. Tremendously more stable.

Bottom line, with a bumper pull, you have less stability and control if you do not have a weight distributing hitch and proper setup.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I pull 16,000# off the bumper, Reese Titan, with my 06 F350 and never felt uneasy.

I had a GN trailer at one time but quickly missed my bed space. I now have a BP trailer that is shorter but by regaining my bed have netted a more useful rig.

Chris

 

[Piston]

Chris,
Do you use a WD hitch? According to Reese, I won't need one unless I want to put more than 2k lb tongue weight, up to 2500.

I don't have a problem using one, I just don't feel I need it.

It certainly sounds like the GN would be more stable, and probably more of a pleasure to tow with, but my main goal is being able to tow more, and I can tow more with the bumper pull.

I understand it may not be the ideal situation, but how good is a more comfortable tow if it's less capable? I guess I'm just surprised that the bumper pull tows more, I really do want to try out a gooseneck, but I'd probably have to go with a 30' or longer gooseneck, and certainly be overloading my trucks payload capacity.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris,
Do you use a WD hitch? According to Reese, I won't need one unless I want to put more than 2k lb tongue weight, up to 2500.

I don't have a problem using one, I just don't feel I need it.

It certainly sounds like the GN would be more stable, and probably more of a pleasure to tow with, but my main goal is being able to tow more, and I can tow more with the bumper pull.

I understand it may not be the ideal situation, but how good is a more comfortable tow if it's less capable? I guess I'm just surprised that the bumper pull tows more, I really do want to try out a gooseneck, but I'd probably have to go with a 30' or longer gooseneck, and certainly be overloading my trucks payload capacity.

No, I do not use a WD hitch. It has 1800# tongue weight and feels comfortable at all speeds behind my truck.

Chris

 

[roadhunter]

With a bumper trailer, the hitch weight is hung way behind the truck axle. That lightens the front end (steering) and reduces control. If you don't have the weight properly distributed, including to the steering axle, you will have less control.

With a bumper pull, you should have 10-15% of the weight on the hitch.. What you want to haul is more than your hitch and truck is rated for without a weight distributing hitch.

If the trailer sways at all, it will "wag the tail" of the truck. Scary and dangerous.

With a gooseneck, the trailer is attached above the rear axle and the "wagging" can't happen. Tremendously more stable.

Bottom line, with a bumper pull, you have less stability and control if you do not have a weight distributing hitch and proper setup.

Excellent advice.