Goose neck vs bumper pull

[foreman Etexas]

I'm thinking about getting a tandom 32', hit me up about April. Mine currently is a 14k-25ft it's 3yrs old.

 

[dodge man]

Yeah you want to look at your weights. I'm not sure what your truck is rated for, its a 7.3 so its an older one. For reference my truck is a 04 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins and is rated for something like 11,500 pounds. You get a trailer that weighs 5000 or 6000 pounds its easy to get over the weight your truck is rated for in a hurry.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris , you are usually right on the money . I do not understand this post .Why would you pull that big of a trailer , assume BP with a SUV ? I do not understand the loss of bedspace either . I have a toolbox , shovels , laser case and tripod stacked around my hitch and no problem . Just asking .

We had an Excursion and Expedition at the time in addition to my F350 and prior to that a GMC 3500 and my uncle had a 2500 Suburban. We only had one pickup at a time and it limited us.

As for the bed I needed it for boat stands, bikes, implements, ect. No shovels or small stuff.

Just didn't work for us.

Chris

 

[Cord]

I tow with an f250, 7.3 diesel and my trailer is a 20ft pipe top with 7k axles. When I went to my new tractor it weighed more. With loader, boxblade(#1100) or brush hog the weight I think is between #7500- #8000. Trailer is about #3000. Tongue weight was about #1100. Even though it is within limits the last time I drove 1500 miles it was very nerve racking to drive and not comfortable. I also had about #500 in the bed of the truck.

It sounds like you have an older truck with a solid front axle. This means you'll have recirculating ball steering. I had a similar setup in my Dodge 2500. What I found is that the truck did not like having the front axle unloaded. With your tongue weight and load in the bed, the front axle was light. I have since added a weight distribution system to my bumper trailer and the truck just loves it. Although a gooseneck will pull much better, for the cost of a craigslist deal, I'd give the weight distribution hitch a try first. I've since graduated from the Dodge to a current F150. Towing capacity went up, HP went down but the half ton is way more capable of towing 10k than the Dodge ever was.

btw- I've been told that backing a goose-neck trailer is not the easiest thing to accomplish.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Backing a GN is different but certainly not harder. I actually think its easier since I have caught onto it because you have to try and jack knife it. Once you get onto it, you don't even think about it. DP and I don't see eye to eye on BP vs GN trailers. We have gone back and forth quite a few times. I think that for a pickup to tow heavy equipment around, there isn't a better choice than a GN provided all your weights work out. GFAWR, GRAWR, GCWR, and your license and truck registration as your state requires. I towed around 18k behind a 1 ton SRW diesel regularly when I first bought my JD. The truck did it but I was not comfortable if I ever had to panic stop. I would have never have dreamed of hooking that much weight up on the BP if the truck had been equipped to do so. We have large hills in PA that puts a diesels pulling power to the test and braking even more so.

 

[RobertN]

My experience is a little different than others have mentioned so far. But if I get another trailer it will be a GN.

We have a relatively light(7500lb) 5th wheel; it is 27' and no slides. For my tractor, I have a 16' 7000lb BP that is close to max with the tractor on it. The 5th wheel is a pleasure to drive(longest trip 5000 miles round trip Sacramento Ca to Corpus Christi Tx). The BP trailer, even with good balance load, still bounces the back of the truck.

The 5th wheel does back different, but it is easy. Worst is when I don't think and try to back it like a BP.

I have been looking at replacing my flatbed. Use one of the GN adapter plates for the rails in my truck in place of the 5th wheel hitch. The trailer fairy has not visited, so will be a while before I buy

 

[bironacad]

My experience is a little different than others have mentioned so far. But if I get another trailer it will be a GN.

We have a relatively light(7500lb) 5th wheel; it is 27' and no slides. For my tractor, I have a 16' 7000lb BP that is close to max with the tractor on it. The 5th wheel is a pleasure to drive(longest trip 5000 miles round trip Sacramento Ca to Corpus Christi Tx). The BP trailer, even with good balance load, still bounces the back of the truck.

The 5th wheel does back different, but it is easy. Worst is when I don't think and try to back it like a BP.

I have been looking at replacing my flatbed. Use one of the GN adapter plates for the rails in my truck in place of the 5th wheel hitch. The trailer fairy has not visited, so will be a while before I buy

I am looking at getting trailer for my compact and have a 40' fifth wheel and was wondering if there is a disadvantage to just getting the trailer for my tractor with the tongue for the fifth wheel hitch?

 

[ovrszd]

What size truck are you using to pull these? Now I am questioning my F250.

I pull with a '00 Ford Super Duty F250 Powerstroke.

 

[farmer2009]

I am looking at getting trailer for my compact and have a 40' fifth wheel and was wondering if there is a disadvantage to just getting the trailer for my tractor with the tongue for the fifth wheel hitch?

No disadvantage that I know of. But one big advantage is people won't be trying to barrow it because it's got the wrong hitch in it. All you do is slide out the coupler and slide in the king pin. Keep the coupler for when you want to sell it. It may make the deal.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I pull with a '00 Ford Super Duty F250 Powerstroke.

With that truck you have to watch tongue weight closely. What is the GVWR? If it's 8,800# as so many were in that era you are going to be close.

With a diesel a 4x4 F250 is 7500#. Add a driver and passenger and you are pushing 8000#

The tow rating was around 12,000# for your truck. Even a light weight GN trailer is 4000# only leaving you with 8000# payload. You are more than likely in one of them cases where you can "legally" tow more with a BP. A GN is going to put 20% on the ball which is 2400# in this case, clearly over your rating. In most cases just the empty trailer would put you at the max rating by putting 800# on the ball. A BP trailer put 10# on the ball so you could have a 8000# load vs a 4000# load with a GN and as mentioned earlier a BP trailer is considerably lighter than a same size same GVWR GN.

Chris