Are gooseneck trailers really more maneuverable?

[FatTire]

In my book, they are just different tools.

My experience....
Maneuvering: If you have a situation where the truck needs to follow the trailer (in reverse), be lined up straight, or weave in and out of obstacles, a GN takes a lot more room to maneuver the tow vehicle, especially if you are running a truck with a long wheelbase (crew cab long bed). However, if you have situations like a tight loading area and a long trailer, being able to jack-knife the GN into place is a life-saver. Turning around in tight spaces is a win for the GN as well. Again, being able to get the trailer past 90* is a huge saver. A big part if maneuvering is axle location on the trailer. If you have axles in the back (think 18-wheeler) you have to swing the whole system. If you have axles in the middle of the trailer (think camper) than it will pivot more than swing.

Versatility: We currently only have one vehicle that can tow the GN trailer, and of course, its a crew-cab long bed. Its a long truck and a long trailer, so I am generally cautious about taking it to new places. I can push it around empty with the FEL, but if its loaded, forget about it. With the bumper pull trailers, I have options. I can use any of the trucks including the CCLB, 3/4ton suburban, the tractors; I even used the Wife's subaru to take the 16' trailer to the lumber yard for some long and light material!

Capacity: Given the same length trailer, I can put more on a GN than I can on a BP. Letting the truck take a portion of the payload is very helpful. Also, for the same length trailer, I can get more on the GN by putting payload over the hitch.

Driving: The long wheelbases of the CCLB and GN make highway driving REALLY nice. Pulling it around a city or into some small yards is a PITA.

If you can only have one, I would say get a BP unless you have a specific need for the GN. I do love out GN, but I would hate for it to be our only trailer.

I think this is a good summary. The GN's weight distribution on the tow vehicle is fantastic on snow and ice, since you aren't un-weighting your front axle. I haul a snowcat with our 26ft GN in the winter, the GN is a savior in a small trailhead parking lot or a dead-end road with a tight turn-around.

But for most purposes I much prefer the better tracking of a BP. As an example of the difficulties caused by GN short-cutting the curves, this year I re-aligned part of our driveway to eliminate a pair of sharp bends which were difficult to maintain wide enough for our GN in the winter, even though those bends seemed plenty wide for every other piece of equipment or vehicle that we own.

 

[Btown]

A lot of people have problems backing up GN trailers at first, because they turn the wheel too much to fast. It takes some practice when they start to turn the trailer can turn fast. Then you crank the wheel the other way and it turns the other way and they fight it both ways. Most of the time you just have to move the steering wheel a little bit and it will turn. Just takes some practice. Most people feel better with a bumper pull, but they are generally smaller trailers than GN.

 

[QRTRHRS]

IMHO, the general feeling is that a gooseneck does handle better and yes, I generally agree. However, I have had BP's that were far more forgiving as far as "cab slap". A 14k gooseneck weighs in at what, 4500lbs? Then there is that 10k "nuisance". I do wonder just how many gooseneck "devotees" are in compliance weight wise?

 

[4570Man]

IMHO, the general feeling is that a gooseneck does handle better and yes, I generally agree. However, I have had BP's that were far more forgiving as far as "cab slap". A 14k gooseneck weighs in at what, 4500lbs? Then there is that 10k "nuisance". I do wonder just how many gooseneck "devotees" are in compliance weight wise?

What is a devotees?

 

[Btown]

IMHO, the general feeling is that a gooseneck does handle better and yes, I generally agree. However, I have had BP's that were far more forgiving as far as "cab slap". A 14k gooseneck weighs in at what, 4500lbs? Then there is that 10k "nuisance". I do wonder just how many gooseneck "devotees" are in compliance weight wise?

A gooseneck trailer should weigh about 500 lbs more than a bumper pull. It also puts the weight right over the axle.

 

[ovrszd]

IMHO, the general feeling is that a gooseneck does handle better and yes, I generally agree. However, I have had BP's that were far more forgiving as far as "cab slap". A 14k gooseneck weighs in at what, 4500lbs? Then there is that 10k "nuisance". I do wonder just how many gooseneck "devotees" are in compliance weight wise?

"cab slap" is caused by an improper load. Balance is crucial. With my 11K lb tractor it is a matter of a couple inches.

My 28+4 20K trailer weighs 6800 lbs.

I admit to pulling a couple loads that put me over my GCVWR. But it's rare.

There is what I call collateral damage when using any heavy duty trailer. You gain net hauling capability. But it's not 100%. You have to deduct the added net weight of the rig.

 

[QRTRHRS]

What is a devotees?

Devotee = fan. In the case of a GN vs BP, it would be someone who would prefer the GN.

 

[QRTRHRS]

"cab slap" is caused by an improper load. Balance is crucial. With my 11K lb tractor it is a matter of a couple inches.

My 28+4 20K trailer weighs 6800 lbs.

I admit to pulling a couple loads that put me over my GCVWR. But it's rare.

There is what I call collateral damage when using any heavy duty trailer. You gain net hauling capability. But it's not 100%. You have to deduct the added net weight of the rig.

Just sayin' that some GN can be really touchy but that can also be relative to the truck that you are pulling with too. I also wanted to get the point out that there is more to buying a trailer than just handling.

 

[charlton289]

I would rather pull a GN but by driving tractor trailers for 28 yrs it's not much different just a smaller and can turn it in its own track I call it screwing it in to the ground it just takes time and alot of practice to get the feel and to learn your corners just be patient and it will make you a believer that GN trailers are more maneuverable in tight places because of hook point is over the rear axle and you can turn it past 90 degree and pull it straight and to get it where you can load/unload.

 

[bcp]

And some "bumper pull" trailers can turn 180 degrees.

Bruce