Are gooseneck trailers really more maneuverable?

[Xfaxman]

These extenders are made to prevent a gooseneck horse trailer from hitting the cab of a short bed pickup truck on a sharp turn:

 

[Xfaxman]

Ideally.

A local guy bought a new 3500 Ram with a flatbed and when it was delivered, the hitch was BEHIND the rear axle! The upfitter told him it was because the tail-swing of the truck was too long and would hit the front of the trailer. The only solution was to cut about a 1-foot 45* wedge off of both rear corners and put the hitch back over the axle. Dodge said you can't change the frame length or you'll loose the warranty.

This is why you see some fifth wheel holiday trailers with hitch extensions. The solution is to buy a flatbed with a longer hitch.

This is the fifth wheel extender:

This is a gooseneck with a longer A frame to clear a longer than normal bed: 3 Key Measurements Are a Must - Felling Trailers - Gooseneck Coupler

And a gooseneck with a higher A frame to clear a service bed:

 

[LD1]

Someone already made a good post but I'll kinda echo it.

Maneuverability is two fold. Sometimes a BP is better, sometimes a GN is better.

GN is better turning around in tight areas. Like a previous poster mentioned about turning around in a hay field between rows.

BP.....lets say you have a driveway that is only 12' wide at the approach. Unless you live on a 4-lane wide undivided road, you just ainy gonna make that turn with a GN without getting off the driveway. A BP of same length can because it tracks better.

Not that running off the driveway onto the lawn is a bad thing 90% of the time, but if in business, what about the clients that have fencing, posts, culvert, or a dropoff and you CANNOT allow the trailer to go off the drive.

So it all depends on WHAT kind of maneuverability you are questioning.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Good info xfaxman and LD1

 

[RyeThomas]

Great posts above.

The one thing I will add is if you drive off road at all or even thru a ditchline you need to be very careful with a GN. I purchased a bumper pull/tag along dump trailer simply for this reason. I use it for tree removal and firewood delivery, many times it is off road. I can tell you even small grades/angles can cause your gooseneck to hit your tailgate or bed side. Mostly at the breakover point ^ when the truck is on one side of the downslope and the trailer on the other. Yes they have adjustable couplers, I think standard is 6-9 clearance and I run my equipment trailer at 11-1/2 and it still gets close at times (too high and you get the clearance but the trailer rides high in the front).

This picture is a very slight example

 

[Btown]

BP.....lets say you have a driveway that is only 12' wide at the approach. Unless you live on a 4-lane wide undivided road, you just ainy gonna make that turn with a GN without getting off the driveway. A BP of same length can because it tracks better.

I agree it is harder to get the GN into the driveway. It can be done. I have some large rocks on both sides of my driveway along with some bushes and a 12 ‘ gate 15’ from the road. I have 2 GN trailers. The first is my horse trailer it is 20’ on the floor. The next is my 24’ deckover. It is easier to get the deckover in because the tires are closer in than the horse trailer. The deckover I just go wide as I can and it can clear everything. The horse trailer I have to pull past my driveway a little and ack knife the trailer and back up then drive in. It takes a couple more seconds. If I had a 20’ bumper pull you could just drive right in.

 

[brokenhornmw]

I prefer my gooseneck toyhauler than the last few bumper pulls I owned. Most of the time I dont know it's there.

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

I prefer GN. I have become accustomed to how to back it. I also have preferences as to which direction to take a driveway due to the angle it hits the road. When the trailer is empty I've had lots of "cab slap" with BP trailers, none with GN. But as was said before, weight distribution is key when the load is on there. I also like that I can haul more with the GN over the BP, and the fact that I can put the truck 90* to the trailer to back it into a stall. I've learned to swing my turns wide and back my turns shorter. There is a learning curve to the GN, but once you learn it you're golden. One key to backing a GN is to turn earlier than you think you need to to compensate for the pivot point.

 

[1010]

I like the GN. The dove tail likes to drag, but that can be avoided some, by going at an angle at the transition.