Bumper hitch vs gooseneck dump trailer?

[dbchaplin03]

We have a small family farm and constantly have need of a dump trailer. I'll be towing it with a 1 ton diesel dually pickup. We are going to start selling firewood this coming year as well. It's never going to be used daily but it's primary use will be hauling logs and firewood we find for free or cheap off marketplace or delivering firewood to people. I will also use it for normal dump trailer stuff like hauling gravel or stuff to the landfill.

I have used both bumper pull and gooseneck quite a bit. A friend has both for a roofing business and has let us use both types over the last year. The rock quary missloaded a 14' bumper hitch once and got more gravel in the back which made the back end of my truck light and I don't ever want to do that again. The gooseneck obviously tows so much nicer but takes quite a bit more effort to hook/unhook.

I just wanted to see what advice some of you may that own/operate both types to see what you recommend? For consideration, the price difference between the two i am interested in is $4000 bumper to gooseneck. The gooseneck has triple 8k axles while the bumper has dual 8k. Both are 7x16. Brand is N&N galvanized which seem to be one of the highest quality trailers on the market in both build quality, features, and options. They are also one of the most expensive on the market because they are built for life. I want to make sure I get the right one the first time.

 

[r porter]

i like goosenecks but what if you need to move it with the tractor?

 

[jyoutz]

If you have the correct tow vehicle set up a gooseneck trailer can’t be beat for heavy load handling and maneuvering.

 

[WM75Guy]

I traded in a Big Tex 14GX gooseneck dump trailer with a scissor lift for a Big Tex 14TD bumper pull with a front telescopic ram lift. Had an issue with the scissor lift not lifting if loaded too far forward. The 12 ton telescopic ram doesn't break a sweat regardless of the load. Both were 14' with 2' sidewalls, essentially the same dump body and capacity. We also traded in our GN horse trailer for a bumper pull. The bumper pulls are easier to hook up, especially as I have gotten older. They do ride a little rougher but not some much I mind it. And bumper pulls do cost less than a GN.

Most of my dump trailer loads are local, less than 100 miles round trip, so comfort isn't a big deal. We recently went to Hot Springs Arkansas to pick up a horse, 12 hours round trip with the bumper pull horse trailer. Didn't mind it at all compared to our old GN horse trailer. And the bumper pull doesn't cut the corner like a GN does.

 

[jyoutz]

I traded in a Big Tex 14GX gooseneck dump trailer with a scissor lift for a Big Tex 14TD bumper pull with a front telescopic ram lift. Had an issue with the scissor lift not lifting if loaded too far forward. The 12 ton telescopic ram doesn't break a sweat regardless of the load. Both were 14' with 2' sidewalls, essentially the same dump body and capacity. We also traded in our GN horse trailer for a bumper pull. The bumper pulls are easier to hook up, especially as I have gotten older. They do ride a little rougher but not some much I mind it. And bumper pulls do cost less than a GN.

Most of my dump trailer loads are local, less than 100 miles round trip, so comfort isn't a big deal. We recently went to Hot Springs Arkansas to pick up a horse, 12 hours round trip with the bumper pull horse trailer. Didn't mind it at all compared to our old GN horse trailer. And the bumper pull doesn't cut the corner like a GN does.

I really don’t understand why you say a bumper pull is easier to hook up than a gooseneck. My gooseneck trailers are simple to attach and even simpler to detach. Also the road manners with a gooseneck trailer is such an improvement and a smoother more stable towing experience due to the tongue weight being over the axle. Yes, they do turn sharper but that doesn’t take long to get used to. Yes bumper pull trailers are cheaper but the gooseneck hitch system is far more substantial in construction.

 

[4570Man]

I really don’t understand why you say a bumper pull is easier to hook up than a gooseneck. My gooseneck trailers are simple to attach and even simpler to detach. Also the road manners with a gooseneck trailer is such an improvement and a smoother more stable towing experience due to the tongue weight being over the axle. Yes, they do turn sharper but that doesn’t take long to get used to. Yes bumper pull trailers are cheaper but the gooseneck hitch system is far more substantial in construction.

The bumper hitch trailer can be hitched entirely from the ground. To hook my GN I have to get on the bed to open the lid covering the ball then back under the trailer. I’ll probably have to check a couple times because I don’t have a camera on the GN ball unlike the BP ball. Then I have to crank the jacks like 6 inches compared to probably 2 inches for the BP trailer. Then I have to get on the bed again to latch it. If you have a 20k trailer you need a GN but I see absolutely zero reason to get a 14k gooseneck trailer to go behind a dually. If it was single wheel truck then maybe. The GN has to be more substantial because it’s a lot more complex design. The BP trailer is basically 2 beams laid flat.

 

[WM75Guy]

I really don’t understand why you say a bumper pull is easier to hook up than a gooseneck. My gooseneck trailers are simple to attach and even simpler to detach. Also the road manners with a gooseneck trailer is such an improvement and a smoother more stable towing experience due to the tongue weight being over the axle. Yes, they do turn sharper but that doesn’t take long to get used to. Yes bumper pull trailers are cheaper but the gooseneck hitch system is far more substantial in construction.

After back surgery and knee replacement having to get a step stool, get up on the tailgate and lay down in the bed, then crawl forward to hook up the GN hitch and chains is harder on this old man than standing on the ground and flipping down the latch. And I still have a GN trailer so I can do it, I just prefer not to if other options are available.

 

[nisaacs]

Those look like fine trailers. I have/had both styles, they both have there place. For commercial use, I prefer the gooseneck for heavy duty, day in day out use.

Take advantage of the board brackets and install the extension boards. It gives more capacity and protects the top rail of the bed.

I do question the 11 gauge floor and sides. Logs are hard on them. My currant dump, has 7 gauge floor and 10 gauge sides.

Dump trailers are the most handy of all trailers. It is my go to trailer.

Just an FYI, I know you didn't ask, but When you load logs, try and get every face/sidewall log, to rest on the log under it, all the way to the floor. Avoid wedging them against the sides.

 

[J&K]

Gooseneck all the way. I know like others said a little harder to hook up but once you do it enough it a breeze. Much more maneuverable also if you're gonna be delivering firewood in tight driveways.

 

[Hay Dude]

To the OP: those 2 trailers you mentioned one with double 8K axles and one with triple 8K axles-those 2 trailers are quite different in terms of size. Have you checked what the hitch rating is for a bumper pull trailer? Is your truck outfitted for a bumper pull trailer of 16K (or more)?

For a 1-ton, dually diesel you can really take advantage of the trucks pulling capability more with a GN, but if you are limiting towing to 16K or less, a bumper pull would get the job done cheaper. If you are thinking a 16K trailer and above, go with a GN.

Not as pleasurable of a driving experience pulling a loaded trailer over 16K off the bumper compared to a GN.

 

[nisaacs]

Gooseneck all the way. I know like others said a little harder to hook up but once you do it enough it a breeze. Much more maneuverable also if you're gonna be delivering firewood in tight driveways.

I respectfully disagree. A bumper pull, 16' for 16', will fit where a gooseneck will not.

 

[jyoutz]

The bumper hitch trailer can be hitched entirely from the ground. To hook my GN I have to get on the bed to open the lid covering the ball then back under the trailer. I’ll probably have to check a couple times because I don’t have a camera on the GN ball unlike the BP ball. Then I have to crank the jacks like 6 inches compared to probably 2 inches for the BP trailer. Then I have to get on the bed again to latch it. If you have a 20k trailer you need a GN but I see absolutely zero reason to get a 14k gooseneck trailer to go behind a dually. If it was single wheel truck then maybe. The GN has to be more substantial because it’s a lot more complex design. The BP trailer is basically 2 beams laid flat.

All of which is true, but none of that is difficult.

 

[Hay Dude]

Also, a bumper pull can make 90* turns better than a GN.
I find a lot of Customer’s driveways are adorned with tight pillars, mailboxes, political signs like “hate has no home here”

A bumper pull will follow the truck, where a GN will run over the corner you are trying to get around.

 

[dbchaplin03]

Lots of good information shared here. Thank you all.

I agree with the challenge of hooking up/disconnecting the GN compared to BH. My truck is not lifted but it is just tall enough to make it difficult to get in the bed, especially with a couple of herniated disc’s in my back.

I’m more confident backing up a BH as I have 40+ years of towing BH trailers. There is a learning curve with the GN.

the reason I was looking at a 16k BH is simply because the heavier duty axles have a much heavier duty tire than a 14k. From my research most people recommend going with a 8k axle over a 7k.

I don’t think I’ll ever run this trailer at max capacity whether I get the GN or BH unless it’s hauling gravel from the quarry 7 miles away.

Both of these trailers are very expensive so I need to really evaluate to see what would meet our needs. To be honest the perfect combo would be the GN and a smaller 6x12 but I don’t want to own 2.

A dump body on a truck would also be super convenient for firewood also I suppose.

 

[Squirrel's242]

My input is not necessarily for the trailer but the truck. Choose the bumper pull if you're using multiple trucks. Unless you've got GN on two trucks then you can really focus on the trailer only. But I'm running into that experience here - GN or bumper pull ?

The 3500 has a GN/bumper pull, the 2500 bumper pull only, but both can do bumper pull. So I'm using a 18' bumper pull trailer rn because I can use either truck, depending on day. That's not a big deal if both trucks are up and running and are fueled, but it is when one of them in down for maintenance, on empty, or loaded w something else or simply not available.

I know that all sounds easy, "Just have truck running, fueled and ready at all times". And I would say, "I know right?". But, you know life has other plans. So, if the choice is one truck only or multiple trucks w both options, disregard my comments.

 

[Hay Dude]

Lots of good information shared here. Thank you all.

I agree with the challenge of hooking up/disconnecting the GN compared to BH. My truck is not lifted but it is just tall enough to make it difficult to get in the bed, especially with a couple of herniated disc’s in my back.

I’m more confident backing up a BH as I have 40+ years of towing BH trailers. There is a learning curve with the GN.

the reason I was looking at a 16k BH is simply because the heavier duty axles have a much heavier duty tire than a 14k. From my research most people recommend going with a 8k axle over a 7k.

Yes. That is a much heavier axle. I would do this, too.

I don’t think I’ll ever run this trailer at max capacity whether I get the GN or BH unless it’s hauling gravel from the quarry 7 miles away.

Both of these trailers are very expensive so I need to really evaluate to see what would meet our needs. To be honest the perfect combo would be the GN and a smaller 6x12 but I don’t want to own 2.

A dump body on a truck would also be super convenient for firewood also I suppose.

Then maybe take the savings of a bumper pull over the GN and apply it to an “EZ Dumper” dumping insert, since you won’t need a GN ball in the bed. You have a “poor man’s dump truck”, and still can utilize your bumper pull trailer.

 

[Squirrel's242]

Now for firewood. I recently have wished I had a dump trailer to unload trailer-fulls of firewood. Unloading by hand is slow work alone. I currently have a cord of oak I need to get transported from the old place; I've moved the mesquite and pecan already. Transporting isn't the task I'm not looking forward to, it's the unloading and stacking with a bad arm.

 

[nisaacs]

the reason I was looking at a 16k BH is simply because the heavier duty axles have a much heavier duty tire than a 14k. From my research most people recommend going with a 8k axle over a 7k.

Agreed. I just finished up an 8k axle upgrade from 7k's on my equipment trailer. 12.25"/3.375" brakes V/S 12"x2" also.

 

[4570Man]

All of which is true, but none of that is difficult.

No it’s not but I still see absolutely no reason to buy a 14 or 16k rated trailer to go behind a dually. If the trailer was 20k or above or the truck was a single wheel truck then a GN makes more sense.

 

[jyoutz]

No it’s not but I still see absolutely no reason to buy a 14 or 16k rated trailer to go behind a dually. If the trailer was 20k or above or the truck was a single wheel truck then a GN makes more sense.

I love my 4 horse 16 foot stock trailer with gooseneck hitch. It handles so much better than a bumper pull of the same length, especially with 4 horses or steers loaded.