Gooseneck, 5th Wheel, or Bumper pull?

[BTDT]

As for pulling 10000 pounds behind a 1/2 ton, shouldn't matter as long as brakes work. The trailers brakes should stop trailer for whatever its rated. How many of you pull 16 ft trailer with 4 wheeler around your place? If you had a brake controller on it so the trailer brakes would work shouldn't matter.

 

[Dargo]

There is a huge difference in the frame, the suspension, the brakes, the cooling, weight of the truck and several other items. As I said, I've pulled 10k with a 1/2 ton in the past and I'll definitely stick with what I said; it simply is not a good idea and I certainly would not do it again.

 

[radman1]

I will agree that in most cases, a GN trailer is better than a bumper pull. However, Charlesaf3 says he will be hauling the tractor rarely and will also use it for other smaller items. IMHO a GN is overkill in this situation. My vote would be for a bumper pull. GN's are more diffulcult to attach, cost more, and take up valuable truck bed space. Also can't use a truck topper or bed cover with GN. I have a 32' GN and 24' 14,000 bumper hitch trailer and will always choose the bumper pull unless load is very large or very heavy. My truck has more miles pulling a trailer than not. Longer bumper pull trailers always pull with less sway than shorter ones. I have never experienced sway with my 24' trailer and have had loads up to or over the limit.
Either will be easier to back up than smaller utility trailers he is currently use to using. Resale is also easier for bumper pull since it is more desirable for most people. A big advantage for the GN is that other people won't want to borrow it because it won't work on their truck!

 

[George2615]

Will a 1/2 ton pull a 10K loaded trailer? Sure, it probably will.

Will it be legal? Probably not. Not many if any 1/2 tons are rated to haul 10K. Most 1/2 tons have an 8500# or under rating.

Brakes on both trailer axles would be a plus.

A 1/2 ton will haul a 10K rated trailer that only has a 5K load all day long. If you want a 10K trailer get it. Then if someday you do need to haul its max capacity you could borrow a friends 3/4 or 1 ton or use your 1/2 ton and have a pocket full of cash for the fine when you get caught.

Better to get a trailer rated for more weight than less.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I figure if its rated to pull 10k, then its legal, and will pull 10k. Maybe that makes it bigger than a 1/2 ton?

But yeah, as long as the trailer weight isn't too high, I'd rather a heavier built trailer.

 

[Turbys_1700]

If the new Tundra is rated to tow 10K#, and I have no readon to doubt their ratings, it's gonna be with a regular cab, a full tank of gas, and 1 driver that weighs 150#. That's the way all manufacturers rate their trucks. So if you weigh 150# and don't put anything else in your truck then the Tundra will tow 10K#.

I would not tow this much daily with a 1/2 ton truck. An occasional foray into this much weight then you're ok. But it will not hold up to daily extended use at it's max capacity.

Toyota is trying to jump into the 1/2 ton market and take sales from Ford, Dodge, and Chevy. This is a good thing for the consumer. However, it does not look like they are developing 3/4 or 1 ton trucks to compete with the big 3.

I run an F-350 4x4 dually crew cab. I have a 5th wheel camper. Too much truck for a daliy driver but enough truck for the camper. I still use it as a daily driver,

 

[Charlesaf3]

If the new Tundra is rated to tow 10K#, and I have no readon to doubt their ratings, it's gonna be with a regular cab, a full tank of gas, and 1 driver that weighs 150#. That's the way all manufacturers rate their trucks. So if you weigh 150# and don't put anything else in your truck then the Tundra will tow 10K#.

I would not tow this much daily with a 1/2 ton truck. An occasional foray into this much weight then you're ok. But it will not hold up to daily extended use at it's max capacity.

Toyota is trying to jump into the 1/2 ton market and take sales from Ford, Dodge, and Chevy. This is a good thing for the consumer. However, it does not look like they are developing 3/4 or 1 ton trucks to compete with the big 3.

I run an F-350 4x4 dually crew cab. I have a 5th wheel camper. Too much truck for a daliy driver but enough truck for the camper. I still use it as a daily driver,

I'm hardly every going to have over 6k on it as a practical matter, and won't be towing long distances more than once a year. But I'd rather be over capacity. While I think that if they rate it for 10k, it'll pull 10k, I agree that pulling max is not a good idea to do very often on any vehicle. But I'm guess such a truck would pull 8k with ease, no?

And I'll be using this as a daily driver, so I'll probably get some form of double cab and short bed. But we'll see how all the numbers work.

 

[Jae]

I'm hardly every going to have over 6k on it as a practical matter, and won't be towing long distances more than once a year. But I'd rather be over capacity. While I think that if they rate it for 10k, it'll pull 10k, I agree that pulling max is not a good idea to do very often on any vehicle. But I'm guess such a truck would pull 8k with ease, no?

And I'll be using this as a daily driver, so I'll probably get some form of double cab and short bed. But we'll see how all the numbers work.

Just a little bit of perspective from my point of view. I have recently moved to North Texas. Now you have to understand that here in Texas there are more trailers than people it seems. And the hitch of choice is GooseNeck for a few very good reasons (some of which that have been mentioned) that I find important. GN trailers balance the load over the rear axle which allows for a more pleasant pull, much less bounce and no trailer sway to speak of.

They are in fact much easier to hook up than a regular hitch system as you can spot the ball/hitch in direct line of sight much easier (no more banged up bumpers). They are of course much bigger and more heavily built. This can be a plus as well if you need to switch the towing vehicle while the trailer is loaded (say when you blow a lower radiator hose on the hiway and have a full load of draft horses on board) it is easily and more safely acomplished versus a bumper pull.

I have pulled both types of trailer and both of my trucks have a GN hitch, I try not to use bumper pull whenever possible. I just feel much more comfortable with GN, but again, you need to factor in usage, and storing the trailer when not in use.

I find myself pulling trailers almost every other day for various tasks like moving the tractor or horses from point a to b. But that is to be expected when you own a working ranch. Before the ranch I only owned one trailer, a 14' car hauler which pretty much did everything I needed. As the need changed however, so did my equipment.

Just my perspective on the matter, from a guy who pulls a lot of trailers

The two trucks i normaly use for pulling?

A 3/4 Ton 1990 F250 7.3L Diesel, and the newer 99 F350 1 Ton also with a Powerstroke Turbo Diesel.

 

[Lynkage]

Hi I'm Shane and new to the forum!

Farbeit for me to be an expert but I live in Denver and go to the mountains very often towing a trailer of some kind behind my 1ton PS. I also see some of the Yoda's going as well.
What I can tell you I see them pulling 1or2 toys and no more. The motor seems to be rapping very high and they are shifting a lot.
I am not familiar with the terrain back east but where I am talking about the grades are steep. 5,6,7%.

With that said going up is easier than coming down.
I use both a GN & BP trailers and I prefer the GN.

If you do use the Yoda get some overloads and 8 or 10 ply tires as this will help a lot for towing.

My 2c is worth about minus $1

 

[Buckeye_Jim]

One more item no one has mentioned yet is that out here in California (and maybe other states also) you are required to stop at weight stations when using the GN hitch. A pickup and trailer with the same gross weight can bypass the weight station if attached to the bumper.

Jim