Gooseneck, 5th Wheel, or Bumper pull?

[InlineDieselFan]

I had my trailer from before I bought the tractor, so I have used what I have. A 18' #12,000lb bumper pull type trailer. If I were to by a new trailer today it would be without a doubt a gooseneck.

With all of that said, if you are rarely towing the tractor, and will be getting the wood chips and going to the dump and such, a bumper pull may be the way to go.

Cheaper purchase price of the trailer.
Drop hitch and ball under $50.00.
Gooseneck set-up?? What about $1,000, input anybody?

You won't be able to put all of the implements and tractor on either trailer and go down the road. You would need a 36' gooseneck that our Toyota just will not do.

When I bought the 12k trailer it was only a bit more than the 10k trailer, so I would look at that route, but you are in Taxachussetts, so there may be a magic number that hurts you badly tax and license wise.

steve

 

[firemanpat2910]

Goose neck is not expensive (on the truck end) any more. There are several different types of hidden or removeable units to free up the truck bed. I have a bumper pull 3 axle 20' and my buddy has a 24 or 28' goose. There is not that much difference in backing ability. I will never have a 3 axle again. when backing with a heavy load you can see the tread coming off the 3rd tires. I have considered taking the wheels off that axle several times. I dont now if legal wise or tax wise 2 vs 3 axles makes a difference (mainly because neither of my trailers have tags) but it would be worth checking into before buying a new trailer. This are just my opinions and you experience will vary. Edited to add If you go with goose I highly recomend having a trailer plug installed in the truck bed. Trailer brakes arent worth a flip when the plug gets pulled out.

 

[MrJimi]

I want a 14,000 pound bumper pull 22 foot trailer. And this thread has me wondering lots!
I want a Dodge dually with a Cummins diesel and like I said, I am reading this thread real good.. and I am still wondering.
I am not crazy on paying for a 14,000 pound trailer and having to get a commercial driver's license that everyone here is talking about.. I have a license that Say's I can use over 26,000 pounds. Where does this-trailer is rated for 14,000 pounds come in? I am still under this 26,000 pound thing.
I have asked a few professionals and I get the same answer, I have been to Florida DOT and they were out to lunch ( for real ? )
And, yes, I have read all these postings about ya need a CDL to pull a ( over 10,000 pounds) trailer..
The over 10,000 trailer will weigh around 3,000 pounds empty. I should be able to pull this EMPTY with my 4 cylinder S-10 with no problems.
I hope this is "food for thought" for some of ya
And by the way, I would love the GN thing but it wont work with my stepvan.
Jim

 

[mlauk]

It's been 3 years, but the numbers I remember for a gooseneck were about $350 for a B&W gooseneck hitch and I think around $100 for a brake controller. The truck came with a RV plug on the back and wire harness for the brake controller so that might cost another $30. I installed it myself.

Jim, most states require a CDL when the GCWR of the truck and trailer are over 26,000 lbs.

 

[MrJimi]

But mlauk , I'm talking under 26,000 pounds for the both?
I will see what the other replies bring and I think I should start another thread asking this question. I do not want to hi-jack another person's thread at all
Thanks for the reply
Jim

 

[mlauk]

Jim, unless your state has a special rule, you don't need a CDL with a 14000lb trailer. The GVW rating for my Dodge 3/4 ton is 9000 lbs to give you an idea what the truck end is.

 

[George2615]

I bought my gooseneck hitch plate at the local TSC store for a little over a hundred bucks. It comes with the 2 5/16" ball welded on. Just need to drill holes through the bed for J-bolts to attach the plate to the truck frame. Brake controller was under a hundred at Walmart or most any auto parts. A class 5 frame mount hitch runs about the same and just bolts to the truck frame. A 5th wheel hitch of course is much more.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Great input on the trailer issues. Saw an interesting statement question about CDL/26,000 issue.Here n Georgia the DOT/tag office seems to follow the truck route of the truck itself not being over 25,999 lbs. and or air brakes. If this were not the case all these RV's driving diesel pushers would need CDL{which they should have driving something that big and heavy]but they do not. My personal situation, tag office issued my F-350 crew cab long bed 4x4 a tag that says 26000 on it but was told I do not need a CDL {doen't hurt that I have one its just we need concrete info on this issue. Also here in Georgia DOT has cracked down on trailer gvw and what people are pulling on them. Saftey issue around here. Last thing I'm testing this point daily pulling A 28' Triple axle goose w/RC100,mulching head,bucket,harley rake for a total trailer weight of 19040lbs confirmed at my works scales. keeping trailer brakes tight!!! good thread

 

[CATMAN]

My 2 cents. Whatever you choose, get the biggest axles you can get for that trailer lenght. Bigger axles come with bigger bearings and usually bigger or wider brake shoes. Think of this as your foundation of your house. I will always remember how may people I drive by on the interstate with axle/bearing problems and/or they also have overloaded their small trailers to the point where failure was going to happen sooner or later. I have build two trailers and used heavy axles but lighter leaf springs, because I knew I just wanted the sercurity of the added strenght. It is inexpensive at this time. I kinda think you are leaning this way anyways, so don't let a few hundred bucks cause you to make a sorry decision. One other item thing some people consider, if they have a 3/4 ton tow truck with 235/85R16 tires with 8 bolt rims, then they have looked at 6000 or 7000 lb axles(each) that use that same 8 bolt pattern just for the spare tire issue. (very small point; but I thought I would mention it.)

 

[MX5000]

Charlesaf3, It says your on Marthas Vinyard. Do you live there full time? The reason I mention it is, can you get a reg. plate for the tractor and drive it to where your going? MV isn't exactly the size of Texas. It's a little island. I know MA. is a little **** retentive (I grew up in Easton, MA), but not sure if you can put a plate on your tractor. In NH I got a construction plate for $25.00 or so and drive it on the road once in a while between job sites. There's also that whole insurance thing too (trailering or just driving your tractor there), just food for thought...

Howard
I do tow the tractor with a 2006 Ford F-350 with 6.0 turbo diesel on a bumper pull 25' trailer. I wish I bought the goose neck trailer instead.