Gooseneck or bumper pull?

[sd455dan]

Actually, a properly installed GN hitch will be CENTERED on the centerline of the rear axle, not in front of it.

I thought on GN it depended on whether you are working with a short or long bed and It is fifth wheels that are mostly pin on axle center line?

Or maybe I am thinking of some companies actually putting the GN mount behind the rear axle which just seems like a bad idea

 

[5030]

Bed length has nothing to do with it. Centerline of the rear axle determines where the hitch ball is. RV's use a small 5th wheel plate. GN trailers use a ball. I believe the RV setups, you can slide the little plate back to obtain clearance on a swing but not sure as I don't have a RV like that.

I have an 8 foot bed anyway. I don't do soccer mom trucks. Never have. I do run air suspension on my back axle however.

 

[4570Man]

Bed length has nothing to do with it. Centerline of the rear axle determines where the hitch ball is. RV's use a small 5th wheel plate. GN trailers use a ball. I believe the RV setups, you can slide the little plate back to obtain clearance on a swing but not sure as I don't have a RV like that.

I have an 8 foot bed anyway. I don't do soccer mom trucks. Never have. I do run air suspension on my back axle however.

If you can’t close the tailgate on 13-6’ lumber are you even trying?

 

[Hay Dude]

I also have both. The worst place for a GN is a “T” where you have to make a 90* turn and there are pillars or a mailbox right out by the road. The bumper pull will make it. The GN might knock mailbox or pillars over.

 

[bnold]

Actually, a properly installed GN hitch will be CENTERED on the centerline of the rear axle, not in front of it.

Every one I’ve ever installed (B&W and others) is just FORWARD of centerline. Including factory installed from Ram.

 

[scootr]

Actually, a properly installed GN hitch will be CENTERED on the centerline of the rear axle, not in front of it.

We always put them a couple of inches ahead of the CL mentioned. They live loads pulled great.

 

[two_bit_score]

It will be on a 3/4 Ton pickup. Looking at a Chevy 2500 today.

5030, what is the GVWR of your 28' Kaufman? 28' is not listed on their site. I need to keep the CVWR of the truck and trailer at 26k lbs to avoid needing a CDL

I have a 2500 and I like it. But, if I was doing it over I would get the 3500 SRW. At least then, the cost difference wasn’t that much.

 

[Torvy]

My truck has the GN hitch installed, but I've never hauled one. This thread is helpful. I'm glad I got BP for my trailer as the driveway in town is narrow and has a shared mailbox right by the entrance...and the street is lined with cars about 1/2 of the time. Fortunately, the back of the property has a large enough space that I can pull the truck to the side, unhitch and turn it around manually.

Once we are permanently on the farm, I could see a GN being useful, but with only 9900 lbs to work with, it may not be practical.

 

[Hay Dude]

I don’t see a GN being of much use until over a 16,000-18,000lb trailer.
That’s when the tongue weight of a BP starts getting heavy for a pickup.

 

[Hay Dude]

Every one I’ve ever installed (B&W and others) is just FORWARD of centerline. Including factory installed from Ram.

We always put them a couple of inches ahead of the CL mentioned. They live loads pulled great.

Yep, that’s correct.
EBY installed my 45,000lb 3” ball hitch about 4” forward of the rear axle on my RAM 5500. Allows the hitch to share a little more weight with the front axle, too.

 

[KeithT]

Actually, a properly installed GN hitch will be CENTERED on the centerline of the rear axle, not in front of it.

I installed my own in my F350, and it is slightly in front of rear axle

 

[two_bit_score]

I’ve only seen them forward of the rear axle.

 

[RandyT]

I’ve only seen them forward of the rear axle.

Everything that I have seen says to mount the ball 4" in front of the rear axle.

 

[ovrszd]

Every one I’ve ever installed (B&W and others) is just FORWARD of centerline. Including factory installed from Ram.

Yep. I installed a B&W on my newer SD. It's slightly forward. Tomorrow I'll report how much.

 

[ovrszd]

Everything that I have seen says to mount the ball 4" in front of the rear axle.

I don't think mine are that far forward. I'm too lazy to go check now.

 

[bnold]

Each trailer type has their place. My ‘opinion’ is a bit less than Hay Dude, north of 10k, I like the weight better distributed, but legally on a bumper pull can go much more

A bummer pull will track better behind you in turns as the hitch connection goes the opposite direction of the turn. Up to a certain length the trailer tires will take the same path as the truck rear tires, never the case with a GN, it will always track inside.

Being able to go beyond 90* in a turn can be very beneficial at times with a GN (not recommended often or loaded heavy as it is a great strain on trailer suspension .

Losing bed space with a GN sucks.

GN is overall longer if storage space is a concern.

If you don’t need to haul heavier weight, I’d stick with bumper.

 

[notaz3]

My F150 is used for hitch pull for my small garden service trailer and my 7,920 pound tractor/trailer.

My F250 is used for gooseneck for my 14,000+ other trailers.

 

[shooterdon]

Edited the OP to add;

Towing a 14-16K GVWR trailer.

BTW appreciate the replies so far.

 

[ovrszd]

I cheat and have both. I use the 28+4 20K tandem dual wheel GN for heavy loads. I use the 18+2 14K Bumper Hitch for lighter loads.

I prefer to pull the GN but it's overkill sometimes. The trailer weighs 7K. Kinda silly for a 4K rock crawler.

 

[Torvy]

I prefer to pull the GN but it's overkill sometimes. The trailer weighs 7K. Kinda silly for a 4K rock crawler.

Haha...I'm imagining me driving down the highway with that behind my Tundra with a UTV on the trailer. That would almost max out my load.