Gooseneck or stick with bumper pull ?

Rmart30 · Mar 12, 2014

Found what I think is a fair deal on a used 20+5 gooseneck rated at 12k ($2500) .. solid looking trailer , could use some paint and cosmetic work.

Never had a gooseneck before mainly due to not having enough truck to use it with but I picked up a mid 90's dodge/cummins farm truck a few months ago.
its now got me thinking about getting selling my 14k 18 ft bumper pull and going with the gooseneck trailer ... I should be able to get $2000 for my bumper pull.

My L4600 with FEL and bush hog fills the 18 ft'r bumper pull deck completely but it pulls great.... Would be nice to have a little more deck space to carry a disk or box blade with me if I ever needed too ..

Tractor only gets trailer maybe 5 or 6 times a year... most trips under 20 miles round trip, max is 100 mile round trip.

Think its worth the difference to go to the gooseneck ? Id gain more deck space, but loose some hauling capacity (12k vs my 14k)...

7879fordman · Mar 12, 2014

Hard for me to give advice since I have 15 trailers . But I like goosenecks better than bumper pulls .

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newbury · Mar 12, 2014

That's confusing - you apparently had enough truck for a 14K BP 18' and now are going down in weight to 12K but up in length to 20+5'.

My M4700 sure fills up my 16+2' Hudson

But it's a pain to try and park with my 20' truck on a narrow suburban street.

If you don't have "parking" problems I'd say go for it.

ovrszd · Mar 12, 2014

I also prefer GN trailers.

With that said, you are losing more than the 2K lb difference in the capacity of the trailers. The GN will be a heavier trailer empty. You may get close to it's capacity with your tractor load.

I'm not sure I've ever saw a 12K GN trailer. Does it have 6 lug wheels?? I always understood that 8 lug wheel axles were 7K each. Surely singles.

juddspaintballs · Mar 12, 2014

One benefit to keeping a bumper pull is that anyone with a 1 ton should be able to haul it in case your truck breaks down or you loan it out to a friend. My diesel Suburban could handle it in a pinch even. Not everyone has the hookups for a gooseneck in their truck.

nirion · Mar 12, 2014

I think the extra length would be nice, but I would get a good weight on your current tractor/loader/mower set up. You can weigh your current trailer empty and then with the tractor on it.

I have been torn with the gooseneck/bumper pull as I look for a trailer. My truck already has a gooseneck hitch, so that isn't a problem, I am just unsure if I want something that is more limited on what can pull it. A smaller vehicle could pull the bumper pull empty if needed (or to move a light weight but bulky item). I have pulled my friend's 32' gooseneck and his 18' bumper pull. The gooseneck is nicer with a load, in my opinion (but 32 is too long for me).

Diamondpilot · Mar 12, 2014

I would stick with the bumper pull. I've had a gooseneck and while they do have some advantages they have many disadvantages. The gooseneck you're looking at probably weighs four thousand pounds leaving you only 8000 for payload, is that enough? With a bumper pole you still have a bed to load items.

I'm personally started with a bumper pull trailer then went to a gooseneck and I am now back to a bumper pull.

Chris

ovrszd · Mar 12, 2014

Chris,

I started with bumper for years. I'm now hauling 11K lb load. I still have 2 bumper hitch light trailers. But for my heavy load, I'll always stay with the GN.

Funny how each person's experiences end with different opinions, results.

powerstroke444e · Mar 12, 2014

I like goosenecks but wouldn't have any use for one only rated for 12k is it car hauler??? If its a deck over with 6 k axles it would be easy to overload.

I guess it depends on what your doing I am down to one trailer and its a gooseneck as it will do everything I need although some times it is a pain to park.

7879fordman · Mar 12, 2014

ovrszd said:
I also prefer GN trailers.

With that said, you are losing more than the 2K lb difference in the capacity of the trailers. The GN will be a heavier trailer empty. You may get close to it's capacity with your tractor load.

I'm not sure I've ever saw a 12K GN trailer. Does it have 6 lug wheels?? I always understood that 8 lug wheel axles were 7K each. Surely singles.

No there's 6000# and 7000# and 8000# single tire 8 lug axles .

And ya not losing but 2000# .

And really a gooseneck is way safer than a 14000# payload on the back bumper that's plain dangers .

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