Tilt trailer gooseneck on bumper pull?

MDSteve · May 6, 2004

My wife said I need a trailer but it has to be a tilt trailer. We have rented 2 trailers in the past to move the tractor when needed and one had ramps and the other was a tilt trailer. We both thought the tilt was so much nicer. So if you guys were to get a new 20' or so trailer would you get a gooseneck or just a regular tow behind trailer?

Thanks,
Steve

Bird · May 6, 2004

Nothing wrong with either kind of trailer, but the gooseneck is unbelievably more stable, less likely to fishtail, less affected by wind, etc., and therefore safer, besides being easier to back and can turn shorter forward or back.

Do you get the impression that I prefer 5th wheel and gooseneck trailers? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Egon · May 6, 2004

If your truck box does not have to carry anything else go GOOSENECK. Definetly the better pulling trailer.

Unfortunetly I always have a camper on the truck so it's a bumper hitch.

Egon

radman · May 6, 2004

Gooseneck will pull better behind the truck with less sway. However, with a compact tractor/implement for a load, either one will work just fine. Gooseneck trailer will cost more, slightly more of a hassle to hook on (climb in and out of truck box) and will also have the higher cost of the hitch in the bed. If you get a gooseneck, I would get the type of hitch in the truck where the ball can flip into the floor of the hitch/truck. This makes a nice level floor for other items when hitch is not being used. For heavy loads (greater than 8-10,000 lbs) I prefer my gooseneck. For the rest prefer my bumper pull which for me is still rated at 14,000 lbs GVWR. Even if over 10,000 lbs the bumper pull is OK but need to get weight distribution correct on the trailer

_RaT_ · May 6, 2004

One thing that I think makes a 5th wheel setup a little nicer besides the comments made here is the ability to use the 5th wheel frame work to rest a loader on. I've seen it on a few setrups. It allows either a shorter trailer or more implement length.

kennyd · May 6, 2004

Go for the gooseneck!
As for the tilt, that is a dream of mine to own one. I have been looking at the 17'+4' made by PJ Trailers . That seems like a real nice setup to me.

Poncho · May 6, 2004

I borrow a friends drive on tilt trailer currently with my MF 135 and 6' bushhog. It's neat but the front bracket where you slide the pin through to lock down the trailer is bent from an off level load he did. I'm in the market for a gooseneck. I responded on this subject before.... I have the turnover goose neck hitch. Everything mounts under the bed and you only cut a 4" hole in your bed. If you go this route, invest in a 4" hole saw to go in your drill.... about $20-25, but well worth it. I've wound up installing 4 turn-over ball hitches in frineds trucks.... mostly newer (2003) Chevrolet 1500 and 2500. First time took me about a day..... just being careful. The last one I installed only took me about 2 hours. The gooseneck may cost a little more, but it's a little insurance for a safer tow. Here's where I bought mine: http://www.autaugahitches.com/

MDSteve · May 7, 2004

Thanks for the help. Now I have to look at finding one close. Ebay has a maker and I sent an email to PJ trailers. I am trying to find someone on the east coast. Driving to Tx is a long haul.

Steve

EricL · May 7, 2004

You may also want to contact CENTREVILLE MANUFACTURING, INC.. They are in Centreville, MD.
I am not sure about their pricing but they make good trailers.

40Kchicks · May 7, 2004

You may want to make sure the trailer is wide enough for your tractor. I have a 20’ gooseneck flatbed trailer that has served me well that is until I got my Kubota M9000. The trailer is heavy enough to haul the tractor but not wide enough between the wheel wells. So I’m eventually going to replace it with a 20’ gooseneck with the deck over the wheels and probably a beavertail to make loading easier.

I do like the 20’ trailer because it’s big enough to fit my skid steer and a couple of attachments all in the same trip.

I agree with everyone about how nice the gooseneck is and I have found one other benefit of getting them. That is that often friends will want to borrow a trailer and all I have to say is that all my trailers are gooseneck and most people don’t have that setup so they can’t borrow them.

Eric