Long vs short bed truck when pulling a gooseneck?

[two_bit_score]

Does it make any difference? If so, how?

 

[BandDcabinet]

Does it make any difference? If so, how?[/QUOTE

Depends on what you are towing, I have an F350 SC with the short bed, The gooseneck on our equipment trailer is designed with more than enough clearance for the trailer to swing to extreme angles to either side. The 3 and 6 horse trailer goosenecks are also designed wth adequate clearance (taper) to allow turns. Also have GMC with short bed SRW and a DRW. No problems. I would say the issue to consider is the trailer design to be certain you can swing the turns without the forward section of the gooseneck hitting the cab.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Usually none with a GN. 5th wheel is another story. To combat this they make a slider hitch. If you need to turn sharp, especially backing up you get out of the truck, unlatch the hitch, get back in the truck, hold the trailers brakes on and idle forward. This slides the hitch back about 18" and it locks in. Now you can do your maneuver. When its done you do it all again but this time back the truck up to lock the hitch back in the forward/towing position.

Chris

 

[ModMech]

Bed length is really not a factor for GN, but yes with 5th wheel depending on the bed, sorter than 6' can be a real problem.

You NEED the centerline of the hitch about 1" FORWARD of the C/L of the rear axle, with a very short (5.5' or less) bed, there is barely anough room for the hitch to swing and if there is any overhang to the front, your cab can be damaged in turns especially if there are uneven surfaces involved.

Wheelbase is even not so critical with all but bumper-pull trailers, in that case a longer WB is better, but bed size just does not matter.

 

[two_bit_score]

Sounds like everyone agrees that a long bed will cause no problems but a short bed might, depending on trailer design.

I have been looking into a long bed 2500/3500 and just wanted to run it by the TBN experts to see if I missed anything.

Thanks!

 

[Egon]

It might all factor down to the wheelbase.

 

[Bird]

Sounds like everyone agrees that a long bed will cause no problems but a short bed might, depending on trailer design.

I have been looking into a long bed 2500/3500 and just wanted to run it by the TBN experts to see if I missed anything.

Thanks!

If I already had a short bed truck and then decided to pull a fifth-wheel trailer, I might consider the slider hitch mentioned by Diamondpilot, but if I were shopping for a truck to tow with I'd only be looking for a long bed.

Of course I understand, in this day and age, with all the extended or super cab and crew cab trucks, a long bed can be hard to find. One of my brothers bought a long bed supercab F150 a couple of years ago and had trouble finding a dealer with one in stock. It finally had to be gotten from a dealer many miles away.

 

[two_bit_score]

If I already had a short bed truck and then decided to pull a fifth-wheel trailer, I might consider the slider hitch mentioned by Diamondpilot, but if I were shopping for a truck to tow with I'd only be looking for a long bed.

Of course I understand, in this day and age, with all the extended or super cab and crew cab trucks, a long bed can be hard to find. One of my brothers bought a long bed supercab F150 a couple of years ago and had trouble finding a dealer with one in stock. It finally had to be gotten from a dealer many miles away.

Good point about long beds being hard to find. They have been but right now I have several located. Ranging from extended cabs to crew cabs in 2500 and 3500. Just a matter of details at this point.

The city dealers seem to be stocked with short beds and the country dealers have the long beds.

A crew cab long bed is a long truck.

 

[two_bit_score]

It might all factor down to the wheelbase.

Crew cab long bed. It's about 2 feet longer than my Yukon xl. I couldn't pull up the actual length right now.

 

[Rancher Ed]

Crew cab long bed. It's about 2 feet longer than my Yukon xl. I couldn't pull up the actual length right now.

A crew cab long bed pickup is going to be 22-23' bumper to bumper. Your Yukon xl is going to be about 20' long just like our Excursion. All we have is two CC LB trucks and the Ex and the lengh is not a problem. It all you drive is a small car it could take some getting use to but once you are use to it it the lengh is not a problem.

I agree if you are getting a truck for pulling a gooseneck trailer get a long bed, no questions asked. Most equipment trailer goosenecks are ok with a short bed truck but enclosed trailers, horse trailers and such, can have problems hitting the cab when turning tightly.

Ed