O/T trailer question

FC Andy · Jan 18, 2012

I was wondering...

When guys say that gooseneck trailers pull better than bumper pull trailers, are they only referring to the fact that there is less potential for swaying with the gooseneck? Or dose the gooseneck actually make the load easier to pull? Kinda like hitching a plow- hitched incorrectly, it will be a S.O.B. but correct it will pull fine. Just curious. I'm gonna take a short road trip and hopefully make a deal on a 14k 20' gooseneck tomorrow. I should be able to handle it with my truck just fine, especially for the amount and distance I intend on using it for.

Thanks for the input! -Andy

old · Jan 18, 2012

With a goose neck or 5th wheel trailer the load is centered over the rear axle not way back on the rear end so you end up with a truck that is not as badly nose upped like a bump hitch is so it handles far better due to the load sits more on the whole truck instead of just the rear far end of it

rustred · Jan 18, 2012

i have a 34' goose neck and would not even think of pulling a rear hitch type.

sflem849 · Jan 18, 2012

Old and Rustred are dead on. I won't even buy a 16' cattle trailer that is bumper pull anymore.

Super-H-Mike · Jan 18, 2012

I have used both and here is my two cents. If I just have to tow a car or other smaller lighter object,or know there will be tight quarters where I am going, I will take the bumper pull 18 foot car hauler everytime. To me, it is easier to hook up,load,and manuver. If hauling something very heavy or making a longer road trip, the Goose is the way to go.They do pull nicer with almost no sway and smoother riding. I can t say it makes it any "easier" to pull the load though, as your question asks. If you are sensible about it and don t overload it, a bumper pull is just fine. I am sure others will disagree, but that is what works for me.

souNdguy · Jan 18, 2012

i started out with a BP and upgraded to a GN.

with the GN you have the option of putting some decent pin weight onto the tow vehicle.

less to no sway.. tighter turning.. easier backing, IMHO.

Since I got my 28' deckover with 4'Beaver tail.. I almost never use the 16' bumper pull anymore.. unless the wife needs to tow something with her yukon.

Ron-MO · Jan 18, 2012

It sounds like you are looking to pull larger/heavier loads or you would not be looking at a 14K trailer. Assuming that is the case, you are not going to want to pull that kind of weight on the bumper even if you could. However, if you would have said you only pull small loads (like myself), I know I am not justified in spending the extra $$ to buy a gooseneck, even though there have been times I could have used the extra capacity. Also, it means in order to pull the heavier loads you are pretty much tied to a larger (3/4 or 1 T) pickup (more cost). Honestly, I use a small 8" tilt bed trailer more than my 16 ft. bumper hitch, however I rarely hit the highway with either, and in fact I do not even license either. I figure I can pay the failure to register fine and still come out ahead. Just my 2 cents though. Given a choice of pulling 5000 lbs or more on either, I would probably choose the gooseneck, but you are paying for that extra capacity whether you need it or not.

Dan in North Houston · Jan 18, 2012

In addition to all the good comments already posted, you don't have to be so careful about load placement on a gooseneck. If I load my small tractor on my 16' bumper pull trailer, having it a foot too far forward or back of the optimum spot makes a big difference in the tongue weight, the ride, and the handling of the trailer. On a GN, you wouldn't notice the difference. By not having the tongue weight trying to unweight the front wheels, your truck brakes will work better than they would with a tongue trailer.

1953 Super M · Jan 18, 2012

Andy--the rest of the guys pretty well pegged it! Just easier all the way around for mine--in addition to being able to load a couple at a time! Took neighbor's F20 to local show. Steve

Georges F20 and My G Loaded for Oktoberfest

ihredo4 · Jan 18, 2012

I would rather pull the GN than a BP any day. Especially with any weight on the trailer. My GN hitch is installed so the ball is an inch or two ahead of the axle. Now instead of cantilevering the front axle up with a BP I actually am putting weight on the front axle of the truck as well as the rear axle.

Farmallhal · Jan 18, 2012

I'm with Ron Mo on this and maybe because Missouri guys think alike sometimes. I have a new super heavy duty 4 wheel drive 1/2 ton GMC with a towing capacity of 8K. I also have an 18' w/dovetail bumper hitch trailer. I know the limitations of my truck and do have an overkill on the twin axles as they are each rated at 5K (both w/brakes). I would never consider hauling anything heavier then my Super C or 240 except maybe a lightweight H with my truck. My step son has a one-ton Dodge diesel w/dual axles and his trailers are all bumper hitch pintel type which I have used for heavier loads and find that works well for me. Those trailers are used in his construction business and he hauls backhoes and other similiar heavy equipment. From being around folks with the GN trailers they are better suited for the heavier loads and also more manuverable when backing or parking. Also, like Ron stated, I find my smaller tilt trailer used far more as it hauls everything except the tractors. You just have to justify the extra $$'s will be appropriate for what you plan on hauling. I trust your truck is at least a very heavy duty 3/4 or 1 ton to even consider that trailer, Hal.

FC Andy · Jan 18, 2012

Well, since it was touched on, I might as well tell the rest of the story. See, Neither Dad or I have a "heavy" trailer- he just has a 5x8 utility trailer. I have been borrowing tandem car/machinery trailers from family and friends for a few years. And, I've always had good luck. Maybe I was just taught how to load a trailer properly. My Intended use: to haul either the 2 Super C's or my 450 to a show if desired, and the usual: miscellaneous lumber and etc. So, with the tractors I intend on moving, I'd need a 10K to 12K trailer, anyway. I figure that the $3500 or so spent on a new bumper pull equipment trailer is better spent on a good used gooseneck that is more than adequate for my needs. Overkill? yeah, but I like it that way. I do believe I have adequate truck: I bought a '97 Chevy k2500 with 6.5 diesel the other year, for this intended trailer purchase. It's the 8,600 GVW truck, with full floater rear axle and such. It's Basically a 1 ton, just rated as a 3/4. It's pulled everything I've hooked to it so far: Just not on a gooseneck trailer.
-Andy

sflem849 · Jan 18, 2012

(quoted from post at 13:57:35 01/18/12) Well, since it was touched on, I might as well tell the rest of the story. See, Neither Dad or I have a "heavy" trailer- he just has a 5x8 utility trailer. I have been borrowing tandem car/machinery trailers from family and friends for a few years. And, I've always had good luck. Maybe I was just taught how to load a trailer properly. My Intended use: to haul either the 2 Super C's or my 450 to a show if desired, and the usual: miscellaneous lumber and etc. So, with the tractors I intend on moving, I'd need a 10K to 12K trailer, anyway. I figure that the $3500 or so spent on a new bumper pull equipment trailer is better spent on a good used gooseneck that is more than adequate for my needs. Overkill? yeah, but I like it that way. I do believe I have adequate truck: I bought a '97 Chevy k2500 with 6.5 diesel the other year, for this intended trailer purchase. It's the 8,600 GVW truck, with full floater rear axle and such. It's Basically a 1 ton, just rated as a 3/4. It's pulled everything I've hooked to it so far: Just not on a gooseneck trailer.
-Andy

You are right on track, proceed as planned.

CNKS · Jan 18, 2012

One thing that has not been mentioned, as such. If you only have a half ton and want to pull an H/SH, etc, the weight of the gooseneck combined with the tractor weight will likely put you over the max combined pickup/trailer weight. I recently pulled a 350 row crop on my 7000 lb GVW bumper pull with my 2005 half ton GMC pickup. A gooseneck would have put me over the combined weight limit. If you have a 3/4 ton HD pickup, then use a gooseneck, you can pull a lot more weight and still be within legal limits. I wouldn't know about the "better" pulling of a gooseneck. My bumper pull with the proper weight and weight equalizer arms gives no trouble to the point that I can almost forget I am pulling something, which can be dangerous. With the equalizer the pickup is almost level.

S2710 · Jan 18, 2012

I had a BH trailer and I was in a accident this summer and had to replace the trailer. I found a GN for a good price and bought it. When I loaded my tractor on it and hauled it for the first time it was so much easier to drive the truck with the GN then the BH. JMO

Bob

Anonymous-0 · Jan 18, 2012

It's really very simple.Do you see many trucks on the road pulling bumper hitch trailers?? To imply a light truck is better off with a bumper hitch because of a load rating i think is dumb!Bud.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 18, 2012

The best thing about a GN trailer is none of your buddys will be coming over to borrow it.

rhtx55 · Jan 18, 2012

My experience has been a GN is much better in the off situation you have to stop really quickly ( heaven for-fend) with a BP things tend to get real squirrelry real quick. So if you can afford enough truck a GN is the best choice in my book, you won't be sorry you bought it, new or used.
Someone who only owns one tractor for example and doesn't haul that many miles and already owns a 1/2 ton, would have to come up with some serious persuasion to justify an upgrade to a GN with a new rig & trailer to the better half, guess you could always tell her you
"Got it on sale".......

CNKS · Jan 18, 2012

Bud, You completely missed the point, and to call someone dumb is not proper. If I had a gooseneck trailer behind my 2005 GMC half ton, the combined weight of an H and the trailer would not be legal, but with a bumper pull I can easily pull a H or Super H, possible an M if I went with a GVW slightly heavier. As I said before, a bumper pull with a weight distributing hitch is ok. But, if I had a 3/4 ton pickup, I would probably use a gooseneck. Do I see trucks using bumper pull? Every day, sometimes highway department dump trucks, or flat bed "pickups" that have equipment they use in their work on the bed. Bumper pulls can be very well balanced if you know what you are doing. I don't want to get too heavy with a bumper pull behind a half ton because of the lighter truck weight and the lack of a full floating rear axle.

Brendon-KS · Jan 18, 2012

Your comment about using an equalizing hitch on the bumper pull trailer is worth repeating. How many tandem axle BH utility trailers do you see on the road with an equalizing hitch? Not many, but nearly all should be. I have to admit that my 10k BH trailer doesn't have one. Even though my F-250 is rated to tow 10,000 lbs on the "bumper" the factory V5 receiver hitch is only rated for that much if using an equalizer. Most people don't think of their powerful diesel pickup as only being rated to tow 5000 pounds with a regular weight carrying hitch but technically that's the way it is.

old · Jan 18, 2012

Do not know about that but do know I have had more then one guy borrow my truck since it is set up to pull all 4 types of hitches plus my truck has been rebuilt to handle far more then the factory truck will

CNKS · Jan 19, 2012

My hitch is rated at 5000 with no weight distribution arms and I think 11000 with. Half ton will not pull 11000, so it should be safe.

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