Are goosenecks worth it on the 2500 for hot shotting?

[Crunch]

The short of it... you were compensated, you are commercial!

I'm not arguing with your statement, but I don't buy into the idea that simply being compensated should automatically get one listed in the commercial group. I've never considered myself a commercial driver. I often use my truck to help friends and neighbors for free. But I've also taken compensation above expenses to make the deal worthwhile. I think being classified as a commercial should involve a lot more, such as what % of your income do you get, hours per week spent driving for compensation, etc.

 

[MMeier]

Go to HotShot Hauling and ask over there, poke around the site and see what you think.

 

[EDavis]

I honestly dont think it matters if you have a 1500 2500 or 3500 goosenecks tow much better no matter what. I towed a empty 16' car trailer down a highway and felt it was pushing the back of my truck thru the turns while my 24' deckover gooseneck you dont even realize is there. If your going to be towing alot I think the better tracking and control over a gooseneck is worth the extra money.

 

[Bunyan]

Gooseneck here. As stated before you can't tell it's there. Draw-Tite also makes gooseneck hitches. One has a turnover ball and the other a removable ball. The removable ball has a plate about 12"X14"s in the bed. Both units are rated for 30000#s. The hitch with the plate is approved for commercial use.

 

[Crunch]

Go to HotShot Hauling and ask over there, poke around the site and see what you think.

I checked out the site the other day, but there doesn't seem to be a lot there at the moment. The most recent post I saw was from February of this year. Looks like it would be a great site if it was fully stocked and functional.



carson6, EDavis and Bunyan: I definitely see the advantage of the gooseneck hitch, but to date no one has ever asked me to pull a gooseneck trailer. I don't currently own a trailer, but have access to a 14,000lb. capacity dual axle bumper pull trailer. I'll probably end up getting the hitch anyway, once I have $500 to spare on it. I like Draw-Tite products, but the pop-up hitch that only requires a 3" hole can't be beat, in my opinion. I don't like the idea of cutting a hole in my bed in the first place, but a 3" hold sounds better than a foot square hole.



Then there is the big question: Is it "if" or "when" I'll one day drive off without dropping the tailgate?:-laf Most people I know with goosenecks seem to have the tell-tale mark of the beast on the inside of their tailgate. The others have either no tailgate, or the style with the "V" cut out of the center.

 

[MMeier]

Posts made daily on there. did you register so you can check it out in its entireity?

 

[Crunch]

Posts made daily on there. did you register so you can check it out in its entireity?

Doh! I just rooted around in there like a feral hog; didn't even think to register. Thanks for the info. I'll check it out again and register in the next few days.

 

[MMeier]

Yep, just start at the top... " hotshothauling how to info" and start by reading up in there. site is free, don't be afraid to ask questions in there either. Might not like some answers you'll get, but all these guys are in the biz or were for a long time.

 

[EDavis]

carson6, EDavis and Bunyan: I definitely see the advantage of the gooseneck hitch, but to date no one has ever asked me to pull a gooseneck trailer. I don't currently own a trailer, but have access to a 14,000lb. capacity dual axle bumper pull trailer. QUOTE]



I thought to hotshot most drivers supplied their own trailers??? Do some agencies supply truck owners with trailers? Personally ill never buy another bumper tow for a couple reasons the ones mentioned about how they tow but also NONE of my friends have a gooseneck hitch so they cant borrow my trailer. Also if someone does have the hitch in their truck more than likley they know how to drive and can be trusted unlike most others that are towing trailers down the road.

 

[Crunch]

I thought to hotshot most drivers supplied their own trailers??? Do some agencies supply truck owners with trailers? Personally ill never buy another bumper tow for a couple reasons the ones mentioned about how they tow but also NONE of my friends have a gooseneck hitch so they cant borrow my trailer. Also if someone does have the hitch in their truck more than likley they know how to drive and can be trusted unlike most others that are towing trailers down the road.

True, but in my case the term "hotshot" is more of a verb than a job description. I haul trailers for people who don't have a truck or the time to do it themselves. That's why I was looking into the idea of doing it more often as a source of income. But if it is going to cost thousands of dollars just to get into it, I'll take a pass. I think at the frequency I do it now I can stay just below the radar. I've only been stopped by the cops once while hauling a trailer--in North Carolina, by the state troopers. I think he was more interested in the trailer because of its odd appearance than anything else. He followed behind me in the passing lane for a while, then as soon as he got in my lane he hit the lights. I knew it was coming so I pulled over the second the lights came on (one of the best ways to avoid extended contact with the law). He approached my truck from the passenger side, taking a close look at the trailer. He questioned me about what I was doing, asked about the trailer, etc. I told him everything, and asked if I was speeding. He said I was "following a semi truck a bit too closely". I knew I wasn't, but also know that's a generic excuse for a stop. No tickets, no hassle and back on the road in 10 minutes. That was one of the reasons I thought that at the level I was hauling for money there wouldn't be any conflict with the law. I have to admit though, that is was kind of awkward to be the guy calling out the location of the cops on the CB, and then be the guy to get pulled over by them.

 

[Bunyan]

I checked out the site the other day, but there doesn't seem to be a lot there at the moment. The most recent post I saw was from February of this year. Looks like it would be a great site if it was fully stocked and functional.



carson6, EDavis and Bunyan: I definitely see the advantage of the gooseneck hitch, but to date no one has ever asked me to pull a gooseneck trailer. I don't currently own a trailer, but have access to a 14,000lb. capacity dual axle bumper pull trailer. I'll probably end up getting the hitch anyway, once I have $500 to spare on it. I like Draw-Tite products, but the pop-up hitch that only requires a 3" hole can't be beat, in my opinion. I don't like the idea of cutting a hole in my bed in the first place, but a 3" hold sounds better than a foot square hole.



Then there is the big question: Is it "if" or "when" I'll one day drive off without dropping the tailgate?:-laf Most people I know with goosenecks seem to have the tell-tale mark of the beast on the inside of their tailgate. The others have either no tailgate, or the style with the "V" cut out of the center.

I'm expected in Dallas at the end of the month to pick up a load of furniture. I'll will bring gooseneck stock traier to do so. If you have time and me too, we can meet and you can tow it for awhile. Rough roads and smooth you will know if it is for you.

 

[Balzac]

Truck Hauling

I am looking for a member to haul a Jeep TJ from SF to Vegas or Havasu City in Oct. Any suggestions?

 

[carson6]

25 per hour and fuel(i have the car carrier) and i'm yours to lhc az.

 

[Balzac]

Thanks Carson, I haven't made a deal yet and am looking at several in various places. Will contact you when I find the right(price) Jeep.

 

[MMeier]

I am looking for a member to haul a Jeep TJ from SF to Vegas or Havasu City in Oct. Any suggestions?

Stock Jeep?

 

[Balzac]

Don't know yet, still trying to make a deal, most have wider wheels & tires but not all.

 

[MMeier]

Once you find out, post up and let us know.

 

[WILLD420]

You have to be within the weight limits of the truck and what you are licensed for. 20 years ago, we licensed 1/2 ton trucks for 8K lbs by paying extra and nobody said diddly. Now, the laws may be different.

If you are stuck on the 2500, check your local laws. If you are legal at home, it helps a lot when you get stopped. Pony up for some 19. 5 rims/tires and pay for the GVW to be raised at the DMV if that's how they play there. Put some airbags on the back, so the truck rides level and go. Realize you need a commercial license for most states since you will be doing if for money/living. Avoid states that are too strict.

The gooseneck is great, but don't limit yourself. Buy the rails like a 5th wheel uses, put them in the bed, they sit pretty low, so it won't hurt much unless you need a totally flat bed floor for pallets or some such. If you do, stack a couple 2x4's legthwise and the pallets will sit on top of the wood.

With the rails, you can get a gooseneck hitch and a 5th wheel hitch that will drop in. Buy a good adjustable weight distributing hitch that you can move from trailer to trailer for grabbing bumper pull trailers.

Many times, the improper equipment or truck dragging ***** will catch the eyes more than the same load that looks nice and safe.

As for the hitch type, the gooseneck or 5th wheel will always outpull the bumper hitch.

 

[Balzac]

Found a Jeep in Vegas, won't need hauling this time, will keep you two's info in case I need in the future. Thanks

 

[Crunch]

Posts made daily on there. did you register so you can check it out in its entireity?

I finally registered and checked out the info. I'm stunned that the requirements are so strict and ham-handed on the part of the federal government, even for intrastate drivers. It looks like the general hotshotting idea is out, though I plan on continuing with my limited list of clients. If I have to rationalize it, I can always tell myself that I am getting reimbursed, not paid for fuel, and getting paid for the non-driving labor I perform at the destination end. The driving I do for free. I hope that that will technically put me in the same category as the millions of other people who drive to a job site, often with co-workers and tools loaded up in their trucks. My friends and I have done that kind of stuff since we were 20, and the possibility that we could have been tagged as "commercial" never entered our minds. Thanks for the info, everyone. It's a bummer, but government really sucks. Big time. And it ain't gonna get better.