buying trailer gooseneck or regular hitch???

[JARichard]

I am planning on buying a trailer to haul between 2500 and 6000lbs. Which would the third generation handle better a gooseneck or a regular hitch trailer? Is this applicable to all trucks? Why ?

I have never pulled anything besides my 4 wheeler trailer. But I do haul 3000lbs. in the back a lot.

Thanks!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

gooseneck pulls/rides/etc. better/smoother than pull behind and is also easier to maneuver.



Forrest

 

[willyslover]

100 agree with Forrest

and a side note. . G/N's can be had at very reasonable prices. . saw a reasonable well made one on E-Bay new for 3500. 00 if memory serves me. .

BEFORE you make a final decision on a G/N and order one review a thread here from BBD [Big Bad Dodge]. . many good suggestions on what to order on it. . or at least repost for some input to give ya some good ideas [if you have never owned one before]

 

[Forrest Nearing]

we have one of the best gooseneck builders in the nation on this board. Sean Williams (TX Gooseneck) and his father own/operate Brute Trailers. They build custom trailers to spec for VERY good prices. So good that they deliver them all over the nation!



Forrest

 

[Fred Swanson]

No question, the gooseneck is best for hauling. But if you don't want to lose your bed, then the bumper pull variety will work fine. 6K is not too much for a bumper pull. The truck could care less.

 

[JARichard]

I am probably going to buy an used trailer. I need one that is over the axle. So , i can load and unload with a forklift. I figure I only need 6 x 12 at most and they are hard to find that small in a gn. Even harder to find over the axle in regular hitch. I am just trying to make 2 trips in one and take the risk out of putting equip in the bed with slings.

 

[willyslover]

Forrest . . I didn't know that info. . mine is a Brute also

 

[InThinAir]

"Real Men use their ball in the bed and don't receive one under their tailgate. "



But really a gooseneck will handle a load much more stable, but sometimes is more a PITA because you lose your bed. A good GN hitch is about 300-400 bucks if you install yourself. A GN trailer is gonna cost more, but if you ever think you will need to haul heavy a GN is the way to go.



---Doug

 

[roperteacher]

I pull a gooseneck horse trailer. I would NEVER put 6,000 lbs off the rear. Just to heavy and unstable. The only size trailer I will pull on the rear hitch is a smaller 2 horse or equivelent trailer. When you go big, gooseneck is best. Not sure why they say you will lose your bed if you go w/ gooseneck. I have a fold down ball and a bedliner/cover... my beds have always remained crisp and new looking after pulling 1000's of miles.

 

[y-knot]

I agree the GN trailers are the way to go, they pull so much easier and you have a full 90 degrees of swing not the 30 from a bumper pull. But everyone has to do what is right for them, you do not seem to need a very long trailer, and you are also looking for a used one. Goose Neck trailers are more expense, and weight more then a bumper pull. They also require a special hitch, and you loose the bed. If you are restricted by funds, your best bet is a bumper pull. I personally would never by a used trailer, I just like to know what I have. If you do end up going the used route, pay special attention to it's condition and what it had been used for. Good luck

 

[MarkH]

Just to confirm what roperteacher has said. With a GN you do _not_ lose your bed as with a _5th_ wheel hitch. At most you have a 3 in ball and two saftey chain hookups in the bed. If you get one of the _hidden_ style hitches when the ball is in the "hidden" position your bed is completly usable. With the bed mat I had in my 97 and the ball hidden you wouldn't even know I had a GN hitch.

 

[geusterman]

Lots of opinions... . one more here. I regularily pull 10K with backhoe and trailer on rear. I am building a 16K dumper GN flatbed that just clears the bumpers. Low enough for hoe haul center of gravity and high enough to side load. Has side boards for dumping stuff. It is 18 feet long. Has removeable GN arm so I can use it with my camper on as a bumper pull. Permanent tool box and winch mount on trailer. Pretty cool, eh? George

 

[Bouncy]

If I can tag onto this thread.



I have read a lot about GN and 5ers. Which is better... a GN or 5er?

 

[MarkH]

As to which type of hitch to get I think it depends on what you plan on towing. A "cargo" trailer or a "living" one. Personally I would use (have) a GN for cargo type stuff. You don't need to mount rails in your bed and have a big "semi" style hitch using up quite a bit of bed space. But they are a little more difficult to hook up. You cant just buy a "5th" wheel tailgate and back up to the trailer because the hitch is only about 6-9 inches from the floor of the bed. when hooked up. So you have to drop the gate or remove it entirely. But i like my GN for the reason listed above _no_ loss of bed space and no rails on the bed when hitch is not in the truck.

 

[Bouncy]

Ok... barring out the hitch in bed issue. And I was planning on a flow thru tailgate...



What is the different/advantage to a 5er or GN?

 

[MarkH]

Well there really isn't much of a difference except in how they hook up. Many trailer makers will build the same trailer with either style of hitch to suit the customer. But almost all travel trailer manf use the 5th style. Cargo manf will let you choose the style when you order, and there is usually no difference in price. Maybe some of the people with the 5th style can give you more info on that style.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

doesn't a GN give more articulation over uneven terrain?

 

[JHardwick]

Originally posted by Forrest Nearing

doesn't a GN give more articulation over uneven terrain?

Not if there is interference with the bed rails!



This truck sits so high that I have the stem dropped as low as I can get without bed interference, and the front tandems still lock up due to lack of weight loading.



I tow both a GN and a tag. I personally back a tag way better, and a tag tracks better.



A GN tows more stable and also gives additional articulation, but won't track as well.



I havn't followed all of this thread, but if it hasn't been said ... ... ... ... . this is personal preference.

 

[Bouncy]

What is a tag? Is that considered a 5th wheel?

 

[Peter Campbell]

tag=tag a long; also known as bumper pull