car trailer too long for a 3/4 ton?

[JRS]

recently purchased a car trailer from a guy out of town. it's a 32' gooseneck Mainliner, dual axles. (24' floor, 6' deck, 2' tongue) I'll be putting my Nissan 240SX race car in it (about 2400 lbs. ), spare parts, and a portable generator. Anyway, I showed up to purchase the trailer with my '97 2500 (5 speed, 4:10 diff. , Dana 80, Redline synthetic fluids, TST #11, Boost/EGT gauge, Load Range E tires) and the previous owner couldn't believe I was going to tow it home with a 3/4 ton truck. He had been towing it with a Chevy dually and Chevy's pre-Duramax diesel. Before I purchased the trailer, I called several trailer manufacturers around the country familiar with this type of trailer (enclosed car hauler) and they said that a 32' gooseneck was as long as they would go for a 3/4 ton truck. I had no problem towing the trailer home (65-68 mph), into the wind and even a side wind for a while. (albeit the trailer did not have my car in it nor spare parts) In fact, I was surprised how quickly I could accelerate onto the Interstate. Several of my friends have 28' tag enclosed car haulers that they are hauling with a 3/4 trucks or Surburbans, which I think would be even riskier than the gooseneck I purchased. Did I bite off more than I can chew with my truck?

 

[ndurbin]

32' is fine. My stock trailer is 31' from nose to tail and the only time I have trouble with it is in a crosswind but it isn't that bad. Goosenecks well trail alot better than a bumper pull any day of the week. Also alot easier to back IMO.

 

[lmills]

I towed a 32' travel trailer with our 3/4 shortbed quad cab for 2 years before trading up to our current truck.

 

[TowPro]

the only difference I felt towing my 30 foot 5er with the dually over the 2500 is I used to feel a "push" in the stearing wheel when passing/being passed by a big truck in the 2500. Same affect as high cross winds.

 

[Bug Out]

No problem! It will be fine.

I recently pulled my 37' Alpenlite 5th wheel , 15,000# with my 2000 2500 4x4. I don't make a habit of it,only on short hops.



It has plenty of pull but I did notice a little bit of "wiggle" in the truck, Vs my 1 ton dually being solid as a rock pulling it.

 

[JJW_ND]

Length not an issue

I have pulled dozens of trips per year for the first five years I had my truck with the miminum total length of 60'. Max was 82'. This was pulling double stock trailers and horse trailers. Most trips had a 22 - 24' trailer in front and another 20 - 22' trailer behind with a 6' gooseneck hitch sticking out the back of the front trailer. Most trips were between Nov - Feb (snow and ice). All trips were over 700 towing miles.



I would worry about heavy hitch or tonge weight loads or very tall loads. Long loads are very stable.



jjw

ND

 

[Okie-Go]

JRS, I live downthe interstate from you in Texas City. I have a 3/4 ton also, I wouldn't be afraid to pull a trailer like you have anywhere I wanted to go with it. If it catches a lot of wind or is very high and or you pull it a lot you may want to check into a chicken slide to help divert the air over the top of the trailer. Enjoy your new trailer.

 

[KBalzuweit]

With the gooseneck or fifth wheel the weight is over the axle along with the pivot point. A 3/4 is fine for just about any length trailer like that. Its when you get into a tag type trailer they sway will get you with a non dually. I pulled a 40 ft gooseneck car hauler with my 3/4 ton I had with no problem. It was the 24 tag that I had that would pull me around in the wind. Just remember to not overload the front and put too much weight on the rear tires of your truck.



Karl

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Originally posted by KBalzuweit

With the gooseneck or fifth wheel the weight is over the axle along with the pivot point. A 3/4 is fine for just about any length trailer like that. Its when you get into a tag type trailer they sway will get you with a non dually. I pulled a 40 ft gooseneck car hauler with my 3/4 ton I had with no problem. It was the 24 tag that I had that would pull me around in the wind. Just remember to not overload the front and put too much weight on the rear tires of your truck.



Karl

That's funny, I tow my 35' (38' with tongue) TT around all over the place with no problem. IMO with any trailer it's all about weight distribution. My trailer weighs 8,500 lbs and I keep the tongue weight around 950 lbs. I tow it on a Class V hitch with just a ball and friction sway control. I've towed it in up to 40 mph crosswinds with no problems. In over 6,000 miles of towing I've stopped a trip once because of winds. I was heading home and had to drive an hour and a half in a direct crosswind at 35 mph gusting to 50 mph with tornadoe warnings. I pulled into a campground and left in the morning. As long as a trailer's weight is distributed properly you won't have any trouble with almost any length trailer IMO.



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[BillGotthelf]

My wife who has NEVER towed anything in her life just towed my 30'enclosed trailer behind my 99 2500 from West Palm Beach to Orlando for me with my 34 ford coupe in it so I could take it to the Turkey Rod Run. I towed our 36' 5ver at the same time. No that trailer should be a breeze to tow.

 

[Mtngoat]

Simply put, hook it up, and drive it!



Robin

 

[PaulG]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

That's funny, I tow my 35' (38' with tongue) TT around all over the place with no problem. IMO with any trailer it's all about weight distribution. My trailer weighs 8,500 lbs and I keep the tongue weight around 950 lbs. I tow it on a Class V hitch with just a ball and friction sway control. I've towed it in up to 40 mph crosswinds with no problems. In over 6,000 miles of towing I've stopped a trip once because of winds. I was heading home and had to drive an hour and a half in a direct crosswind at 35 mph gusting to 50 mph with tornadoe warnings. I pulled into a campground and left in the morning. As long as a trailer's weight is distributed properly you won't have any trouble with almost any length trailer IMO.



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i agree with this totally, i have a 30' camper and tow it everywhere. i have weight distribution bars to even the weight of the tongue out and if the trailer gets to pushing you around maybe sway bars might help you. I don't use them myelf just due to the back-up hassle but can't hurt right?