Gooseneck ball location in short bed?

[ilplumber]

Fellow members,

I have just purchased a 40' haulmark gooseneck enclosed trailer.

I plan on towing it with my short bed 2500. Where in the bed can I put the ball so I don't have to worry about hitting the cab with the trailer. I have heard 51" back from the cab. Is this true or can it be further forward? Thanks

Matt Miller

 

[PAYCHECK]

I put mine about 1" in front of the axle. I used the Cody Gooseneck hitch. I can back under my featherlight gooseneck with the tailgate down and not hit the trailer with room to spare, jacked-knifed and she stays away from the cab. The hitch manufacturer shoud have some advice on where to mount it. Mine was no-drill and mounted in a certain location.

 

[ilplumber]

Does your featherlite have an 8' or 4' overhang. Mine is 8' . I was told this would not work turning corners if it wasn't back. Do you happen to have a truck and trailer pic or know where one is?

 

[PAYCHECK]

I am not sure of the overhang, I know it is longer than 4'. I would guess that it is at least 6' or longer. I'll measure it and send you an e-mail with the info. I have the 4 horse Slant load with the seperated cab in the front of the trailer, with the wall in between the front and the horses. The Overhang on my trailer is the one that has the aerodynamic type front that narrows towards the front,hope this helps. I do not have Digital pics, only the 'old' type and no scanner.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I think 6" forward of center of the axle is optimal. Don't ask me where center is on the axle. I do understand though, with the six foot bed, you need to do what will work.

 

[SLindblom]

Just read Dad's May 2002 copy of Trailer Life, and they had an article about this very subject.



Pullrite Ent. has developed a 5th wheel hitch that automatically slides back when you turn a sharp corner, made specifically for short bed pickups.



www.pullrite.com or 1-800-443-2307.



Pretty expensive, $1900 for the 16K hitch.



On my short bed quad cab, we (my brother and I, mostly my brother) installed the gooseneck ball 3 inches ahead of center of rear axle. (to find center of rear axle, we used a plumb line and eyeballed it through the middle of the hub). However, I haven't pulled anything with it yet.



Both of Dad's goosenecks have the V shaped nose. Because we use goosenecks, Dad pulled the king pin from his 5'r and installed a gooseneck stem on it as well.



Dad's quad cab is a long bed and we installed the ball 6 in ahead of center.



Hope this helps.

 

[ilplumber]

Just thought i would update you all. My 40' gooseneck is 102" wide. The trailer front is square(doesn't taper in) . From the center of the ball to front corner of the trailer is 51". I ended up mounting the ball 54" off the back glass or 15" behind the axle. This is the only way to manuver the trailer at all. It pulls pretty good I will just have to be careful with the tongue weight. It shouldn't be a problem because most of my weight sits on the three axles. It will have to do until I get a 1 ton long bed.



Even if I had a long bed I would still have to mount the ball behind the axle 6" to clear the cab. Thanks for the comments. More are welcome.

Matt Miller