Gooseneck trailer hook-up

[REpstein]

Ok- I first bought a horse, then I bought my Dodge 3500 and then I bought my 3-horse slant load Exiss trailer. Everything works great- just got back from a 2,000 mile trip. The only problem (and embarrassment!) I've had is lining up the truck to hook-up the gooseneck trailer (a pain in the gooseneck!). Our country cousins in Colorado, just back-up the truck as close as they can and they get out a large piece of steel pipe to pry the hitch to line up. I seem to remember seeing an ad in a horse magazine for a device that attaches to the hitch and, within certain limits, automatically aligns the trailer as it is lowered. Now, of course, I can't seem to find the ad! I hope I didn't just dream it!! Has anyone else heard of anything like this or am I just going to have to learn to back up the truck more accurately??



Rick in San Diego

 

[R Anestis]

Backing under a gooseneck can be done several ways to make it easier:

-You can do what I do and essentially stand up in the cab of the truck. That is, back up within three feet or so of the trailor and then use the tips of your feet to drive while you lean way over the back seat to look at the ball.

-OR, I watched a "horselady" who could drive her truck but not back it up put one of those tiny (inkpen size) telescoping machanic's magnets directly on top of the ball. She lined that up with the center of the slider window and backed up 'til the magnet got knocked over. That's how she knew when she was under the trailor neck.

-OR, you could buy one of those mirrors that goes just above the neck of the trialor that lets you see what's going on in the bed.



Hope this helps.

-Ron

 

[Posm]

I also have a trick. I can see the ball if I reeeeealy strech out but can not judge depth if I have the ball too high. I leave the ball low enough that it is on about the top 1/2 inch. When I pull out the truck dips down and the trailer is unhooked. When I hook up I just back up until the ball "pops" into the hitch. I have not put a tool box in because I do not want to lose the view of the ball.

 

[Pogodually]

I have a mirror mounted (glued) to the hitch. Helps me get everthing lined up so just drops in place perfect.



FWIW

 

[Okie-Go]

I can see mine by stretching a little. The worst part is the depth perception. The more you hook up the better you will get at it.

 

[Whitmore]

the method I use is simple and usually only requires 1 try, when I line up to back up under the gooseneck I simply look in bothside mirrors and put equal amount of trailer hanging off both sides of the truck then the only judgement is how far to pull under.

Years ago I saw a device that I would like to have , it was a 2 piece unit that was a plastic rod that had a base to insert into, and on the base there was a stickie side to install on your trailer and the other on your truck, then you slid the plastic rods into these holders, and you backed in and lined the tips up, and it was perfect every time, then you took the rods out and saved them for naxt time.

 

[SLittle]

OK, I'll have to chime in here. I have a tool box so no way to see, couldn't see before the toolbox either, you guys must have long necks. Anyway, I've got a piece of black tape on the center of the upright post for the gooseneck and stretch a bungee cord across the middle stakeholes. The bungee cord has a piece of wire that sticks up in the middle. When the wire hits the black tape you're done.



Mainly it's just practice, I rarely use the bungee cord anymore.



Scott

 

[BFaoro]

Practice

I have a flatbed and a stock trailer that are both goosenecks. The best way I found is just practice !! Find out what works for you and use the same style of hooking up so that you can get better at it. But always remember to latch the ball before loading a big tractor, as you back the tractor onto the trailer the back end of the trailer hits the ground as the gooseneck goes straight up in the air !! not to smart or fun !! It really sucks to line the ball back up then ! I don't practice that

 

[JJW_ND]

When pulling double gooseneck stock/horse trailers, they usuallly have a makeshift ball hitch sticking out of the back of the front trailer (20 - 24' trailers). The second trailer hooks up to this. I threw a glove on the ground about where the rear tire of the front trailer should stop. This works in the daytime. Even with a flashlight at night it is hard to watch something 20'+ back. After you have hooked a few of these together you realize how easy the one in the truck is.





Most goosenecks are a self centering hitch. Just get it close, drop the trailer to put some presure on the ball, and give the trailer a push to make it go the rest. A little grease on the ball once ever 100K helps keep your ball from disapearing BTW!



Practice.



jjw