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Gooseneck Trailer Ideas

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Originally posted by David Muench

Very cool. . I am still planning on doing that in awhile, but I've got to build a house and a new 4x4 first (sold my Jeep). Nice job.



Good luck on those big projects!:D
 
Originally posted by QRTRHRS

JFitzgerald,



Looking good. Any problem with "backslap" or throttle pedal oscillation?



Thanks. Not sure what you mean by backslap, QRTRHRS. :confused: Like when I lift the throttle, does it react wierd? If that's it, no. It really pulls sweet. The only thing wierd about it is when it is unloaded, it will twist a little on bumpy turns, etc. - it twists back and forth lengthwise because it's so long. Does that make sense?? Not sure if I'm describing it right. Mounting the camper up front put and end to that. ;) Or hauling two Jeeps. It hasn't shown any handling quirks that caused me any white knuckle rides. My friend who built it liked it so well, he is building another the same, except two feet longer. It will replace his 28' 3 axle Hillsboro GN.
 
Backslap

Trailer decks will "bounce up" and down along the length of their frame in accordance to road and load conditions, wheel placement, etc. I think this is referred to a a natural frequency of vibration. Sometimes, this energy is transmitted to the cab in a horizontal "push/pull" manner. Just like it sounds, the seat back would be pummeling you. It can range from mildly annoying to downright aggravating. Your truck is doing the same thing to a degree but the suspendtion negates it. Certain concrete roads will do this with extended cab Rams although it may be called "cabslap". You feel the cab shuddering more than your back. Placement of trailer load my help/hurt too. This movement can exacerbate throttle oscillation too. Your foot starts bouncing on the throttle and the ram begins leapfrogging or bucking until you let off or stump on it. Fritz's has this on his site about bucking by the way. http://dodgeram. info/tsb/1997/18-29-97.htm
 
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I will pick up my trailer tomorrow. I will be doing the camper over the neck just as you did. Any suggestions? Anything you would do different? The only thing that I've changed on the trailer is I went with a triple axle. Thanks!
 
Pics

I created an album for some pics of the trailer. Now that I look at the pics closely, I'm ashamed of how dirty my "new" trailer looks. Darn gravel roads! Oh well, that's what it's for, just wish I would have washed it before it got too cold. Put it in the barn for the winter yesterday.



Killer59, I PM'ed you. Did you get that camper?
 
Hey that was a bunch of reading but was interesting. Set-up looks good. I am shopping for a trailer right now too, only thing is that I want to haul 2 full size trucks, so I am looking at 38-40 feet long :eek: Will definately be bed over tires, you dam jeep guys got it easy that way. The camper idea is a good one, I would have that option with this trailer if I cut down to 1 truck. Biggest problem is it will be heavy and catch lots of wind, hope I can pull it :D Figure some where around 18,500# of trailer when it is loaded.
 
Wow, 38-40' would be a PITA to get around corners, in and out of parking lots, etc. Mine would have been longer than 30' except for that reason. Some of the places we go to camp and 'wheel just don't have the room. Maybe you could look into a wedge trailer to keep length down??



I've seen some trailers that have a low bed, and the floor is built up and over the wheels, or with fenders removable by pulling a couple hitch pins, or like mine, with fenders strong enough to just drive over. If you're thinking of putting a truck camper on it someday, I'd consider keeping the bed low as possible. Makes it so much easier to pull. My Jeep does just fit between the fenders for now, but it's nice to know it doesn' t have to. :) BTW, the fenders are right at the max. 102" width.



Next big project for my setup is to make the camper easy to remove for when I want to haul two rigs... ...
 
I have though about a wedge trailer, but just imagine how far a truck would be sittin up in the air on a wedge trailer... . WOW



I would love to keep the bed low but am no coming up with good way to do it. The trailer I have right now (a single) has the removable fenders (same one you saw way back when) and work very well. Problem is with the double hauler the last truck I think will end up right over the wheels so that isn't an option. The above the tire trailer also opens you up to many other uses and things that you can haul. So far I have come up with a trailer made by PJ that has a 31" deck height, most are around 36" , that may be the best I can do. Its going to be a long beast, but I got 35' worth of truck to put on it :eek: so it will be interesting to say the least. I am not real worried about getting into tight places, most places we go aren't too bad actually. Also with a trailer that long if it is low to the ground you got more of a chance of getting high centered on things, if you can imagine that :D . Have to wait and see what taxes do to me this year and then go shoppin and see what I can come up with, was considereing building my own but I wouldn't realy save much doing it.



As for a set up to take your camper off, well I got a fork lift for that :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Mopar_Mudder

As for a set up to take your camper off, well I got a fork lift for that :rolleyes:



That's how I got the beast on there. With a friend's two fork trucks. One on each side, and backed the trailer under the camper. I want to be able to do it at home and not have to leave the camper 25 miles away at my friend's place. Oh, and I don't want to buy a fork truck either. :D
 
Just my $. 02, with all due respect.

I spent a year researching gooseneck trailers.

You do not want torsion axles for even going off the road into

a pasture area. All the load transfers to one axle.

You want I-beam frame rails not channel.

All the lights, ramps, trays, steps to get up etc are great ideas.

I bought just a frame in primer shipped to my door from Texas

to Michigan tax free and finished it out myself cheaper than anything I could buy in a 3 state area.



Eric
 
Yeah, it confuses me when I see triple torsion axle trailers when Dexter Axle specifically says that they aren't made for applications with more than 2 axles.
 
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