Gooseneck Trailer Ideas

[JFitzgerald]

I'm having a friend custom build me a trailer from scratch, and I plan to (have to?) keep this trailer for many years. Do you experienced trailer towers have any hints for features that I should build into it?



It will be used for going on trips to go off-roading. It will carry a slide-in camper up front with the bunk overhanging the goose neck. Then there will be room for two four wheelers, a generator and my Jeep. I'll probably put pickup truck tool boxes, the kind that mount on top of the bed side, under each side of the camper for tools and spare Jeep parts.



Here's the basic plan. Gooseneck, low bed with diamond plate fenders. The fenders will be strong enough to drive over with my Jeep. 30 ft. long flat wood bed. The main frame will be 8" channel steel. No dovetail. The rear of the frame will have slots for ramp storage. Two 7,000 lb, 8 lug, torsion axles with 12" brakes. I want to avoid spring and shackle maintenance, been there, done that. The hubs will have grease zerks for the bearings. Two hand crank jacks for leveling.



Sorry so long. What do ya think? Am I forgeting anything?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Sounds like fun!

But... For starters, 30' of trailer deck plus the gooseneck is going to make for a long combination. You need to consider where your going to be taking this rig. Do you already own the camper or is this in the future as well? I would get everything weighed before the first arc is struck. You would not want to put a lot of money into this and have it handle badly. If you could get someone with a gooseneck to help you test load your goodies, you might get some good ideas.



If you don't have the camper, I have another idea. Check out a new or used horse trailer with living quarters. The rear partitions could be removed to open up some nice somewhat more secure space. Your Jeep and ATV's would be sheltered rather than out in the open. This would also protect them while the rig sits at home should you not have a big garage to put it in.



You would be better off from an overall weight standpoint too. My 25' 14k beavertail gooseneck weighs around 4500 or so. If you do the math, it does not take long to add up 9500 lbs. In fact, I am selling it because it is to big/not big enough.



It has way more deck length than I need for the limited amount of weight capacity so I am going down to 20'. I could go to a tandem 20k or so trailer but then I need to think about the CDL license.



I have the gooseneck downrated to 10k gross. Have you looked at the threads about the CDL requirements? You need to. Getting back to the horse trailer; similarly to pulling an RV, DOT is less likely to be bothering you.



Lastly, read any threads on goosenecks and handling. The weight must be distributed correctly or the trailer is going to beat you up.



Hope this does not break your bubble. Tough when you try to take all the toys along at once.

 

[NVR FNSH]

Do a search on my user name for additional info on toy hauler trailers. The biggest problem I ran into was that my CJ-7 weighs in at 4000lbs and you have to step up to the 'race car' trailers for that kind of payload. Can you say big $$$$? I suspect that your Jeep weighs a bit more than mine... .



We ended up buying a 36ft Patio Hauler 5th wheel that can handle the dirt bikes. A 36ft trailer definitly limits where I can go/park.



Good luck,

Brian

 

[JFitzgerald]

Wow, some new things to think about! Thanks for the input. I am already commited to this project. I've owned & borrowed several trailers, so I have a good idea of what I want it to be. I have the camper, and just got the new axles, gooseneck, steel, wheels, tires, jacks, etc. What I am asking for is ideas on some possible handy features you guys may have seen that I could add in while it is built. I realize this is a long trailer, but it's all relative, right? Originally, I was looking at buying a used 32' trailer with an additional 4' of beaver tail. I decided that would be too long and cause me greif getting in and out of the places we camp, like you mentioned. Plus, the beaver tail would be a clearance issue. A tail is not necessary - ramps aren't either for that matter. I won't be hauling any sports cars. I have considered the horse trailer thing, but they are too expensive for me. I can always find a decent used slide-in for a reasonable price. The one I have now is in nice shape and is light. The low bed will keep the camper lower and reduce wind drag. With this setup, I have the option of upgrading the camper over time, but keeping the trailer. I have allowed room for a longer camper to fit. Shelter is not a concern. Have a big barn for all the toys. Another factor is at times a friend and I might decide to "car pool". I could take the camper off, and haul two Jeeps (or several four wheelers and dirt bikes) long distance, split the fuel cost , and do the hotel thing. I know two guys who have similar setups, except shorter trailers, and are happy with them. They haven't mentioned any trouble with the authorities. The Jeep weighs about 4100 lbs. I'll check out the searches you guys suggested. Thanks!

 

[RustyTRanch]

How much off road is something else to consider.

We run over some pretty bad pastures and torsion axles are just not a option. just my . 02 worth

 

[JFitzgerald]

Originally posted by RustyTRanch

How much off road is something else to consider.

We run over some pretty bad pastures and torsion axles are just not a option. just my . 02 worth

What makes torsion axles not good off road? I would normally just be pulling into a grassy area, maybe some small hills or something. No serious off roading, that's what the Jeep is for. I went with torsions to eliminate spring, shackle and bushing maintenance, and also for a lower trailer.



Thanks

 

[Tom C]

Jfitzgerald, I'm assuming your putting both jacks up front. How about some in the back to steady the trailer for loading/unloading. Are your new wheels lug pattern compatable with with your trucks. this would make for a lot of spares. a grated rack on the front of the trailer under the gooseneck is good for holding fuel cans and such. brakes on both axles and backup lights on back and sides of trailer.



hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Torsions

Torsion axles that see abuse, one too many curbs for instance, will bend off of center. The tires will then wear and you will have a pull. Torsions are great for smooth ride and operation, but do not hold up off-road or under harsh driving conditions. I believe you have to replace the whole axle once they are bent.

 

[HDH]

Originally posted by NVR FNSH

Do a search on my user name for additional info on toy hauler trailers. The biggest problem I ran into was that my CJ-7 weighs in at 4000lbs and you have to step up to the 'race car' trailers for that kind of payload. Can you say big $$$$? I suspect that your Jeep weighs a bit more than mine... .



We ended up buying a 36ft Patio Hauler 5th wheel that can handle the dirt bikes. A 36ft trailer definitly limits where I can go/park.



Good luck,

Brian

Brian,

WOW! 36ft Long, I bet you dont take that Rig up to National Forest Campgrounds. .

We have a Little 26ft Pull behind Toy Hauler, And It Barely fits in the Campgrounds in the Sierra's.

Most of the Campgrounds in the Sierra's have a Limit of 22ft. They are tight!

Doug.

 

[Eric Horne]

Since you are talking about starting from scratch, give yourself allot of room between the top of the bed and the gooseneck beams. From personal experiance, it really burns a fellow when the gooseneck beams smash into the rear corner of the bed. I was just pulling onto the main road from a low side road and smash.

 

[illflem]

I guess this is too late since you already have the axles, but Dexter's with 90wt lube and clear plastic hubs sure are easy to maintain. I also would shy away form the torsion bars. Hard part for you is going to be where to place the axles, without a balanced load your drive can vary from very uncomfortable to downright dangerous. I have jacks at all four corners of my GN, sure come in handy at times. On a low bed hinged wheel wells may be necessary in order to open the doors after driving a rig on. 3/4" round stock welded down every 16" the entire length on both sides, either inside or under the channel, will give you secure tie downs anywhere you need.

 

[David Muench]

Ha.



I was going to post today for recommendations on a good 34-36' gooseneck to carry about 12k. . Made up of 1 slide in camper and 2 Jeeps.



Been thinking about this for awhile myself too, and you pretty much covered most of my thinking above. I need a trailer that can carry both of our Jeeps plus setting a slide in camper on it someday. Toy haulers are out of the question, and race car trailers are too small (I'm not going to pull all 8 tires off of our Jeeps and put little ones on just to jam them inside an enclosed trailer). I'm thinking of going to a triple axle, 3 6k's. I know it will be rougher on the turns, but I get the feeling that I won't want to pay for a dual tandem (they look pricey), and tandem 8 or 9k single tire axles need H rated tires and other stuff that makes me uneasy about both the price and the amount of stress put on each tire. I'm not looking to go offroad with it, just park it at the campsite and unload the Jeeps.



I would add some space at the front of the trailer to carry propane tanks, batteries, and maybe even extra fresh/grey/black water tankage. I've been thinking we could get a smaller camper yet "expand" those critical bits which are usually lacking on a smaller camper. A smaller camper like a 8 or 9' lance would probably handle better too. Jacks at all 4 corners for sure. . You're gonna want to level the trailer out for the camper's sake.



Great thread though. . I can't wait to get something that uses that gooseneck in my new flatbed. Anyone want to buy a 2 year old 1. 5 jeep 22' trailer?

 

[JFitzgerald]

Ideas

Wow, lots of good input.



Tom C:

Jacks at the rear corners are a good idea. Will save stress on the trailer when loading/unloading the Jeep. Yes, wheels are a match with the truck, in fact they are the stock set that came with the truck. I did get the axles with brakes at all 4 wheels. Back up lights! Good idea!



Nathan:

I'll keep that in mind. I really don't plan to take the trailer into any areas that are too rough. Won't see any curbs where I go either.



Eric:

Will check on what my friend has planned for gooseneck/bed clearance. He has a Hillsborough GN and another friend has a GN, so we can get dimensions on what works.



illflem:

I'm trusting my friend's experience for axle placement. He has built many trailers and hauled many Jeeps, trucks, etc. If I have balance problems, the main weight (Jeep) can be moved back and forth until a "happy" spot is found. The other stuff can be re-arranged around the Jeep. There are stake pockets about every 16", which will be overlapped with 3" flat stock for the full length (except at the fenders). This should take care of tie down points. Can't have too many when hauling four wheelers and dirt bikes.



David:

Small world. I believe this setup will become more popular with time. Toy haulers won't cut it for me either. Two Jeeps takes a lot of truck. Good thing we have Cummins power! Batteries will have a spot in the gooseneck "A frame". Hadn't thought of propane storage, but the camper holds two jugs. Might not hurt to have a spot for more. Water tankage would be great. It's a pain having to refill for showers, etc. on a long weekend.



More ideas from over the weekend:

A quick-setup tarp shelter for just behind the camper. Posts could fit into the stake pockets. Handy for shade or rain.

A framed set of steps from trailer bedside to ground to be put in place when parked. The top of the frame could set into stake pockets.



Thanks again for all the input. This is a great website! The trailer frame is pretty much completed. Looks really long! I'll post again to let you know how it works out.

 

[David Muench]

Sure will take a lot of truck. That's why I bought the biggest Ram I could in the USA. . I would of liked a quad cab too, but oh well. At least I didn't end up with a F-450.



Good idea on the steps, my girlfriend and I thought of that one at lunch today too. She had the idea of making up some 2x4's that could be stuck in any of the stake pockets to hang normal lights or party lights or clotheslines.



Here's the trailer I'm looking at. . I don't think I want to go through building one. I don't have any friends who do that anyway.



http://www.trailersforless.com/pj_GN7034_flatbed_trailer.html



Either 34 or 36' length, without the side rails (My Jeep fits on my 83" wide trailer now with about 2" to spare, and it's gonna get about 2" wider next year). Gotta do some measuring tonight and see how long it needs to be.



Permatech'ing or rhino lining (thickly) the area that the camper will be sitting on would eliminate the need for a mat to keep it from sliding around too.



Post some pics if you have the ability to easily. I would love to see what you end up with.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Originally posted by David Muench

Sure will take a lot of truck. That's why I bought the biggest Ram I could in the USA. . I would of liked a quad cab too, but oh well. At least I didn't end up with a F-450.



Good idea on the steps, my girlfriend and I thought of that one at lunch today too. She had the idea of making up some 2x4's that could be stuck in any of the stake pockets to hang normal lights or party lights or clotheslines.



Here's the trailer I'm looking at. . I don't think I want to go through building one. I don't have any friends who do that anyway.



http://www.trailersforless.com/pj_GN7034_flatbed_trailer.html



Either 34 or 36' length, without the side rails (My Jeep fits on my 83" wide trailer now with about 2" to spare, and it's gonna get about 2" wider next year). Gotta do some measuring tonight and see how long it needs to be.



Permatech'ing or rhino lining (thickly) the area that the camper will be sitting on would eliminate the need for a mat to keep it from sliding around too.



Post some pics if you have the ability to easily. I would love to see what you end up with.

Just say no to Furds! That trailer looks nice. The car trailer I use now has about 82-1/2" between the fenders, and my Jeep just fits between them. I had to move the fenders out to fit it. That brought me to the max. 102" total width. If I ever put wider tires on the Jeep, I will need to be able to drive over the fenders of the new trailer, so they are being made strong enough with diamond plate. It will have about 83" between the fenders. I'll see what I can do for pics, been wanting to get a digital camera, but I keep spending all my money on my truck, trailer and Jeep.

 

[David Muench]

How's the trailer coming?

 

[JFitzgerald]

Originally posted by David Muench

How's the trailer coming?

It is all framed except for finishing the GN portion. Axles and fenders are attached. Then it's paint, wiring and deck. The plan is to have it done this week so he can go to NM for a rock crawl competition. He'd like to have it done before so he can come back to a new project. He also still has to put the ball in my truck bed. I'm anxious to try it! I'll let you know how it's going.

 

[David Muench]

Just checkin in. .

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

I hauled a 30 ft gooseneck recently and. . I'd be worried about the caper clearing the goosneck. I assume you want the front of the camper to ride above the gooseneck.



I would get the full 8' flat bed and the dual tires. It makes room for under bed tooloxes, spare tires etc. .



The one I used had a 4ft dovetail. I'd consider that too. The neat thing about having a 30 ft gn trlr is the versatility. putting fenders down the side limits what fits. If youre gonna shell out the clams for a trailer that size, make sure you'll only need one trailer.



a good flatbed can haul eveything from not so small dozers on down and being able to put 8ft luber across the width saves lots of space. I put a 50hp johndeere 2 5' boxblades, 6'brush hog, an auger, a 1yd bucket, 30 bundles of hardwood flooring, and several interior doors on it and had room to spare.



It was HEAVY. Really gave me the feeling I'd bought the right truck!!!



I'm considering a trailer myself. Luckily the guy that leases my pastures has a really nice trailer he doesn't use much



I'd also put a deck over the gooseneck... doesn't wiegh much and the more deck to stack stuff the better.



Later,

Mark

 

[JFitzgerald]

Update

David,



Wow, three weeks have gone by and the trailer is still not complete! My friend who is building it has had other work coming and going, and I have told him to take his time. I want it right, not rushed. The trailer is now framed, painted, decked and about 90% wired. Just a couple finishing touches left. Then he has to put a ball in the bed of my truck. The trailer looks great though, he has done some really nice work. It will be set up with a breakaway switch to apply the brakes if the trailer separates from the truck. The batteries for the camper will be used for power. We have a springy coiled cable for connecting the trailer to the truck. It's the type used on semi's.



Mark,



Yes, the cabover portion of the camper will go over the gooseneck. The trailer has been built specifically for the camper to fit, so we've been doing plenty of measuring to make sure it all fits. I chose to go with a low bed trailer and deal with the fenders so that the camper can be kept as low as possible to keep wind drag down. The 8 ft. width of the bed is not needed for my uses. For my application, a dovetail was not an option. The Jeep can climb on the trailer without ramps, let alone needing a dovetail. The length alone will be a challenge to get in and out of places, I don't want a low tail to be dragging on things. As far as the plate over the gooseneck, the camper will cover that, so I will use that space for a spare tire to mount from underneath and the camper batteries will mount under there on a shelf too. Might cover it with expanded metal. I guess it's all about what a person is going to use it for.



Thanks for the input guys and I'll work on getting some pics to post. Here is one I found on the net with a similar setup, but shorter. He's using the right kind of truck too!