Gooseneck vrs bumper pull

[EGroeneveld]

Alright I have a 2005 Dodge, Dually 3500 and am looking at trailers. I am having a tough deciding between a PJ 19'+3' Deckover bumper pull for $ 5,048 or going with a PJ 20'+5' Gooseneck for $ 6,250. They both have dovetails and ramps. Is it worth $ 1,202. 00 to pull with a gooseneck. Does it make it track that much better? Is the handling that much better? I am leaning towards the gooseneck but just cann't make up my mind yet.



I am not worried about the cost of the turnover ball set up. Quoted $680 installed. Will be doing it anyways for getting a 5th wheel toy hauler setup in the next year or two anyways.



What I am hauling is my offroad toy '77 K5 Blazer on 38'' boggers, 1 ton, beadlocks, etc... View attachment 67240 Attached, is was when I rented a 14'+4' deckover trailer from United rentals which worked pretty good. I have hauled my Blazer for wheelin days a couple times but think its time to get my own trailer.



Thanks,

 

[EB]

No comparison, get the gooseneck. Tracking, handling, safety, all much better.

 

[Grizzly]

No comparison, get the gooseneck. Tracking, handling, safety, all much better.

I agree, go for the GN.

 

[GAmes]

Ditto, gooseneck.

 

[Pavemen]

goose all the way. pulls nicer, tracks better, less sway, less rear end bounce, trailer cant push as much in a corner, more tongue capacity, more trailer capacity, no dealing with weight distribution hitches or sway control parts, etc.

 

[KBalzuweit]

GOOSENECK!! There are some less expensive alternatives too. Such as Kaufman Trailers Inc. , just under 4k!

 

[EGroeneveld]

GOOSENECK!! There are some less expensive alternatives too. Such as Kaufman Trailers Inc. , just under 4k!

I will have to research the Kaufman's but I remember reading serveral posts about the paint not being very good. I also want to buy something local I can look at. I'm not one to spend $ 4,000 on something I cann't take a look at and I don't know anyone with one either.



I have farmer friends with PJ's who swear by them and the PJ are also in stock at local trailer dealers. I don't want to spend unnecessary money to get a good trailer. But I'm trying to get a trailer I can keep around for a long, long time, (I'm only 32) so I am trying to spend my money wisely and get something that will last. I have heard lot's of great comments about PJ's and thats what a couple of local dealers have in stock. Other places near me carry Great Northern's and BigTex but they are not in stock I have to order what I want. One dealer only has a 20K 35' goosenext. Also I cannot find anyone with an opinion on the Great Northern even though they are made in Southern Oregon. Its like they are a newer company. My utility trailer is a 2004 BigTex and I have not been happy with the paint job. There is rust popping though in to many areas for my tastes.

 

[EricBu12]

Def. get the gooseneck. . just like a 5th in handling. to have a combo switch unit from goose to 5th, get the B&W turnover hitch. it has gooseneck ball and a 5th wheel hitch that goes right on top of it.



don't have an opinion on deck overs. . have a "big tex" 14' bumper pull that is built pretty well.

 

[KBalzuweit]

I will have to research the Kaufman's but I remember reading serveral posts about the paint not being very good. I also want to buy something local I can look at. I'm not one to spend $ 4,000 on something I cann't take a look at and I don't know anyone with one either.



I have farmer friends with PJ's who swear by them and the PJ are also in stock at local trailer dealers. I don't want to spend unnecessary money to get a good trailer. But I'm trying to get a trailer I can keep around for a long, long time, (I'm only 32) so I am trying to spend my money wisely and get something that will last. I have heard lot's of great comments about PJ's and thats what a couple of local dealers have in stock. Other places near me carry Great Northern's and BigTex but they are not in stock I have to order what I want. One dealer only has a 20K 35' goosenext. Also I cannot find anyone with an opinion on the Great Northern even though they are made in Southern Oregon. Its like they are a newer company. My utility trailer is a 2004 BigTex and I have not been happy with the paint job. There is rust popping though in to many areas for my tastes.

I had a Kaufman 2 car. Build quality was ok, but it was lacking in the paint dept. , I am looking at another trailer now and am considering another. I have had big tex, take 3, and several others and Kaufman is middle of the road. Anyway just thought I would throw it out there for you.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Gooseneck is the only way to go.

B&W is also the best option. They are not hard to install yourself either... . and for the price, you can't go wrong. ($350+/-)

 

[HBarlow]

I agree with the others who responded. Gooseneck. You only have to pull on snow, ice, wet pavement or mud one time or in strong winds to realize how much better a gooseneck (or fifth wheel) is over a tongue pull trailer.



Your king pin weight will be directly over the rear axle and will distribute some portion of the weight forward to the front axle instead of behind the rear axle leveraging the front end off the ground and reducing steering control and braking on wet pavement.



Resale value will be much better also.



Harvey

 

[WMonroe]

Like everyone else said go with the goose. My gooseneck trailer tows much nicer than any bumper trailer I have ever towed.

Will

 

[Diesel Dually]

I got rid of my last tag a long this past summer and only have goosenecks now. The heavier the load the more you will like the gooseneck. My newest trailer is a PJ dumping trailer with a GVWR of 15850lbs. The trailer is very well built, not inexpensive but was the best quality I found for the money. The paint (powder coat) I would say is fair.

 

[MChildress]

PJ is a good trailer,you will like the GN better. Pulls better and backs tighter if needed. I have a Big Tex GN 24 ft with 6 ft dove,GN horse trailer,40' fiver camper,28' Avion bumper pull camper, 16' Fairwest lowboy,12' lowboy I built,two BQ trailers and two boats on trailers. I'm trailer poor.

 

[tgordon]

IMHO ditto what everyone else said, the GN rules. I have barrowed several trailers, bumper, GN, tandem, dual,tri axle. I would suggest to stay away from the tri-axle. In the same length they trail further off than the tandems, and if you travel anyplace that charges to get through, bridges, toll roads etc. they will be more expensive to travel with. I prefer the dual wheels as they ride smother than the singles.



Maybe this was just the brands I was pulling, but that is what I have made my decision based upon.

 

[THess]

The only time to have a bumper pull is with light loads or if you really need your bed space. I have a Delta flat goose that I really like, and it was a lot cheaper than a PJ. Also have a brand new Kaufman 10 ton pintle hitch with a 25900 lb gvw. That makes it a true 10 ton capacity trailer, and it seems to be built really nice. The factory, or one of them, is in Lexington, NC, and we drove down about 2 and a half hours to pick up our pintle. Those guys are the nicest salesmen I've met and I really talked to a lot of guys when I was researching trailers. I think PJ, BigTex and the like are able to charge more just because of the name. My next trailer wil definately be Kaufman.

 

[Mundgyver]

The nice thing about the gooseneck is that when you load up, your weight is distributed to all four corners of your truck rather than just at the back. Much better because your rig is planted to ground rather than have a tail heavy tow rig with the front end going light.



You also will not get the whip effect that sometimes causes big problems when you have a bumper tow in windy conditions or have the trailer trying to push the back end lof your truck around on you in certian driving conditions.



A gooseneck is the only way to go.

 

[oneshotkyle]

gooseneck for sure. b&w would be my choice for the hitch. the only special tool you would need installing one is a 4" hole saw. you and a friend can do it in the driveway in about two hours.

 

[2Rowdy]

Same as everyone else gooseneck.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Alright that it I'm going gooseneck. Now I just need to figure out length and a brand