Talk to me about Goose Neck Trailers

[Flienlow]

I have a Ram 2500. Thinking about buying a goose neck trailer to haul equipment with. I know nothing about 5th wheels or Goose Necks.

Pros/Cons.

Enlighten me.

 

[85Hokie]

I have a Ram 2500. Thinking about buying a goose neck trailer to haul equipment with. I know nothing about 5th wheels or Goose Necks.

Pros/Cons.

Enlighten me.

Not that this helps....

More expensive to buy .....but well worth it !

Easier on the weight distribution of the truck! Since it placed weight directly OVER the axle (s) of the truck.

Easier to make sharp turns while backing or going forward.

Truck will handle better since load is better distributed.

Not sure if any cons other than being a huge cost upfront. Others will add more cons I am sure.

 

[skeets]

Take this for what its worth,,, My understanding is that with a gooseneck trailer the torque and dynamics of the trailer are different from a 5th wheeler and more suited for heavy hauling. I have no idea really, this is just what I have heard. And the hitch on a gooseneck is under the bed of the truck where the 5th wheel sits on the bed,so if you need to haul something you have to remove the hitch for the 5th wheel but just put the cover back in the hole in the floor of the bed, Like I said just what I heard

 

[Talenel]

What 85Hokie said gooseneck trailer:no cons but a few grand more up front for a trailer.

Never liked to bumper pull much of anything heavier than my boat.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Gooseneck trailers are the best way to go for equipment / heavy load hauling, night a day difference on handling and control.
For the Goose neck ball, get a hidden hitch setup, pops up and down super quick.

 

[Lil Foot]

I own a 5th wheel, two of my buds own goosenecks.
Biggest difference I see is that goosenecks can be more easily hitched/unhitched at much more severe angles (truck & trailer not level or at same angles with each other) than the 5th wheel hitches.

 

[Russell King]

One con is forgetting to put the tailgate down before backing to the trailer and tearing up the tailgate


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[SidecarFlip]

One con is forgetting to put the tailgate down before backing to the trailer and tearing up the tailgate


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That is the only one and it only takes one time and then you remember....lol

 

[Lil Foot]

One con is forgetting to put the tailgate down before backing to the trailer and tearing up the tailgate
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That can happen with either type. Never done it, but I've seen it more than once.
That is why I have one of these:

 

[D2Cat]

One other thing to be aware of is the trailer tongue height in relation to the height of PU sides.

There are adjustments on the goose neck tongue to set the height, but if it isn't set high enough when the PU is raised in the back (like backing on a terrace) and turning at the same time something will get smashed!

Be especially aware of this when first trying out a trailer!

 

[lugbolt]

You lose some length with goose and 5th. In other words, an 18' flat bed bumper pull will need to be 24' with a goose or 5th wheel, and that first 6' or so is mostly wasted space. So the trailer can potentially take up more space when not in use. I haven't gotten used to the gooseneck yet. Backs completely different than a bumper pull, and I can put a bumper pull about anywhere. The goose is a completely different animal. Doesn't pull any better either, but I've got WD bars on the bumper pull-which puts weight on all 4 tires rather than just the rears. BUT...for pulling heavy stuff, like 15K+, you'll want gooseneck, or at the very least a GOOD well-built bumper pull.

Some states tax your trailer by it's length and GVWR so if you have a gooseneck, you could end up paying more than a bumper pull would. Registrations are the same way in some states, so be sure to check into it.

Also...on GVWR's, if the trailer's GVWR is over 10K, you are really supposed to have a CDL to pull it. But if you read into it, it also says that if the GCVWR is 26,001+ than you are required to have a CDL, but doesn't specify if the GCVWR under 26,000 but trailer over 10,000 requires CDL. Considering that it really doesn't take much to go over 26,001, it's not a bad idea. Remember...they go by the ratings (the R in GCVWR), so if your dually pickup h as a GVWR of 18,000 lbs and your trailer has a GVWR of 10,000, your GCVWR would be 28,000 and thus a CDL is required. This is in my state, so other states may differ, and other localities may interpret things differently--and therein lies a big problem.

 

[vic gerbasi]

I have a Ram 2500. Thinking about buying a goose neck trailer to haul equipment with. I know nothing about 5th wheels or Goose Necks.

Pros/Cons.

Enlighten me.

my preference is 5th wheel ,horse trailer, hay trailer, and travel trailer,: easier to hook up and unhook. Not difficult to remove 5th setup from the bed.

no chains necessary with a 5th. BEST consider this ALL highway tractors use a 5th wheel assembly NONE use a ball

Bothe units ball and 5th bolt to the frame of the truck Good lick you know my choice

 

[SidecarFlip]

Not going to participate in this thread except to say that I've been using a goose for years and my hitch either runs a 2 5/16ths ball or a RV style plate (which I have but have never used.

I have a Kaufman tandem axle goose with a beaver tail and ramps on the rear as well as a goose stock trailer and having pulled bumper pull types in the past, I have to say a goose is superior in all respects.

Hauls my M's just fine. Hauls rounds just fine, also hauls my fuel tank around too.

Again, you have to keep in mind that under Federal DOT rules (which apply in all 50 states, if your GCVW exceeds 20,000 pounds (in essence that means the gross weight of the truck, trailer and cargo hauled, you are required (by law) to display DOT numbers on the truck, have the appropriate insurance, have a valid and current DOT medical card as well as the applicable commercial drivers license and record your hours of service and you are required to stop at all weigh stations and are subject to DOT and State vehicle inspections, no exceptions.

I will also say that non-compliance and the result of that, if you are stopped, will result in a fine and DOT numbers are free to apply for online.

I comply with all that because at a 14Kcargo weight on my Kauffman, I exceed the 20 K threshold.

If you pull and RV of course, you are exempt, but hauling equipment or forage or whatever, you aren't.

 

[BAP]

Not going to participate in this thread except to say that I've been using a goose for years and my hitch either runs a 2 5/16ths ball or a RV style plate (which I have but have never used.

I have a Kaufman tandem axle goose with a beaver tail and ramps on the rear as well as a goose stock trailer and having pulled bumper pull types in the past, I have to say a goose is superior in all respects.

Hauls my M's just fine. Hauls rounds just fine, also hauls my fuel tank around too.

Again, you have to keep in mind that under Federal DOT rules (which apply in all 50 states, if your GCVW exceeds 20,000 pounds (in essence that means the gross weight of the truck, trailer and cargo hauled, you are required (by law) to display DOT numbers on the truck, have the appropriate insurance, have a valid and current DOT medical card as well as the applicable commercial drivers license and record your hours of service and you are required to stop at all weigh stations and are subject to DOT and State vehicle inspections, no exceptions.

I will also say that non-compliance and the result of that, if you are stopped, will result in a fine and DOT numbers are free to apply for online.

I comply with all that because at a 14Kcargo weight on my Kauffman, I exceed the 20 K threshold.

If you pull and RV of course, you are exempt, but hauling equipment or forage or whatever, you aren't.

The information on DOT numbers and rules are not correct for all States so you shouldn’t keep posting it as such. It may be what your state requires but it is not what the Federal Rules are.

 

[SidecarFlip]

The information on DOT numbers and rules are not correct for all States so you shouldn***8217;t keep posting it as such. It may be what your state requires but it is not what the Federal Rules are.

You better check and get it straight.... Federal DOT regulations always apply in every state. States can improve on the Regs, but Federal Regs apply across the board.

I suggest you go read them and then reply. Here is the website for you to digest..... It also lists the applicable fines for non compliance.

www.fmcsa.dot.gov

 

[D2Cat]

I have to disagree with Lugbolt about not pulling any better than bumper pull. "The goose is a completely different animal. Doesn't pull any better either,..."

I have a goose neck stock trailer and GN dump trailer. It definitely takes a different wheel location to begin turning when backing up, but once the driver is familiar (and has some practice) with it...a GN is WAY easier to pull and backup.

I have to keep looking in the mirror to make sure it's still there, they pull so easily.

I bought an L3250 a while back down past Ok. City. I pulled my stock trailer down there, loaded it inside it, and pulled it back. It rode easy, that's why I didn't choose the bumper pull...just easier and smoother driving. (Besides, the tractor wasn't going to escape.)

 

[SidecarFlip]

I've hauled everything from the M's to round bales to machine tools on my Kaufman and never had a handling issue. I did long ago have a bumper pull stock trailer and even with the one ton pickup, sometimes it felt squirrely.

The other thing I like about a goose is I can move and spot it easily with the tractors, using my rear mount 3 point bale spear with a ball welded on top. Never crank up the landing gear, just pick it up a bit and spot it.

Goosenecks are very obedient, they follow along behind with never an issue.

Not sure about the added cost. I bought mine used on Craigs List from a guy who hauled his antique tractors with it. Barely used, always stored inside and I think I paid about 4 grand for it.

 

[BAP]

You better check and get it straight.... Federal DOT regulations always apply in every state. States can improve on the Regs, but Federal Regs apply across the board.

I suggest you go read them and then reply. Here is the website for you to digest..... It also lists the applicable fines for non compliance.

www.fmcsa.dot.gov

Federal regulations on DOT are only applied if you cross state lines unless your state has adopted them as their rules too. So if your state hasn’t adopted them, then you will need to follow your states rules reguarding how much trailer you can pull with what size truck before needing a CDL. DOT numbers are only needed if you cross state lines. As far as the OP’s question, a gooseneck trailer shifts the weight forward on your truck so that it handles better.

 

[Daren Todd]

You better check and get it straight.... Federal DOT regulations always apply in every state. States can improve on the Regs, but Federal Regs apply across the board.

I suggest you go read them and then reply. Here is the website for you to digest..... It also lists the applicable fines for non compliance.

www.fmcsa.dot.gov

Here's the skinny on the DOT numbers.

https://www.donlen.com/us-dot-requirements-for-cmvs-meeting-minimum-fmcsr-safety-standards.html

Here's the states that also require a DOT number displayed.

https://www.uscomplianceservices.org/what-is-a-dot-number/

 

[GeoHorn]

m..... BEST consider this ALL highway tractors use a 5th wheel assembly NONE use a ball...e

Not so. The military uses ball (pintle) bumper pull on lots of heavy equipment. I pulled a tank-recovery vehicle behind with a bumper-pull (pintle).

Regardless of your choice, you might consider registering it as a Farm Trailer. In Tx at least, it saves sales taxes, title fees, annual inspections/fees, and cost only a few bucks for the tag instead of much more. (Just be aware of the limitations on usage of equpt w/Farm tags.)