When to go gooseneck

[RayCo]

If you were going to buy a trailer, at what point do you decide to put out the extra money for a gooseneck? I'm looking to buy a 14k trailer, which is more than what I need for the tractors and cars that I'll transport. But, I'd like to have the option of transporting a friend's tractory, which is a Mahindra mPower 85. Tractor and loader combined weigh 9,160 pounds. Ideally, I could get by without a gooseneck, but I'm looking for opinions from more experienced people. The tow vehicle is a 2016 3500HD Chevy with the long wheelbase of crewcab and 8' bed.

 

[rustyshakelford]

As easy as GN balls are to put in and take out the excuse about not having a flat bed anymore are mute. I recommend a GN for prolly anything over 10k. They are all I have. However, I'm fixing to get a little 16' 7k bumper pull for my rtv and zero turn. They are light and cheap. My big GN deckover I use for my tractor weights 10k empty. However, they pull great, easy to back and I think are easier on the truck

Brett

 

[CenCalLS]

I agree with Rusty. A good rule of thumb is 10k, my 24' tilt-deck GN weighs just over 5k and it rides much better than my old 24' bumper pull. Especially when the load is awkward and can't be positioned just right. You won't regret a GN and fewer people ask to borrow it

 

[RayCo]

fewer people ask to borrow it

Now THAT is a HUGE factor. Brilliant!

 

[1stDeuce]

Third. Over 10k, I would advise you to go with a gooseneck for any trailer with a loaded weight over 10k lbs.

Upside of gooseneck is that it tows much better. Dynamically speaking, it is also more stable than a bumper tow trailer for all load conditions.
Downside is that it is not as easy to maneuver, and will track noticeably farther to the inside on turns. Just takes some getting used to.

It appears there was be a factory "rail kit" hitch option for the 2016+ GM trucks... If you have that, you'll see five holes with covers in the bed between the wheel wells. You only need to buy the ball and safety chain mounts, which are fairly inexpensive on etrailer.com...
If you don't have the 5 holes with covers, I think you don't have the rail option. In that case, I would highly recommend a B&W hitch. They are fairly straightforward to install, and they work very well.

 

[jaxs]

You won't regret a GN and fewer people ask to borrow it

That alone is reason enough for going with GN but it truly does pull and ride better,plus can be parked/turned around in tighter places. The only complaint I have is that many GN are built with deck higher than necessary so consider that while chooseing trailer. I highly recommend PJ brand and I believe you will hear the same from people that pull trailers every day. If having a ball sticking up while not using trailer bother's you,check into "flip-up ball".

 

[4570Man]

I'd go for a GN in a 14k trailer. I like a GN anyway. I had a 10k GN that pulled better than my 10k equipment trailer. I was pulling both behind my F-350. I sold both of those trailers and got a 20k GN.

 

[mopardude318]

Oh man I'd love to have a 14k gooseneck. Unfortunately I think I'd be nearing my towing capacity on my 02 Ram 2500 Quad Cab Long Bed, with a 10,000 lb tractor...I'd like to get a used 4th Gen Ram 3500 Regular Cab with the Aisin transmission for my towing needs.

 

[RobertN]

Why do you need safety chain? I do not have safety chain on my 5th wheel... Why is the gooseneck different with safety chains?

I have considered a 10k gooseneck for my tractor. I have kind of outgrown my 16' 7k bumper tow. Part of the reason for me considering a gooseneck is because of how nice my 5th wheel tows. I was also looking at the goosneck plates that fit my bed rails for the 5th wheel hitch.

It just isn't a financial priority for me right now...

You only need to buy the ball and safety chain mounts, which are fairly inexpensive on etrailer.com...

 

[fried1765]

If you were going to buy a trailer, at what point do you decide to put out the extra money for a gooseneck? I'm looking to buy a 14k trailer, which is more than what I need for the tractors and cars that I'll transport. But, I'd like to have the option of transporting a friend's tractory, which is a Mahindra mPower 85. Tractor and loader combined weigh 9,160 pounds. Ideally, I could get by without a gooseneck, but I'm looking for opinions from more experienced people. The tow vehicle is a 2016 3500HD Chevy with the long wheelbase of crewcab and 8' bed.

Once you go GN you will never go back!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I personally do not like goosenecks. I had one and the loss of bed space plus not be able to pull it with my SUVs made it very limited on how I could use it.

Something to think about?

 

[powerstroke444e]

Once you go GN you will never go back!

100% agree I know diamond don't like them and I understand that. But I really like being able to haul whatever I want and with construction and farm work there have been several times I was at max weight on the trailer axles 16000+ and truck felt fine.

On a side note I rented a ball hitch dump and at 11,000lbs trailer and load it was a white knuckle ride w/ my f350 which I made several trips over 2 days and decided never again.

I also like being able to put the tractor loader on the neck if I need more room. As for bed space if I don't put stuff in the bed all I have to do is unhook the trailer and I am done unloading.

 

[topbuilder]

Gooseneck all the way. After some practice, hook-up is a 2 minute deal.

 

[roadhunter]

Goose necks are great but you have to keep in mind the DOT regulations in each state. Sometimes a trailer rated are more then 10k can require additional things like DOT physicals, DOT inspections, log books, etc and it really can get interesting if you drive across state lines.

I've lived in places where things are pretty relaxed and seen others where the highway patrol constantly hassles pickups pulling big trailers like that.

 

[cat fever]

I have owned both, no question about it; GN is the way to go. IMHO

 

[1stDeuce]

Why do you need safety chain? I do not have safety chain on my 5th wheel... Why is the gooseneck different with safety chains?

You need safety chains because a gooseneck is still a ball-hitch. A 5th wheel uses a kingpin, which is viewed as robust enough that safety chains are not required. This probably originated with semi-truck size fifth wheel hitches, but carries down to pickup/rv sized hitches too. If you convert your 5-er to a gooseneck, then you are also supposed to have safety chains... But who's going to know unless you get stopped, or something bad happens...

I will admit that I don't always hook up my gooseneck safety chains... Generally, there is enough tongue weight that if it somehow manages to come unlatched (which is highly unlikely with the hitch I have...) it still won't lift off the ball, even over the roughest roads. If I encounter terrain rough enough to toss it off the ball, I'm also going to have a bent axle, a bent truck, and a hole down through the bed where the neck landed, which kinda makes the chains moot IMO...

 

[downs807]

The difference in how they tow is night and day. As others have said once you pull with a gooseneck you won't want to pull a decent load with a bumper pull.

 

[topbuilder]

If you were going to buy a trailer, at what point do you decide to put out the extra money for a gooseneck? I'm looking to buy a 14k trailer, which is more than what I need for the tractors and cars that I'll transport. But, I'd like to have the option of transporting a friend's tractory, which is a Mahindra mPower 85. Tractor and loader combined weigh 9,160 pounds. Ideally, I could get by without a gooseneck, but I'm looking for opinions from more experienced people. The tow vehicle is a 2016 3500HD Chevy with the long wheelbase of crewcab and 8' bed.

The answer to your post question is YESTERDAY!

 

[ovrszd]

I have both. I prefer pulling the GN. Just keep in mind a GN trailer is considerably heavier than a bumper hitch. This actually reduces the net weight you can haul.

My GN 20K 28+4 dual wheel trailer weighs 6840lbs.

 

[Btown]

I have both. I prefer pulling the GN. Just keep in mind a GN trailer is considerably heavier than a bumper hitch. This actually reduces the net weight you can haul.

My GN 20K 28+4 dual wheel trailer weighs 6840lbs.

Yes and no. My 2001 F-250 is rated to tow 10K bumper pull and almost 14k gooseneck, yes the gooseneck weighs 500 lbs more, so I can tow minus the extra weight 3500 more lbs. but yes there are some trucks that cannot tow more via gooseneck then bumper. Like the Ford F-150. If it's rated for 11,500 bumper than it can tow 11,500 gooseneck. So you lose 500 lbs due to heavier trailer.