Gooseneck conversion complete - pictures

[bdog]

Well guys I got it finished and it pulls like a dream. I converted my tractor hauler from a tongue pull to a gooseneck to better handle the tongue weight.

 

[bdog]

Another picture

 

[Av8r3400]

Looks real nice. I hope it gives you good service. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Did you find out any more on the weight issue? I'm curious.

 

[Bird]

That looks real good, but why do you not have the FEL bucket resting on the top instead of in the air?

 

[bdog]

I lowered the bucket before I took off. It was just like that in the picture. Usually I have the bucket all the way down on the floor but we had some river rock left over on a landscape job and the only place I had to take it home was in the bucket.

I have been so busy working that I have not had time to reweigh the thing but it seems much better. The days I was down working on the trailer work stacked up on me and now I am trying to catch up.

 

[TOMDUALLY]

Looking at the picture-that trailer should have never been a bumper hitch in the first place with the axles set so far back unless it was built to haul a special load where all the wieght was in the rear. looks like now you have about twothirds wieght on the trailer and one third on the truck.
Good conversion, looks like a pro job, and bet it gives you a lot less pucker factor at highway speeds /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GeneD14]

Nice job! I used to have a gooseneck and they do pull like a dream. With heavy loads they are much easier to control. The only reason I sold mine was it was to difficult to back into narrow driveways. But for highway travel they can't be beat.

 

[_RaT_]

NOt only does it look like it will work quite well, but think of how much harder it will be for others to borrow. Where in the country are you located?

 

[Dargo]

Nice job! I considered doing the same to my trailer, but I also needed to increase the length by 5' (I'd already increased it by 2'), and I also would have had to change the axles to accomodate the additional weight.

By the time I figured my parts bill, it was cheaper for me to buy a bigger trailer. However, I admire a guy who isn't afraid to design and then execute his plan. By the way, what steel did you use going from the trailer to the truck? I think I went overkill with the trailer I had built. I had them use 19 lb 12" I beams on each side. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif It looks like you used about 6" stuff which should be more than plenty for your sized trailer.

 

[Av8r3400]

Proportion wise it looks pretty similar to mine. Mine is a 16' flat with a 2' beaver tail. Note the ramps behind the rear axle on bdog's trailer and mine. The angle of the view makes the proportion look a little skewed.

Is it a 18' or 16' deck? It is a nice conversion, though.

16 + 2' Car Hauler

 

[bdog]

I used 6" channel and 4" 1/4" wall square tubing along with 1/4" gussetts. The trailer has a 18' deck plus a 2' dovetail. The ramps are handy when I need to haul a car or truck but I never use them with the tractor. I can just drive right on.

I am in west Texas. It is a long haul from California if you want to borrow it.....

 

[drmiller100]

you might think about running piece of stout angle iron from the upright back to the main frame of the trailer.

The gooseneck makes the lever arm of the hitch longer, which causes more torque.

I'm thinking a piece of 3/8 x 3 angle, about 4 feet long on each side. Just a thought.

 

[lutonstl]

do you find the trailer surges,picture seems to show,6 inch chanel and small gussets on the hitch,that may be a little light ,for the weight you are towing