Kneeling gooseneck, has anyone built one?

[napabavarian]

I'm looking at building a 26-28' lowboy gooseneck trailer and have never seen a kneeling gooseneck, originally I wanted tilt deck but that has its drawbacks and a fixed deck with air suspension would allow it to drop to loading level without steepness of a tilt and load multiple items more easily.

Ideally I would use 8000# axle less suspension but so far the closest I have found is timbren 7000#

 

[Groo]

Sliding axle?

 

[napabavarian]

I thought about it, however I wanted simple, these would allow for a standard trailer frame with these simple bolted/welded on.

Axle-Less Trailer Suspension - Timbren Industries Inc. Suspension Products

 

[Xfaxman]

I had to do a image search to find out what a "kneeling trailer" was:

 

[napabavarian]

Xfaxman that's it, but on a larger scale!

It looks like the link I prvoided was something else but they do offer an air ride

 

[Renze]

You can also go for a drop tail: use heavy duty rigid axles with air suspension, drop that till the tires allmost hit the lower side of the deck, and then release two additional air bags that drop the bed behind the axles till the light beam on the rear of the bed lies on the ground. Then you only need a three foot foldable ramp to create a very low angle, suitable for anything from forklifts to Ferraris

 

[Groo]

I thought about it, however I wanted simple, these would allow for a standard trailer frame with these simple bolted/welded on.

Axle-Less Trailer Suspension - Timbren Industries Inc. Suspension Products

I looked at those for a project I was considering a few years back. They were too expensive for the trailer I was going to end up with.
I would think a sliding axle would be a whole lot simpler than that. Every tandem axle 53' Semi Van trailer on the roads uses sliding axles.
While it would do what you want; there are two downsides to consider for your plan, getting air, and what happens with an air loss? Having tires stick up much higher than the deck may or may not be a problem for you.

 

[Xfaxman]

I'm looking at building a 26-28' lowboy gooseneck trailer and have never seen a kneeling gooseneck, originally I wanted tilt deck but that has its drawbacks and a fixed deck with air suspension would allow it to drop to loading level without steepness of a tilt and load multiple items more easily.

Ideally I would use 8000# axle less suspension but so far the closest I have found is timbren 7000#

Have you seen the Rollback thread in this Forum, TRAILERS & TRANSPORTATION: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...g-axle-gooseneck-post5116384.html#post5116384

 

[napabavarian]

Have you seen the Rollback thread in this Forum, TRAILERS & TRANSPORTATION: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...g-axle-gooseneck-post5116384.html#post5116384

Thanks, I guess I should look into that design, it seems more complicated than bolting on prefab axle sections but it might be what works.

The trailer will be used for equipment transport, hauling logs for milling, and some auto transport, after buying a tilt deck trailer a few months ago I never want to lift a ramp again.

I would carry spare parts in the trailers toolbox, air suspension is fairly simple so field repairs wouldn't be impossible, and I might have redundant systems with a cross over valve.

 

[flusher]

I'm looking at building a 26-28' lowboy gooseneck trailer and have never seen a kneeling gooseneck, originally I wanted tilt deck but that has its drawbacks and a fixed deck with air suspension would allow it to drop to loading level without steepness of a tilt and load multiple items more easily.

Ideally I would use 8000# axle less suspension but so far the closest I have found is timbren 7000#

It's fairly straightforward if the width of the bed is less than 76" (low boy gooseneck). Drop deck trailers are available.

Safely load a motorcycle onto a trailer - Drop-deck, non-tilting trailers by Airtow - YouTube

You could modify this design for your use.

If your gooseneck is full legal width (102"), then a tilt bed is you best option.


Good luck

 

[Xfaxman]

Rollback also works on full legal width (102") deckover:

Pictures from an image search.

 

[napabavarian]

I tried some different search terms aND came up with this.

MAXEY TRAILERS 16K GOOSENECK DROP-N-LOAD - YouTube

That would be exactly what I had in mind, unfortunately I'm sure it is twice my budget too!

 

[davedj1]

I was wondering in the video why lifting was herky jerky then I saw they use air versus hydraulics. Why not hydraulics? Lots of ice shacks are made with hydraulic suspension to let the camper down onto the ice.
Ice house trailer plans 8 8 imagine fish numberedtype kartalbeton
Hydraulic Fish House Frame - Page 2 - Frame Design & Reviews ✓

 

[napabavarian]

Hydraulic still requires the use of steel springs, with air you get better cushioning with the ability to lift the trailer.

 

[Groo]

my pontoon boat trailer uses a cable winch to raise and lower the deck on steel springs.

 

[davedj1]

Torsion axles FTW