Larger trucks with Gooseneck hitches

[AlanB]

We are getting to where we are abusing our 3/4 ton Ford with the weights we are pulling. (time to do a pinion bearing)

We have been talking about going to a One ton, but I got thinking about going up a size again, and going to like a 2 to 4 ton flatbed truck. Something like an International 4700. But as the wife pointed out, how would we use the gooseneck trailer?

Folks have told me they have seen gooseneck hitches in the larger flatbeds, but I cannot visualize how that would work.

I am also starting to just lean towards a small dump truck, and see if I can work the insurance angle by doing it as a Farm truck on the farm insurance.

Thoughts, ideas or input?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

We are getting to where we are abusing our 3/4 ton Ford with the weights we are pulling. (time to do a pinion bearing)

We have been talking about going to a One ton, but I got thinking about going up a size again, and going to like a 2 to 4 ton flatbed truck. Something like an International 4700. But as the wife pointed out, how would we use the gooseneck trailer?

Folks have told me they have seen gooseneck hitches in the larger flatbeds, but I cannot visualize how that would work.

I am also starting to just lean towards a small dump truck, and see if I can work the insurance angle by doing it as a Farm truck on the farm insurance.

Thoughts, ideas or input?

I went for a ride in a Ford F-450 this morning. Thinking REAL SERIOUSLY about one for my own use. The one I road in was towing 15,000+ on a gooseneck. It handled like my 2500 Dodge with 9,000 behind it. I was impressed.

A neighbor has an older Chevy C-60 with a 9' flatbed and a gooseneck hitch recessed in the bed. (Trap door covers hitch when not in use) Doubtful you could make it work with a bed having a long rear over-hang. (Bed way past rear axle) A bigger truck will handle a tag-along trailer better than a pick-up, so you don't HAVE to have a gooseneck.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Alan, I am in the same position as you with the same questions. I want to stay under CDL but still be comfortable towing anything. I was thinking of a 14' bed on a dump. flatbed. I would be able to add @4' sides if I wanted to cary dirt etc. The 4700 with the dt466 is also what we have seen for pretty fair prices. Keep us informed as you hunt. thanks!

 

[QRTRHRS]

Lots of folks are going to the midsize (and larger) trucks to pull their goosenecks with. What with my Dodge dually getting up in milage and getting expensive to use as a daily driver, that is going to be my eventual move along with a small daily beater.

There is no shortage of offerings out there with a custom hauler body. I see them as being limited in use for my needs. My Dodge has an aluminum flat bed on it, a very low profile one at that. Clearance is hardly an issue. I wish it would dump but it does not and does not have a deep frame to convert it to.

As Farmwithjunk said, your rear overhang is a concern as is your bed height. Lo profile trucks are easy to find these days. My intention is to do some research into setting one up with a grain dump with removalble sides same as DirtyWorks mentioned yet still have clearance for the gooseneck.

Now, it you want to go larger like some of the RV crowd is doing, you get into ride issues where as you end up adding weight to hold the bouncing down. By the way, there are some good RV sites with both medium and heavy duty truck threads. There is a wealth of info on them.

My farm insurance policy allows me to have my dually covered even though I use it for anything and everything, not just for hauling hay. In fact, it runs me about 300 bucks a year for total coverage even backed up by my umbrella of about a million bucks.

 

[john_bud]

A bigger truck will handle a tag-along trailer better than a pick-up, so you don't HAVE to have a gooseneck.

Handles it is one thing, being able to back it up like a goose? I don't think so.


jb

 

[Bird]

Folks have told me they have seen gooseneck hitches in the larger flatbeds, but I cannot visualize how that would work.

I thought that was fairly common and works very well. As was mentioned, the ball is usually recessed a bit with a trap door to make just a flat bed when the trailer isn't in use.

 

[JESSE1]

This is the truck I'm working on. A '59 White with a 220 Cummins and 10speed RoadRanger trans. Dad drove this truck when new. Originally had a fifth wheel and pulled semi-trailers. It was made into a wrecker when it was traded in for a new truck in '67. I bought it last year and am in the process of restoring it. Runs good, next step is a coat of red paint.
The trailer is a 28' Fleetneck. I just finished competely sandblasting it and painting it inside and out. Also installed a new floor.

 

[Bird]

That's a fine looking rig, Jesse.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Handles it is one thing, being able to back it up like a goose? I don't think so.


jb

If you have any amount of skill as an operator you should be able to back any type/size trailer up with out much difficulty.

 

[john_bud]

If you have any amount of skill as an operator you should be able to back any type/size trailer up with out much difficulty.

Well, I don't enter any backing up contests (and surely wouldn't win if I did!). I do "ok" putting trailers close enough. No real problem putting the ball under the coupler either. But it ain't my strong suit!

My backing up skills were learned with a 10' long (coupler to lights) jet ski railer that was 4' wide. It was invisible in either side mirrors or rear view mirror. Couldn't see it over your shoulder either. By the time you could see it in a mirror, it was 3/4 of the way to jack knifed. I always had to drop the tail gate and see it. I still rely on over the shoulder more than the mirrors. Bad habits are hard to break.


I would love to see you in a 28' panel van back that trailer up and around thru a full parking lot at a lawyers convention. LOL! That would be good.


OK, enough joking - back to work!
jb