What size gooseneck trailer?

[RDrancher]

IMO GN's pull so much nicer than bumper pull trailers do even though DP and I disagree about that from what I recall.

Well it sounds like, no matter how you slice it, if he wants to stay within the factory advertised ratings. He will be overweight...As others have said goose necks pull nicer than bumper pull, my guess is if he tried a bumper pull at his max rating and then tried a goose neck with the set up he is planning (overweight) he would find that the truck / trailer feels safer with the goose neck even though not meeting the factories guidelines, the #s he's quoting are where a goose neck and 5th wheel are both just getting started, that should count for something... then again guess it still comes back to the trucks rating

You're both correct. GN's pull much nicer, especially at max ratings. It's hard to believe that anyone would disagree with that.

 

[JESSE1]

Here's what I use. '12 F-450, GVWR 13,300#, GCWR 33,000# pulling a 28' Fleetneck, 12000# axles with a 24,000#GVWR. At some point in time I'm going to get a longer trailer, probably 34' with 15,000# axles.

Sometimes I use my '59 White 4400TD to pull the trailer. 220 Cummins, 13 speed RoadRanger trans.

 

[Soundguy]

.As others have said goose necks pull nicer than bumper pull, my guess is if he tried a bumper pull at his max rating and then tried a goose neck with the set up he is planning (overweight) he would find that the truck / trailer feels safer with the goose neck even though not meeting the factories guidelines,

i've puleld some darn heavy stuff on my GN.. a stetch e350 conversion passanger van for instance. broke down in georgia.. and I went and drug it home for a buddy to save him the HUGE tow bill.

I'm way glad it was a GN load and not BP

 

[Reg]

Pretty sure Diamondpilot alluded to it a few posts back.
Anyway, many/most pick-ups are FAR more payload limited than tow capacity limited when it comes to goose or 5th wheel trailers.
According to how you load it anywhere from 15% to 25% of the loaded trailer's weight is "CARRIED" on the coupler ("pin").
Trucks GVW minus ACTUAL weight gives payload.
Subtract the truck's ACTUAL weight from 9200 - - at a guess it is over 7500 EMPTY, and if that guess is right you are limited to 1700 "on the pin"
Lets see... grab a calculator and figure what 1700 is 15% of, or 20% of, or 25% of...
It may not look so rosy.
Don't try to get all the weight all the way back either - - OTHER problems are likely with that approach (-:

 

[foreman Etexas]

Pulled many 4x4 cat backhoes with a 3/4ton single cab chevy gasser on 32ft,20k trailer,some trips 100+miles done good.
What if you went with a full width lowboy triple axle GN...

 

[Diamondpilot]

He (thought it was around 5750 with passengers,) I'd think closer to 6500lbs. ?? 7500lbs. sounds high to me an 03 3500 4x4 fully optioned Quad Cab Dodge srw diesel- is only about 7100lbs empty

My 08 Nissan Titan is 5840# with me. My 06 F350 SRW Diesel is 7600# with me. Both are 6.5' beds, 4x4, & extended cabs.

I would guess a 3/4 ton gas GM to be right at 7000#.

Chris

 

[sd455dan]

He (thought it was around 5750 with passengers,) I'd think closer to 6500lbs. ?? 7500lbs. sounds high to me an 03 3500 4x4 fully optioned Quad Cab Dodge srw diesel- is only about 7100lbs empty

There may still be HOPE...
found some interesting information on edmunds concerning ops 2001 2500 HD regular cab truck-new chassis to meet higher strength/durability limits although rated at 10500 standard trailer towing-
GM also rates for 5th wheel trailer towing , to quote with a fifth wheel #s go even higher, although #s are not specifically listed for the 6.0 litre engine , the same truck with the vortec 8100 gains 3500 lbs. when towing with a fifth wheel.
The highest tow rating goes to the 2500 regular cab long bed Silverado 2500 HD with the vortec 8100 engine and 4.10 gears, it will tow 15,900 pounds.
- MORE than any of the one ton trucks or even any of the diesels ( 6.0 litre and 8100 vortec- the standard towing rating- difference is 1500lbs)....The only apparent difference is the 6.0 instead of the 8100.. Op should be able to confirm this. found truck empty base weight-5059lbs. so gvwr 9200-5059(base curb weight)=4141lbs. total payload?
but it looks like he may be able to (legally 5th wheel- tow a trailer weighing 14000lbs.)
comments,

 

[Diamondpilot]

There may still be HOPE...
found some interesting information on edmunds concerning ops 2001 2500 HD regular cab truck-new chassis to meet higher strength/durability limits although rated at 10500 standard trailer towing-
GM also rates for 5th wheel trailer towing , to quote with a fifth wheel #s go even higher, although #s are not specifically listed for the 6.0 litre engine , the same truck with the vortec 8100 gains 3500 lbs. when towing with a fifth wheel and the highest tow rating goes to the 2500 regular cab long bed silverado 2500 HD with the vortec 8100 engine and 4.10 gears, it will tow 15,900 pounds- more than any of the one ton trucks or even any of the diesels ...The only apparent difference is the 6.0 instead of the 8100..
comments,

The 8.1 or 8100 had the Allison 1000 transmission. The same tranny used for the diesel. The 6.0 has a much lighter duty GM transmission. No comparison.

Chris

 

[sd455dan]

The 8.1 or 8100 had the Allison 1000 transmission. The same tranny used for the diesel. The 6.0 has a much lighter duty GM transmission. No comparison.

Chris

The relatively bullet proof 4L80 -E is more torque limited and the main detractor is the 2.48 first gear,( tall for heavy load start ups but is more than up to the power dished out by the 6.0 and- op did comment that no hills where he will be using the truck trailer) Also never specified automatic, so it could possibly be a New Venture 4500 5 speed or ZF S6-650
I am hopeful, this can be made to work for towing his tractor

 

[Chickengrower]

I would guess a 3/4 ton gas GM to be right at 7000#.

Chris

I dug out the title just to see what it said on the weight of the truck. It listed the unladen weight at 5402 lbs. I also read a Motor Trend article which tested an extended cab truck with the Duramax motor back in 2001 and that one came in at 5631 lbs. It was also named Motor Trends 2001 truck of the year.

 

[Chickengrower]

The relatively bullet proof 4L80 -E is more torque limited and the main detractor is the 2.48 first gear,( tall for heavy load start ups but is more than up to the power dished out by the 6.0 and- op did comment that no hills where he will be using the truck trailer) Also never specified automatic, so it could possibly be a New Venture 4500 5 speed or ZF S6-650
I am hopeful, this can be made to work for towing his tractor

Its an auto and 4X4 but i'm not sure what transmission it has in it, I dont believe its the same trans as was in my 1998 Z71 though. I interpreted the Motor Trend article to mean that all 2500 HD's had the Allison trans. But that may just be wishful thinking, Diamondpilot may be 100% correct. Im not sure how to look and tell. It does have a working trans. temp gauge in the dash. Maybe someone knows what part code the Allison is and i can look it up on the Service parts id sticker on the glove box?

sd455dan it seems awfully low geared to me but again thats coming from a 1/2 ton Z71 with a 3.73.

 

[Chickengrower]

Well I still dont know for sure what transmission it has but its definitely not the Allison. I got the original window sticker when I bought the truck last yr. (im the 2nd owner) and it says "HD 4-spd transmission".

Also it looks like the trans code is MT1 and according to a quick google search that means its the 4L80-e as sd455dan pointed out.

 

[Chickengrower]

Pulled many 4x4 cat backhoes with a 3/4ton single cab chevy gasser on 32ft,20k trailer,some trips 100+miles done good.
What if you went with a full width lowboy triple axle GN...

You talkin about something like this, foreman Etexas?

Top Hat Trailers

I didn't even know they made such a thing. I sure do like the fact that it would sit low.

I was thinking about maybe one of these originally:

Top Hat Trailers

 

[Chickengrower]

Im thinking this one with a gooseneck option might just be what i was looking for:

http://www.andersontrailers.com/Images/trailers/eq8206tb.jpg

 

[Diamondpilot]

I dug out the title just to see what it said on the weight of the truck. It listed the unladen weight at 5402 lbs. I also read a Motor Trend article which tested an extended cab truck with the Duramax motor back in 2001 and that one came in at 5631 lbs. It was also named Motor Trends 2001 truck of the year.

There is no way its that light. I had a 05 crew cab long bed Dmax. It was 7300#.

Stop speculating and go to a truck stop and weigh it with you in it and at least a 1/2 tank of gas. Its a good $5 spent. Then you will know for sure.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Its an auto and 4X4 but i'm not sure what transmission it has in it, I dont believe its the same trans as was in my 1998 Z71 though. I interpreted the Motor Trend article to mean that all 2500 HD's had the Allison trans. But that may just be wishful thinking, Diamondpilot may be 100% correct. Im not sure how to look and tell. It does have a working trans. temp gauge in the dash. Maybe someone knows what part code the Allison is and i can look it up on the Service parts id sticker on the glove box?

sd455dan it seems awfully low geared to me but again thats coming from a 1/2 ton Z71 with a 3.73.

No 6.0's had a Allison. Only the Dmax and it was a option on the 8100

Chris

 

[Xfaxman]

I saved the over $500 delivery charge on my trailer, by ordering exactly what I wanted from the local dealer, then drove to Arkansas to pick it up at the factory.

Equipment trailers from Delta — Car Hauler

 

[foreman Etexas]

You talkin about something like this, foreman Etexas?

Top Hat Trailers

I didn't even know they made such a thing. I sure do like the fact that it would sit low.

I was thinking about maybe one of these originally:

Top Hat Trailers

Yeah something like that,I like the fact they are lower also but gotta look at the width cause I believe some are just 6'wide if doesnt have the drive over fenders on it. Here is mine,its a good 14k trailer,I think you would run out of trailer before truck but with the triple axle you could get more load over the axles with just alittle on your truck and should pull really good.

 

[sd455dan]

Yeah something like that,I like the fact they are lower also but gotta look at the width cause I believe some are just 6'wide if doesnt have the drive over fenders on it. Here is mineView attachment 312126,its a good 14k trailer,I think you would run out of trailer before truck but with the triple axle you could get more load over the axles with just alittle on your truck and should pull really good.

This is the setup I use the trailer is a Wilson it might be just a little on the light side of what his tractor weighs (2 6000 lbs. axles) although rated payload weight is 10,000lbs. so this would be a minimum and it is a 5 th wheel but the hitch is removable. it will accomodate 80" widths also this is a tilt trailer... just another option

 

[sd455dan]

Well I still dont know for sure what transmission it has but its definitely not the Allison. I got the original window sticker when I bought the truck last yr. (im the 2nd owner) and it says "HD 4-spd transmission".

Also it looks like the trans code is MT1 and according to a quick google search that means its the 4L80-e as sd455dan pointed out.

If the towing weights are close enough for you to decide to go ahead with a trailer for this truck I would suggest adding an after market transmission cooler, and a transmission temperature gauge, for some added insurance...
also the 4l80e is a descendant of the Turbo 400, it has an extra gear (4 speeds) and is electronically controlled .. they can be upgraded to 800hp 700 foot lbs. of torque, and can have the computer software up graded with an add on controller, that being said the Allisons are much heavier duty, (Have one in a dump truck rated for close to 50,000 lbs. and speaking of ratings and actual loadings, the city that used to own the truck had it licensed for 61000lbs, and I talked to an operator who thought they ran it at least that high!) but you don't have hills,. How far would you estimate the longest distance to tow at the max weight?? If you don't plan on going cross country imo you will be ok (trans wise)since it is also the HD version