Half-Ton Truck and Gooseneck Trailer - Am I Looking For a Unicorn??

[CorazonLock]

Interesting @soloudinhere. This is exactly why I started this thread. I understand what you mean now - thanks for clarifying. So, talking payload, do you think my older half ton could handle a gooseneck at all then? Hypothetically speaking…like an all aluminum Featherlite (since I know those tend towards the lighter side), 2 horse, no water, no AC/heat, but propane for electricity (think plug in heater/AC, mini fridge, microwave, and maybe a table), and then a mattress. Possible storage?

Just wondering if I should give up this pipe dream lol. I could probably give 5-7k for a vehicle and then lower my budget for my trailer and go part steel. But I know with that low of a budget, it’s gonna be difficult.

I was just hoping to save some money and time by having a weekender at shows…a lot of the events are not close to hotels, and none of my friends have weekenders. Sleeping on the ground, even though I am young, does not do it for me - last time I tried that, I really screwed up my neck. Anyway, I have tried camping out in the back of my trailer a couple of times, but it gets way too cold, and then there’s the food situation. I welcome any open ideas.

If you haven’t been on my career thread already, just know I’m moving forward and trying to find a new job and get this life going so someday I can afford the diesel ton truck and LQ.

[soloudinhere]

@Texarkana

@soloudinhere I didn’t realize payload was so low on many half tons!

It depends, obviously, but even some of the brand new overbuilt half tons have payloads between 1500-2000lbs at the max. It’s mostly limited by the axle ratings, the gross weight rating of my truck is 7000lbs and dry curb weight is 5680. Doesn’t leave you a lotta room until you are maxing out your axles.

[soloudinhere]

@CorazonLock

Interesting @soloudinhere. This is exactly why I started this thread. I understand what you mean now - thanks for clarifying. So, talking payload, do you think my older half ton could handle a gooseneck at all then? Hypothetically speaking…like an all aluminum Featherlite (since I know those tend towards the lighter side), 2 horse, no water, no AC/heat, but propane for electricity (think plug in heater/AC, mini fridge, microwave, and maybe a table), and then a mattress. Possible storage?

I just pulled the weight specs on the featherlite, a 2h with weekender in the smallest size dress they offer (probably too small to share with another human) and they peg it (lightly equipped) at 4000lbs empty. I would guess that’s going to put 1000 on the pin and you’re going to be pushing it.

Goosenecks just weigh more than bumper pulls - by a lot - because all that weight from the gooseneck space has to go somewhere and it goes straight down the hitch into the bed of your truck.

You’d have to bump up your trailer budget because I have never, ever seen another one of these used, but a friend of mine has a bumper pull with the cutest little living area with a 3’ short wall. And you’d need to beef up your rear suspension since I suspect the tongue weight on this thing is north of 600lbs. That said it might get you where you want to be a lot faster than trying to find a suitable gooseneck. http://www.dixiestarhorsetrailers.com/Dixie-Star-Bumper-Pull-3-Living-Quarters-2-Horse-Trailer-.html

A newer half ton might work for a light gooseneck but then you’re talking a lot of money. I recently changed trailers rather than replace my 2002 GMC so I get the loyalty (but mine has only 70k miles).

It is also common in Australia to have the padded trailer dividers fold up from the divider to form a bunk. You might be able to get someone to fab you something similar for the right price.

That said, I have an insulated trailer and a good full height blow up mattress, and a good down comforter, and I’m all set back there. Camping equipment has come a long way. I have a full stove, a little fuel burning stove that will charge my phone, and solar powered lights. A lot can be done with a little ingenuity.

[ryansgirl]

NO way in hell would I tow a gooseneck with a half-ton. Their payload capacity and frames are no where near that of a 3/4-ton and up truck.

I’ve towed the exact same BP trailer with the same exact horses with my 1/2-ton and with my 3/4-ton. There is no comparison between the two and their capabilities. I could feel the trailer with the half…sure it did fine but I could feel it. With the 3/4- ton…I had to keep checking my rear view to see if the trailer was still there. Couldn’t feel it at all.

Sure people do it. And all is fine. Until it isn’t.

[CorazonLock]

@soloudinhere - mind if I PM you some questions in regards to my situation? I just don’t want to blow up the thread with details that aren’t really related to my original question.

Unfortunately loyalty is not to the truck, but to my bank account. I have a minivan that is older and quirkier, and that’s the one I’m loyal to - it’s had the least amount of repair work.

[soloudinhere]

@CorazonLock

@soloudinhere - mind if I PM you some questions in regards to my situation? I just don’t want to blow up the thread with details that aren’t really related to my original question.

Unfortunately loyalty is not to the truck, but to my bank account. I have a minivan that is older and quirkier, and that’s the one I’m loyal to - it’s had the least amount of repair work.

Sure, feel free. My inbox should have space.

[Martina]

TOO HEAVY - DON’T DO IT.

I have a Toyota Tundra and tow my Featherlite gooseneck which weighs only 3400#. The Tundra has excellent tow capacity of over 10K#. While we are well within our towing capacity, it is the payload/GVWR that is challenged. You need a lightweight gooseneck for a half-ton and 6000# is heavy. And especially if you tow 2 horses. You said a new truck is not an option. You will regret it when things go wrong with the truck that are expensive to fix. There are so many good trailer options for a half-ton, it is not worth ruining your truck to get a bigger trailer. Let alone the safety factory.

[Martina]

Just want to add that a gooseneck adds 25% of the loaded weight to the truck, vs 10-15% for a bumper pull. My Tundra pulls the Featherlite beautifully, but we are on the high end of our payload with one horse. I wouldn’t take 2 horses on a long trip. One horse would be fine. My payload is 1580, tow capacity is 10,600 and GVWR 7100.

[SuckerForHorses]

@CorazonLock

@soloudinhere - mind if I PM you some questions in regards to my situation? I just don’t want to blow up the thread with details that aren’t really related to my original question.

Unfortunately loyalty is not to the truck, but to my bank account. I have a minivan that is older and quirkier, and that’s the one I’m loyal to - it’s had the least amount of repair work.

Go ahead and blow up the thread, its yours :lol:

[cutter99]

The only way to know for sure the weight of any trailer is to run it over the scales yourself. Please don’t assume something is lightweight due to a name. I have a 3 horse Featherlite LQ that weighs almost 12,000 lbs. It is built like a tank and will probably outlive me.

I was given a rule of thumb for “estimating” weights on LQ trailers as weights listed on the trailers themselves do not include the conversion of the LQ packages. Estimate 500 lbs. per foot of LQ shortwall. That would put a 4’ LQ weight at 2,000 lbs. in addition to the original weight of the trailer.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

I know this thread is mainly about the trailer, but you’ve mentioned wanting a toilet a couple times. I’ve had one of these in the dressing room of my little 2H for probably at least 10 years, and I LOVE it.

https://www.rei.com/product/662980/cleanwaste-pett-portable-environmental-toilet

[soloudinhere]

@Risk-Averse Rider

I know this thread is mainly about the trailer, but you’ve mentioned wanting a toilet a couple times. I’ve had one of these in the dressing room of my little 2H for probably at least 10 years, and I LOVE it.

https://www.rei.com/product/662980/cleanwaste-pett-portable-environmental-toilet

I have a turbotoilet, which is less expensive and folds to about the size of a frisbee - and the inserts are pretty cheap (less than $1 each)

[enjoytheride]

@ryansgirl

NO way in hell would I tow a gooseneck with a half-ton. Their payload capacity and frames are no where near that of a 3/4-ton and up truck.

I’ve towed the exact same BP trailer with the same exact horses with my 1/2-ton and with my 3/4-ton. There is no comparison between the two and their capabilities. I could feel the trailer with the half…sure it did fine but I could feel it. With the 3/4- ton…I had to keep checking my rear view to see if the trailer was still there. Couldn’t feel it at all.

Sure people do it. And all is fine. Until it isn’t.

Actually, many of today’s 1/2 ton trucks are built on the same frame as a 3/4 ton and have bigger engines capable of towing more! There is an enormous range of 1/2 ton trucks AND 3/4 ton trucks just starting at the engine. It’s a common mistake to assume your 2002 1500 with the 4.7 liter engine is the same as your 2017 1500 with the 6.0 liter engine. That’s totally ignoring the options with heavy duty frames, suspensions, higher rear gears, etc. There are several 1/2 ton options that can out tow and out stop their 3/4 ton counterparts.

The truck in question in this post is simply too small to tow the trailer in question.

[ryansgirl]

@enjoytheride

Actually, many of today’s 1/2 ton trucks are built on the same frame as a 3/4 ton and have bigger engines capable of towing more! There is an enormous range of 1/2 ton trucks AND 3/4 ton trucks just starting at the engine. It’s a common mistake to assume your 2002 1500 with the 4.7 liter engine is the same as your 2017 1500 with the 6.0 liter engine. That’s totally ignoring the options with heavy duty frames, suspensions, higher rear gears, etc. There are several 1/2 ton options that can out tow and out stop their 3/4 ton counterparts.

The truck in question in this post is simply too small to tow the trailer in question.

Totally disagree with your assessment. My half-ton and 3/4-ton have the SAME engine but there is NO comparison in the towing ability. NONE. I’ll go with what is safe and that is from over 30 years of towing experience.

[soloudinhere]

@ryansgirl

Totally disagree with your assessment. My half-ton and 3/4-ton have the SAME engine but there is NO comparison in the towing ability. NONE. I’ll go with what is safe and that is from over 30 years of towing experience.

I think she was referring to the difference between a 1/2 ton that is 17 years old, and a brand new half ton. The new half tons are the 3/4 and 1 tons of 15 years ago.

Most of us don’t get to keep two trucks, so we would have no basis for comparison, but even so a modern half ton will vastly out tow a 17 year old model with 300k miles. There’s nothing to disagree with there.

[enjoytheride]

@ryansgirl

Totally disagree with your assessment. My half-ton and 3/4-ton have the SAME engine but there is NO comparison in the towing ability. NONE. I’ll go with what is safe and that is from over 30 years of towing experience.

As I said, it’s about a lot more than the year and yes I do think based on evidence provided that today’s 1/2 tons can out pull yesterday’s 3/4 tons. It’s also about how long your bed is, what your suspension is, if you have air bags on one and not the other, what the rear gears are, if it has a tranny cooler, if it has heavier brakes, etc.

It’s foolish to make a blanket statement when there is such a huge variety.

I imagine your half done, if it has the same engine, has other differences that make it unsuitable.

For example, my 1/2 ton 4.7 liter tows my small bumper pull better than my stepdad’s half ton with a 5.3liter because I have different suspension and gears. It doesn’t ride too smooth on rough roads though!

My barn owner towed the same trailer with her 1997 chevy one ton and her new 2015 chevy 3/4 ton. The “smaller” truck not only pulled better but stopped better too.

[SuckerForHorses]

@enjoytheride

As I said, it’s about a lot more than the year and yes I do think based on evidence provided that today’s 1/2 tons can out pull yesterday’s 3/4 tons. It’s also about how long your bed is, what your suspension is, if you have air bags on one and not the other, what the rear gears are, if it has a tranny cooler, if it has heavier brakes, etc.

It’s foolish to make a blanket statement when there is such a huge variety.

I imagine your half done, if it has the same engine, has other differences that make it unsuitable.

For example, my 1/2 ton 4.7 liter tows my small bumper pull better than my stepdad’s half ton with a 5.3liter because I have different suspension and gears. It doesn’t ride too smooth on rough roads though!

My barn owner towed the same trailer with her 1997 chevy one ton and her new 2015 chevy 3/4 ton. The “smaller” truck not only pulled better but stopped better too.

I’m not saying that you are implying this, but I did want to point out for the safety of others who may be reading, that while airbags are helpful for your suspension to carry a load, they do not add towing capacity to any vehicle.

[enjoytheride]

Of course.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

@soloudinhere

I have a turbotoilet, which is less expensive and folds to about the size of a frisbee - and the inserts are pretty cheap (less than $1 each)

Very cool - I hadn’t ever seen that before. Looks like a good choice for someone with good knees and more leg strength than this old lady