Half ton with Gooseneck

[Charmingly_Chestnut]

Hello all! I seem to be asking this question quite often, but each time aimed towards a different trailer, so my apologizes.

First off, I know half-tons aren’t technically suited for goosenecks. Before any of you start ranting and raving, I would only use the half ton until I could afford a 3/4th ton.

My question is, why dont more people use goosenecks with half tons? My truck is a 2014 Chevy 1500 with suspension and towing package added. I normally pull a HEAVY steel titan 2h bumperpull, usually one horse but sometimes with two with ALL my stuff I own in the tackroom. Empty, its probably around 3000 I assume. The gooseneck I’m looking at is ALUMINUM, 3000 empty as well. I would pull 1 horse with the gooseneck, shes Approx 1100 lb. Pin weight would be fine, me and my driving pal arent heifers and weight both around 140-150lb. We dont haul feed or water or anything for long trips, we go max about an hour away from home. So the pin and rear axle wouldn’t be overloaded at all. Northern Illinois, so flat flat corn country land, no giant hills or anything like that.
my truck can handle a heavy bumper the same weight as this gooseneck, so shouldnt it be able to handle the gooseneck fine as well? Full they’re both around 3000 under my tow rating.

post is continued in a second post below

[bugsynskeeter]

Because most have a short bed and you can knock a back window out with a gooseneck turning.

[Bluey]

Many here pull 16’ GN stocktrailers with their 1/2 ton?
We have for decades without a problem, still have our 1990 pickup that works like a charm and oh, the new ones, they are way, way better than that one at pulling.

Our current F150 has a 6 1/2’ bed, plenty for a GN not to hit the back window and give good support with a longer wheel base than the 5 1/2’ ones.

Sure, you can’t ever have enough pickup when pulling, but the right trailer and driver for a 1/2 ton pickup will do just fine if that what fits you best.

[Charmingly_Chestnut]

(Second part of post)

The trailers I’m looking at are quite a steal of a deal, one being a charmac 3 horse, a silver star 3 horse, and a lovely 2h sundowner. They’re all around 5 grand, the 2004 charmac being only 4500 (swoon)
of course they would all be mechanically checked and weighed myself.
Other option is to buy one, bring it home with a borrowed truck, and let it sit for a year while I look for a bigger truck.

Opinions? Wwyd?
tia

[ryansgirl]

Payload capacity. Do you realize how much weight you’re putting IN the bed of the truck with the gooseneck hitch? Half-tons and 3/4-tons aren’t built on the same frame. There are many reasons why 3/4-tons are built…This is one of them.

[Charmingly_Chestnut]

@ryansgirl

Payload capacity. Do you realize how much weight you’re putting IN the bed of the truck with the gooseneck hitch? Half-tons and 3/4-tons aren’t built on the same frame. There are many reasons why 3/4-tons are built…This is one of them.

Yes, I know how much weight would be going on the bed, the pin would be fine for the truck. There is no overloading. Putting weight on an axle is safer than a bumper and evenly distributes better.

[Bluey]

@Charmingly_Chestnut

Yes, I know how much weight would be going on the bed, the pin would be fine for the truck. There is no overloading. Putting weight on an axle is safer than a bumper and evenly distributes better.

GN weight doesn’t go on the axle, but a bit in front of it.

[soloudinhere]

@bugsynskeeter

Because most have a short bed and you can knock a back window out with a gooseneck turning.

Most 3/4 and 1 tons now are also being sold with “Short” beds. I don’t think that’s the sole reason.

I would guess more likely is that most 1/2 ton trucks are leases and you can’t install a gooseneck in a leased truck unless you want to get hammered on the lease turn in. Bumper hitches are factory and don’t affect your lease, in that case.

@Charmingly_Chestnut

Yes, I know how much weight would be going on the bed, the pin would be fine for the truck. There is no overloading. Putting weight on an axle is safer than a bumper and evenly distributes better.

“Bumper pull” is a misnomer. The weight of the hitch is placed on the rear axle of the vehicle. Gooseneck weight is more centered, yes, depending on your wheelbase, etc but it also puts more wear on the vehicle. You will probably notice substantially more suspension wear on a 1/2 ton than you would on a 3/4 ton.

[clanter]

it is the good old Depends answer… here like Bluey the terrain is Flat, hills are not common no dramatic grades… but if I were in a mountainous area I would not, mainly because of the sizing of the 1/2 tons braking system.

OP make sure your towing package includes a separate transmission cooler if the truck is an automatic

[Guilherme]

What IS the towing capacity of this truck? How do you know what it is?

G.

[happilyretired]

I pulled an aluminum 2 horse GN trailer with my Toyota Tundra (not the original Tundra … a newer upgraded one with a factory towing package) for years with no issues. As OP said – I was very careful with weight in the truck, hauled one horse at a time (almost always) for short distances (to and from area shows) on flat terrain. Truck handled the load fine and braking was efficient and effective with a high quality brake controller. Very stable on the road. So if you know your weights and are careful about them, and are hauling in appropriate terrain you’ll be fine.

[Jim_in_PA]

Specifications matter. The general answer is “yes, you can tow a small GN with a half ton truck, especially a more recent one, as long as it’s properly equipped from the factory and weight you place over the axil as well as the total towed weight is within the specifications” with the advise that it’s a good practice to be well below the limits. (same advise applies for a BP, honestly) There are a number of folks around here who tow 2H GN trailers with their half ton trucks because they prefer that format of trailer.

[rothmpp]

@bugsynskeeter

Because most have a short bed and you can knock a back window out with a gooseneck turning.

Depending on the trailer, I’ve seen plenty of goosenecks with a v front just like a tagalong trailer. The can help with the denting the back of the cab when turning or backing. I’ve also seen ones with the pin set a bit forward on the trailer.

I have a fifth wheel trailer for my SO’s race car that I tow with a 3/4 ton duramax diesel with a 6 1/2 foot bed. I spent the money for the sliding hitch so that it moves back 18" on a tight turn. Obviously this style hitch doesn’t work with a gooseneck.

[Rackonteur]

I would not haul 3 horses with a half-ton truck. I know you said one horse, but you also said you’re looking at a 3-horse trailer.

Please, please don’t haul 3 horses with a half-ton truck. In fact, please stop looking at trailers until you get a 3/4 or 1-ton truck.

It’s not the towing that you need to be thinking about. It’s, “Can I STOP this trailer with this truck?”

[enjoytheride]

@Rackonteur

I would not haul 3 horses with a half-ton truck. I know you said one horse, but you also said you’re looking at a 3-horse trailer.

Please, please don’t haul 3 horses with a half-ton truck. In fact, please stop looking at trailers until you get a 3/4 or 1-ton truck.

It’s not the towing that you need to be thinking about. It’s, “Can I STOP this trailer with this truck?”

Once again, it’s ridiculous to tell people to not purchase a trailer without a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

There is a WIDE range of properly matched 1/2 ton trucks and trailers.

There is a slightly narrower range of properly matched 1/2 ton trucks and gooseneck trailers. Towing capacity, pin weight, bed length, and rear gears all taken into consideration. The new F150s have a tow capacity from 5,000 lbs to 13,000lbs.

[stargazer08]

I pulled a 3 horse Elite GN with a Chevy 1/2 ton with a short bed that had a tow package for a few years. I had to add an air bladder to the rear suspension. Never had to worry about the trailer hitting the cab since it had a narrow nose. In the end, it was too much trailer for the truck to tow…and I rarely hauled 3 horses. It was too hard on the engine. When the water pump failed I upgraded to a 3/4 ton Chevy diesel. Loved, loved, loved that truck.

[cutter99]

My husband has a Chevy Silverado half ton as his company vehicle, as in he can get on to farms with it and comfortably haul co-workers and customers around in it, as well as have the bed to stash dirty boots, clothes, etc. I have driven it and would never attempt to pull a gooseneck with it even though it could be equipped to do so.

That being said, I have been hauling horses for roughly 25 years. Locally and long distance. Have always lived in mountainous areas. I started with a shortbed super cab F-150 and a two horse straight load bumper pull trailer with a 4 foot dressing room. Well within the specs of the F-150, but a b***h to handle without a weight distributing hitch and sway bars. I now pull with a RAM 3500 dually and let me tell you, it beats towing with a half ton any day of the week, no matter what is hooked up to it.

Take advice from someone who has been there, done that. After you have white knuckled it a few times after being passed by a semi on the interstate, you will want a bigger truck. After you arrive at your destination and feel like you have gone a bunch of rounds in a boxing ring from wrestling your truck and trailer to get there, you will want a bigger truck. After you need a new transmission from pushing your truck to its limits, you will want a bigger truck. After you have been pushed through an intersection by the trailer because 1) you had a brake failure, or 2) misjudged stopping distance, or 3) were overloaded, or 4) your trailer gets jerked around by an unruly horse you are hauling, you will want a bigger truck.

If you have not bought a truck or trailer yet, spend more on a better, heavy truck first. It is safer, it is a better investment, and I would be seriously surprised if you ever regretted it. You will regret however if you have an accident, and someone or a horse, is hurt or worse, if you cannot afford to go somewhere because you undersized truck needs repairs, or you end up so nervous from hauling undertrucked you hate going anywhere. Sometimes it is better to just wait a little longer, and err on the side of caution and be as safe as you can going down the road.

I have NEVER heard a horseperson say “Damn this sucks. I have way too much truck”. EVER.

[Bluey]

@stargazer08

I pulled a 3 horse Elite GN with a Chevy 1/2 ton with a short bed that had a tow package for a few years. I had to add an air bladder to the rear suspension. Never had to worry about the trailer hitting the cab since it had a narrow nose. In the end, it was too much trailer for the truck to tow…and I rarely hauled 3 horses. It was too hard on the engine. When the water pump failed I upgraded to a 3/4 ton Chevy diesel. Loved, loved, loved that truck.

No question, the more truck the better, but other can be fine also.

For decades now, all we ever had was the 1/2 ton ones and pulled a trailer, bumper pull for years, gn when those came out and have pickups that last long without even a wrench needed on them, other than routine maintenance.

A friend trainer and I needed to go 10 hours away one way to pick up a horse and get another half way on the way back.
His 1 ton happen to be in the shop and was not back, so we went with my F150 4x4 crew cab 6 1/2’ bed, pulling his gn three horse slant with tack that could also sleep two.
It pulled fine, had some long hills, but not the Rockies or bad roads.
No harm done to anyone, pulled fine for that purpose.
Our pickups pull our 16’ stock trailer with up to four horses up and down the caprocks without problem.

Still, more pickup is always better, of course.

[hosspuller]

Can one tow a GN with a 1/2 ton truck ? The answer is yes, with (as in all endeavors) compromises. The thread has done well addressing many of the compromises. Just as obvious, a larger truck has fewer compromises in power, stability, braking, and longevity.

Only the OP can make the now, informed choice for her/him.

https://media.giphy.com/media/7XoTE46IZsSY0GVlxZ/giphy.gif

[soloudinhere]

@enjoytheride

Once again, it’s ridiculous to tell people to not purchase a trailer without a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

There is a WIDE range of properly matched 1/2 ton trucks and trailers.

There is a slightly narrower range of properly matched 1/2 ton trucks and gooseneck trailers. Towing capacity, pin weight, bed length, and rear gears all taken into consideration. The new F150s have a tow capacity from 5,000 lbs to 13,000lbs.

If properly equipped, the maximum tow rating on an f150 is 12,200. That’s for a regular cab, 4x2, long Bed, which is a truck approximately nobody buys. Realistic ratings for a supercab long bed 4x4 are in the high 10 to low 11000 range. If you want a v8 instead of the temperamental ecoboost, it drops to the low 9s.

The max payload for any f150, which requires the heavy duty payload package, is 2,320 pounds. The more cab, leather, butt massagers and the like that you buy lowers that number. Most had payload ratings more like 1500-1700, and I can tell you the pin weight on my 2+1 (which is a shortened model) is 1200 by itself.