We have no idea what she’s hitting stuff by. Touching is touching, and it’s not a matter of the minute difference between a 2wd and a 4wd.
It’s a gooseneck versus bumper pull. They behave differently.
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And let me be clear on a fact. Back in the day, maybe you’d have a point. But today’s modern vehicles, with front CV joints and 4wd that can be engaged without manually locking the hubs, there is negligible difference. I was being generous with the foot estimate. It’s less than that.
Google it.
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Can concur. It’s the GN vs BP that makes the massive difference in turning radius. Having driven many different iterations of trucks, you’re more likely to hop a drive thru curb because you forgot it was a dually vs anything to do with the drive train. Going from a short wheelbase to a very long one does come with its own challenges when driving unhitched, but again, different issue.
The reason “so many people have never noticed” is because there isn’t an appreciable difference in turning radius between 2WD and 4WD.
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I drove a gooseneck many years ago, then moved overseas and drove a 2H European trailer attached to…not a big truck. Now I’m back with a truck and gooseneck. I guess the biggest things, as others have said, are wide turns and the delay when backing up.
I just make sure to swing it wide, and I can see the trailer/it’s wheels in my mirrors to know where it’s tracking if needed. You just have to go straighter for longer into the turn, if that makes sense. I think the delay when backing up makes people want to over correct, or something like that, because they don’t see the trailer move or react as much as a BP would.
It just takes time behind the wheel. Try to practice as much as you can.
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Agreed - with older trucks you’d definitely notice a difference, especially if you made the mistake of leaving it in 4WD on pavement and it would start to buck and barely move! But last weekend I had my truck in 4WD to get out of where I was camping and forgot to put it back into 2WD and drove halfway home before I noticed the light on. I had done multiple turns and a few and roundabouts and never felt a difference. 
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I happened upon a Youtube video that I thought had some good visuals for towing/turning a 5th wheel, which also applies to a GN.
Driving a 5th Wheel - Tips from a Pro
The takeaway is “don’t drive in the middle of the road (your lane) when turning.” 
This is how GN/5th trailer wheels track vs your truck wheels on a turn - there is about a 2-3 foot difference. (A BP much more closely follows the path of your truck tires.)
I thought these were handy visuals for where to position your truck tires when turning to the left and right:
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Thanks! I love this!
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You will get it. I started with a gooseneck and I hate backing bumper pulls. Take corners wide and slow. Bet you will love it after you get more used to it.
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I’ve driven a truck and trailer once. I was lucky in that I was with my 80-something trainer/friend. As awful as he could be giving riding lessons, he was fantastic telling me how to drive the truck. When we pulled into a parking lot or wherever, he told me exactly what to do to put the trailer where it needed to be.
A couple years ago, I drove through NYC in Friday night rush hour traffic - with a stick shift. At one point I was getting myself a little freaked out. I literally took a deep breath and told myself that this was stupid. I’ve driven that car in bumper to bumper traffic a zillion times (Beach Traffic! to /from the barn) and this was no different, just different scenery.
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I am a good backer too and I get nauseous too sometimes with where I have to put trailers! One time I went inch by inch slow and had to remind myself to breathe! Lol.
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Breathing is important!!! I took my two youngsters to winter camp (a lovely trainer with an indoor) about two hours north of me today. Lots of highway and lots of backroads and some city roads. A friend of mine, who is an experienced hauler of goosenecks came with me and coached me all the way and all the way back. It was fabulous. I think I need more experience, but this was great.
What I learned about the gooseneck today: take the electric wire down so it is loose in the truck bed and has enough play to turn without pulling out of the plug (yes, happened in front of my house). LOL. I am still on the learning curve, but making progress.
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If you are on Facebook there is a man named Dwayne Russell who posts. He hauls all over the country with his huge trailer . He also posts all sorts of videos and how tos for the big trailer and there’s a really good one he posts about how to adjust your safety chains and breakaway cable for your gooseneck so that they operate correctly
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I had an oversized horse, 18.2 hand large fellow, and finally had the opportunity to purchase my own trailer. I went with the 2 horse Hawk gooseneck with extra high, extra wide, side ramp with a tack room. When I went to pick it up, I just about died. It was so much longer than it seemed when I was looking at it.
I made it the hour drive home and then parked it at the back of the farm. Went to bring it up to the barn to set it up and organize prior to the first show. Didn’t even make it around the turn to go up the farm lane. Hit the fence corner post and damaged my running board and rim. Had a brother there to witness my mishap. 
Other brother was really happy it happened to me as he was worried he would be the first one to do something to the trailer.
I have almost taken out the right running board and fender a few times since. I get comfortable driving and forget to turn wide, usually at the worst times.
I have made the mistake of not dropping enough of my electrical wire and breaking the plug.
It was a complete change from driving a bumper bull, but I must say I love this trailer and I still don’t profess to being always comfortable backing up, but as long as I remember to take my time I can get it where I want it.
I did go to a big parking lot and would pick random spots and figure out how to get it into those spots.
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You can get a plug installed in the truck bed. I did this. It’s so much easier especially with our winds not worrying about the cord getting caught or pulled off the plug when running out to the bumper.
If your trailer is parked at your new trainer’s place, I’m happy to help with some additional driving coaching while it’s nearby!
I can totally vouch for the reversing in from the left vs the right comments above!
