Truck and gooseneck questions

[mommy_peanut]

I had a Hawk GN & Chevy 2500HD crew cab (so much interior room!) with the 6 1/2’ box.
It was a dream to hook up, haul etc. & I never had any issues with turning or jack knifing.
I had this ball setup, as we did use the truck for hauling other things.
Super easy & was out of the way when I didn’t need the GN hitch.
https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/product/turnoverball-gooseneck-hitch

At one point we also had a toolbox at the front of the truck bed, no issues with it being in the way, but we made sure that it wasn’t taller than the bottom of the GN portion of the trailer. So the trailer could ride above it sort of. If that makes sense.

[outerbanks77]

Yeah, I have to do a 90 degree left turn to back down the driveway. I could get it in one try 90% of the time with my Featherlight bumper pull. I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve managed that in six years with the GN.

[endlessclimb]

I’ve found my issues are that I get too bent and then there’s no “following” it back like you can with a BP. Gah!

[outerbanks77]

I’ve informed my husband that when we win the lottery, a covered pull through for my trailer rig is going to be an essential barn feature. Attached to my beautiful heated indoor arena of course.

[NaturallyHappy]

At one point, I had the ball that turned over with the pin one pulls to loosen it. I had taken that truck and trailer in for service- the trailer service people noticed the pin was loose; the weight of the gooseneck kept the ball in place. It scared me so badly I started crying and asked them to weld that ball in. I had never flipped that ball and, to this day, have no idea how that happened. I’ll never have another one.

Second @Bluey’s comment about truck bed rails and older goosenecks… newer trucks have higher bed rails.

[CanteringCarrot]

So glad to hear that others don’t think that a gooseneck is soo much easier than a bumper pull I thought I was the odd one out.

The GN isn’t necessarily more “difficult” or “easy” it’s just different from the BP. In some ways that aren’t necessarily always a positive for me.

[NaturallyHappy]

I meant to add that in my post above…I find goosenecks more difficult to back, also… As @endlessclimb mentioned…the delay gets me if I’m not careful.

[CanteringCarrot]

@NaturallyHappy

At one point, I had the ball that turned over with the pin one pulls to loosen it. I had taken that truck and trailer in for service- the trailer service people noticed the pin was loose; the weight of the gooseneck kept the ball in place. It scared me so badly I started crying and asked them to weld that ball in. I had never flipped that ball and, to this day, have no idea how that happened. I’ll never have another one.

Second @Bluey’s comment about truck bed rails and older goosenecks… newer trucks have higher bed rails.

I can think of how this could happen, but I don’t think it’s so common. It’d be enough to scare me though, I can’t argue that.

I will say that I am annoyingly meticulous about checking my hitch (so I do have to get under the truck for a look). I’d do this even if it were welded. I’m also stupidly annoying about my trailer floor, ramp, and all other things related to hauling though! Drives my husband a bit bonkers, but I rather be safe than sorry. Nothing is truly maintenance or “monitoring” free no matter how new or how often (or not) it’s used.

[NaturallyHappy]

I swear I checked it before I left…I was on a highway w lots of construction and very bumpy road ways. I always wondered if it got jostled loose….

[CanteringCarrot]

@NaturallyHappy

I swear I checked it before I left…I was on a highway w lots of construction and very bumpy road ways. I always wondered if it got jostled loose….

Could be.

Unfortunately, shit can still happen even if you regularly check.

Whether it’s the ball/hitch, electrical, or other parts of the truck and/or trailer.

I know someone that was so frustrated recently after getting their bearings done (by a professional), only for their trailer to start smoking (due to the bearings) when they were a couple hours from home. So you can try to do all of the right things, and still have issues. Which is why I have anxiety

[SinMiedo]

I just bought a truck and was super excited to learn that it had a B&W receiver installed. I was getting ready to go pick up my trailer and discovered that it hadn’t been used in Lord only knows how long because the pin refused to budge. It took an hour of beating, banging, wiggling, lubrication, and my very helpful farrier incurring minor burns from a blowtorch-molten bedliner chunk, but we finally got it unseized. I promptly covered the whole assembly in white lithium grease because there’s no way I’d get it loose myself if it ever decides to get stuck again, lol

[tabula_rashah]

I have a 9’ flat bed with a covered GN hitch and my DH has one that flips down. We both use our trucks for work a lot (we have a plant nursey) and I have no issue with hauling other stuff.

[c0608524]

Just incase anyone wants a laugh…

Hope the link works.

Since we have this thread going for all of us who haul ourselves, I thought some might enjoy this little bit of humour.

[FromTheGalaxy]

I have a removable ball and chain hooks. When taken out there are little plastic covers to put in the holes so stuff doesn’t get down in there. So far I like this set up, I have only had to remove them once when going to get a load of square bales, but it was pretty easy and quick. I previously had one of the balls that flipped over but I never moved it because the pin got seized and it was never worth it to me to loosen it.
I currently have a long bed truck and I love it (although I really didn’t want it at first), never worry about hitting my back windshield no matter how tight I turn, and I can fit a lot of stuff in the back. I do think my newer truck is a smidge too high for my liking for my trailer, I have enough clearance between bottom of gooseneck and bed rails, but I think the trailer sits just a bit high in front and not enough room to lower it any more. I had a friend who got her axles on her older trailer blocked due to this, but I’m not sure mine is significant enough to bother with that.

[CanteringCarrot]

@SinMiedo

I just bought a truck and was super excited to learn that it had a B&W receiver installed. I was getting ready to go pick up my trailer and discovered that it hadn’t been used in Lord only knows how long because the pin refused to budge. It took an hour of beating, banging, wiggling, lubrication, and my very helpful farrier incurring minor burns from a blowtorch-molten bedliner chunk, but we finally got it unseized. I promptly covered the whole assembly in white lithium grease because there’s no way I’d get it loose myself if it ever decides to get stuck again, lol

Yeah, it’s a neat idea in concept, but if you let it sit in the right conditions, it get pretty well stuck. I soaked it for 24 hours before we attempted to flip the ball back up. It hasn’t been a problem since, but like I said, I have no idea how long the previous owner left it like that. As with most things metal that can be exposed to weather and moisture, it can seize if not used and/or lubricated properly.

[CanteringCarrot]

@c0608524

Just incase anyone wants a laugh…

Hope the link works.

Since we have this thread going for all of us who haul ourselves, I thought some might enjoy this little bit of humour.

That was great.

I will say that having a camera in the trailer helps so that you can triple check everything being closed and you can see what the horse is or isn’t doing

[lorilu]

@Bluey

Repeating, be sure the sides of the truck are low enough for your GN top to make it when over a ditch or very uneven ground.

This is my problem. My current truck is a 2003 F350 Dually… under 100K miles, but starting to feel that its time to get a newer one.
My Trailer is a 2000 SIdekick gooseneck. Its sturdy and well made, so easy to pull.

I worry that I wont be able to find a newer truck with sufficient clearance. Yes I am aware that there is some adjustment in the gooseneck post, but I think it’s about as short as it can go now.
If anyone has truck suggestions, I’m all ears (and no I dont want a flatbed. I do too much with the truck as it is)

[NancyM]

I have a short wheelbase one ton Dodge diesel. I bought it as a cab and chasis, no box. I had a local welder make me a custom flatdeck, with a U shape. My plate hitch goes onto the frame, in the U, under the level of the deck. When I’m not pulling the trailer, a piece of one inch plywood slides into the U, and it becomes a solid flatdeck. At the time I bought the truck (new, in 1997) the box that I did NOT buy was worth $10,000. The flatdeck I had made cost $2500. These prices obviously have changed since then, but similar savings may be expected.
The problem with a lot of gooseneck trailers these days is that they do NOT fit on newer pickup trucks. The sides of the pick up box are too high. So CHECK this before you make any purchases. With a flat deck, this is not an issue.
The trailer I have now, I just bought used a couple years ago. It’s a 2 horse gooseneck 5th wheel, custom made originally. The reason it was for sale was that the previous owner had a REALLY BAD car accident, and nearly died, and it took several years for her to recover (they didn’t think she would survive, but she did). In the time that she was incapacitated, her husband bought a new pick up truck. (Was it the old pick up truck she was in for the accident… IDK). The horse trailer went into storage for several years. When they went to pick it up again… it would not fit over the high sides of the new pick up truck. Thus, it was for sale. With my flat deck… no problem there.
A plate hitch is the strongest option. My hitch is OLD. We bought it with the previous gooseneck trailer we had, bought that in 1976… and it was OLD then. They don’t make them like this any more. I have people who salivate over my hitch. When we bought the trailer, and the full hitch, a mechanic friend looked at it and said that I could drive off the side of a mountain, hit the rocks below and spin the whole rig around a few times before hitting the rocks below… and that truck and trailer would still be attached together. I’ve never tried this, but there you go. Get a plate hitch.

[Xanthoria]

“ gotta turn the radio off, cause I can’t see!”

[c0608524]

@Xanthoria

“ gotta turn the radio off, cause I can’t see!”

It was the constant checking the mirrors bit that did me in. Glad you got a laugh out of it!