Hi, I was wondering what people's experiences are with hauling GN with a lifted truck. I have an F350 4x4 four door long bed diesel and have a 4" suspension lift with 35" tires on after market rims. I understand the issue of clearance above the truck rails and going over bumps etc. I'm just looking for more (friendly) opinions and experiences you have had.
Does anyone know what make/model GN's are higher off the ground stock?
Does anyone have experience 'lifting' a trailer with blocks or reversing the axle or leaf springs? I've read comments only on other sites. I would rather not do anything like that unless totally within the law and safe.
I currently pull a little two horse slant, no living quarters, and use a 10 inch drop for the ball (hitch is properly attached to truck, no bumper ball). I already have no turning radius, and do not currently have stablizer bars/hitch.
I would like to have a living quarters 'somethng' be it a GN or BP, and from what I have read or heard I would be better off with a GN. Pros and Cons anyone?
Thanks for reading, looking forward to hearing from you!
Posted 2013-06-26 4:54 PM (#152963 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Regular
Posts: 79 Location: Alberta Canada
I do believe most new trailers are being built higher to accommodate the new higher stock trucks on the market. I think on average you will find most trailers. ie goosenecks are about the same. A friend of mine raised his trailer to accommodate is truck, used blocks on axles, now trailer is too high and presents a danger when unloading horses. Trailer is now also too top heavy, so have to watch high speed turning also. Seems the answer to all the issues is match an older trailer with an older truck, and a newer trailer. 2000+ with a newer truck..... and don't lift a truck if you are doing any serious towing. Bumper pulls with a 10 inch drop hitch are ok, but does put a lot of stress on hitch when towing heavy loads.... my two cents worth.
Posted 2013-06-26 5:03 PM (#152964 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
Thanks for that. I am just getting back into riding more and hauling more so for now I don't go to far, but want to. Umm, forgot to mention my truck is a '96, and yes, I was concerned about lifting the trailer making it top heavy. I have canopy on the truck always. Yea, i drive slow and am super careful, probably annoy people, but the lives in my care are more important than worrying about what they think :-)
I'll get some height and width measurments on later, maybe help paint a better picture for other folks who reply. Thank you SaddleUp.
Posted 2013-06-26 7:09 PM (#152966 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Veteran
Posts: 150 Location: Le Claire IA
Hi, I have a GMC long bed HD and the rear of the bed is at an incline. ??? Never noticed till too late or I wouldn't have bought it. When I open the tailgate to hook up I have 2 inch clearance in front of the jack. I'm not sure of the clearance above the truck...6 inches? I have to take care when driving/gas stations and how they ramp up to the pumps. The nose is lowered so I have that clearance but then the trailer is at more of an angle than I would like. Not extreme, I opted for less clearance but it's a pain. I do look at clearance quite often on trailers I see being pulled or in the pictures. I have friends who dropped in a ditch a little bit and had to replace their quarter panel. Their clearance is less than mine. I'm glad to hear the manufacturers are taking that into consideration tho my trailer is older. Theirs is a few years old.K88
Posted 2013-06-26 10:23 PM (#152969 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Expert
Posts: 2954 Location: North Carolina
You may have more issues than clearing the bed rails with a GN. The large tires have reduced the axle ratio. Will your tires and wheels support the load of a GN? Figure 20-25 % of the trailer weight will be on the truck.
Posted 2013-06-26 10:26 PM (#152970 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Personally, I think most trailers are built for parking lots at fairgrounds and rodeos. I've seen lots of trailers blocked or lifted to give extra clearance for Forest Service and BLM roads. If you are never leaving the pavement, you don't need it, but if you plan to drive to the end of Forest Service road to reach a wilderness trailhead. The extra couple of inches is worth it.
Most axle blocking is a 3" lift. So you are not lifting the trailer really high. If your trailer sits level. then the blocks will lift you 3 " ( usually 18" to 21") it's not a big deal to most horses. Mine jump right in. I have to pay attention to where I park before unloading, I don't want my horses backing out into a hole. If anything, I'll try and park with the trailer tires in a low spot reducing how far the horses have to step down. If your truck is higher, Then you probably have a slight down hill slop already in the trailer and trailer won't even be the 21" high.
If your horses can turn around in the trailer and walk out forward. Height is not an issue. Heck my horses are stepping off 3' ledges pretty common during any ride. So a 21" trailer deck is nothing. Especially with out a rider.
Posted 2013-06-27 12:36 AM (#152975 - in reply to #152966) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
Thanks! I didn't know about a bed with an incline either, hmm.? Ive read a clearance of 8 inches is best? I'll definitely be looking at rigs more carefully now too and how they mate up!
Posted 2013-06-27 12:40 AM (#152976 - in reply to #152969) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
hosspuller, how would i find out if the tires and wheels would support the load? i would think that a bigger rim and more rubber would be stronger?? thanks!
Posted 2013-06-27 12:46 AM (#152977 - in reply to #152970) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
Thanks Painted Horse, I'm not planning in off roading with it when I get one, but we do have some good potholes and dips going in and out of the fairgrounds and other places. I'll research the 3" lift some more.
Measurements are: from the ground to the top of bed rail, 60". from the ground to top of bed, 40". bed width is around 74" on the outside. Guess I will have to drive around and park next to different trailers to compare :-)
Posted 2013-06-27 1:06 AM (#152978 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
You will probably find that the rims and tires you currently have will NOT handle the loads of trailer pulling. Most are not able to take the 8psi-110psi inflation that towing might require.They may look macho, but are really not made to carry as much weight as a G, or E rated tire and rim.
Posted 2013-06-27 9:23 AM (#152983 - in reply to #152976) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Expert
Posts: 2954 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by seawitch41 on 2013-06-27 9:40 PM
hosspuller, how would i find out if the tires and wheels would support the load? i would think that a bigger rim and more rubber would be stronger?? thanks!
Only the rim builder can tell you the rated load. So you'll have to contact them. On the tires, they should have a max load in pounds molded into the sidewall.
Posted 2013-06-27 9:12 PM (#152996 - in reply to #152978) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
Thanks siseley. Tires are D rated 3200lbs each, all terrain Nitto, and rims are 3700lbs on Gear rims. Got them a year ago, before thinking about getting a GN horse trailer. I'll buy other ones if this combo is really not good enough, and when I decide to get the GN for sure, am still doing research...Thanks.
Posted 2013-06-27 9:19 PM (#152998 - in reply to #152983) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
hosspuller, thanks, i called the shop where i got everything and he said on the back of the rims, and sure enough found it! and got tires of sidewall. thank you.
Posted 2013-06-29 1:47 AM (#153007 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
You don't say about how heavy the trailer would be, or if it is a 3-4-5 horse, nor if you have dual rear wheels. I personally would be very hesitant to put live cargo on a trailer with only "D" rated tires. "E" would be as low as I would be comfortable with, and even at that I would be increasing the pressure here in California where I live, due to the heat. Dual rear wheels will help distribute the load better, but the sidewalls on a "D" rated tire may not allow for any margin of safety. That's just me of course. I would rather have a large safety margin, as my horses, and my vehicles and possessions.
Posted 2013-06-29 1:54 AM (#153009 - in reply to #152961) Subject: RE: Lifted trucks and goose necks
Location: blaine, wa
I don't have a trailer yet, that's why I'm asking questions. To see if what I have now will be safe for a possible upgrade....just beginning to research and get feedback. Thanks!
Lifted trucks and goose necks
