Posted 2016-08-08 12:34 AM (#167946) Subject: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
Member
Posts: 5
[New around here and I tried to search before I posted]
We have a 2011 GMC Sierra, 4x4, crew cab with 9600 lb towing capacity. We have comfortably towed around 7000-8000 lb bumper pull trailers (not horse) on road trips, and truck has done everything we need. We don't tow all the time, and most trips with the horses would be pretty local.
We need a new 3 horse trailer and really like the idea of a gooseneck. If we can keep the unladen weight of the trailer down around 4000 lbs and don't overload it with horses or gear (our horses are on the small side and we could be cognizant of the overall weight of the load), could this be a possibility for us?
If not a 3 horse gooseneck, what about a 2 horse gooseneck?
Someday there will be a truck upgrade, but would like for it not to be right now. :-)
Posted 2016-08-08 9:22 AM (#167951 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
I wouldn't. Step up to a heavier truck if you are going to go with a gooseneck. It can be done with your 1/2 ton, but it will pull the guts out of it..
Posted 2016-08-08 1:42 PM (#167952 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
I have about the same truck, a little older and extended cab, but I pull a 16' Featherlite v-nose gooseneck stock trailer with it a lot. Usually 1 or 2 horses or a few calves, and it does just fine. Keep the trailer brakes in shape and use the tow mode on the transmission. My transmission temp never goes up much and it is hotter than hell here.
Posted 2016-08-08 7:23 PM (#167958 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
Member
Posts: 5
Tx Vaquero - Thanks for the response. Do you know what the unladen weight of your gooseneck is?
Does your truck handle the pin weight pretty well? That's our main thing right now. Truck can pull the weight as we know from the bumper pull trailers with weight distribution hitch, but didn't know if the extra weight in the gooseneck would make it squat and mess up the ride.
Posted 2016-08-16 5:50 PM (#168043 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
You can't go over your payload capacity. It's going to be very hard to stay under that low number in a 1500 with a GN trailer. Save the money and buy a bigger truck, THEN get the bigger trailer. GN trailers put more weight on the towing truck than a similar weighted BP trailer. It's not if you can move it, it's can you stop it (and I mean when the turds hit the fan and the brakes fail.) Add all the air bags you want but it won't change your GCWR, which is where the troopers are going to nail you in that rig! Ride quality, yeah right...
Posted 2016-08-16 6:12 PM (#168044 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Illinois
15 years ago I did exactly what you are wanting to do when I bought my 3 horse gooseneck (no living quarters). Pulled it with a Chevy 1500 V8. Did that for 4 years before it cried uncle. Didn't ruin the truck but things started going on it because I was pulling too much trailer.
Replaced the truck with a Chevy 2500HD diesel. Wow what a difference. The 1500 was able to pull it but you knew it was struggling. The 2500 diesel didn't break a sweat.
Posted 2016-08-17 1:30 PM (#168059 - in reply to #167958) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
My trailer weighs 3800#. It is 16' long and with tandem axles there's only about 500# pin weight. It hardly makes the truck squat at all. I added overload springs to handle the weight if I have a load of calves. No problems.
Posted 2016-08-21 7:43 AM (#168098 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
Veteran
Posts: 197 Location: AZ
We did this a while ago...1/2 ton GMC with upgraded tranny, tranny cooler, etc..even added airbags...last about 3 years...trailer is 5450# empty, hauled one horse...gear...truck was rated to 10K...
then we started to blow flywheels....
Then we upgraded the truck..to an 'oldie but goodie' 1 ton dually single cab flatbed...used that for a while, bought LQ...then upgraded to 2012 Dodge 3500 drw...then got a new LQ...we will be adding airbags....
Posted 2016-08-29 12:46 AM (#168214 - in reply to #167946) Subject: RE: Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
Member
Posts: 5
Well, we found a 3900 lb aluminum GN and our horses are smallish at 1000 lbs or under, so we'll see how it goes. If we have to upgrade the truck, so be it, but the trailer we found is a keeper for sure. :-)
Gooseneck with half ton p/u?
