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Member
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Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Hello all, we are buying a 2006 Bison Stratus that is 35 ft front to back + 7 feet to gooseneck. GVW for trailer is 17600 pounds. We have a 1 ton 2006 dodge diesel 5.9L 4x4, 4 door (not dually) with airbags in the suspension. Is that going to be enough truck to pull this trailer? Dry weight of trailer is around 11,500 lbs. We may pull 3 horses but likely 2. It is a 4 horse with a 10 ft short wall. total length is 42 feet for trailer. gooseneck hitch says 7500 pounds carrying capacity. Front axle for the truck is 5200 lbs and back is 6200 lbs. The info on the dodge website is vague and mostly talks to bumper pulls. Any experiences out there? This is a longer and heavier LQ than we had before and we are not sure if we have enough truck. Need to make a decision today on the trailer. Any ideas or comments would be so appreciated. Thanks Dani |
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | Yes |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Thanks for the input but can you elaborate a little here? What truck should you have for this trailer? |
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Regular
Posts: 70
Location: PA | Am I missing something here? I can see where it might be 35' front to back but not an additional 7' with gooseneck for a 10' s/w, 4 horse. Our 10' s/w, 3 horse is 24' on the floor + 8' for gooseneck & we are pulling with a 1999 Ford F-350 (1 ton) dually - GVW on ours is 17,000 lbs. I'm not familiar with Dodge but is it because it is not a dually? |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Hi, sorry I wasn't clear. The overall length of the trailer is 42 feet. The ball hitch we have for the gooseneck says its 7500 weight at the ball maximum and total GTW says 30,000 lbs. the trailer is 17600 Gross weight. But I was wondering that just because the ball hitch says its ok can the truck really handle that weight? Thanks |
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Veteran
Posts: 122
Location: Grant Twp., MI | In my humble opinion....it is too much trailer for your truck. We were towing with an 05 Chev. dually diesel 1 ton - with air bags...we had approximately the same size trailer - about 44 ft. overall length, 3 horse....and we ended up with tire blow outs, and the last time we pulled the combination....which had almost a 7,000 pin weight....we blew the main oil gasket plus a little more repairs...as soon as we got the truck repaired we sold it and moved into a "baby" semi-truck (International) Sure we sorta could pull it....on flat ground....but STOPPING IT in an emergency was not possible...even with the air bags at "top" - we had to have the trailer a little high in front - so that was bad for the rear trailer tires and axles...(blow-outs)...and we had to carry it that way to clear the bed rails on the truck! MANY, MANY folks use smaller than recommended trucks and never report any problems....I did this for 5 years....never again.....it's not only my own personal safety, its for others that are driving around me....or stupidly stop or pull out in front of me....and of course, my precious cargo! Sure, its more expensive...depends on how much you are actually going to use the equipment...if you have another vehicle you can drive...and your stage in your life plans....we are nearly retired and are planning on spending a lot of time camping and on the road....gas isn't going to get cheaper....its a tough decision and a personal one that only you can make. |
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| Only if you want to stop. |
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Veteran
Posts: 182
| Sounds to me alot of trailer for that truck... if you are hauling only 1 or 2 horses then it might not be as bad,but if you have it loaded it probably isn't in the legal wt range for that truck.. I also question if you willl have alot of sway with your truck not being a dually.. |
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Member
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Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Well that is excellent feedback. It must be quite a dilemma for these LQ companies to give us what we want in the trailer and still be safe to pull behind a 1 ton pickup. It's a fine line for sure. Now I am not sure what to do - we will think about it because we can't by a new truck right now and the trailer... |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Hi,Called Dodge dealer who knows our truck. He said the website for dodge http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/home.html is really geared for bumper pulls. Said our truck will handle up to 25000 lbs on a gooseneck with no concerns -that is what it is rated for. So I called another Dodge dealer and asked and got the same answer... |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by danigirl on 2011-04-25 1:34 PM Hi,Called Dodge dealer who knows our truck. He said the website for dodge http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/home.html is really geared for bumper pulls. Said our truck will handle up to 25000 lbs on a gooseneck with no concerns -that is what it is rated for. So I called another Dodge dealer and asked and got the same answer...
Edited by PaulChristenson 2011-04-25 1:49 PM
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2011-04-25 1:46 PM Originally written by danigirl on 2011-04-25 1:34 PM Hi,Called Dodge dealer who knows our truck. He said the website for dodge http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/home.html is really geared for bumper pulls. Said our truck will handle up to 25000 lbs on a gooseneck with no concerns -that is what it is rated for. So I called another Dodge dealer and asked and got the same answer... Tell them you want it in writing and notarized, so your lawyer will have no trouble filing the papers, if there IS A PROBLEM...  |
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Member
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Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | ok good point. so regarding axle capacity it says on the label on the truck - front axle 5200 lbs and rear axle 6200 pounds. The tongue weight is 3800 pounds. Is that what you are talking about? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | I'll just bet you a dollar to a doughnut hole that is 25,000 lbs total capacity including the truck. I have a 2002 F350 4x4 dually. According to the owner's manual, the maxium towing is 12,000lbs. |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Yes you are right. On my Dodge it is 13550 pounds - but that refers to bumperpull not gooseneck. The problem with Dodge is they think everyone has a bumper pull and does not recognize the questions on gooseneck. Our Dodge dealer here and at the other one I called deal with a lot of us farmers with stock trailers- so they get asked this question all the time...but the norm seems to be just addressing the bumper pull users and not the gooseneck. at that website I mentioned you can go about it by putting the gooseneck weight in and it will bring up my truck as ok. weird. |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | http://www.trailerlife.com/images/towratings/2006/TowingRatings_p20_33.pdf |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: TN | Most truck sales people have no experience pulling themselves so I would take what they say with a grain of salt. I am a former truck salesperson so you can take that statement for what it is. You will find much better information here from people that tow on a regular basis and have nothing to gain from telling you the truth. After the truck is yours, it does not matter to the dealership what you do with it or if you are safe. My biggest concern is the safety of my horses, my family, and the general public who are exposed to me going down the road. I have a 2001 F350 SRW 7.3 Power Stroke and would not attempt that trailer even with air bags. If you can not afford to upgrade the truck, I would find a smaller trailer. If you are hauling less horses, you can lose some space and weight there. I would NEVER want to be under-trucked!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Western WA | Danigirl,
Go back to that Dodge towing website. You will see gooseneck/5th trailers listed as "uncategorized" on the far right. If you click on it, it takes you through a generalization of truck selections. |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Hi yah, went to the Dodge site but the weight goes to 16,500 pounds and then it's rated for 2009+ truck not 2006. I found out the dry weight of the trailer is 10,900 pounds and if we take 2 horses (2000 lbs) and water at 7 pounds per gallon...clothes, food, gear oh and beer (that might make us heavier for sure) we should still be well below the 17,800 gross weight-according to the manufacturer. The websites that I have gone to say we can carry 14,500 on a bumper pull - so it's close. Maybe we'll look into a new truck. The funny part is that I was talking with a sales guy today at the dealership and he says that it should be no problem - and I'm thinking he just missed an opportunity to sell me another truck or he was telling me the truth or maybe he's not so sharp. hmm |
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Veteran
Posts: 122
Location: Grant Twp., MI |  Salesmen are just that!!! Salesmen....that being said another factor is short bed truck? 4 wheel drive? high mileage? tires? what are they rated for??? I'll bet your pin weight is more than 3,000 lbs....we drove over a scale, with only 2 horses and all our gear plus water/hay/etc/etc/ for a 10 day camping trip...had a full tank of gas and of course we had extra stuff in our pickup bed and the trailer on....we weighed 28,820 lbs...at a CAT scale....we were so shocked that we drove over it again as we questioned that we could possibly weigh that much! And, at the time, we had a 4 door dually long bed.......we then weighed front axles, rear axles and the trailer by itself and then our truck by itself....it was an eye opener...remember they are in the business to SELL YOU A TRAILER OR TRUCK...not to EDUCATE you! It easy to find a great deal and purchase a trailer or truck....the hard part is having to SELL IT after you find out you made a mistake...been there done that...expensive lesson learned.
Edited by Judy K 2011-04-25 7:23 PM
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Location: KY | How can a 10" shortwall 4 horse trailer be that long? Does it have a large mid tack? Our Kiefer is 31.5' on the floor and it is a 14' shortwall 4 horse. We pull with a 1 ton dually long bed 4x4, and the truck knows the trailer is there. Would like a Sportchassis but that is not in the budget now.
Edited by rose 2011-04-25 7:55 PM
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Member
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Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Hi,Yes it has a midtack. I measured from back to the front (all the flooring) and it was 35 ft. then measured the overall length and it was 42 feet. It has a midtack that comes into the hall behind the bathroom then a walk-in closet. Lots of empty space that probably won't be filled with stuff I think. |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Yah, good point! I can't believe you weighed 28,000+ pounds! I guess it doesn't take much to creep up on you. So what did you do then? Did you sell it? Or get a bigger truck? What kind of a truck would pull that weight? |
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Location: KY | Your truck will not be very stable in towing and stopping that trailer. You will want a dually with that length. |
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New User
Posts: 2
Location: salem, in | I have a '05 Bison Stratus 4 horse, 12' short wall and slideout. I was pulling it with an '02 f350 dually and it was working just fine. Prior to owning this Stratus, I had a '97 Sundowner w/8 ft shortwall and had a front tire blowout running down the interstate at 70 MPH. I barely keep the truck under control while getting it stopped. I took both lanes while getting this truck and trailer stopped. If you blow a rear tire with a trailer this large going down the interestate you probably will not be able to get it stopped short of having a wreck. The problem is the rear of the truck will drop and the trailer will try to jack knife the unit and that is where the problem will be. I carry a class A CDL and have for most of my life. Last year I had the chance to trade the f350 in for a nice used 08 f450 and am glad I did. This truck handles the trailer so much better and gives me a lot more peace of mind and security. I can pull a trailer with a lot less truck and have done that many times in thepast, but now that I am older and wiser, now I do not take the risk or recomend it. After saying all of that, yes your truck will pull this trailer and get the job done. Will it pull the trailer safely, NO!!! |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Wow that sounds scary...I am wondering if the 450 will handle any better on a front tire blowout than a 350. I am not being sarcastic- I was just wondering the logic? Pls. explain. |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Hey Baxter, I think you definitely made an excellent point for a dually. I just got the visual in my head on that back tire blow out and that is freaky. Actually, freaky with any size trailer - but I get where you are coming from for sure. Thanks |
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New User
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Location: salem, in | Don't miss understanding, I absolutely love my trailer and I have friends that have the next size up and they love theirs. The point is to make sure you have enough truck to pull and stop the trailer. You need to understand the difference between a 250, 350 single, 350 dually and 450 are more than just tires. Almost everything under the cab of the truck is heaver with each step up. The tow weights posted earlier, I beleive are for dually's and not single wheeled 350's. Their is more than just adding 2 more tires. Here is another point, take the weight of the truck and then add 25% of the total weight of the trialer loaded. Truck loaded should be about 9000# + (17100 x 25% = 4250) = 13250# on 4 tires. Now go out and look at the sidewlls of the tires on your truck and see what the max per tire is. I will bet that you are maxed out or maybe even over the maxium combined weight of the tires. You need a safty factor of no less than 10% and 25% is a lot better for those emergency's. I have spent a lager part of my life in constuction installing and moving heavy equiptment. This is they way we looked at hauling. Most of what we done, there was no manual's or charts, it was the first and only time it was done. So we had to be right, it was our lives at stake and this is how we looked at it. When I moved up to the 450, I went from the 10% safty factor to the 25% and their is a big difference. The big advantage of a dullay is If you have a blowout on 1 tire, you still have 1 tire on that side to hold the truck up. Now you have 3 tires on the back helping you stop and prevent the truck and trailer from jack knifing vs 1 tire doing all of that work. |
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Ingalls, Ks | Baxter makes excellent points. There is a big difference between a dually 350 and a 450 (550 in my case). I will tell you that I pull a Bloomer 1' shorter than your Bison and would consider the 450 or 550 the minimum pulling rig. We pull 200-500 miles on the average weekend and I wouldn't want to task my DRW350 with that task, certainly wouldn't want to do it with a single wheel. All that being said, that is my opinion. We see people all the time pulling large trailers with regular pickups. I guess you need to think about your situation and possibly hook the trailer up before you buy it and see what you think. Some of it depends on your comfort level, some depends on the numbers you've researched, Fyi my trailer is 15,000# empty. Have a friend pulling a Sundowner just like yours with a single wheel Chevy and gets along fine. That's a big trailer for a single wheel truck. |
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Veteran
Posts: 123
Location: Bridgeport,wv and Gaffney,sc | I wouldnt pull that trailer w a SRW truck |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Well I decided to buy the trailer anyway and take all your advise too. We are looking for a duelly diesel but for now for our short runs (1 hour) we put on brand new Toyo M55 steel sidewall commercial tires. The weight on the back including the hitch will be ok. The deal on the trailer was awesome - so we will have to get a new truck! (now the deal on the trailer isn't lookin' so hot lol) But I still love the trailer. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | There are thousands of used trucks on the market. With a little searching and patience you will find a good deal on truck with the capacity to haul your new trailer. |
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Member
Posts: 37
Location: Irricana, Alberta, Canada | Thanks! You are right. We may just buy one for the trailer and keep our SWD for town driving. Parking the big butt truck is a pain in the butt! |
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Is this too much trailer?
