Ok, I will now have a Super Duty short bed Super cab to pull our trailer with. Mind you our trailer is only 7'ft wide, it does not have a tapered nose, but the corners are rounded. I plan on installing the ball in standard location so as to not have to modify the hitch or drill the frame. I realize a short bed is not ideal, but with the 7'ft wide trailer am I going to need an extender fro the gooseneck? If so, so be it. I haven't had a short bed in years, but it is more than capable of towing our trailer with the boys.
Posted 2005-06-09 8:27 PM (#26302 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Expert
Posts: 2689
As I keep saying, "it ain't about bed length, its about cab to axle distance" (-:
1/2 your trailer's nose width should be < cab to axle - 4 or 5 inches.
Becasue you want the coupler that far in front of the axle's center.
3' 6" = 42". Now I'm stuck coz I don't know what cab to axle is on a typical short truck. 58" is typical on a long one, 60" on a chassis/cab, so working it backwards you could have a problem if it is about 40" (shorts typically being 18 inches or so shorter than longs). I think you would want it to be at least 47"...
Not that a 9" coupler relocating thinggie will do anything very much for you when you DO get at 90 degrees.
Yes, it is capable of towing the trailer, but is it capable of TURNING it ?
(rhetoric). I don't think I could get by without the ability to do spin turns - now that I've become dependant on it (-:
Posted 2005-06-10 12:08 AM (#26304 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: Polkville NC
I pulled a 6' wide trailer for about three years with a superduty ford shortbed the ball was 36" from the front of the bed and I had no problems making a 90 with truck and trailer. A 7' trailer probly will not be able to accomplish this w/o the extender.
Posted 2005-06-10 8:18 AM (#26314 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Regular
Posts: 61 Location: Indiana
I do not recommend it, I too have a short bed superduty (see below) and we hauled our friends 7' wide Flat front Diamond D with it, when he bought it. Let me just say; it was possible and do-able but I spent so much of my time trying to make sure I didn't turn too far especially at any kind of incline/decline where the truck and trailer were not on parallel planes. I have dual antennas on our toolbox so it told me when the trailer was getting close. Ok Ok enough jabbering, I say use the extender.
Posted 2005-06-10 8:24 AM (#26315 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
I got the ball in last night, and it will clear, but I think I need the extender for piece of mind. I mean no disrespect to my wife or daughter, but if they pull they get distracted occasionally and don't always see the trailer. I've got a pop up brand ball, so I'll have to go with the SB1 extender. Blue Grass trailer Sales will hook me up for $235 shipped to my door, or I gotta break out the welder and cutting torches and make my own.
Posted 2005-06-10 8:56 AM (#26317 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Member
Posts: 40 Location: Maryland
I have a F250 SD CC SB and I tow a 24ft prowler 5th wheel and a 20ft 2H GN. I have never had any problems manuvering the trailers, I have even done tight turns with it without it touching the cab. You just have to pay more attention in those situations. I know that the hitch is set different than a long bed. I can get the measurements if needed.
Posted 2005-06-10 9:08 AM (#26318 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
Cricket, Therein lies the rub. I am positioning mine in the normal spot at 49 7/8" off the back lip which gets me 5"inches +/- ahead of the rear axle. Even the other position, at 47", isn't that great and it's only 2 7/8" further back than normal. I think the extender is my best bet.
Posted 2005-06-10 1:43 PM (#26342 - in reply to #26318) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I have a short bed, but my trailer nose is tapered. I can drive in fairly tight circles when needed. (like everytime I pull into my driveway and want to park the trailer.)
Posted 2005-06-10 10:13 PM (#26360 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Birmingham, AL
I have a Chevy 1500 Short Bed and I pull a Exiss 3 horse gooseneck with the tapered nose. I have the B&W turnover ball and I have no problem what so ever. I can put it in an L shape with no prob what so ever. I also pull a 18ft ponderosa gn without a tapered nose with no prob.
Posted 2005-06-10 10:26 PM (#26362 - in reply to #26280) Subject: RE: Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
NickWilson1, Your B&W is most likely back set as the instructions call out for a short bed to allow for clearance, whereas I set mine at the full forward position for weight distribution. I pulled mine tonight and did all the stupid things I could while I had a buddy watching along with me. At 90 degrees I'm within 3 inches of the rear window, but not the cab. And I got her angled corner down, truck and still had clearance over the tool box. I'll still install an extender, but it won't present any problems that normal driving would cause.
Gooseneck question for shortbed hauling
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