Posted 2008-03-26 9:21 AM (#80381) Subject: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Member
Posts: 25 Location: Canada
Hey, I'm sure this has been asked lots, and I've looked through the threads for an answer, but havent found one! I was wondering what weight of a gooseneck trailer is being "carried" (as cargo weight i guess) by the bed of the truck? I've heard from a dealer its 25% and then i;ve heard its not as much from a few friends of mine? anyone know? Also , mise as well hear what weight sits on the ball for a bumper pull?? I am wanting to upgrade to a 2 horse gooseneck with a dressing room (most likely a new sundowner or featherlite) and have a 1999 Ram 1500 (5.2L engine) extended cab short box 4x2, that we have used to tow our 2 horse all steel horse trailer (without a dressing room) which has done a fine job! Love that truck :P! I just dont want to get a gooseneck and have a lot of rear sag, i hate the rear sag!! Would we have to upgrade the springs in the rear do you think? Thanks!!
Posted 2008-03-26 9:47 AM (#80382 - in reply to #80381) Subject: RE: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
25% is a good number to guess with. You won't know the actual until you load your horses and supplies and actually drive over a scale. It could run 20% to 30% depending on trailer and how you load it.
Bumper hitches are rated by their CLASS. A class II hitch will carry 350 lbs tongue weight and 3500lbs total trailer weight. Most Class III bumper pulls don't exceed 350 - 600lbs of tongue weight and up to 6000lbs of total trailer weight. Class IV 500 -1200lbs of Tongue weight and up to 12,000lbs of total weight.
Your new gooseneck will probably put more weight on the truck than your old bumper pull. But since it places the weight over the axles instead of hanging on the very rear of the truck, your truck should not sag as much.
Posted 2008-03-26 12:11 PM (#80386 - in reply to #80381) Subject: RE: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
You can counter rear end sag with airbags, helper springs, Timbrens, etc. BTW, your truck is rated to tow a max of 8000 lbs if you have the 4 speed auto and a 3.5 or 3.9 rear end.
Posted 2008-03-26 12:13 PM (#80387 - in reply to #80381) Subject: RE: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662 Location: Vanzant, Missouri
I towed a 16ft steel stock bp and also a 2h steel GN with a 4ft DR. I have a 97 Ram 1500 5.2l I have no problems with it. It pulled the GN better than the BP. I have since upgraded both truck(diesel) & LQ trailer. But I still have the ram with 185k on it still going strong...
Posted 2008-03-26 1:00 PM (#80389 - in reply to #80381) Subject: RE: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Member
Posts: 8
I have a 2004 Ram 1500 Hemi, 5.7L, 4x4, I just bought a Sundowner 2horse GN with dress room and it pulls better than the steel BP I used to have, it does sag a little, so will probably get airbags, I have no problem pulling or stopping. I love the trailer!
Posted 2008-03-26 8:45 PM (#80407 - in reply to #80387) Subject: RE: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Member
Posts: 25 Location: Canada
Thanks for all the responses!! Ive been trying to crunch the numbers to make sure I'm not going to be overtaxing my truck, and so far everything looks good to go! We haul mostly to big events, so its mostly highway driving anyways, not much uphill downhill and off roading! Mingiz - my ram has 190,000 but thats kilometers, i dont know what that would be in miles, but they are a good truck! havent had any issues with mine either (knock on wood!)
Posted 2008-03-26 9:35 PM (#80413 - in reply to #80407) Subject: RE: Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by snoweary on 2008-03-26 9:45 PM
- my ram has 190,000 but thats kilometers, i dont know what that would be in miles, but they are a good truck! havent had any issues with mine either (knock on wood!)
Weight of Gooseneck that Sits in bed
