Posted 2015-12-17 9:38 AM (#165592) Subject: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: SC
My Gore GN had a pretty substantial coupler, that you had to get into the bed and turn it in order to lock the coupler on to the ball in the bed of the truck... the Trail-et has a design with a pull cord where you do not have to get in the bed of the truck and physically turn and lock anything... When I looked up inside the trailer gooseneck coupler it is just a metal pin with a little slant on it, and the plan is what keeps the ball locked in... Cool to me this seems rather insubstantial and I would be interested in hearing from trailet-owners if you have kept this setup or switched out the coupler locking system... thank you very much in advance!
Posted 2015-12-17 9:01 PM (#165606 - in reply to #165592) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
know of someone that had one like you are mentioning, it was a light weight gn with not very much pin weight and it came off the ball crossing a railroad crossing, he was lucky as it stayed in the truck bed and was going slow.
Posted 2015-12-17 11:03 PM (#165609 - in reply to #165592) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Two tracks of mind: 1. A positive locking system is a more secure attachment to the ball. 2. The quick release sounds aptly named. I would pick the locking pin with safety chains over the other option every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Posted 2015-12-18 8:07 AM (#165610 - in reply to #165592) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
The "cable release coupler" is pretty popular. It does not negate the need to use safety chains. Most all of the pop-up stepback couplers use it.
If you have doubt about it holding- test it. Jack the trailer up high, and don't release it. If the truck rises substantially, then it is holding as it should. The sliding types like you mention don't have just a ton of locking surface either....
Posted 2015-12-18 8:45 AM (#165611 - in reply to #165592) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: SC
I don't think anyone suggested not using the safety chains, lol. However, I also have a friend whose hitch came loose from the ball (an Equispirit trailer) and her safety chains broke. So while safety chains are a great add, I want to know that the coupler/ball is a sturdy primary connection.
Posted 2015-12-18 8:46 AM (#165612 - in reply to #165609) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: SC
They both have safety chains. :)
Originally written by huntseat on 2015-12-17 12:03 AM
Two tracks of mind: 1. A positive locking system is a more secure attachment to the ball. 2. The quick release sounds aptly named. I would pick the locking pin with safety chains over the other option every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Posted 2015-12-18 6:20 PM (#165615 - in reply to #165592) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Regular
Posts: 76 Location: Michigan
I have a friend who has a 1984 trailet with the coupler you mentioned. She has hauled thousands and thousands of miles over the years and has never had a problem.
Posted 2015-12-18 6:33 PM (#165616 - in reply to #165612) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Didn't mean to insinuate that either didn't have chains.
Originally written by ncsuacd on 2015-12-18 10:46 AM
They both have safety chains. :)
Originally written by huntseat on 2015-12-17 12:03 AM
Two tracks of mind: 1. A positive locking system is a more secure attachment to the ball. 2. The quick release sounds aptly named. I would pick the locking pin with safety chains over the other option every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Posted 2015-12-18 9:58 PM (#165620 - in reply to #165615) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: SC
Hey, thanks! Her's is the same little slanted pin? It just seems so.... not sturdy....
Originally written by jmey1820 on 2015-12-18 7:20 PM
I have a friend who has a 1984 trailet with the coupler you mentioned. She has hauled thousands and thousands of miles over the years and has never had a problem.
Posted 2015-12-20 8:42 AM (#165632 - in reply to #165620) Subject: RE: Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
Regular
Posts: 76 Location: Michigan
I can say she has never had a problem with it. I feel the same way about it as a I do about regular bumper pull couplers. I like the old bull dog style better in my personal opinion. But we are in Michigan and it has been out east, to Florida and to Texas and Oklahoma numerous times in its life and has never unlatched or come loose.
Trail-et Gooseneck coupler versus Gore, and help?
