Posted 2010-01-16 10:46 AM (#115342) Subject: Shorter Gooseneck Coupler?
Veteran
Posts: 270
Location: Roanoke IL
My trailer nose sits higher than I would like. I have lots of bed clearance. To get more level, I could either block the axles to raise up the back end, or shorten the coupler in the front. A shorter coupler seems easiest. The current one looks like it's slid up as far as it can go. II guess i'd say there's about 8 inches of tube sticking out. It's at the "ledge" and can't go in any further. I know you can replace the coupler by loosening the two big bolts and sliding in a new one, but my question is how short of one can I get, or are they all standard size? Any suggestions? I looked at one that was called the "quick hitch" or something like that, which looked like it had almost infinite adjustment options, but was over 300 bucks. Ouch! It looked to be designed for people who can't line up their hitch.
Posted 2010-01-16 11:46 AM (#115343 - in reply to #115342) Subject: RE: Shorter Gooseneck Coupler?
Location: Central Arkansas
It is designed so you don't have to climb into the bed to latch it down or to unlatch it. The extra "capture" area is icing on the cake so you don't have to be spot on everytime. We use them on all of our trailers and love them! Money well spent!
"It looked to be designed for people who can't line up their hitch"
Posted 2010-01-16 12:47 PM (#115346 - in reply to #115342) Subject: RE: Shorter Gooseneck Coupler?
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by Angelmay84 on 2010-01-16 11:46 AM
My trailer nose sits higher than I would like. I have lots of bed clearance. To get more level, I could either block the axles to raise up the back end, or shorten the coupler in the front. A shorter coupler seems easiest. The current one looks like it's slid up as far as it can go. II guess i'd say there's about 8 inches of tube sticking out. It's at the "ledge" and can't go in any further. I know you can replace the coupler by loosening the two big bolts and sliding in a new one, but my question is how short of one can I get, or are they all standard size? Any suggestions? I looked at one that was called the "quick hitch" or something like that, which looked like it had almost infinite adjustment options, but was over 300 bucks. Ouch! It looked to be designed for people who can't line up their hitch.
Amanda
Could you pull it out of the tube and have four or three inches sawed off? Quick work with a band saw or torch and grinder to dress it all down.
Posted 2010-01-16 1:35 PM (#115348 - in reply to #115342) Subject: RE: Shorter Gooseneck Coupler?
Veteran
Posts: 270
Location: Roanoke IL
I can't saw any off. There's a fat part at the end of the insert that doesn't allow the outer tube to slide down any further. The outer tube is like a part of the trailer, and the inner tube has the latch. I need a shorter insert tube if possible. If I knew how to put a picture on, I would.
For the quick coupler, don't you still need to get in and put on your safety chains? I noticed they weren't used in their video, but I think they're required in some states. I would love to have one, but if I can get the job done for cheaper I'd love to. I don't know how much it costs to have axles blocked, but I bet it's more than $300, making that quick coupler thing a better move.
Posted 2010-01-16 9:02 PM (#115357 - in reply to #115342) Subject: RE: Shorter Gooseneck Coupler?
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by Angelmay84 on 2010-01-16 10:46 AM
My trailer nose sits higher than I would like. I have lots of bed clearance. To get more level, I could either block the axles to raise up the back end, or shorten the coupler in the front. A shorter coupler seems easiest. The current one looks like it's slid up as far as it can go. II guess i'd say there's about 8 inches of tube sticking out. It's at the "ledge" and can't go in any further. I know you can replace the coupler by loosening the two big bolts and sliding in a new one, but my question is how short of one can I get, or are they all standard size? Any suggestions? I looked at one that was called the "quick hitch" or something like that, which looked like it had almost infinite adjustment options, but was over 300 bucks. Ouch! It looked to be designed for people who can't line up their hitch.
Amanda
Post a picture of the hitch....
My Sundowner and Soner both had a 3 or 4 inch spacer over the tube acting as a stop. I had to remove it to raise the hitch high enough to drop the front of the trailer to hook up to our truck. I unbloted the bolts, dropped the tube out and the spacer came right off the re-installed the tube.
Posted 2010-01-17 12:32 AM (#115364 - in reply to #115357) Subject: RE: Shorter Gooseneck Coupler?
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by hogtownboss on 2010-01-16 10:02 PM
Originally written by Angelmay84 on 2010-01-16 10:46 AM
My trailer nose sits higher than I would like. I have lots of bed clearance. To get more level, I could either block the axles to raise up the back end, or shorten the coupler in the front. A shorter coupler seems easiest. The current one looks like it's slid up as far as it can go. II guess i'd say there's about 8 inches of tube sticking out. It's at the "ledge" and can't go in any further. I know you can replace the coupler by loosening the two big bolts and sliding in a new one, but my question is how short of one can I get, or are they all standard size? Any suggestions? I looked at one that was called the "quick hitch" or something like that, which looked like it had almost infinite adjustment options, but was over 300 bucks. Ouch! It looked to be designed for people who can't line up their hitch.
Amanda
Post a picture of the hitch....
My Sundowner and Soner both had a 3 or 4 inch spacer over the tube acting as a stop. I had to remove it to raise the hitch high enough to drop the front of the trailer to hook up to our truck. I unbloted the bolts, dropped the tube out and the spacer came right off the re-installed the tube.
My Cherokee has a hitch like hers... Say the outside dia. of the lower tube is four inches, then about six inches above the latch the tube expands to 4 inch inside dia. If you were to cut it shorter it ain't going to slide up any further, this area of the lower tube was stretched/expanded/swollen out to the same size as the upper tube, I guess to keep it from slipping and damaging a truck bed. Picture below shows one simular.... My Silver Star has a straight tube, no bevel/taper. You could saw it off as long as you left enough for the two bolts to lock it down.
That's perty. Like a perty good waste of money. And not a solution for this problem.
That is actually the best solution to the problem. It will allow you to insert the coupler further into the outer pipe, and will be a lot less than blocking your axles.