I currently haul a 2-horse BP, but would like a 3-horse and thought perhaps since this is only a 1/2 ton p/u, it may be easier on the truck to pull a gooseneck,rather than hauling a BP.

I have lots of questions. Sometimes the dealers don't even know what they're talking about. So I'd appreciate your input.

About how much should the dealer charge me to put in a gooseneck hitch?

I'd like the kind that fold down under the bed. Is this more expensive?

Will this conversion take away from the life of my truck bed?

I have a plastic bed liner.

Will this have to be removed?

Is it true that the gooseneck trailer will be easier to tow than a BP?

I suspected it would be wiser to wait until it's time to trade my truck in and go up to a 3/4 ton. But this may not happen for some time. Will this be too much for my 1/2 ton to haul? I don't usually go more than 150 miles one way, more often it's short trips under 20 miles.

Thanks for any information and opinions.

Edited by barstow 2009-03-13 6:32 AM

The truck does not care about a 2h BP vs 3h GN.

Local dealers get around $500 installed for the B&W turnover hitch. 

Yes the "under the bed" hitches cost more, but they are worth it.

Wont hurt your bed.

Plastic liners are crap to start with, I would take it out and get Rhino/LineX or a rubber mat even without a GN hitch.  But yes you can have a GN installed with a plastic bed liner.

A GN is no easier to haul than a BP, they are what they are.  The advantages of a GN vs BP do begin to show up the longer a trailer is.  I personally will not screw with a 3h BP or a 2h GN.

Trailswest lists their 3h GN at 5000# empty with a pin weight of 810#.  A lightly loaded 3h would probably be fine for a 1/2 ton, if heavily loaded it could exceed the rear axle capacity.  Do you know your towing capacity?

 I haul a 2H slant GN - Silver Star - which weighs about 3400# unloaded.  I have an 03 GMS Sierra 1500, 5.3L, 4WD, 6 1/2ft bed - tow package.  I believe the truck is rated to tow a 7900# gooseneck load.  The newer trucks may be rated higher, but you should be able to obtain those specs from the dealer or the GMC web site.

Loaded with 2 horses and tack, the truck pulls the load ok, but it does "strain" when hitting some of the "hills" here in the NE part of the country.  If your plan is to move up to a bigger truck sometime in the future, then go for the 3H, but don't load it up too much until you get that bigger truck.  My experience with braking on the 1500 has been that the truck brakes are not as substantial as on the 2500.  They tend to wear out quicker.  Brakes are as important as towing power.

What kind of brake controller are you using?  Towing a trailer should have no effect on the trucks brake life, in a recreational towing application anyway.

I would say brakes are more important than power.  But keep in mind service life is in no way related to stopping power or safety.