Posted 2007-02-18 8:11 PM (#55798) Subject: Gooseneck vs BP
Member
Posts: 8
Location: TX
I have a 03 F150 4x4 Supercrew w/the 5.4L V8. If someone is going to pull 1-2 horses are you better off w/a BP vs a Gooseneck ? I'm sure this has been covered before, but I would like some input on the subject. Featherlite and some other companies make some shorter goosenecks (16ft) that seem appealing, but I would have to have a ball put in the bed of my truck. Thanks.
Posted 2007-02-18 9:10 PM (#55803 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
If it were me, knowing what I have learned from my friends that own dealerships I'd stick with a bumper-pull. Once you put a ball in your bed your resale value drops, BIG TIME.
Posted 2007-02-18 9:26 PM (#55806 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Veteran
Posts: 164 Location: Delaware
Really the value of a truck drops with a ball installed? Around here the majority of trucks are used for pulling and if you have a hide-a-ball type your value increases $500-$1000. I personally would not go back to a BP and only pull one if someone is broke down. I started with a 2 horse Kingston GN and went to a BP with a slide in Camper. I can handle both with ease but prefer the versitility of the GN. You'll never mess your bumper up with a GN.
Posted 2007-02-18 9:30 PM (#55807 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
I guess alot depends on what you do to the truck. If you get a turnover ball, you won't have to worry about someone not wanting it because it interferes with the use of the bed. I have always had dealers like the trucks I trade because of the ball. They see it as a bonus when they turn around to sell. Of course we are seeing a horse boom population and there is a high demand for trucks like yours to pull a few horses to the local saddle club shows and still be used as the daily driver. Most of the time, I have had to get another one because of the frame difference and the old one was not interchangeable. I would go with the gooseneck. I have pulled both and there is alot more stability with it. You might get into tighter places with regards to turning since you have a crew cab. If you get enough of a tapered nose, it should not effect you that much.
Posted 2007-02-18 11:19 PM (#55811 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I pull a gooseneck horse trailer about 13,000lbs, a 14' BP dump trailer-loaded is often 13,000 to 14,000 lbs, a flat bed BP equipment trailer with my skid loader or a mini excavator, this is also around 13,000 lbs. there is no comparison between pulling a Gooseneck vs a BP. Given a choice I will always choose a GN.
Posted 2007-02-19 12:49 AM (#55815 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Member
Posts: 45
Hi,
First off I'm going to put my flame suit on before I go any further. There have been threads on this many times before, and as has been said everyone's situation is unique as far as tow vehicle and trailer(type) combo. I pull a 3horse slant BP as at the time of purchase I had a 3/4 ton Suburban. I've since purchased a 2500HD crewcab that I pull with it. The BP pulls fine with either vehicle,but my next trailer will be a GN for better stability which I don't doubt at all. Another main advantage of GN would be sleeping area in front nose. With that said I'll go to my points of a bumper pull. I can pull my trailer with either vehicle I own. My inlaws have 4 tow vehicles(2 suburbans/2 pickups) which each can tow the trailer if needed(say my truck(s) are down for repair). Point being you can easier find a truck/large SUV to pull your BP in a pinch. Having a 1/2 ton truck limits your size of a future larger trailer. Personally, I'd be leery of buying a used 1/2 ton truck(if you sell yours) with a bed ball wondering how much load(trailer) has been put on it. Granted I've seen 1 ton dually's undertrucked with huge GN's. 3/4ton and 1tons are much more similar to each other than a 1/2 ton is to a 3/4 ton. Bottom line is do your research on what your trucks GVWR and GCWR is and try to stick with it. If a 2-3 horse or stock trailer is the most this truck will pull, you should be fine with either type. If pulling larger (3 horse) BP, I would strongly recommend a weight distribution hitch (they make a big difference when set up right). Best of luck in your buying decisions. Flamesuit still on--fire away.
Posted 2007-02-19 9:13 AM (#55821 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: washington
I sold my 2 horse BP and purchased a 2 horse Slant GN and will never go back to the BP. The GN pulls straighter, never any sway, even in windy conditions, has a great sleeping area, big tack and storage room, better for me to back into tight spots, and last, seems easier for my truck to pull fully loaded than the BP. The only thing a little harder is that you have to hop up into the truck bed to hook up the safety chains and lock the hitch once you've dropped it down. BP is a bit faster to hook up in that regard, but just a bit faster. Just my 2 cents.
Posted 2007-02-19 2:02 PM (#55844 - in reply to #55821) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by cowgirl98034 on 2007-02-19 9:13 AM
I sold my 2 horse BP and purchased a 2 horse Slant GN and will never go back to the BP. The GN pulls straighter, never any sway, even in windy conditions, has a great sleeping area, big tack and storage room, better for me to back into tight spots, and last, seems easier for my truck to pull fully loaded than the BP. The only thing a little harder is that you have to hop up into the truck bed to hook up the safety chains and lock the hitch once you've dropped it down. BP is a bit faster to hook up in that regard, but just a bit faster. Just my 2 cents.
sounds like youre comparing apples to oranges, what was wrong with your bp that made it pull crooked and sway? actually if it was pulling "crooked" i guess that might make it sway, personally i would love to see a 2h bp sway. ANY trailer can "fishtail", "crack the whip", "wiggle", but an actual sway on a mechanically sound 2h bp.......im not sure thats possible with the axles that far back.
Posted 2007-02-19 4:51 PM (#55860 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: gooseneck vs. bumperpull
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
I have a hitch setup in my truck, and had it in my last truck, that allows me to switch between gooseneck and 5th wheel hitches. The only thing in the bed of my truck are two horizontal rails that the respective hitch receivers connect to. During the off season only the rails are in the truck bed and they are very unobtrusive. I know Reese and Hitchhiker (or Hijacker, whichever is the hitch company) both make these systems.
I have pulled both goosenecks and bumper pulls, and I much prefer the gooseneck, both for how it feels going down the road and the convenience of having the gooseneck space. But if you are hauling short distances, and no highway speeds, you might not notice a difference. Bumper pulls are less expensive, and are lighter (comparable models), so those may be bigger deciding factors.
And I'm with whoever said nobody wants to borrow your trailer if you have a gooseneck because they can't tow it. Years ago loaned the two horse bumper pull to a family friend to haul home his daughter's first horse. Hooked the trailer up after they dropped it off and they had rewired the trailer plug to match their truck, and didn't rewire it or even let us know when they returned it. Found out doing the normal hitch up routine...uh, why is the turn signal on when I step on the brakes? Unbelievable.
Posted 2007-02-19 10:00 PM (#55885 - in reply to #55798) Subject: RE: Gooseneck vs BP
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
When I had a wreck with my empty trailer(someone was watching me up there) I called and easily had my buddy hitch up my little BP, no questions asked. If the same wreck had happened with a GN the person sitting in my back seat would have been in an Ambulance.
I have hauled GN's and I know they pull great, but like stated above so does a well made BP. If you only need a two horse you'll love the flexibility of the BP, and you can't understand this until something happens to your truck and you must borrow/rent another to make a quick haul. I've had it work both ways...truck in the shop and needed to be at a show with a student. I've also had my trailer in being rebuilt post wreck and borrowed someones BP "run-about" trailer. If you look around you'll find most folks with bigger slant load's will still have a BP sitting around the barn, and my dear there's a reason for it!
My next trailer will be a GN but I'm keeping my trusty BP for emergencies!
Gooseneck vs BP
