Posted 2005-04-12 11:15 AM (#23714) Subject: Featherlite 2h LQ and Silverado 1500
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Elk River, MN
I finally found a 2004 2 horse gooseneck aluminum 7x17 Featherlite horse trailer with a weekender package that I love. My concern is that I have a 2003 Silverado 1500 4x4 with towing package that I now use to pull a composite Circle J bumperpull 2 horse slant with large dressing room. I really don't want to have to get a new truck....but will mine handle the Featherlite? Does a gooseneck make a differnce over a bumperpull as far as truck needs?
Posted 2005-04-12 11:53 AM (#23723 - in reply to #23714) Subject: RE: Featherlite 2h LQ and Silverado 1500
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Your engine still has to pull the weight, GN or BP. They will handle much differently and the GN will seem to tow better. (I say seem because they both tow and they will both get there.)
Have the trailer weighed at a scale, usually found at a truck stop, to see if it fits inside your towing capacity for your truck/engine combiniation.
Posted 2005-04-12 12:08 PM (#23724 - in reply to #23714) Subject: RE: Featherlite 2h LQ and Silverado 1500
Veteran
Posts: 195 Location: Atlanta, GA
Your truck should handle it just fine, better than your BP. only 20 percent of your GN weight will be on your truck. GN's will always tow betther than a BP will. You will not get the fish tailing of the BP with a GN. The trailer become more a part of your truck not like a BP that acts like a totally seperate vehicle attached to your bumper, pulling and tugging at your truck.
Posted 2005-04-12 1:35 PM (#23728 - in reply to #23714) Subject: RE: Featherlite 2h LQ and Silverado 1500
Regular
Posts: 59 Location: Colorado
Whether your truck will handle this trailer well or not, is very much a matter of opinion. Some will say you need more truck, others will say a 1/2 ton will be fine. I have read posters say they are happy towing a 3H GN with a 1/2T, and others say a 1/2T isn't enough truck for a 2H Bumper pull for where and how they pull.
If you scroll down and read many of the posts on this forum, you will see a BUNCH on this very subject.
How well did your truck pull the bumper-pull trailer? How much did the bumper-pull weigh, and how much does the new trailer weigh?
Personally, First I would determine what the ratings for my truck are, and for starters see if it is legal and then go from there. With a 1/2 ton truck, you will probably be close to your payload (GVWR) limits. Some people are fine with being over limits if they think it "feels" okay. Others just want to be below the limit to be legal, others want to be WAY below the limits and have lots of margin. A lot of it also depends on how far and how frequently you haul, and over what terrrain (like mountains).
The key things you need to know are you truck's GVWR and GCWR. That is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Combined Weight Ratings respectively. These should be in your owners manual, and or on the info tag of the drivers door jam.
If you provide as many details as you can, like the trailer weights, truck specifics (curb weight, rear-end gear ratio, GVWR, GCWR), estimated horse weights, we could give you a pretty good idea of where you will end up versus your ratings. I could at least get you in the ballpark if you could just add the weight of the horse trailer, since I know it's a '03 chevy 4x4 with tow package.
Posted 2005-04-12 6:26 PM (#23753 - in reply to #23714) Subject: RE: Featherlite 2h LQ and Silverado 1500
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565 Location: Michigan
Congrats on finding a trailer!!
I think your Chevy will be fine with this trailer. I have seen many 1/2 tons pulling trailers such as the Featherlite set-up you are questioning. You will really like pulling a gooseneck over a bumper pull, the gooseneck just stays with your truck. But double check in your truck owner's manual for towing capabilities.
Next part will be finding the right gooseneck hitch for you, your truck and your trailer! Ain't it fun?
Featherlite 2h LQ and Silverado 1500
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