Posted 2005-10-03 8:27 PM (#31285) Subject: Length of Gooseneck??
Member
Posts: 31 Location: new richmond, wi
We have a 2004 CM Norstar 3 horse slant with 10' Living Quarters. When I hook up, I drop my pickup tailgate back in and lower the the hitch on the ball. That's it. I can walk back and forth between my open pickup and the trailer body, no problem.
Our friends have a 2004 Kiefer Built X240. I watched them hook up the other day and after backing almost all the way under the trailer, he got out and closed his tailgate so he could get back far enough to engage the ball!
We know another couple in the neighborhood with a 2004 Kiefer Built X540. I asked him about it and he said he always has to close his tailgate to get back far enough to hook up. He though everyone did.
All three of us have 2004 Dodge 3500 pickups. All three pickups have BW flip over hitches, installed identically, about 4 inches ahead of the truck axle.
Now get this. Our CM Norstar measures 84 inches from center of gooseneck hitch to front edge of spare tire and battery box stored on front of trailer. The two Keifers both measure 70 inches in the same area. I always thought this dimension would have been close to a standard. I can't believe there would be that much difference between two top notch and reputable trailer companies.
Do any of the rest of you have to worry about hitting your trailer with an open tailgate before you get back far enough?
Posted 2005-10-03 10:07 PM (#31287 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565 Location: Michigan
Nope, no problems. I have an '04 Dmax short bed and hook up to an '03 Exiss and there is plenty of clearance between the tailgate(down) and trailer. I thought that was standard with all trucks and GNs?
Posted 2005-10-04 6:16 AM (#31291 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Actually I don't think anything is standard in this industry. Take width for instance. I've seen anywhere from 6' 8'' to full 8' wide in "Slant" Trailers.
I've also got 04 Norstar, with F350 long bed, B & W turn over ball. No problems. Great Trailer. Mine is 7' 6" wide.
Posted 2005-10-04 9:12 AM (#31299 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Haven't measured the distance, but have the same issue with my Liberty Softtouch (now Travalong). I have about 6" to move around in with tailgate down. As did the others, I thought everyone dealt with this. Good to know when looking for new trailer.
Posted 2005-10-04 9:14 AM (#31300 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Veteran
Posts: 133 Location: Indianapolis, IN
I wondered about that too. I have enough to squeeze under mine and get back, but you definatly have to watch how close you get when backing up... HUM. I thought it was standard too... Guess not!
WOW, would love to hear what others have to say about this too!
Posted 2005-10-04 9:47 AM (#31302 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Regular
Posts: 82 Location: The Land of Ahs
That's new to me too, my Star Lite 21"box gooseneck hooked up,, with tailgate down still has room for me to walk between. I leave the tailgate down to accesss a horse water tank in the bed. Sure wouldn't want to have that extra hook-up step either. Bummer.
Posted 2005-10-04 10:24 AM (#31305 - in reply to #31302) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1011 Location: Oregon
With my hookup (see below), I can leave my tailgate down when hooking up but I can't walk around it. If I am backing up at an angle with the tailgate down, it does get pretty close. I have about 3 inches to spare. My length on the sleeping part of the trailer when I measured inside is about 7.5 feet.
Posted 2005-10-04 2:16 PM (#31315 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Expert
Posts: 2689
As long as it is more than the distance from the coupler to the corner of the bed it hardly matters. 7ft 6in is common.
I guess I don't see why there is a problem, unless you're trying to come at the trailer at the worst case angle. OK, so you have to get out and back in the truck one more time - big deal (-:
Posted 2005-10-04 4:44 PM (#31322 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: Palmdale, CA
I can hook up with the tailgate down. I can only walk through when the tailgate is open, but that is a dangerous place to be anyways. Other than that, it has plenty of room for the tightest turns. That is all I care about.
Posted 2005-10-08 8:47 AM (#31448 - in reply to #31322) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Member
Posts: 6
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Hmmm. I have a 20 year old stock trailer GN and I can back up, hook up and walk around the back with my tail gate down. I have a 2003 Ford F150 I pull mine with and have had no problems.
Posted 2005-10-09 2:33 PM (#31492 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Ky
Originally written by paintpaddy on 2005-10-03 8:27 PM
We have a 2004 CM Norstar 3 horse slant with 10' Living Quarters. When I hook up, I drop my pickup tailgate back in and lower the the hitch on the ball. That's it. I can walk back and forth between my open pickup and the trailer body, no problem.
Our friends have a 2004 Kiefer Built X240. I watched them hook up the other day and after backing almost all the way under the trailer, he got out and closed his tailgate so he could get back far enough to engage the ball!
We know another couple in the neighborhood with a 2004 Kiefer Built X540. I asked him about it and he said he always has to close his tailgate to get back far enough to hook up. He though everyone did.
All three of us have 2004 Dodge 3500 pickups. All three pickups have BW flip over hitches, installed identically, about 4 inches ahead of the truck axle.
Now get this. Our CM Norstar measures 84 inches from center of gooseneck hitch to front edge of spare tire and battery box stored on front of trailer. The two Keifers both measure 70 inches in the same area. I always thought this dimension would have been close to a standard. I can't believe there would be that much difference between two top notch and reputable trailer companies.
Do any of the rest of you have to worry about hitting your trailer with an open tailgate before you get back far enough?
"Standard" is a 7' goose with most companies. Different lenths are an option. I have ordered 3 LQ trailers and I had to spcify on each one that I wanted the 8' goose and had to pay extra for it. I had a trailer with a 7' foot goose and I had to close the tailgate just as you stated to hook up. I won't have one of those again.
Posted 2005-10-11 12:37 PM (#31581 - in reply to #31285) Subject: RE: Length of Gooseneck??
Member
Posts: 28 Location: decatur,ms
I had the same problem...2003 F350 hooking up to 2004 Keifer..my tailgate hit..i ordered a extend a ball which moved my ball back 3 inches...still tight fit but now one person can at least hook up the trailer
Length of Gooseneck??
