Posted 2005-10-23 3:28 PM (#32197) Subject: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hi all,
Does anyone out there have, or know someone who has, the Dodge with the newer, shorter, 6'3" bed and tow a gooseneck with it? If so, I would really appreciate hearing about if it works OK or if the truck and trailer want to collide on sharp turns.
We are considering getting a new Dodge with the 6'3" shortbed and are trying to figure out, before we buy a truck, if we will be limiting ourselves as far as finding a trailer that won't knock out the back of the truck, or scrape top of the walls of the bed at 90 degrees.
We would mount the ball 4" - 5" ahead of the rear axle as Mr. Truck recommends, and we would get the 9" extender.
Does anyone have this configuration and can tell me how it works for them and what kind of trailer they have (e.g. brand, year, square or tapered nose, 8' or 7'6" gooseneck nose, etc.)?
And yes, I know that the long bed would be better for hauling, but we live in Los Angeles and it would make the rest of our driving life more difficult!
Posted 2005-10-23 7:08 PM (#32201 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456 Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS
I have one. No modifications to the ball placement. My trailer has a tapered nose. There's a pic in my album. 2004 Dodge 2500 quad cab, HO Cummins. 1999 Silver Star 2h GN with 4' LQ
Posted 2005-10-23 7:17 PM (#32202 - in reply to #32201) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hi Dawnya,
Thanks so much for responding. I have a couple of questions:
No problems turning or backing up? About how many degrees of a turn can you make without your truck and trailer making contact? Does your trailer have a 7'6" nose or an 8' nose?
Posted 2005-10-23 8:32 PM (#32207 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Member
Posts: 31 Location: new richmond, wi
We have a 2004 Dodge 3500, Cummins, quad cab, short box and we pull a 2004 CM 3H slant load with 10 foot living quarters. The trailer is 8.5 feet wide but does have a slightly tapered nose.We don't use a hitch extender, the ball is mounted normally, jsut ahead of the axle. We don't have any problems going or turning where we need to, in and out of camp sites, barns, whatever ..... I just watch things closely when I'm backing up, has been fine so far.
Posted 2005-10-24 8:53 AM (#32215 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Veteran
Posts: 247 Location: La Crosse, WI - God's Country
We run an '04 QC Short box (daily driver) 2500 Cummins. B&W turnover ball hitch mounted per instructions over the axle. Trailer is a Kiefer Genesis X440 Living Quarters. No problems - but it does have a tapered nose and I'm not able to pull a full 90* back in like you could with a long bed.
That said, I've never been in a situation where I've needed anything more than I've got - just a matter of planning, observation, and careful driving.
Posted 2005-10-25 8:24 AM (#32273 - in reply to #32202) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456 Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS
Originally written by TrishLLC on 2005-10-23 7:17 PM
Hi Dawnya,
Thanks so much for responding. I have a couple of questions:
No problems turning or backing up? About how many degrees of a turn can you make without your truck and trailer making contact? Does your trailer have a 7'6" nose or an 8' nose?
Boy I ask alot of questions :-)
No problem! I can get to almost 90 degrees turning. It has an 8' nose and is 7' wide. No problems with backing except the little 2h is squirrly, me being used to big trailers!
Posted 2005-10-26 4:29 AM (#32329 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Veteran
Posts: 189 Location: nashville, In.
Are you talking about the new Mega cab dodge truck? Its a model year '06. I think I read somewhere that this truck is going to have a REALLY short bed because of the "MEGA" cab. If so, I don't think this will be a good setup. I think it is to be shorter than a short bed is now.
Posted 2005-10-26 12:58 PM (#32349 - in reply to #32329) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hi,
Nope, we're looking at the regular quad cab with the 6'3" shortbed, which is 7" shorter than Ford's shortbed. The Dodge's shorter short bed is a good thing for driving it around, and parking it in, Los Angeles, but I'm concerned about it being a bad thing as far as manuevering it around with a gooseneck attached, if I want to keep by rear window in one piece :-)
Posted 2005-10-26 2:01 PM (#32353 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Veteran
Posts: 104 Location: Missouri
The Dodge short bed is not 7" shorter than the Ford, only about 3" shorter. Also, the Mega cab uses the same bed size as the quad cab shortbed, it utilizes the longer wheelbase of the quad cab long bed, they just mounted the shorter bed on it and brought the cab back to the bed.
Posted 2005-10-26 2:13 PM (#32355 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
GM shortbed is 6"6" Ford is 6'8" starting in 99 so about 5" between Dodge 2003 HD and newer. I was suppose to have a new Mega cab this week to tow with, but problaby won't get it until I get back from SEMA next week. It's amazing with the cab is bigger than the bed. I want one for a limo.
Posted 2005-10-26 7:16 PM (#32375 - in reply to #32197) Subject: RE: Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
New User
Posts: 4
We also have a 04' dodge 2500 cummins with the shortbed and the extra cab..I pulled my 3h 8' shtwall featherlite with it all summer this year and didn't have any problems getting in and out of tight corners. May be alittle different with the 8'wide I just bought and its a 10'shrtwall. Just have to watch the corners more. You won't be disappointed with the dodge. Happy Trails
Dodge shortbed and gooseneck a problem?
