Posted 2007-02-08 11:34 AM (#55222) Subject: Trucks and Trailers
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Reno, NV
I recently bought a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel Short Bed. Can you still tow a gooseneck horse trailer with a short bedded truck? Or should I keep with the bumper pulls? (I'm only looking to get a 3 horse trailer.) I have also heard they offset the ball in the bed for short beds. Is this safe?
Posted 2007-02-09 7:13 AM (#55268 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Member
Posts: 30 Location: mt. vernon,ar 72111
I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A SUNDOWNER TRAILER,I AM NOW IN THE MARKET FOR MY FIRST LIVING QTR TRAILER WITH 10 OR 12 FT SHORTWALL.CAN SOME ONE GIVE ME A COMPARISON BETWEEN SUNDOWNER,PLATINUM, AND DREAM COACH.THKS
Posted 2007-02-09 8:29 AM (#55274 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
Originally written by pjamers on 2007-02-08 11:34 AM
I recently bought a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel Short Bed. Can you still tow a gooseneck horse trailer with a short bedded truck? Or should I keep with the bumper pulls? (I'm only looking to get a 3 horse trailer.) I have also heard they offset the ball in the bed for short beds. Is this safe?
Thanks for your help!!!!
Jamie Allison
Get a gooseneck with a raised neck area to accomadate for the height of the Dodge or your trailer will be running uphill and that just looks wrong.
Posted 2007-02-09 12:39 PM (#55288 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
Get a hitch extender for the trailer. They'll add about 9" to the clearance and avoid hitting the truck on tight turns. Mine is Pop-up brand. there are others. There have been discussions on this forum about them in the past.
Posted 2007-02-09 1:00 PM (#55290 - in reply to #55268) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Member
Posts: 30 Location: mt. vernon,ar 72111
Originally written by docbar 20 on 2007-02-09 7:13 AM
I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A SUNDOWNER TRAILER,I AM NOW IN THE MARKET FOR MY FIRST LIVING QTR TRAILER WITH 10 OR 12 FT SHORTWALL.CAN SOME ONE GIVE ME A COMPARISON BETWEEN SUNDOWNER,PLATINUM, AND DREAM COACH.THKS
Posted 2007-02-10 7:00 PM (#55354 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Member
Posts: 8
Location: TX
Thanks for that. What I was looking for was someone's opinion of the product. Hopefully from someone that has actually used it. Does it effect stopping ability or handling ? I'm looking at a Featherlite 3 horse slant 7x15. I have a 2003 F150 Supercrew w/the bigger V8.
Posted 2007-02-11 12:16 PM (#55394 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Member
Posts: 8
Location: TX
My question was just simply if you move the nose of the trailer back 9" does it change the way it pulls ? Again it would be nice to hear from someone that actually uses one. I have seen gooseneck balls break in accidents and the noses of the trailers go through the back of cabs. Have these extenders been in use long enough for anyone to know if they have the strength to be used safely ?
Posted 2007-02-11 6:03 PM (#55400 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
I have a pop-up brand extender on my '03 long bed Dodge 3/4T 4X4. I added it to get a little more room between the tailgate and the trailer ('05 Bison 3h LQ 32') I do not notice any difference in hauling. I don't know about gn balls breaking. That's news to me. We used to hear about that with bp trailers and horror stories about chasing a run away trailer down the road, mostly legends. Anything can happen, but less likely with a gn. Just make sure that you inspect the set bolts frequently, which you should do anyway.
As for trying to haul a 3h gn with a F150, I wouldn't. Nothing against Ford trucks. IMO a 1/2 T truck does not have the guts to haul a heavy trailer. Not just V8 engine. You need a 3/4T to have the handling and stopping capabilities you need. Be Safe out there!
If you must haul with a half ton, get a Brenderup. It's light.
Posted 2007-02-11 7:05 PM (#55405 - in reply to #55400) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Cloud9 on 2007-02-11 7:03 PM
As for trying to haul a 3h gn with a F150, DON"T. Nothing against Ford trucks. A 1/2 T truck does not have the guts to haul a heavy trailer. Not just V8 engine. A 1/2T is basically a car with a p/u bed. You need a 3/4T to have the handling and stopping capabilities you need. Be Safe! If you must haul with a half ton, get a Brenderup. It's light.
surely you have more trailering experience than to make a statement like that? if not you may want to consider not giving advice until you have more experience, or at the very least state it as your opinon.
Posted 2007-02-11 7:28 PM (#55408 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Member
Posts: 8
Location: TX
The trailer is a Featherlite 7x15. I would most likely usually haul 1 horse, but there is a chance I would haul 2. I would never be hauling 3. Does anyone know what a 97' model 3 horse slant would be worth ? I've looked it over closely and it's in good condition. I forgot to mention my truck has the 5.4L w/17 inch tires (factory). I would venture to say it's quite a bit more than a car w/a p/u bed.
Posted 2007-02-11 8:20 PM (#55410 - in reply to #55405) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
Originally written by chadsalt on 2007-02-11 7:05 PM
<>surely you have more trailering experience than to make a statement like that? if not you may want to consider not giving advice until you have more experience, or at the very least state it as your opinon.
I wasn't being nasty and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't either. Maybe you haven't had a problem pulling with a trailblazer, if so, congratulations. However, I have seen too many people ruin a 1/2 ton trying to haul a too heavy trailer. I don't want to see someone in an accident or a ditch because of that. Safety first.
Posted 2007-02-11 8:55 PM (#55416 - in reply to #55410) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Cloud9 on 2007-02-11 9:20 PM
Originally written by chadsalt on 2007-02-11 7:05 PM <>surely you have more trailering experience than to make a statement like that? if not you may want to consider not giving advice until you have more experience, or at the very least state it as your opinon.
I wasn't being nasty and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't either. Maybe you haven't had a problem pulling with a trailblazer, if so, congratulations. However, I have seen too many people ruin a 1/2 ton trying to haul a too heavy trailer. I don't want to see someone in an accident or a ditch because of that. Safety first.
i had no intention of being "nasty" only making a sugestion. safety first is education, not a bigger truck. your statement was not educational, it was basically nonsense. i dont remember to many cars with an 8000 pound tow rating. it is a novice mistake to blame the equipment for a wreck. i "suspect" the truck in question will be within fords ~8000 pound tow rating with the trailer in question.
Posted 2007-02-12 12:31 AM (#55419 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
I towed a 3h gooseneck with my shortbox truck with no problem. I did not offset the hitch receiver, but as others have mentioned just watch your rear window when backing up and turning. Had no problems. I did have a V nose trailer which I think helped. Only sold the shortbox when I got a LQ trailer and wanted a dually with the bigger fuel tank to pull with.
Posted 2007-02-12 6:32 AM (#55420 - in reply to #55394) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
Originally written by The High Life man on 2007-02-11 12:16 PM
My question was just simply if you move the nose of the trailer back 9" does it change the way it pulls ? Again it would be nice to hear from someone that actually uses one. I have seen gooseneck balls break in accidents and the noses of the trailers go through the back of cabs. Have these extenders been in use long enough for anyone to know if they have the strength to be used safely ?
I will say this as nicely as I can, In order for a gooseneck to get to the back window of a pickup truck, the back 2 feet of the truck would have to collapse(unlikley), So the impact with the front of the truck would be so severe that, 1.)Break the gooseneck ball. 2.)Gooseneck impacts the rear of the truck. 3.)Momentum of trailer collapses the rear two feet of the truck to allow the neck to impact the window. With that kind of impact the driver died from the frontend crash not the trailer. Just my humble opinion.
BTW, I have seen two gooseneck wrecks, one was an approx. 10' LQ trailer truck hit another one on drivers side at Interstate speeds Bent Coupler trailer made contact with rear of truck, nose was 2' from rear window. The other wreck was a steel 18' stock trailer, truck hit head on into another truck country road speeds, bent coupler no contact with truck. I have an uncle that owns a wrecker company and I pass by his place daily.
Posted 2007-02-12 9:15 AM (#55430 - in reply to #55222) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Veteran
Posts: 182
I have a full box extended cab f250 pulling a 98 titan renegade II gn. I have had problems with it getting real close to the cab when I am backing into tight spots. If you aren't gonna be backing into tight spots you may be fine. I just wanted to let everyone know that I could see it easily hitting the cab with a full box and extended cab if you are backing into tight spots.
Posted 2007-02-13 8:04 AM (#55475 - in reply to #55472) Subject: RE: Trucks and Trailers
Regular
Posts: 57 Location: Red Wing, MN
No problem Cloud9. It gets a little frustrating sometimes talking to people who haven't spec'd the newer F150's... they definitely are not the trucks of the 70's and 80's. :) They say 40 is the new 30 (yea!) - I guess F150's have become the old F250's...
Trucks and Trailers
