Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [Guest] Hauling a gooseneck with a shortbox truck

On Mon, 23 Sep 2002 00:56:42 -0400, Roger Rittenhouse
<roger@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Sue the problem will be as you say - depending on the shape of the Gn
>front end. A square nose will hit for sure.. and that could be on ANY
>tight turn

If the trailer is square-nosed AND 7.5 feet or wider, yes.  A
seven-foot wide trailer will not touch, even when ninety degrees to
the truck, going forward or back.  

>They make a special sliding  GN hitch assembly - it is in the bed of
>the truck - when you will make a tight turn you get out pull a handle
>then pull forward  - the hitch will slide back in the bed about a foot
>and the trailer will not hit the truck

>Then you are suppose to stop and get straight then back up to
>reposition the hitch assembly. You cannot or should not pull very far
>with the hitch in the 'rear' position. It will put the load of the
>GN/trailer behind the rear axle  very dangerous  handling.

>The hitch is quite costly - look up on web?? and some shops prefer not
>to install them due a liability issue.

I don't recommend these.  A lot of camper trailers are eight feet wide
and square-nosed, though, and they cannot be safely pulled with a
shortbed without one.

>My suggestion would be to NOT do this, but IF you must then a taper
>nosed trailer is better - it will give you a few more inches to make
>the turn.. but no matter what  you will never be able to 'jack' your
>trailer to 90 degrees to make turns and you will hit the ..

When I researched this, I not only checked out trailering websites and
mail lists, I used a tape measure to measure the trailer I was
considering buying.  I did the math (even made drawings).  The math
told me the trailer would not interfere, and that has proven to be the
case.  It is a featherlite 3-horse slant with camper conversion
(forced-air heat, hot and cold running water, shower).  My hitch ball
is a couple of inches forward of the centerline of the rear axle,
exactly where the manufacturer recommends.

>Get a long  bed - standard truck   OR a bumper pull

>Others will tell you they do it all the time.. look around at a ride
>see many GN on short beds???.. if you see any look for bashed trailer nose
>and truck cabs

Oh, yes, I also looked around ride camps, and saw people with short
bed trucks pulling goosenecks.  I didn't see any bashed trailers or
cabs.  Probably because not many horse trailers are over seven feet
wide, and those that are usually have tapered goosenecks.

I did look at one *custom-made* horse trailer that was square-nosed
and 7.5 feet wide.  That was one reason I didn't buy it.

There is another problem, though, with either a short or long bed.  I
have a 4WD truck, which has quite a high bed.  Even with the trailer
adjusted so that it is slightly high in front when hitched, I only
have about six or seven inches clearance between the bottom of the
gooseneck and the sidewalls (and tailgate) of the truck.  I am very
careful driving over steep humps or dips, and in campgrounds.  Even
so, I'll probably end up dinging it someday.  Taking off the tailgate
is not an option; not only do I need to keep my stuff from falling out
of the bed, the gooseneck is wider than the truck at that point and if
it would hit the tailgate, it's gonna hit the sidewall(s) anyway.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com


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