Gooseneck trailer tips
 

I'm working on ordering a new trailer. This time around I'm going to finally actually order a trailer that will make use of my F-350 Dually.

I'd really like to get this RIGHT - the first time... so I'm looking for your help on pluses and minuses -- things you'd never do - and things you wish (unlimited check book items) that you had.

Trailer is ATC 40' - with 14' living qtrs... triple axles (spread axles) - all black - .050 rivetless skin... gooseneck.

I'm looking for ANY ideas - brakes - landing gear dos and don't - interior ideas - bigger liv qtrs - smaller? Built ins?
if you hate having a bigger trailer because it became a PITA - or do you wish you'd have gone a bit bigger?

Totally open discussion.

I've owned 4 different trailers over the years here are some tips!!

-Electric landing gear
-In floor mounted winch for retrieving non running cars
-add 6" raised interior height
-Torsion axles
-do not get vynl flooring
-LED lights were possible
-exterior mounted work lights
-pre wired for electrical, generator, ac, etc

Stop playing!
Renegage motor coach with Garage.

Got all of that --- not prewired - got A/C, Heat, genset included. And LED/low voltage hi intensity lights. Also have Prosine 2000w INVERTER so I can make coffee -- run microwave without starting genset. (Old boater... so those things I totally get!)

Torsion axles -- doing triples. Spread axles - think that's more for looks??

Why not vinyl?? Was doing "coin floor". I don't have leakers.

Has infloor winch system.

Maybe I should post up the 'quote'?

Sounds like a great trailer. Your going to hook that up to a Ford, JK.

Congrats.

Stuart ---

I'm actually looking for some ideas there -- like -- It's too big for that truck ---
or whatever.

My current trailer is only 24' TAG....

Never had a trailer like this -- so I'm a bit nervous about the "commitment" to such a big azz (for me) rig... and whether or not it's worth the effort and hassle.


My thinking -- (I don't do that so well sometimes) is that I can haul this and when I want to just pull over and stop for the night etc - I can stay comfortably. NOW when it's getting dark - I need to duck in and find a motel and a place that I can park etc. It becomes a real hassle and can really shorten your day in the winter - with it dark and raining etc. So I am thinking that a rig like this - you could just pull over almost anywhere - any time. I want to do more "long distance" events.... and part of the hassle is the whole hotel/motel thing on trips like that.

Sounds great.

Maybe check a SportChassis Truck. Look em up online. Sportchassis.com Pretty cool.

Accommodations for an onboard genset (slide-out setup) is nice. You could get a Miller welder/genset...That would be a rockin' setup! LOL

Also, depending on your fully loaded weight, you may also want a brake upgrade on your truck. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be the GCWR police)

I tow a 36' fifth wheel travel trailer with mine, trailer weighs just north of 12K loaded with crap and with the tanks "wet", and though the braking capability of my combined "system" (trailer's brakes, and truck's total braking contribution (engine/trans braking effect and truck's brakes) is certainly adequate, I want them to be "more than adequate", "inspire confidence" LOL.

So I am considering the addition of an exhaust brake and possibly an upgrade to the truck's brakes.

It may not apply, (probably doesn't!) but one other thing to consider is the used market, there are so many virtually new trailers on the market with upgrades out the gills, that haven't gone hardly anywhere...and can be had for 60 cents on the dollar or less, vs. new.

Probably the only thing I can add is...donate that old trailer to a good cause..like me! It will go good next to my plain jane Wells Cargo 24Foot

+1 on the Freightliner SportChassis. Two of them in use at RWI where my family works, they love them and they have been reliable.

What? No Bidet?

Greg,
The trailer package sounds great. I was thinking about the counter tops with the oak edge (cabinet guy here) but then noticed you upgraded to solid surface. Is that upgrade for every top or just in the "garage" area? Those oak edges take a beating and don't look good very long.

Is this trailer beyond your trucks capacity?
Stuart made a good sugestion on the other trucks to look at.

Maybe I missed it Greg, but I see dual axle referred to in the quote. Not triple as you mentioned. Then again it took me 20 minutes to read it the first time! :hail: Sounds nice, I would talk to Rodger and or Fesler as they seem to be up on this stuff. I would also look at the freightliner sport chassis. I have seen several at the race tracks and the owners seem very pleased.:thumbsup:

At work here we have 3 trailers. 1 40' and 2 24'.
The only time the 40' is used is for taking a vehicle to SEMA with display stuff. Everyone hates driving the truck with that trailer. Truck is a crew cab, trailer is a goose neck. Its just makes for too long a vehicle to maneuver around. Its not bad for taking it to a place you know there is room to move around. Get into a situation where there isn't room and its becomes a pain real fast.
Thats why I suggested the renegade coach with garage. Its a more compact unit. Easier to maneuver around. The accomodations in the living space are more of your pinkie in the air style.

Keep Your Tail Gate DOWN when hooking up or unhooking

Just a little tip for ya there :D :D

I has a 42' tripple axle and HATED towing it arround. Too Long Too heavy (oh yea i would look at all Aluminum construction for the weight)
If You Ask Kenny he will tell you you dont even need trailer brakes on a 42............... go figure.

Check Powers RV. Alot of sportchasis trucks for sale.

Yep -- know all about them and considered this way for awhile. Trouble is IMHO -- they're so super useless for anything other than dragging a trailer. I USE my pick up all the time for small stuff... and don't care to give that up just to haul a trailer.

You should get one then!


:captain: :unibrow:

If You Ask Kenny he will tell you you dont even need trailer brakes on a 42............... go figure.[/QUOTE]

i have them i dont like to use them , and get it right its a 48 ft trailer ! buy the right truck and it will stop the trailer . not a 62 dodge dually with 400k miles with only front brakes like blakes truck .

i have them i dont like to use them , and get it right its a 48 ft trailer ! buy the right truck and it will stop the trailer . not a 62 dodge dually with 400k miles with only front brakes like blakes truck .[/QUOTE]

GET IT RIGHT it's a 97.......... and the back brakes work just FINE!!!

:lol: :lol:
you kill me............ where do you live again......... Oh that's Right!!

What you have will probably work fine. Just another possible option. If you were on the road alot it would be a better option. But if not, real pricey for small use.

Yeah your right its more for my comfort. You drive, and I'll lounge around out back.

Someday when I can prove that Midgets carry a recessive jean for giants I will be able to prove paternity that I have indeed found my long lost DAD get me this to make up for not being around all these years.

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/5...d-Center-.html

Heck you could just buy this and I'll let you leave it at my place.

Nah -- that will never do! It doesn't even have a microwave! I have to have a COFFEE pot - grinder - fresh beans... storage for Bob's panties...


I could LIVE upstairs and never bump my head!



OMG! That thing is beautiful but just a bit overkill for what I'm planning...

I just need something that is capable of rescuing Blake when he brakes down -- or taking the '37 to Tracy when he's ready to give me a full upholstery job for free because he' needs some "exposure".

I'm trying real hard - to keep it down to a dull roar..... and factor in MY use and how I THINK I will use it. I don't want a giant PITA for a very few road trips per year. I really just would like to be able to HAVE to get a hotel room when on the road. And it needs to be able to make a full "uey" in Charleys driveway when he (if ever) invites me down to help him wax all his crap. :D

There are a lot of trailers on the market.... and yeah most are "cheap" --- but most are NOT done the way I want. Or should I say... the way I think I want it.

I have the full Gale Banks Big Hoss Bundle on the truck -- which includes their braking system.... I also run the Talon Suspension system (air) on the truck for a nice ride - HUGE panhard bar - and I'm running a 1 ton dually (stability) with 4:11's... I think my limit is 23,000 pounds but that would be "crazy".... I'm thinking this trailer weighs 13K wet - and the '32 only weighs maybe 2500 #'s and my '37 isn't much more than that. So total is under 17K?
Still a bunch... and that worries me a bit.

Ive got a 40ft gooseneck that i use to haul my race cars with and HATE IT! Its just way to big and it can be a hassle when trying to pull in and out of parking lots or even some racetracks. But that is my only dislike about it. I would look into featherlite trailers or a motiv also. the floor we have is ok but after we load up the car get home and unload it the tires are still hot and pull up the vinyl floor a bit so i would go with a coin style floor. We just purchased a stacker trailer which i LOVE! there is way more room and its more organized

Send your truck down to West Coast Customs and have them Pimp your ride.
Tell them you want a microwave, coffee maker, and a full size bed. and it has to all fit in the second row seating.

Greg, I remember SW buying a trailer like this a while ago, so I did a search. Looks like it's similar setup to what you are looking for.

Here is the thread: https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=2264

You may want to PM or contact him to ask him these questions?

http://www.fototime.com/B599E7032D31CEB/orig.jpg

The GVWR for your truck (maximum allowable total, including the weight of the tow vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and the trailer and its contents) is 13K. Although Ford says that in a fifth wheel (or gooseneck) application you can go up to 18.6K GVWR.

If the trailer weighs in at 13 before you even add a vehicle and "stuff" to it...You are definitely in the market for some more truck, hoss.

(Or, less trailer).

http://www.fordcpo.com/ford/assets/s...%20Cat_NAV.pdf

I did not see sat. TV or internet.Awesome trailer.My buddy's F350 worked hard to pull his 48ft.T&E. So he got an F450 and it worked a little better.:thumbsup: Scott

Brilliant! You hated the big trailer so much you bought a bigger one! I like you're thinking!
:lol:

Did I read it has a manual jack for the tongue ? If so, switch to a electric one.

You quite reading when you got to the UPGRADES and OPTIONS part of the order(quote). It has an electric / hydraulic landing gear -- one finger operation.


Not sure how it works - but it should have the double "legs".


Charley -- how do you feel about hauling the length of your trailer?

I remember a KALIFORNIA nazi black and white unit pulling me over on I-5 and going over all my GVWR etc.... he was really just trying to bust my chops -- but he didn't realize who he pulled over -- my chops are not so easy to bust or intimidate. His first words out of his mouth when asked why he pulled me over was "because you're a professional speeder". I said - REALLY?! So how fast was I going there officer? (I was doing the LEGAL limit of a whopping 55)... He then changed his tune to him wanting to check my GVWR etc -- and continued to tell me I was a professional speeder. Now I'm getting pissed 'cause this azzhole is just wasting my time (the only thing I have of ANY value)... what he did - and since I knew he was behind me - since I have a world famous CB.... is looked thru the side window as he passed me - saw the CB antenna and Radar detector and decided he should hassle me. He never did actually look inside the trailer! So he really wasn't interested in my GVWR.

I had his blood pressure up pretty high by the time we got done... which just gives me no end of pleasure. Not because he's a cop - but because he was a BAD cop. Prior to this encounter - I'd never ever looked at these kinds of ratings/limits etc.:cheers:

Here's another source that qoutes 15K as the maximim trailer weight for a 2006 Super Duty Powerstroke, 15.6K as the max weight in fifth wheel config.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...trp17Jan06.pdf

i have a 2005 f350, 6.0l ford and have hauled a 44 ft 2 car trailer all over the mid west and east coat, get 10 to 10.5 mpg and stops good with 2 camaros etc
if your talking by the book, anything reg for over 10k lbs needs a class a license.
5th wheel is different the gooseneck for tongue loads etc

have fun going to a f450, those things are turds, wont go over 65, 4.56 rear gears

Have lights installed in floor to use at night for hooking up straps, Wireless remote for winch control, also lower lights on the walls to use at night.

This is all quite the learning curve so I'm really glad I posted it up!

My truck is a Crew Cab - 8ft box - DRW - with 4:10 gears -- so the chart you posted has it at 15,600 #s