I have a '93 3/4 ton Ext. Cab 4X4 that I use for hauling my camper and Jeep. Currently I have an 11ft slide in camper and tow the Jeep using a dolly. Well my Jeep has now outgrown the dolly(now has full width axles) and I'm looking at buying a flatdeck to haul the Jeep on.

All I really need for the Jeep I guess would be a 14-16ft flat deck trailer but my truck already has a GN hitch on it from the previous owner and I'm thinking that maybe a GN trailer would be a better way to go. I can just mount the camper on it premanetly and drive the Jeep on behind it. No more fussing around loading the camper on and off the truck, just hook up and go.

Downside I guess is that my total weight would be more. Anyone know how much a 24ft GN weighs vs a 16ft flatdeck? How big of a GN can I go before I need to worried about overloading the /4ton? GN seem to be priced a lot higher as well, but I wouldn't have to pay for an anti-sway hitch.

I've never hauled a GN but I'm guessing that a GN hauls better than a bumper mount. Easier to manouver as well, I imagine.

I'm guessing it will come down to price, meaning a bumper hook up. Unless I find a REALLY good deal on a GN.


Hmmm maybe I can justify a GN by renting out the truck/trailer for hauling equipment. I have a friend that just bought a bobcat but has no trailer for it. Hmmmm I'll have to think about that.

Any other points I should consider? Thanks!

 

Gooseneck is night and day better than a bumber pull, you'll never go back. Your weight may go up some but your truck will pull and carry it so much easier that you will never notice it. Anymore the price of trailers have come down so much that a decent trailer to serve for your purpose shouldn't run more than $3000 new. Or just buy a used tandem axle trailer, they almost always have 2500 pound axles under them, sell those axles and replace them with 5000 pound. You can usually get enough out of the old set to come close to paying for the new ones.

 

I agree with cummins

u distribute the weight evenly on the bed, and frame of the truck, rather than on the bumper, it is actually easier on ur suspension too, easier to manuever, turn, hook, and work with than a bumper.. We have bumper pull trailers, but ill take a good gooseneck over then anydays.. Besides eight lug 6K lb axles arent too expesive here in south tx either..

Tx

For what it costs the gn will be more versatile, and with the extra foot, IE 24 foot, it will be heavier, but u can load it down much more and haul much more than the 16 foot deck can.. A bobcat will be a heavy load for a 16 foot, for that 24 properly placed on the axles, u and ur truck wont even feel it, i pull one on a 20ft gn and it feels like a dingy back there at best..

 

Hey guys thanks for the tips, much appreciated!

One more question, when talking GVW and max load ratings, it doesn't really matter how heavy your trailer is only how much load it places on the truck, right? ie if loaded properly you could pull a 30ft GN with 3/4ton, but if the same load was placed on bumper pull trailer the truck would be over its max GVW. Or is there a max trailer weight limit?

For example do you think I could haul 2 #6000 trucks on a 30ft GN with a 3/4ton? The pervious owner of my truck was a rancher and if I remeber right he said he regularly pulled a #12,000 stock trailer. Does this sound right? Any idea what a 30ft GN weighs empty? Ballpark? Thanks.

 

10-20% of the trailer weight would be on your trucks rear axle, so 2 6000 trucks and the 5000 trailer would be 17,000 - 15% = 2550 pin weight way over a 3/4 ton truck gvw.

 

Thought so, thanx for the reality check!

 

Does not work that way with a gooseneck. The GVW goes out the window on the truck. The rear axle capacity, wheel and tire capacity is what counts. With a gooseneck or fifthwheel, GVW gives up to Gross Combination Weight Rating. You have one vehicle that is made up of a combination of two.

Do a search, this subject has been discussed over and over and over.

 

I used to use bumper pull trailers, then recently switched to a 30' PJ GN. The GN trailer is suprisingly manuverable, doesn't sway or brake as harshly as a tag does either. As far as weight goes, I beleive my GN(30' PJ lowboy carhauler, dual 7k torsion axles w/elec brakes) weighs in at a bit over 4k. GN's are not hard to find for pretty low prices, I often see tons of used 24' GN's around the Midwest/Rocky Mt. area.