Gooseneck trailers

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gmoo

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Aug 6, 2009
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145
are many people using 1/2 ton trucks to pull gooseneck trailers and what length?
 

Show 22

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Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Messages
8
Location
South Dakota
We pull our 18ft steel gooseneck sometime with our 1/2 ton dodge. That pickup with the 5.7 liter Hemi handles the trailer exceptionally well. However we prefer to pull our trailers with our 3/4 ton Duramax.
 

Bulldaddy

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Oct 5, 2009
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1,131
Location
Valley Mills, Texas
Yes, I pull my 16 ft gooseneck trailer with my Tundra Pickup.  I also pull my 32 ft hay trailer with it from time to time but kept my 2001 Dodge Ram for backup. The Tundra will pull a house down the road but bankrupt you on gas! lol.  Still, the price difference between another Dodge Ram diesel and the gas Tundra made the Tundra a better buy.  If I spent more hours pulling the trailer the Ram would have made more sense.
 

RyanChandler

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Jul 6, 2011
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3,457
Location
Pottsboro, TX
Most of the new half tons have plenty of power, the problem is the hwy gears they're putting in them now.  Id want 3.73's at a minimum in a half ton I planned to pull much with.
 

cowboy_nyk

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Aug 28, 2013
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658
Location
Manitoba, Canada
Power is never the issue with a 1/2 ton, it's the suspension and transmission.  If you are only hauling 4 head it's fine but if you want to haul 8-10 head regularly you should probably go 3/4 or 1 ton.
 

okiegirl

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Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
221
Location
Oklahoma
We pull a 20ft gooseneck with a Ford F150 Ecoboost with no problems and plenty of power.  We are usually hauling 2-3 calves plus all the grooming chutes, generator, show box, fans, feed, etc.  Our biggest issue is we have the shorter bed and have to use a neck extender on the hitch.  Ironically the Cimmaron dealer called today to say our new trailer is in (22ft 7 1/2 wide).  I am so excited, we were hoping to get it in to take to Tulsa.  I'll let you know how that goes.  It would be  shame to have to step up to the F250 lol.
 

vc

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Jul 24, 2007
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1,811
Location
So-Cal
We did for the first few years, if you are hauling a few head and not going on long hauls you are fine, that as long as you are an alert defensive driver. We made some long trips over some steep grades, you have to plan ahead as you drive and avoid getting yourself into situations. I did put airbags on the rear made a big difference in stability.
Once we got the Heavy Duty 2500 with the Duramax, I did not want to use the 1/2 ton to go across town. The HD has better brakes, the trany is made for hauling a load.

I had an accident happen in front of me and it took every bit of me and the brake system to stop the 1/2 on flat ground, do not want to ever do that again.
 

GoWyo

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Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
1,691
Location
Wyoming
Read and understand your vehicle weight ratings and towing capacities.  A steel 16-foot gooseneck stock trailer weighs somewhere around 4000 lbs and when loaded with 6 cows weighing 1400 lbs or more is going to have a total weight of 12,400 lbs.  Looking at the 2014 Ford F150 tow ratings, the max trailer weight under any of the various set ups is 11,300 lbs.  Therefore, you will be in excess of the tow rating.  Guess who the fingers start pointing at if you are involved in a collision even if you were not the one who caused it?
 

vc

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Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
1,811
Location
So-Cal
In most states at 12400 not only have you exceeded the vehicle weight you are 2401 over weight for a C licenses. Know someone coming home from Denver, got pulled over with the 32 foot Featherlight, only 4 calves but 3 axles, had to have Class A driver come get them.
I know in California with the hills and traffic we have I feel better with a bigger vehicle.
Bottom line, for a few head and tack you can do it with a 1/2 ton, but it is better and safer to pull it with at least a 3/4 ton
 
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