Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Sisu West Ranch wrote:
> A properly installed gooseneck hitch is right over the rear axle.  This 
> can cause some problems with a short bed.  On sharp turns the front of 
> the trailer can hit the cab (bummer).  There are 3 ways to handle this 
> that I know of.
> 1. Don't turn sharp.
> 2. Purchase a trailer with a sharp nose.
> 3. Purchase a hitch that moves back to compensate during sharp low speed 
> turns.

Prior to buying our short-bed truck to haul a gooseneck trailer, I 
researched this problem pretty thoroughly.  I found it is only a 
"problem" for the wide square-nosed camper trailers.

Not only are many LQ horse trailers are not only not quite as wide as 
the big campers in the first place, most of them have some taper to the 
nose.  It doesn't take much taper to allow full clearance on even the 
sharpest turns.

A bigger risk with 4x4 trucks is the gooseneck hitting the tailgate or 
the sides of the truck bed when going over uneven ground such as 
railroad grade crossings, or the dips and rolls in many ride campsites. 
 This is due to the high bed of a 4x4.  It's a compromise, if you raise 
the trailer high enough to have good clearance it doesn't travel level 
on the open road.  You just have to be careful in rough ground.

My next truck will also be a short-bed.  I give up some hauling space, 
but it's a lot easier to maneuver and park.  It all depends what your 
needs and priorities are.

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