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RE: [RC] Shortbed trucks - David LeBlancJoe Long said: ...Next, the longer the wheel base, the better the vehiclewill be ableto resist side forces, and you don't end up with the tailwagging thedog. This is another reason to go for a longer wheel base. This isn't necessarily so, there are many other factors involved. Look at how short the wheelbase of many 18-wheeler tractors are compared to the length of their trailers. Sure - that's one reason they have 8 wheels in the back - and they're typically not pulling a live load. Plus, their wheelbase is fairly substantial to begin with. I'm not so sure they're all that short, but I can't readily find wheelbase info on a semi tractor. I know they're several feet longer than my truck. I used to pull with a crew-cab longbed, and now I pull with a club-cab shortbed, and I find the stability of the shorter truck to be at least as good if not better than the long truck. More than likely, that's because the suspension of your new truck is better than your old truck. Seems they've been making them better over the years, and going from disc-drum brakes to 4w disc. Suspension may be a more important factor than wheelbase overall, esp. to a gooseneck. As I have no intention to ever pull one of those eight-feet-wide square-nosed camper trailers, I have no need to have a truck that accommodates them. Which is why I bought a shortbed, and am very happy with it. I can back my LQ gooseneck a full ninety degrees without interference. Then it works perfectly for you - but for example, we also have a square-nosed stock trailer for ordinary use. It isn't as wide as the big one (probably 6.5-7 ft), but same thing applies. Really just something to think about at the time - do you want a rig limited to certain trailers, or do you want to be able to deal the dimensions of any trailer? I'd rather be flexible, YMMV. Another consideration is this - say you have the truck at45 angle tothe trailer, and then you put one side of the trailer in ahole, andit is tipped over. The outside corner of the trailer nosecomes down.If you have something on the bed, is there clearance for this? We unfortunately didn't figure on this part until we were onour way toour first ride and rearranged one of the toolboxes =8-O This is an important consideration with any gooseneck. You don't want the trailer to contact the tailgate when going over humps or through dips, and you don't want the trailer to contact the bed sidewalls when it rolls on uneven ground. More clearance here is generally better than less, but you must always use care when pulling through such terrain. Proper adjustment of the height of the gooseneck is important, too. Knowing what I know now, if I were to get a smaller truck and trailer, I'd go with a flatbed. When I had the Chevy, you had to back it up so far, then close the tailgate, then finish backing up. Had a bad day once where I forgot to open the tailgate pulling away... Plus, there's not sides (or you can make removable sides) to hit. Ridecamps can be in some interesting places to get in. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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