Towing gooseneck with shortbed help please!

**pjbrenneman107** · 01-01-2013, 05:24 PM

I have an 04 ext. cab short bed and a toolbox in the front, I'm looking to buy a gooseneck racecar trailer. I was wondering what the best way to avoid trouble as far as the trailer hitting the truck is while turning and going up a grade would be?

justavillain · 01-01-2013, 05:51 PM

B&w turn over ball and it has a 2" of set ball and maybe a 4"

More so for weight but will help I tow with a 11 ccsb with a tool box and have no problems

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using AutoGuide.Com Free App

**usafracer** · 01-01-2013, 05:54 PM

With a goose neck you shouldn't have any problems. Its 5th wheels that you have to be careful with.

Ezkieler850 · 01-01-2013, 06:19 PM

Is the truck lifted?

**pjbrenneman107** · 01-01-2013, 06:55 PM

It's actually my buddies truck. And no it's not lifted.

Ezkieler850 · 01-01-2013, 07:06 PM

You should be good then as long as you're towing the trailer level.

TubbedTruck67 · 01-01-2013, 07:25 PM

They make extensions for the trailer neck to move the hookup point back in the bed. I have a couple friends using one for there shortbed trucks w enclosed gooseneck racecar trailers.

**DenaliDuallyHD** · 01-01-2013, 07:58 PM

Hook it up and take the truck/trailer to a parking lot and test how far you can turn with the trailer. that is what I did with my 5th wheel with a tool box in the truck.

Also se below if you need to move the trailer back some:

4" Extender - Turnoverball? Accessory | B & W Trailer Hitches
.
.
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premis · 01-01-2013, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezkieler850

You should be good then as long as you're towing the trailer level.

WRONG!

I have a CCSB truck and I towed a enclosed GN. I used this on the trailer (9 inch version)

Extended Gooseneck Trailer Coupler

I still have two cab dents after about 80,000 mies of towing. It will give you about 80 degrees of turning, without it you are looking at 45 degrees.

As for the tool box, if it sits high enough above the bed rails for the trailer to hit it, it will need to go.

Towing it straight is no problem, maneuvering is a whole different issue.

Ezkieler850 · 01-01-2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by premis

WRONG!

I have a CCSB truck and I towed a enclosed GN. I used this on the trailer (9 inch version)

Extended Gooseneck Trailer Coupler

I still have two cab dents after about 80,000 mies of towing. It will give you about 80 degrees of turning, without it you are looking at 45 degrees.

As for the tool box, if it sits high enough above the bed rails for the trailer to hit it, it will need to go.

Towing it straight is no problem, maneuvering is a whole different issue.

There's always going to be a limit to how far you can turn, which apparently, you didn't realize until after you dented your cab. The trailer you towed must be identical to the unknown trailer he hasn't bought yet.

I was going to give a more in depth answer, but I ran out of time. There are alot of different scenarios that you can hit the back of the cab or the bed of the truck. Turning sharp, going up or down a short steep inclines and turning while going up a short incline makes it even worse. You also need to make sure you have enough gap between the bottom of the trailer and the top of the bedsides.

Some people never need to turn past 45-55 degrees. Once you start getting closer to 70-90 degrees it puts alot of stress on the trailer suspension and I've even seen people pop tires off the beads and bend hanger brackets. Sometimes you need to turn that sharp and I've done it myself (while making sure I didn't dent the cab).

Like others have said there are offsets, but which one and what type you'll need really depends on the trailer and the type of manuvering you'll be doing. For instance if you have a v-nose, how far foward on the trailer your goosneck is, if you have any supports or struts for the overhang, etc. Sometimes using an offset on the trailer side can cause clearance issues when turning or going up and incline inside the bed. In that case, the offset ball that plugs in the hitch would be the best.

I'm sure there is alot I've missed, but there is no blanket statement that can be made with out seeing the trailer. Like others have suggested you need to hook it up and do some test turns in a empty parking lot to know you're limits.

01-01-2013, 05:24 PM	eBay Motors #1 (permalink)
pjbrenneman107 Duramax Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 36	Towing gooseneck with shortbed help please! I have an 04 ext. cab short bed and a toolbox in the front, I'm looking to buy a gooseneck racecar trailer. I was wondering what the best way to avoid trouble as far as the trailer hitting the truck is while turning and going up a grade would be?

01-01-2013, 05:51 PM	eBay Motors #2 (permalink)
justavillain Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Comstock Park, MI Posts: 367	B&w turn over ball and it has a 2" of set ball and maybe a 4" More so for weight but will help I tow with a 11 ccsb with a tool box and have no problems Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using AutoGuide.Com Free App __________________ 2011 Duramax LML, CCSB H&S Mini Maxx MBRP 4" Turbo back exhaust(DPF Delete) aFe Intake system dry filter Ranch Hand Legend Grille Guard parking assist sensor delete 275/70r18 Nitto Terra Grappler Cognito leveling keys

01-01-2013, 05:54 PM	eBay Motors #3 (permalink)
usafracer Insert cool slogan here $usafracer's Avatar$ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Pole AK Posts: 3,867	With a goose neck you shouldn't have any problems. Its 5th wheels that you have to be careful with. __________________ 2010 GMC Sierra CC SB 4X4 6" lift and 315's 2008 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 4X4 (wifes) stock now... Zone lift going on and 305's
$usafracer is online now$

01-01-2013, 07:58 PM	eBay Motors #8 (permalink)
DenaliDuallyHD Duramax Lifetime Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 530	Hook it up and take the truck/trailer to a parking lot and test how far you can turn with the trailer. that is what I did with my 5th wheel with a tool box in the truck. Also se below if you need to move the trailer back some: 4" Extender - Turnoverball? Accessory \| B & W Trailer Hitches . . . __________________ From: JohnnyO 2012 Denali Dually HD 4x4 Banks Exhaust, Ram-Air & Custom Super-Scoop Line-X, BedStep, BedStep2, Bed Rug B&W Turnover Ball Hitch with Companion 5th Wheel Hitch American Work Cover-rolling cover/toolbox w/ B-light tonneau lighting system 1993 GMC 1500 SLE Extended Cab Short Box, 4x4, 5.7 gas, traded it for: 1996 GMC 3500 SLE Crew Cab Dually, 4x4, 7.4L gas, sold it and got a: 2003 GMC 2500HD SLT Crew Cab Short Box, 4x4, 8.1L gas, traded it in for the 2012.

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01-01-2013, 06:19 PM	eBay Motors #4 (permalink)
Ezkieler850 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Lake Havasu City AZ Posts: 324	Is the truck lifted?

01-01-2013, 06:55 PM	eBay Motors #5 (permalink)
pjbrenneman107 Duramax Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 36	It's actually my buddies truck. And no it's not lifted.

01-01-2013, 07:06 PM	eBay Motors #6 (permalink)
Ezkieler850 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Lake Havasu City AZ Posts: 324	You should be good then as long as you're towing the trailer level.

01-01-2013, 07:25 PM	eBay Motors #7 (permalink)
TubbedTruck67 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 27	They make extensions for the trailer neck to move the hookup point back in the bed. I have a couple friends using one for there shortbed trucks w enclosed gooseneck racecar trailers.

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