Need Advice: Selecting a trailer / hitch vs gooseneck

Greg Alexander · Post by **Greg Alexander** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:44 pm

I have a 1942 WC-54 that I have been renting a hitch mount trailer to haul to events.

I am now getting ready to purchase a trailer and I have to apologize in advance for my ignorance... The ambulance is the heaviest thing I have hauled in my limited experience of hauling.

What are the advantages of a gooseneck trailer vs hitch mount?

Does the gooseneck pull smoother? Safer? Easier on transmission?
I just replaced the tranny in my 99 F-250 Superduty $3,200, I don't want to go there again!

Is the gooseneck worth the additional cost?

Last but not least, does anyone have or know of a good trailer for sale?

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

Greg
Southwest Missouri

FrankUSMC · Post by **FrankUSMC** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:12 pm

Greg
Merry Chrisatmas to you and family..I hope your son is able to make it home for the holiday.
Now, I have owned both trailers for hauling my trucks around. Here is my side of the one I would get.
I would got with the goose neck, and the reasons are none that you asked about.
With a good, solid, top of the line (we would never go cheap on our trailer, would we Greg) hitch mount trailer you can tow your ambulance with ease......but, now you have this good, solid, top of the line trailer, that hooks to ANY bumper....they start to come out of the wood work, like zombies....GREG, OLD BUDDY, CAN I BORROW YOUR TRAILER??
In the years that I had my hitch mount trailer, every one that had to borrow it, would bring it back with the lights broken, wiring pulled out, or the landing leg bent backwards......they would all say "Frank, it was like that when I picked it up.." or one guy who got mad at me because I would not let him borrow it to go 5 states over (read across mountains), to pick up his broken down pick up....said his Ford escort would tow it fine.
I have owned the goose neck for 8 years and have not been asked yet to borrow it.
Maybe I sould sign my name as the Grench.
One of the few, Frank

Bill K. · Post by **Bill K.** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:21 pm

Greg
I worked for a camping center for 12 years have pulled everything from a fold down to a 39 foot fithwheel ( goose neck ).
My two cents worth would be a fithwheel the towing is so much easier
less to hook up verry stable in a cross wind and if you have to change lanes suddenly the fiftwheel will have more of tendency to stay behind you where a hitch trailer will try to pass you.
If you have overdrive check your owners manual for towing some transmisions can't handle towing in overdrive and if it doesn't have it put on a transmission cooler well worth the money
The only draw back is no topper when pulling.
Bill

GTBGUY · Post by **GTBGUY** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:48 am

Adding my 2 cents worth. Go for the goose neck. I towed a US6 Studebaker on a 20 fot goose neck w/ a 5 foot beaver tail about 150 miles with a 1989 Ford F350 diesel. The truck was about 9,000 lbs (no bed) and the trailer about 7,000. The truck slowed down a bit in the hills but it got the job done. The engine has 250,000 miles and has never been overhauled but is getting a little tired.

Clarkray · Post by **Clarkray** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:17 pm

Count me in for a vote on the gooseneck.I regulary pull 5 tons and it is as confortable as driving empty.(I do pull with a Duramax.).It is not affected by the wind and does not shake you to pieces by the bumper.