truck flatbed/gooseneck question

Ron in AR · Aug 6, 2008

Okay, I just got a "new to me" truck. 94 GMC one ton with extended frame (ex Uhaul truck). It came with no bed, but the frame will accommodate a 12 foot bed, which is really great for my needs (hauling hay). I have a really nice 8 foot steel flatbed. Now, Ive already cut it into three sections, set it up on the frame and I"m ready to start filling in the gaps (it needs to be lengthened in front of and behind the wheel well cut outs). With me so far? So, here"s where I ran into a question that I don"t know the answer to. The bed already has the goose neck hitch built into it. If I position it where it should be and align the wheel wells to the truck, I"m going to have about five feet of bed and bumper behind said hitch. Will this be too much distance for most goose neck trailers? I don"t own a goose neck trailer YET, but I have a 30 foot tandem dual wheel bumper pull that I"ve been thinking about converting to goose neck. And who knows what deal may present itself in the future? If anyone has any info that they would like to share on this, have at it. I can use all the help I can get!
Thanks, Ron

Pair-a-dice farm · Aug 6, 2008

I'd have to measure to be sure, but my 92 chevy 1 ton has a 8' flat bed. The gooseneck hitch is a little over 1/2 way back so there is only about 3 1/2 feet from the hitch to the back of the bed. When I turn the corner of the bed just misses my trailer. So I think 5' would be too much. The hitch needs to be just forward of the rear axle. I hope this helps.

edj856 · Aug 6, 2008

I think 5 foot would be to much for any standard gooseneck, but if you're going to convert your bumper pull into a gooseneck, just make the tongue long enough so it will work.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 6, 2008

5 foot will not work. you will have to cut the length from the ball to the back down. i cant remember the exact without going out and measuring one of mine.
make sure you put the center of the ball right above the yoke (center it in the yoke) use a plumb bob.
when i go out to make last rounds ill stick it and see what it measures

ericlb · Aug 6, 2008

i have a 12 foot flatbed and no way it will work right, and even if you do manage to get it to hitch you cant turn with it on a 12 foot square cornered flatbed, without hitting on the trailer, guess how i know,

NEKS · Aug 6, 2008

Have a C-60 that I want to put a bed on and a ball to pull a gooseneck trailer. Short frame so can only use a 12ft. bed. Have a factory bed on my F-250 and there is 4ft. from ball to back of bed. With 12ft. bed that would put ball right over axle or a little behind on C-60.

Jerry/MT · Aug 7, 2008

Most gooseneck hitches are located a few inches forward of the differntial case. That"s probably where your gooseneck ball is located. Don"t move it anywhere. It needs to put part of the trailer weight just ahead of the rear axle.
If you are going to modify your present trailer to a gooseneck, make the neck long enough to reach the present ball position and make sure that the neck supports clear the corners of the flat bed by about ten to twelve inches.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 7, 2008

Why won't the ball work a little behind the rear axle? If it was a bumper trailer the hitch would be way behind the rear axle.

RodinNS · Aug 7, 2008

The whole point of the gooseneck is to get the load ahead of the drive axle and put some weight to the front axle. If you want to put a gooseneck ball to the rear of the drive axle, you might as well just buy a bumper hitch trailer. You could put the ball rearward but it will come at the expense of several tonne of carrying capacity on the trailer because the truck won't be able to control the trailer.
A few inches forward of the axle should be all that's needed as a little bit goes a long way. Depends on the wheelbase of the truck and what the front end can carry.
The length of the deck behind the ball will be determined by how long the gooseneck is. I'd think that 5' from the ball to the bumper would be about the max limit...

Rod

Ron in AR · Aug 7, 2008

Thanks for all the replies gang. I understand the concept of where the hitch needs to be in relation to the rear end, that's not what I was concerned about. And yes, I will build my trailers' gooseneck so it will work with my configuration. Just wanted the info so I would know whether a "standard" factory gooseneck trailer would work on this truck. Seems the answer is definitely "no". That's okay though, I just wanted the info so I would know for future reference. Thanks again, Ron

truck flatbed/gooseneck question

Ron in AR

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Pair-a-dice farm

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edj856

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Anonymous-0

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ericlb

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NEKS

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Jerry/MT

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Anonymous-0

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RodinNS

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Ron in AR

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