How to Choose the Right Gooseneck Trailer for Sale
When you need to haul a particular load, having the right trailer means you can haul exactly what you want with ease. How do you know which trailer will work best for your particular load?
A gooseneck trailer may just be the next trailer for you. How do you know which gooseneck trailer for sale is right for you, though?
Do you pick an enclosed trailer? An open trailer? What’s the benefit of a gooseneck trailer anyway?
Keep reading to learn about the benefits of a gooseneck trailer and which options you have. By the end of this article, you should understand which trailer will work best for your specific needs.
Benefits of a Gooseneck
When you think of a trailer, you usually immediately think of a ball-and-hitch trailer attached to your bumper. With a bumper-tow trailer, you have a hitch, mounted to the vehicle just under the rear bumper. The trailer attaches to the hitch.
Gooseneck trailers work a bit differently. The hitch goes over the back of the vehicle and attaches over the rear axle. Typically you find the hitch in the middle of the bed of a pickup.
A gooseneck coupler is much stronger on a gooseneck hitch than on a rear-tow hitch because of the weight of the load. U-bolts or D-rings will sit in the truck bed as well for your safety chains.
A gooseneck trailer allows for a more evenly distributed load. You can also haul a heavier load with the same vehicle if you have a gooseneck trailer.
Heavy Towing
People typically choose gooseneck trailers over bumper trailers because the gooseneck can handle a heavier trailer and load. Usually, trailers weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Their loads will weigh as much.
Most bumper pull trailers have a weight capacity between 7,000 and 10,000 pounds depending on your vehicle’s capacity.
In contrast, gooseneck trailers can handle up to 16,000 pounds. Heavier industrial options will allow for up to 35,000 pounds.
Your towing vehicle determines the final towing capacity for a heavy load.
Features on a Gooseneck Trailer For Sale
Because a tow vehicle will vary from one to the next and because your loads will vary, gooseneck trailers come with a variety of options. After all, an equipment trailer will look different than a livestock trailer. Each has its own features that allow for the specific load.
You first have the option of a closed gooseneck trailer or an open gooseneck trailer. If you have a load that needs protection, the closed gooseneck trailer makes sense. If you have a larger load, then the open trailer makes the most sense.
Here are a few of the specific options that come with open and enclosed gooseneck trailers.
Axles
Your axle size determines your gross vehicle weight rating. This rating, in turn, determines the weight of a load your trailer can haul.
Gooseneck trailers typically have 10,000-pound axles and dual wheels. Often you can upgrade your trailer to 12,000-pound axles or even higher. This upgrade will allow you to haul heavier loads. Make sure your load complies with federal weight regulations.
Frames
Begin by looking at the I-beam in the mainframe of your truck frame. For a standard trailer, you want a 12-inch I-beam. If you need a heavy-duty trailer, look for a trailer with a 19-pound-per-inch I-beam.
Lights and Wiring
Older trailers will use incandescent bulbs. You want LED lights that have an enclosed writing harness, though. LED lights have a more powerful light, use less power, and last longer than incandescent bulbs.
You want enclosed wires so you can avoid the corrosion that comes with moisture, saving you all kinds of future problems with your lights.
Finish
As you look at the details of your trailer, look for a trailer with powder coating. It tolerates the wear and tear of the open road and will simply last longer than other finishes. Your trailer will look nicer longer and will also avoid the corrosion that chips and scratches lead to.
Brakes
Every state has its own brake requirements. Most states require you to have an auxiliary brake system on trailers that weigh more than 3,000 pounds. Gooseneck trailers have three different types of braking systems.
Hydraulic Surge
You will need hydraulic brakes for loads and trailers that weigh up to 5,500 pounds. Hydraulic brakes do not require any special wiring and often perform smoothly, making them ideal for fragile loads. Hydraulic brakes require regular maintenance, though, so play for regular trips to the shop with these brakes.
Electric Braking
Electric brakes require less maintenance than hydraulic surge brakes. They do require a brake controller, though. Make sure the controller is matched to the trailer weight.
Air Brakes
Air brakes offer a reliable braking system. Even if the system has small leaks, the pressure will remain constant. Like hydraulic surge brakes, air brakes require regular maintenance and frequent monitoring.
Materials
Gooseneck trailers come with a variety of decking materials. Your choice of decking ultimately depends on what you’re hauling. Here are a few decking options and their qualities.
- Southern Yellow Pine: A durable, low-cost decking that absorbs treatment and resists decay, but can warp and twist
- Rough Oak: An ideal decking for carrying heavy loads because of its hardness, but does not allow for the best chemical absorption when technicians treat it
- Steel: A durable, dependable decking that is prone to rust and thus requires regular maintenance
- Aluminum: A decking resistant to rust and overall corrosion and able to handle a bigger cargo while allowing for better fuel economy because of its lightweight nature, but more expensive and not as strong as steel
Choose your decking according to your load and your personal budget. You want to purchase the perfect trailer for what you plan on hauling and what your truck can handle pulling.
Get Your Gooseneck Trailer Today
As you look at a gooseneck trailer for sale, you now know what options you have. You can make a wise decision based on your hauling vehicle and the loads you plan on carrying.
Do you need a new trailer? Contact us and check out our inventory. We carry a variety of trailers including enclosed trailers, open car trailers, equipment trailers, utility trailers, dump trailers, open gooseneck trailers, livestock trailers, and custom trailers.
Our experienced sales staff will help you find the right trailer for you. We are a full-scale service operation with sales as well as trailer service. We’d love to help you find your new trailer today.
