Gooseneck towing - Diesel Forum

Snowman269 · 08-11-2007, 12:58 AM

I'm looking at gooseneck trailers to haul my trucks around. The GCVWR is 20,000lbs of both the F350 & F250. Either truck with me in it is 8,000lbs. As long as I find a trailer that weighs a maximum of 4,000lbs with a gross capacity of 12,000lbs. I'd still be legal to haul as long as everything is under 20,000.

BTW, I've been looking at trailers which can handle 10,000 load & gross with trailer would be 14,000lbs. so the trailer wouldn't be at the max with the situation I'm looking to do either.

The other option would be a flatbed trailer bumper pull setup with a Hensley Arrow hitch on the trailer & a heavier Class V hitch on the towing vehicle.

When traveling out of state, do I need any special permits, DOT weigh station stops, anything being this is for personal use & not a business of any kind.

Thanks Dennis

NateHolmes · 08-11-2007, 01:29 AM

I run a gooseneck with a 14k gvw and pull it with my F350 all over the country and have had no problems whatsoever. YOU don't need any permits or anything just register it for the weight you want and go. Bypass the weigh stations unless they specify that you come in. I think there are a few states now that are weighing everything pulling a trailer. But for the most part just go as usual.

The goose definitely pulls better than a bumper I would not even think of getting a big bumper pull like that. Plus if you are trying to stay within Ford's weights then I believe they say a bumper pull trailer can't weigh over 10K total. Definitely go with the goose.

TXGooseneck · 08-11-2007, 01:50 AM

DOT doesn't go off of Ford's guidelines. They look at the GVWR (truck + trailer) to determine what they are going to do.

LMJD · 08-11-2007, 09:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]
When traveling out of state, do I need any special permits, DOT weigh station stops, anything being this is for personal use & not a business of any kind.

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Can't say for back east, but in the far western states the weigh stations and ports of entry couldn't care less about anything behind a pickup truck except livestock of any kind and that's due to brand and/or health inspection papers only.
Mine and DieselGuyNate's are a common weight rating, two 7K pound axles which sounds like what you want. Mines a PJ brand (in my photos) and came with dual landing gear, hand hold and step, lot's of extras at a real reasonable price compared to some other brands.

NateHolmes · 08-11-2007, 04:49 PM

I have the PJ as well with the dual jacks, toolbox, triple ramps, very very nicely built trailer. Very reasonably priced too. I've pulled it back east and haven't had any trouble.

I have noticed some states in the midwest are starting to require smaller trucks to pull in and weigh. I believe Illiois is requiring anything over 8tons to weigh. I think it's Illinois but not sure. I have never pulled in though and haven't had any problems with it.

RLDSL · 08-13-2007, 04:22 AM

[ QUOTE ]

I have noticed some states in the midwest are starting to require smaller trucks to pull in and weigh. I believe Illiois is requiring anything over 8tons to weigh. I think it's Illinois but not sure. I have never pulled in though and haven't had any problems with it.

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Would that be commercial vehicles over 8 tons or any vehicles over 8 tons?

-----Robert

NateHolmes · 08-13-2007, 06:47 PM

I don't remember it saying commercial or just vehicles over 8 tons.

Dualie · 08-13-2007, 10:39 PM

Now is it 8 tons GVW (gross vehicle) or GCVW (gross combined vehicle) weights?

here in CA most all scale houses say that All vehicles over 10 tons must exit and use scale. most also say ALL rental / delivery trucks must exit.

but also says NO PICKUPS!

and now people are saying that new towboss F-350's must scale and display MCP CA#'s?

so who the heck knows

NateHolmes · 08-14-2007, 02:37 PM

I believe it said all vehicles weighing over 8 tons must scale, Didn't make any referance to CGVW or pickups.

TXGooseneck · 08-14-2007, 03:11 PM

It is generally commercial. They couldn't handle the farmers, RV'ers, and so on.

Each state is different. NM and AZ are the worst because they simply want their money. So you pay through the nose to drive through their states or run the risk of getting a stern talking to by their respective DOT officers, Not fun.

If you think the PJ is nice, you should see one of my trailers

Dualie · 08-14-2007, 04:50 PM

[ QUOTE ]
It is generally commercial. They couldn't handle the farmers, RV'ers, and so on.

Each state is different. NM and AZ are the worst because they simply want their money. So you pay through the nose to drive through their states or run the risk of getting a stern talking to by their respective DOT officers, Not fun.

If you think the PJ is nice, you should see one of my trailers

[/ QUOTE ]

The only trouble I have had with AZ has been with there Department of Agriculture inspectors at the port of entry. Health cert's were expired by 1 Hour [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] I had to roll over the scale platform with an 2000 F-350 6 horse sooner that was 27,975 combined they didn't say a word about weight ever. Must have over 150 trips through there different ports of entry on 10 and 40.

NateHolmes · 08-14-2007, 10:37 PM

I believe Nebraska requires everything pulling a trailer to weigh in. A friend of mine went through there last year and had to pull in with his F350. He said they didn't look twice at him and they told him they were trying to get the farmers who thought their pickups could handle anything. I think for the most part though, you can safely overload with a pickup and not worry about getting hassled by DOT.

What kind of trailer do you have? I really do like my PJ and I spent a lot of time looking at different brands.