gooseneck towing

[msmavity]

I hope I'm posting this in the right forum.

I'm looking to buy a Titan as soon as a good sized crop of used comes on the market, probably going to wait for a 2005. I'm planning on using this truck as my "horse" truck, and can't really stomach the thought of putting a new one to that sort of abuse. A few cases in point, the hoof print in my left front fender, the bed tie down torn out by a frightened horse, the crack in the back glass from a jump standard, hay bales thrown against the cab, etc... Who would do that to a nice spiffy new one?

Anyway, I'd like to know if anyone here has towed a gooseneck trailer with a Titan, and what sort of trailer they've towed. I've talked to a few different dealers, and nobody seems to know, or is willing to find out. I'm looking at a 3 horse slant load gooseneck. The Titan is quite capable of towing a similarly configured bumper pull, but the gooseneck is a much easier tow for a trailer that large. It seems to me the distance between the cab and the differential is a bit on the short side for anything boxy, as most horse trailers are, and I'm looking for my next truck to be gooseneck capable.

Thanks all.

[Zardoz]

Like all half ton trucks the problem is not pulling the weight but the weight that is
over the rear axle. Since the Rear Wheel axle rating is 3800lbs and empty my truck
has a rear axle weight of 2450 this would only leave 1350lbs on the rear axle. Now
add three people and their stuff plus tools haybales and such and you can easily be
down to less than 700 lbs axle capacity. So if the Gooseneck pin weight is 700 lbs
you are out of axle capacity. We also have to deal with exceeding the Gross Vehicle
Weight rating which is 6500 lbs. The GVWR is actually less than the sum of the front
and rear axle ratings so it is easy to exceed even if you are within the axle ratings.
So if you know the weight of the gooseneck at the pin and you know the weight of
the people and cargo you can calculate if a 1/2 ton will work for you. I have a feeling
you probably should be in a light 3/4 ton not a 1/2 ton. You could add air bags or extra
leaf springs and everything would be fine but you would still be violating the ratings
of the truck. Rumors are Nissan will have some kind of 3/4 truck at some point but no
facts yet. This will be a problem with all half ton trucks except for the F150 which has
a payload package available but the engine is kinda slow compared to the others so I
would pass on this unit for towing big stuff.

Zardoz who tows and hauls alot

[msmavity]

THANK YOU!

You have just given me more information in one paragraph than I have gotten from 3 different dealers! My gut was telling me to suck it up and buy a 3/4 ton domestic, but my brain was saying "boy I want that Titan". I've looked at the F150, but I wasn't happy with the engine, the Titan has more giddiyup. Now if I can just keep the husband from drooling over the new Freightliner (which is NOT going to happen unless I win a BIG lottery!), I'll be able to get something accomplished.

Thanks again!

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by msmavity

THANK YOU!

You have just given me more information in one paragraph than I have gotten from 3 different dealers! My gut was telling me to suck it up and buy a 3/4 ton domestic, but my brain was saying "boy I want that Titan". I've looked at the F150, but I wasn't happy with the engine, the Titan has more giddiyup. Now if I can just keep the husband from drooling over the new Freightliner (which is NOT going to happen unless I win a BIG lottery!), I'll be able to get something accomplished.

Thanks again!

You are welcome. Chevy makes a nice four door crew cab with a short
bed on the back with quadrasteer in a light 3/4 ton format that I like.
6.0 V8, 4L80E tranny, and a Dana 60 with rear wheel steering. If you
have not driven quadrasteer give it a try. It makes parking easy and tows
long trailers great due to the rear wheels steering. I think the model is
called a 1500HD. Quadrasteer is also available in a 1/2 ton but the GVWR
is only 6900lbs and the steering weighs extra so no gain here. The price
for quadrasteer has been dropped in half to $2000 in the last year or so.
This is the one GM feature that I think is real valuable for heavy towing.
Now it is not as fast as a Titan but all the parts are tough and proven.
The tranny and rear end are bullet proff and I think it has a 8600lb GVWR
if my memory is right. It will ride rougher than a half ton but that is the
nature of the beast and applies to all 3/4 ton trucks.

As far as what salesman know it is rare that they know this kind of stuff
unless you go to a dealer who specializes in trucks. Nissan dealer are new
to full size trucks so they don't know.

Zardoz

[msmavity]

I may go with the Dodge 3/4 ton. I've driven a few, and they're pretty nice. I'm driving a Chevy 1/2 ton now towing a 2 horse straight load. Also tow that trailer with a 5 speed manual 4Runner. Both work ok, but you can tell when either horse puts on a few pounds, and you must NOT stop while going uphill in the 4Runner lol. I've been concentrating on a 1/2 ton, as whatever vehicle I choose will be a "mom's taxi" and I wanted something I'd be willing to drive on a regular basis. I was going to trade in my 91 Accord on it, but I may just keep it as a runabout. It runs like a top, but has 200k on it (factory clutch too), and the body is falling apart at the seams so nobody will give me much for it anyway.

I really want that Titan though, so I may just go ahead with the bumper pull 3 horse and learn to live with it. I'm thinking seriously about a stock trailer instead of a standard horse trailer as well. They're lighter, and I think it's more comfortable for horses to be able to position themselves for the ride.

I agree with you on the sales staff. I was thinking about that earlier. I live in a fairly rural area, but the closest Nissan dealers are city slickers. I'm not sure they could pick out a gooseneck if you hit them with one.

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by msmavity

I may go with the Dodge 3/4 ton. I've driven a few, and they're pretty nice. I'm driving a Chevy 1/2 ton now towing a 2 horse straight load. Also tow that trailer with a 5 speed manual 4Runner. Both work ok, but you can tell when either horse puts on a few pounds, and you must NOT stop while going uphill in the 4Runner lol. I've been concentrating on a 1/2 ton, as whatever vehicle I choose will be a "mom's taxi" and I wanted something I'd be willing to drive on a regular basis. I was going to trade in my 91 Accord on it, but I may just keep it as a runabout. It runs like a top, but has 200k on it (factory clutch too), and the body is falling apart at the seams so nobody will give me much for it anyway.

I really want that Titan though, so I may just go ahead with the bumper pull 3 horse and learn to live with it. I'm thinking seriously about a stock trailer instead of a standard horse trailer as well. They're lighter, and I think it's more comfortable for horses to be able to position themselves for the ride.

I agree with you on the sales staff. I was thinking about that earlier. I live in a fairly rural area, but the closest Nissan dealers are city slickers. I'm not sure they could pick out a gooseneck if you hit them with one.

I would drive the quadrasteer before you make up your mind. It handles so
nicely towing and the steering makes around town driving and parking a
breeze. I am not sure you need a standard 3/4 ton. The light 3/4 tons
ride better and you only lose 500lbs or so of capacity but all this depends
on how much weight you are hauling or towing.

Good Luck!!

Zardoz

[bgh831]

Zardoz,

Are you a GMC rep??? man you like thier stuff huh!