Titan crew cab vs. extended cab hauling a gooseneck

bdarrow · 08-02-2009, 04:20 PM

Hi all,
I am needing some advice about hauling a gooseneck horse trailer. I have always towed with SUV's and small trailers. I am looking to upgrade my Xterra to a Titan and my trailer to a 3H gooseneck. My question is this: What are the pros and cons to hauling with a crew cab (full 4 doors) vs. an extended cab? I have only seen posts and photos on this site showing an extended cab Titan pulling a 3-horse gooseneck. Is the bed on the crew cab too short??? Do hitch installers typically know how to figure exactly where the ball should lie for each of these models??

Thanks!

B Darrow

tbeaton · 08-02-2009, 05:23 PM

wow, if i was going to a gooseneck i would go with a 2500 truck, but thats me. i'm sure some other guys will chime in.

Just-in · 08-02-2009, 06:24 PM

I'd have to agree... someone here has a gooseneck and I believe he has an extended cab but why not opt for a heavier truck?

bdarrow · 08-02-2009, 08:44 PM

p.s. Most of the time I will be hauling the gooseneck trailer empty - 4,200 lbs. It's used as veterinary clinic. I'm just trying to stay with the Nissans because I've had 3 and really like them. If I can get away with using one I'd like to.

Thanks!

mjw357 · 08-03-2009, 06:29 AM

On mine, the center of the ball is 46 1/2" from the back edge of the bed. That give me about 33" from the center of the ball to the back of the cab. That's on an '04 King Cab. I don't know the bed lengths for Crew Cab, I would research this and hitch availability before making a decision (talk to hitch manufacturers, NOT dealers, they don't know crapola and will try to sell you anything).

Blevinger · 08-03-2009, 08:19 AM

I've got an '05 Crew and I plan on upgrading to a lightweight aluminum goose neck in the future (currently rocking a two horse bumper pull).

I think in terms of space on the cab corners, a fifth wheel sliding hitch is mandatory. Have seen those between $1000 and $3000, so factor that expense in. I'm also planning on Deaver's from Greg (prgproducts.com) and some airbags.

As far as weight, you'd be well within the limits of the T. There are two different tow packages the dealer will sell you; guys on here call the "real" towing package BIG TOW.

Pre-'08, I think the CC bed is about a foot shorter than the KC bed [citation needed]. The '08.5's and up started offering a longbed for both CC and KC models (right guys?)

Overall, I'm with you. I drove a couple of 2500 trucks and hated them. Ride was terrible. And the pre-owned models didn't hold a candle to the certified '05 Titan I picked up. I also had a bit of nostalgia for the '92 hardbody that drove me around the country in college, up and over mountains, through the desert and was very reliable.

The towing capacity for a fifth wheel hitch on the 2500HD's is in the 12,000 - 15,000 range. But like you said, you're going on the small side. Like me. I think i'm going to come in with my (future) 5th wheel at around 7,000 lbs loaded.

I don't think I've SEEN pix of a small fifth on a CC T, but companies do make hitches specifically for the length of CC beds. And of course, several guys (like MJW) have shown up with the gooses on KCs.

ironpony · 08-03-2009, 01:52 PM

mjw - what does your trailer weigh dry and loaded? It's all aluminum, right?

mjw357 · 08-04-2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironpony

mjw - what does your trailer weigh dry and loaded? It's all aluminum, right?

It's about 3600# empty, with 2 horses and tack, camping gear, a couple bales of hay it's around 6000#. Yes, it's an all aluminum trailer.

NBhunter80 · 08-04-2009, 06:57 AM

The 08+ titans have a long wheelbase model where you can get the longer bed and crew cab. Check with the owners manual to get the tow rating for these. I love the titan, but if I were hauling 3 horses in a 4200# dry weight trailer often, I would be getting a diesel dually. I never like to tow more than 80% of a trucks total weight allowance. 4200# dry is fine for the Titan, heck even 7500# loaded is ok for the BT model, but if you take a 4200# dry trailer, add 3x1000# horses, 4 passengers, tack, gear etc, you will be overburdening a 1/2 ton truck. The Titan is a great truck, but I think you are venturing into diesel territory.

Blevinger · 08-05-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBhunter80

4200# dry is fine for the Titan, heck even 7500# loaded is ok for the BT model, but if you take a 4200# dry trailer, add 3x1000# horses, 4 passengers, tack, gear etc, you will be overburdening a 1/2 ton truck. The Titan is a great truck, but I think you are venturing into diesel territory.

Are we doing ourselves a disservice by continuing to refer to pickup trucks as fitting into one of three categories? By all measures I've seen, the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton nomenclature is far outdated. The manufacturers don't even use it IFAIK.

Originally, I believe those categories referred simply to bed payload. So in effect, the Titan is "technically" a one ton pickup.

I'm only bringing this up because NB put the Titan (like many do) into this 1/2 ton category; I just feel like across all manufacturers those categories really don't tell the story, and I think we limit ourselves if we only talk about trucks as fitting into one of those three molds.

Long story short, OP bdarrow is only using the goose as a mobile equine vet station, so he'll be fine. MJW clearly has a setup he prefers and I'm with him.

The inverse, of course, and you see this a lot too, is that some people tow a 3500lbs dry trailer with a 1000lbs horse—only, ever— and think they NEED a 3500 series dually, which is way overkill. And obviously, having more truck than you need is safe, sure (not suggesting over towing with the T, at all), but it's not exactly the right choice for their needs.

No arguments, just wanted to make a point about the nomenclature. Would be curious to get other's thoughts.

novakoaster · 08-06-2009, 10:23 AM

I have an '08 LE LWB CC, and I belive the box is 7'2" and the towing capacity is right around 9000lbs. I would think that you trips will be short and you won't come close to the combined weight limit of the truck and trailer. You may need to invest in some airbags, but I would think it will work. Just my $0.02.