The Gooseneck Hitch – What You Need To Know
The “gooseneck” type of trailer hitch is one of those things that you’ve probably seen but didn’t realize what it was you were looking at.The name “gooseneck” actually describes the look of the hitch fairly well. The Gooseneck design takes advantage of the pickup truck’s bed combined with trailers designed to be towed by a pickup: The overhanging part of these trailers can now be hooked to a hitch in the pickup truck bed.
Considered Class V and above trailer hitches, the goosenecks have the ability to haul up to thirty thousand pounds. (Class I & II hitches are good for thirty-five hundred pounds of trailer weight, Class III & IV can pull 10,000 pounds – which are usually weight-distributing hitches. ) Conventional trailer hitches that are attached to a trucks bumper or rear frame always use a hitch ball system. Many gooseneck hitches also use hitch balls, but are never attached to the bumper.
The gooseneck hitch often utilizes the hitch ball system for connecting the trailer to itself – similar to conventional hitches. Everyone recognizes the hitch that is connected to the rear bumper of a car or truck. Goosenecks, however, are attached firmly to the frame of the pickup truck through the center of its bed. The hitch frame of the gooseneck is attached to the frame of the truck, and thru a hole in the bed the hitch ball rises. Then the trailer’s arched arm connects to the gooseneck’s hitch ball.
The two things that make the gooseneck a popular choice are it’s high strength and capability to make tighter turns with the trailer. The trailer’s tighter turning ability is a huge benefit and is due to the fact that the turning point of the trailer is in the bed of the pickup truck instead of on or near the truck’s bumper.
Gooseneck installation involves removing the truck’s bed so that the frame of the gooseneck can be attached securely to the frame of the truck. The truckbed can be drilled now, so that the hitch ball can fit thru. Finally, the truckbed is re-attached, with the ball hitch poking up by way of the drilled hole in the bed of the truck.
The gooseneck is a great way to haul any trailer made with an overhang to ride over the truck’s bed. And being able to turn much tighter is a great advantage not to be overlooked. The Gooseneck hitch is a great part of a trailer towing system and once installed, will provide you with many years of secure, trouble-free service.
Jim Armstrong has been publishing unique automotive articles for years. Discover more good info about the gooseneck hitch and the Reese Hitch now.