gooseneck hitch

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ok guys tell me if i am crazy got a young girl with a 1978 cevy short wheelbase truck converted to three quater ton axle floater etc. that thinks she can pull a four horse with dressing room approx 5000lb empty weight trailer wanted us my son and i to put a hitch in we are dealers for pop up hitch which they dont make one for this and are certified welders him nuclear certified just left turkey point in fl. so welding isnt really the problem it is all the geniuses that tell her this will work so far i told her i would not do it talked to my son he laughed what do you guys think
Reply:best to leave it the way it is.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:thanks turk  that is what i thought this just awreck looking for a place to happen
Reply:I would pass the job.  There is more to pulling the load than just one pumped up axle.  I put a ball in a 78 years ago and pulled a lot more weight. Yes, it will pull it but I look back an  think about how wrong it was. You are going to add 2000,more pounds.  Equipment and a live load.
Reply:It's easy enough to install a hitch that exceeds the capacity of the vehicle. Towing something and controlling something are two different things. Big topic. Who is responsible when the vehicles capacity gets exceeded? The vehicle manufacturer? The make of the hitch? The person(s) that installed the hitch? The driver? What if she had the hitch installed without saying what her intent was? Interesting. In my mind, at face value, a hitch is a hitch. If they do something stupid with it they are at fault. But when they inform you ahead of time as to their intent then you become part and parcel to whatever happens. "Fiduciary responsibility"."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Sad thing is idiots like this will simply find some one else to do the work. Either they won't give a $hit ( "it's not my problem if they are overloaded...", or they won't know how to do the job yet do it anyways.Part of the reason the "trailer police" here make such a big deal about hitches and trailer threads by those that don't seem qualified to be doing the work..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:thanks guys i was pretty sure i was right and i agree with what everyone said guess i just needed backup thanks again
Reply:If the truck is in good repair people tow 7000Lb + boats with 1/2 ton trucks all the time.    goose neck trailers are inherently more stable and load the vehicle better than a standard bumper/tag hitch.I dont see how welding comes into play.   fabricating some acceptable bolt on side brackets shouldn't be that hard to make the hitch bolt in like a factory designed install.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:dsw been a lurker read alot of your replys may not totally agree every time but have the utmost respect for you sure am glad you replied makes me feel for sure i am right thank you very much
Reply:dualie read your stuff too lots of respect for your opinion seen some outstanding work you have done my problem is this is a single cab short wheel base truck trailer is over 24 foot long  and put four thousand pound horses and tack just doesent seem right maybe i am wrong i pull goosenecks almost every day hauling cattle and horses with a one ton dually and sometimes i dont think i have enough truck welding comes in even if you built bracketts they will be welded somewhere and i just dont believe half ton trucks even with three quarter ton gear are designed to pull that kind of load in my opinion
Reply:when the rubber hits the road, your opinion is the only one that matters, as the buck stops with you.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Thats fair enough.    At the end of the day the only person you have to answer to is your own clear conscious.I would feel better if it was a long bed too.I know my big 6 horse sooner with 6 horses in it and my CC DRW 2wd diesel with 88 gal of fuel scaled in at 27,975Lbs.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by rdbrnr i just dont believe half ton trucks even with three quarter ton gear are designed to pull that kind of load in my opinion
Reply:thanks for all the replys guys there is a wealth of knowledge and talent on this site thanks alot
Reply:Here (Sweden) most vehicles have the manufacturer approved weight to pull written in the registration paper, so most of the time knowing what you may legally put on the hitch is a simple matter of reading the papers - the numbers are there even if you don't have a hitch. Alot of the time it is not so much the car that sets the limit, but the standard "B" car drivers licence being limited to max 3500kg total weight (car, trailer and maximum trailer load), and no trailer with a total weight fully loaded heavier than the pulling vehicle allowed. With a "BE" licence (car plus heavy trailer) that changes to max 3500kg car, plus whatever weight the car is allowed to pull according to the registration.I'm guessing the US weight limits are a bit higher, if they exist...
Reply:Yes, on the Door Post so the police officer can see it or on a sticker in the glove box. Either way if the manufacturer rates it for 10,700 GROSS vehicle/trailer configuration, changing the rear axle will not make it legal!I know because upon occasion I have pulled my triaxle/13,500 load with a short wheelbase 1/2 ton down country roads on a rear frame hitch no less.(meaning ILLEGAL)All she is gaining by going to a bigger axle is some braking capacity.
Reply:I think I would agree with most everyone else.  That is just not enough truck.  At 5000 pounds empty trailer weight and 4 horses, plus gear, etc...Way to much for a 1/2 ton, add to that a short wheel base.I try to tell people like this.  You can beef up a truck to pull a trailer better.  But you cannot raise the weight rating (not actually always true).  You cannot make a 1/2 ton a 3/4 ton.3/4 ton running gear, springs etc... gives you one heck of a 1/2 ton, but you still have a 1/2 ton frame, thus a beefed 1/2 ton that is still limited to the weight it was built for.
Reply:ok lets not beat this to death I am going to let her read these post she is only 25 and thinks I dont  know what I am talking about not that ok we arent going to beat this up much more pretty much 100%against it me too she is a kid and thinks you just hook up and go as everyone has said yep it will pull it and I agree it will pull it but not safely and I as have probaly most evryone done stuff not kosher but a 25 year old kid has no shot I aint doin it thanks for all the replys gives me backup that I am not just being a a##hole and not putting he hitch in we are close friends and she thinks i should just do it I wont thanks alot people like isaid before great site lots of info and people lot smarter than me thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by kcb37I think I would agree with most everyone else.  That is just not enough truck.  At 5000 pounds empty trailer weight and 4 horses, plus gear, etc...Way to much for a 1/2 ton, add to that a short wheel base.I try to tell people like this.  You can beef up a truck to pull a trailer better.  But you cannot raise the weight rating (not actually always true).  You cannot make a 1/2 ton a 3/4 ton.3/4 ton running gear, springs etc... gives you one heck of a 1/2 ton, but you still have a 1/2 ton frame, thus a beefed 1/2 ton that is still limited to the weight it was built for.