gooseneck

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i have a 20 ft equipment trailer bumper pull 12000 cap. i want to build a goose neck for this .. i have alot of 6in channel  to build it with...is 6in strong enough ?   if not can i add 3 in.channell [ i have alot of it also ] to it to make it stronger ?   i am not a good enough at welding to do this but i have a freind who is....  he said if i would cut it and get it ready he would weld it ... thanks for your time.....bruce
Reply:I guess my first question is, why a gooseneck for such a small trailer. Personally I would keep it bumper pull at that size. Keep the weight down and not take your bed space away. Just my $.02Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:sorry i forgot to add we want to add about 4 ft .  i am told they pull better ,easyer to get around with...thanks for the help   bruce
Reply:While it is true that you pretty much forfeit the use of your bed, the gooseneck is the "ease of use" winner in my experience. Everyone has their preferences and likes. I have bumper pull trailers, and I have gooseneck trailers. Both styles have their strong points.In my truck and my experience, I will choose a gooseneck every time - if I don't need the bed too.That said, the gooseneck hitch itself requires the right strength members, good  strong welds, and well engineered bracing. Look at some commercial rigs and take good measurements. Good luck - and send pics!
Reply:I've got 35mm film pictures of a repair done at the main left and right frame members of a goose neck trailer that suffered near catastrophic breakage. The frame was poorly repaired by an incompetent weldor, and my buddy and I were challenged to make permanent repairs. This was at a time when we were both begining in mig class and not entirely confident! The moral of the story... make it strong, and don't overload it!City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:IMHO, i woudl use the 6" channel, but box it in. that way you have rectangular tube. plus, add a few gussets in the joints, depending upon your exact design. this may be a little over-kill for your application, but if it were me, i'd rather have it too strong, than not strong enough. later,Andy
Reply:Every pound of iron you add to the trailer will take an equal amount away from the hauling capacity.
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66Every pound of iron you add to the trailer will take an equal amount away from the hauling capacity.
Reply:You ever thought of a "Pullrite" hitch? They pivot under the truck just behind the axle.You get the best of both worlds.http://www.pullrite.com/pullrite.htm
Reply:You might have to move the axles if you are adding a gooseneck.  Bumper pull trailers are meant to have 8-12% tongue weight while goosenecks are meant to have 15%-25% tongue weight.  I wouldn't bother doing the mod with that GVWR trailer either.  A good weight distributing setup and you would be better off.  I wouldn't consider a goose until you get to 14k GVWR.
Reply:Also, what is the weight/ft of your 6" channel.  Nobody can really give you reliable information just knowing you have 6" channel.
Reply:that i am really not sure of , my welder friend says it is middle weight,,, after reading all the post  i may be better off leaving it like it is or trading it ,,,,just not sure ,,,,thanks for all the  help ...bruce