Bumper Pull versus Gooseneck for me

[barngal]

Hello, this is my first post. This forum looks like you all have a wealth of information, I'm so glad I found you! I would appreciate your input on my dilemma-I tried to be as specific as possible


Truck: 2017 Ram 3500 LB dually Aisin transmisson 4.10
Currently tow 3 horse BP trailer, 20.5'long x 8'wide


Goal: Living quarters for travelling. Live on the west coast, would like to ride trails all over the country


Dilemma:
Driving the dually LB is new to me and I'm intimidated at the thought of towing a long trailer. And I want access to mildly off road trailer camping. But of course I want as much interior real estate as possible!

I like the slide in max length trailers- 11+ feet. but they hang out of the bed about 4'. I'm told that the extension receiver for a bumper pull will leave my bumper pull unsteady and make the manuevering much more difficult-true story?


Which will give me the greatest living space and be easiest to maneuver: a slide in camper with my current trailer, or a gooseneck LQ trailer? My friend says a shorter bumper pull trailer will be harder to maneuver than a longer goose neck. I know that goosenecks are easier than bumper pull, but I'd be adding at least 10' to a pull behind trailer.


PS, I will be going out of town and not sure I will be able to check in, so my responses might be delayed but I'll try to check in. I'm back Sunday

[mkirsch]

While some TC can be cramped, the larger ones are quite roomy, but with roomy comes HEAVY. The top end ones can exceed your truck's rated payload capacity by 1000-1500lbs, which in and of itself is not a huge issue. The issue comes when you go to throw ANOTHER 1200lbs of tongue weight from the horse trailer, on a 4' extension. That's an awful lot for your truck to handle. You'll need airbags and helper springs of some sort. Forget offroad because you'll sink like a stone dragging an anchor, being so heavy.

If you consider smaller campers in the 8'-9.5' floor range, you knock off a (literal) ton of weight or more, and you can tow your existing 3-horse trailer with a much shorter extension, or no extension at all! Much more practical.

[Grit_dog]

Go GN LQ if you'll only be campin with the hay burners.
Or get a TC, hitch ext like bedlam reccomended, and use your current trailer if you want to use the camper other times.
It will tow fine. Your truck is big enough to do both capably.

[The_real_wild1]

Go to the rv dealer and look at both. Id go with the GN trailer with living quarters. I had a camper this year and got rid of it after the first time I used it. They are just so small to spend any time in. If you want a bed and fridge only they are ok. The bathrooms suck. Not much room at the dinette and getting in and out of the bed is a pain, especially if you have been drinking lol. I went from a class a motorhome( which I still have ) to the camper and in a winter storm I prefer to have more room inside. I bought a toy hauler 5th wheel and they are so much more comfortable. Try to look at as many as possible.

[Bedlam]

I'm 47' long overall with the pivot point almost at mid point. My bumper pull trailer tracks the truck in a turn much better than a fifth wheel or goose neck.

[moresmoke]

The TC and bumper pull will be more "manuverable", as in possible to get it in tighter spots. The gooseneck will be easier to manuver backwards into parking spots. The bumper pull on a long extension will be challenging to backup.

Also consider if you use the truck for other things. Loading and unloading a TC takes more time than hitching up a trailer.

[barngal]

Bedlam wrote:
The GN will tow nicer on the highway. The additional length of the GN will limit where you can tow it off road and which spots you select in campgrounds. There are some state parks in my area that are tight for anything being towed over 25' due to tight narrow loops that are defined by trees and rocks.

For driveability, a 30'gooseneck trailer is easier to tow, turn and back, than a 30' bumper pull, is that correct?

The RV manufacturers are way ahead of the horse trailer campers in efficiency. The horse trailers are still using old style RV products. They look luxurious but don't use the space as well.

I was hoping to get a deluxe model truck camper and pull my bumper pull horse trailer. BUT I think by the time the camper hangs over my truck bed by 4 feet and I extend my hitch, I will be approaching the same length as a gooseneck "camper" (aka living quarters) horse trailer.

At that point, it makes sense from a maneuverability standpoint to get a goose neck horse trailer. Now if I get a less fancy truck camper, that doesn't hang out the back as much, it would be as easy to manage, so its a no brainer for me.
But I really want the double slideout, couch AND dinette. And I think that just makes it a really long bumper pull...

[Bedlam]

The GN will tow nicer on the highway. The additional length of the GN will limit where you can tow it off road and which spots you select in campgrounds. There are some state parks in my area that are tight for anything being towed over 25' due to tight narrow loops that are defined by trees and rocks.

[rhagfo]

The_real_wild1 wrote:
GN trailer and horse trailer together? As in two trailers behind the truck??

Nope, GN horse trailer with living quarters in the forward part of the trailer. Some are very nice.

[The_real_wild1]

GN trailer and horse trailer together? As in two trailers behind the truck??

[barngal]

thanks for all the good input!

IF I was only going to look at ONE aspect, that of towing most easily,
which would be easiest:

1 ton dually truck with 11.8" slide in camper, extended bumper hitch and 20" horse trailer OR
same truck, goose neck trailer and 30' LQ horse trailer

Main point: which (if either) will be easier to tow, turn, backup
find camping spots (not RV parks-I'll have horses along)

thanks

[The_real_wild1]

Id go the gooseneck over the camper. I have used both. Prefer the gooseneck or 5th wheel. Easier to camp in as well.

[Bedlam]

I had a bumper pull toy hauler and needed more garage space. Instead of going to a longer toy hauler fifth wheel, I went to a truck camper with a bumper pull enclosed trailer. Truck campers are the most expensive square footage RV you will buy. The advantage is that they can be separated from the truck (allowing use of the truck verses a dedicated motor home) and the garage or stable does not have be attached if you just want to go camping without toys or animals (makes for a very compact RV).

If you plan to tow over 5000 lbs behind a truck camper and need an extension, the best option is using a double receiver SuperHitch with a SuperTruss. This setup will allow you tow up 12,000 lbs with a 4' extension. I started with a F250 short bed carrying a 9' truck camper with single slide and towing a 20' enclosed trailer. My camper is about 4000 lbs and the trailer is 6000-8000 lbs when loaded. Although I needed to upgrade wheels and suspension, I had 35,000+ miles of trouble free travel. For us, this combination works well but we want more floor space. Last year I upgraded to a 5500 so we can get an 11.5' truck camper with triple slides (will be getting this Spring). Your 3500 will be able to handle most of the double slide truck campers and still be able to tow your horses - Anything larger, and you will need more truck.

We looked at car haulers with living quarters prior to selecting out setup. However, we wanted to keep our overall length as short as possible and make travel more flexible. If you are fine with the additional length of a 3-horse LQ goose neck, you will save some money by giving up the some flexibility.

[lc0338]

pros and cons discussion

[lc0338]

WNYBob wrote:
You might get more replies in TRUCK CAMPERS

not necessarily.. and it might all be biased. A lot of people do like I do and select "newest" posts so I see all posts from all forums that are new.