I really want a F250, but my wallet says otherwise. If I settle for a F150 w/5.4 and towing package....could I put a ball in to haul a 3 horse slant gooseneck trailer? Would I need to get a long box? A friend of mine hauled a GN with a short box Chevy, but I want your opinion on a Ford. I want to save money, but if it is going to be a hassle, then I will keep saving for the BIG truck.
Thanks,
ScottyB.

 

Yea, you can do it. I've seen several that have the gooseneck attachment on 1/2 tons, even in some chevys. By short bed I assume you mean the 6 foot bed. So long as your not really loading up (over 8000) it shouldn't be that bad. No doubt someone will say they did over 10,000 no problem.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Jul-02 AT 07:40 PM (EST)]>I really want a F250, but my wallet says otherwise. If I
>settle for a F150 w/5.4 and towing package....could I put a
>ball in to haul a 3 horse slant gooseneck trailer? Would I
>need to get a long box? A friend of mine hauled a GN with a
>short box Chevy, but I want your opinion on a Ford. I want
>to save money, but if it is going to be a hassle, then I
>will keep saving for the BIG truck.
>Thanks,
>ScottyB.


Yes, you can handle a three horse slant load with an F150. You know that a light duty 250 would be better. Bigger brakes, bigger everything. I have a 1998 F-250 and it was less than $1000.00 more than an F-150.

The 5.4 is not an issue.......it's fine.

The short (6') bed is fine with my trailer (two horse gooseneck). Here are the issues with a short bed. The specs. say that the ball should be placed no less than 1' ahead of the rear axle (You can cheat a little). If it isn't obvious, this is to distribute the weight so that the front end isn't light. With a three horse gooseneck, this is more critical than my ywo horse gooseneck and an F150 than an F250.

Now, additionally, you need to have half the width of the trailer left ahead of the ball for clearance. IOW, if your trailer is 72 inches wide, then you need 36" ahead of the ball so that you can make a 90 degree turns without the side of the trailer hitting the rear of the truck cab. My 72" gooseneck works fine with a 6' bed YMMV. Another way of looking at it is that you need 12" plus 1/2 the width of your trailer ahead of the axle.

I hope this helps and good riding!

Check out the additional cost of a F-250 and see if you can swing it. You will not regret it.

 

I have a 1997 LD F-250 4x4 .I had a B&W Hide-a-ball installed ,I stongly requimend this brand ,they are so smooth in the ball change over.My truck has the 6 foot bed and i pull a 24 foot cattle trailer.With the short bed you have to watch when you turn sharp,the style of trailer dictates how sharp you can cut the trailer.But i would stick to how the manufacture requimends installation

 

Dude,

BE CAREFULL

I would save for the F250, you are talking another couple of months worth of $$$. If you don't pull that trailer too often, I guess it would be okay. I suggest a beefed up rear axle ratio. THe 250 has a heavier duty tranny that I believe is also a six speed.
I am only familiar with flatbed goosenecks from throwing hay, so I don't really know your rig. But I have seen guys try to pull stuff around in a 1/2 ton that they had no business touching and ruin their trucks and we had to pull them out of the field.

After 7 years of very frequent load towing, whatever you get, GO SLOW, especially with a live load.

Two weeks ago this guy was in our 93 1 ton dodge with a 40' flatbed loaded with 225 coastal square bails, and he was booking it through the field. He hit a ditch and ended up knocking the mount 8" forward on the leaf springs.

GO SLOW,
weston

 

Thanks for the input!!
If I go with the F150 I will take it easy. I would only be hauling horses or ATV's about 15 times a year and usually 50 mile trips. I have seen 1/2 ton trucks do some amazing things, but whenever I try something extreme, I break something. I don't have the 3 horse trailer yet. I backed out of a deal on one last week so I could shop around. I may even downsize to a 2 horse or a stock trailer. I just like the stability of a gooseneck vs. bumper pull. I know of 3 experienced drivers who had accidents with live weight in a bumper pull trailer. Plus I just think a gooseneck is a little easier on a trucks suspension.
Thanks

 

I thought of something else too.

You are totally right in that just having a fifth wheel doesn't mean you are going to try to move a mountain. It does make sense if the whole rig would still be within limitations of the pickup