Manuverability
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From: Las vegas
Manuverability
Well my truck has a horrible turning radious and is a mile long. That dosent bother me towing except when i have to back a trailer up it takes a lot of room befor the trailer starts to turn. I was wounderinf if a fith wheel or gooseneck is more manuverable when backing than a bunmper hitch. Also what about pintal VS ballfor a bumper hitch? I've noticed when i bak up trailers at work all the bumper hitches are prodominatley pintal and they seem very manuverable behind long 4300, but then they have a much narrower frame than my 350 and the tires turn alot more. Thanks for any input you guys have.
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From: Frederick, MD
I have a trailer trailer that I pull from the reciever, my truck is newer so the turning radius is better to begin with, but I also have a hensley hitch on my TT. The hensley is made to assist with sharper turns as well.
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Depending on what type of trailer your pulling, it may dictate one type of hitching system over another.
Pintal hitches are primarily for construction equipment, some semi conversion gears and some military trailers. Unless you have the good pintal with the air shoe (or some other system for removing the slop between pintal and trailer ring), the pintal will "rattle" while towing.
Yes, a gooseneck/fifthwheel will turn sharper going forward and backward versus a ball and coupler bumper pull.
Two cons for the gooseneck/fifthwheel versus bumper pull.
1. Far slower trailer response to tow vehicle input while backing. You have to think a lot farther ahead in your maneuvering.
2. When pulling forward, the gooseneck/fifthwheel trailer will track to the inside of a turn a lot more than a bumper pull. (Think about semi drivers making turns)
The pros for a gooseneck/fifthwheel are better handling (cross winds and passing trucks/buses) and normally a better ride.
Good luck
Pintal hitches are primarily for construction equipment, some semi conversion gears and some military trailers. Unless you have the good pintal with the air shoe (or some other system for removing the slop between pintal and trailer ring), the pintal will "rattle" while towing.
Yes, a gooseneck/fifthwheel will turn sharper going forward and backward versus a ball and coupler bumper pull.
Two cons for the gooseneck/fifthwheel versus bumper pull.
1. Far slower trailer response to tow vehicle input while backing. You have to think a lot farther ahead in your maneuvering.
2. When pulling forward, the gooseneck/fifthwheel trailer will track to the inside of a turn a lot more than a bumper pull. (Think about semi drivers making turns)
The pros for a gooseneck/fifthwheel are better handling (cross winds and passing trucks/buses) and normally a better ride.
Good luck
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Alberta, Canada
As above, a bumper pull trailer is a lot more manuverable than a fifth wheel because your trailer pivot point is several feet past the truck pivot point, which is the back wheels. To get your trailer to spin faster, as you are pulling forward, at the last second before you come to a stop, spin the wheel in the opposite direction to start the trailer pivoting in the opposite direction, then in the first seconds of backing up, spin the wheel in the opposite direction again and the trailer will now be headed in the direction you want it to be. This may sound a little confusing, but if you try it, it will make sense a lot better. If you need a better explanation, let me know and I will try.
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From: Las vegas
Thanks for all the great responses you guys confermed some of what I was thinking and set me striaght on the rest. I'll probly stick with bumper two for now I'm most conserned with respons time when backing. what els plays a role in trailer sespons time while backing? I've noticed some trailers start turning alot faster then others. The last trailer I try'd to back in to a spot with my truck was a small single axle utility trailer probly 15' to 18' and we ended up un hooking it and putting it on my buddy that I barrowed it froms short box single cab chevy and he backed it right in. He was guiding me in with my truck since it was dark and I have limo tint and my mirrors suck for driving with out a trailer. I don't seem to have a problem backing any of the much longer trailer I have to work on at work, is a longer trailer easyer to back or is it the trucks I'm using.
Sorry for the book of a post.
Sorry for the book of a post.
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From: Smithers, BC, Canada
Long wheelbase trailers are way easier to back up then short wheelbase trailers. I can back my three horse trailer up a narrow winding country driveway without pulling forward once, but I have a heck of a time with a little single axle sled trailer (usually end up going up and unhooking to turnaround).
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From: Las vegas
That explains why I can park a 3 axle equitment trailer and a dump truck in tighter spots than I could have gotten my truck with that trailer. Hopefully it was just that trailer and not my truck causing the manuverability problem. I'm planing on hauling my jeep on the trailer so I'm probly going to want one thats longer than what I need, Ideally I want to get something I can put my jeep on and my dads samuri since my truck can tow both better than his can tow just the samuri. What all should i look at when looking at used trailers? Or has any one on here bought plans from any of the companies that will design you a trailer and suply the parts and you build it?
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From: woodville, tx
george, yes longer is better, and the more axles the easier... BUT for the heavier weight of 2 vehicles, you might want to consider a bed mount hitch a little. Putting some on the weight IN the bed makes a difference on being able to pull better on heavier loads. For 2 vehicles you want to make sure you have room ahead, between, and behind the 2 for weight adjustment and tie down...
On building a trailer, best way is decide what you want/need, draw it out yourself, and go to the local metal yard... on your axles you would center them 1" back from center trailer for every foot of trailer length, then you can move them a little more back for more tongue weight and foreward for less.
On building a trailer, best way is decide what you want/need, draw it out yourself, and go to the local metal yard... on your axles you would center them 1" back from center trailer for every foot of trailer length, then you can move them a little more back for more tongue weight and foreward for less.
Last edited by jmmartin; Apr 27, 2009 at 05:04 PM. Reason: forgot summ
