I'm 99% sure getting a 24' goose neck trailer. I'm getting a really good deal on it, altough it does need some work. The neck needs to be lengthened. I'm thinking about just adding the 2.5' in the middle and plating both sides of the neck with some 3/8" steel. I'm also going to add a 5' dovetail to it so it will be 29' long and I can haul two rigs on it. It has a utility truck box on the front that I am going to take off and try to sell or scrap or something. It needs some brake work but I am pretty sure I can't get parts for the axles since the co. is out of business. I am thinking about sticking a 5200 lb. axle with brakes behind the first two to help distribute the added length off the rear and replacing the front axle with a 5200 lb axle with brakes, then the middle axle will just be an idler axle. What do you guys think?Any ideas to do differently?

Why add the dovetail? 24' should be enough to haul 2 rigs.

i haul 3 on a 32'.

3 jeeps...maybe. I have a Nissan that's bobbed that comes in at roughly 14.5 feet (given a few extra inches), and my room-mates Fj40 is about 13 feet long. Needing at least 28' there....

Is the 24' just the flat part ????

Originally posted by bignissan
Needing at least 28' there....

no you dont... you just need to get more creative. ;)

Originally posted by sceep


no you dont... you just need to get more creative. ;)
Pin weight doesn't seem to be much of a concern with your tow rig, but for those of us driving 3/4 or 1 Tons, you arrangement would yeild more pin weight than I'd want to run.

Keep in mind by backing the first vehicle up, there's probably not too much weight at the front of the trailer... Still kinda wild, and probably gets more trooper attention than I'd care for... :p

Buy a 16'er and tell your roomate to buck and get his own tow rig/trailer :laughing: seriously :flipoff2:

I used to pull two cj's onto my 25'r and then tow bar or 12' trailer depending on the trip a third cj behind the trailer. This is legal in california and every western state if you are licensed for doubles, under 65' and your trailer is GVWd to have enough braking to assist or if the second trailer has brakes too. Ive got over 75k miles in california towing this combo through scales for comercial purposes.

Otherwise back the first cj over tongue/the pin, slide your trailer axles a little forward set it up for sliding(mine slid 3' forward and aft) and you can reduce your pin weight and the load proportioning, i too was able to load three but it was tight and tricky with with a fair chunk of overhang (you have to light the rear jeep to indicate an overhanging load, pulled with a dually 1 ton. about 6600# rear axle weight +/- 200. CJ2a, CJ7, CJ5. your load is definately a little heavy mine only grossed 18900-19100 total with the trailer being 12000+/- of that.

Dont go tag along, gooseneck is so much more road friendly plus if you can fit two rigs on the trailer that means gas bill is less getting there since your splitting it and driver time is less because you can change off. this means your in alot better shape when you get there and that you can go as a team to more places. plus youre more inept to go to more trails since you are a pair and have two rigs to wheel, never wheeling alone is smart.

The reason for getting the 24' and extending it is since I already have 24' of deck, why not just add 5 more and make it more useful. I will be towing it with a 95' F-250 PowerStroke,single rear wheel. Reason for two rigs needing to be hauled, is I most likely won't go anywhere on my own, and if I tow someone else, 1) someone to talk to at least while driving 2) split the fuel bill. I don't like the idea of backing a rig on top of the neck due to tongue weight on a SRW axle, plus more wind resitance etc...I'll just deal with the triple axle 29-30' goose and comfortably haul 2 rigs and some gear stashed underneath the rigs and in the side box's. Anyone know where to get some used trailer axles or is it worth it to spend the $320 on an axle with springs/brakes and all? I'll need two of them...Thanks
Greg

Originally posted by bignissan
Anyone know where to get some used trailer axles or is it worth it to spend the $320 on an axle with springs/brakes and all? I'll need two of them...Thanks
Greg

i paid more than that just rebuilding the brakes on my trailer. sounds like a smokin deal to me.

Originally posted by ddestruel
This is legal in california and every western state if you are licensed for doubles, under 65' and your trailer is GVWd to have enough braking to assist or if the second trailer has brakes too.


Doubles are not legal in the states of Washington and Oregon unless you are a semi.

Bignissan i would look into running 2 7000lb axles vrs 3 5200lb axles. The 7's are alot bigger and then the bolt pattern will be the same as your tow rig and it will corner better and prolly tow easier. But the cost of upgrading might be more than it is worth. But it is just something else to consider.
Dewey

24 '

24'

This setup made a 600 mile roundtrip to canada and back with no real problems..

but later when substituting the red CJ for another green one, it ended up rolled over in the ditch.. 5 miles from home.

Not a gooseneck, but gives a idea of how too short of a trailer can really cause issues..
http://www.sos.mtu.edu/4x4/arb/loonierun/images/loonie%20001.jpg

Originally posted by Jrod-13

Not a gooseneck, but gives a idea of how too short of a trailer can really cause issues..
http://www.sos.mtu.edu/4x4/arb/loonierun/images/loonie%20001.jpg

Its more that you didn't have enough tow vehicle in front of that trailer. I could pull that trailer loaded like that all day every day with no problems using a three axle class 8 truck as the tow rig. Hell I've had a fergie 50, a bobcat, and a roller on a 30' tilt tag trailer many times. The fun part is getting all 3 up there before the trailer tilts flat.

well, I wasn't driving, it's just people I know from our club.. and yeah it was lack of tow rig, along with alot of other issues. I was just useing it as an example.

6000 lb axles should have 8 lug patern as well right?i can get a 6k axle w/ brakes,springs and everything from Northern Tool $329.99 and an idler with all that for $189.99. What about two 6k axles? Should I run brakes on both or is one enough?I found some 7k axles with brakes for $340.00 an axle no springs or anything, but hub to hub, and a 7k idler with hubs for $175.00. Well, I guess I'll go with the 7k axles, but again, brakes n one axle or two? Also, what tires do you guys run on your heavy trailers? With only 4 tires, they need to hold a lot of weight each.

the tires i run on the tow rig right now are BFG commercial t/a's. They have a max load rating of 3042 lbs each for the 235/85/16 size. I found some Michellins XPS(I think) that have a load rating of 6000+ lbs per tire!!!! The price difference is HUGE though. I can get the BFG's for $85 each, or the Michellins for $160 each....is it worth the difference?

the michellins are also re-treadable, but for as much towing as I'll do, these tires should last years and years

i'll try to get some pics of the trailer up here soon...

More brakes the better.

you can get 6k axles with 6 lug or 8 lug.

I have a 24' gooseneck and have hauled two jeeps on it before. The space is very cramped and it can be a challenge getting the straps hooked up correctly. The 2nd jeep was hanging off the back too. I'd say 24' is too small to regularly pull two.

CJ

that's why I am adding 4-6 feet to it...maybe more :confused:
I want to keep about 3 feet of box up front for storage and such. As for lengthening the trailer, if I added 8-10 feet, moved the axles back some, that should work pretty well shouldn't it? I would just use the same material for the frame and plate both sides respectively. What do you think about that? I am not modifying the trailer anytime soon, it works how it is for me for now so I can just haul myself around, but I would like to eventually haul two rigs because I never go alone and everyone is usually scrambling looking for trailers.

I go through the scales with my gooseneck at just over 13k pounds...on the rear axle alone, I am driving a 1 ton dually though. These trucks can take it. Just put some air bags on it and make sure you have good trailer brakes.

Have you already bought this trailer? It sounds like a lot of work and/or money to get the length you want. I see these things all the time from $2500 - $4000. I bought my 45' goose for $2500. It has an upper deck, a 9500lbs winch, triple axles, torsion suspension, and diamond plate flooring. I needed to do some welding and replace the tires.

Also, don't worry about triple axles. The ONLY time it scrubs tires is when you make tight u-turns. Trust me, I know! I have 4 trailers, two triple axle and two tandem axle. My triple axle (enclosed) trailer had 80k miles on it before I replaced the tires, and I never rotated them.

I personally like the triple axle set-up better, but tandems work well also. Triple axle trailers distribute the wieght better, and allows lighter duty trucks to pull a lot of weight, without putting as much on the hitch. They are more stable when you just HAVE to haul ass.

Chris (EMIEVEL)

The thing I like about it is it's cheap enough, and I can use it right away. I can make it longer later I don't NEED to haul two rigs right away.

Doubles are not legal in the states of Washington and Oregon unless you are a semi.


Where did you hear that because that is not a fact, nor are there any laws against it, rightfully there are laws and rules restricting it to those who are properly trained and licensed but not outlawing it behind pickups, you just have to be licensed as a commercial vehicle aka same family as a Semi in transportation books.

I have hauled doubles through those states commercially and domestically with my pickup for 5 years over 300k miles and yeah i have to stop at scales, but never have i been red-tagged or ticketed. Your information is not 100% true, only effects certain applications.

As long as you carry an Class A Interstate license with a double/ Tripples endorsement and pay the proper taxes, Properly license your truck, and stay under the length restriction, use the proper trailer configuration you are perfectly legal.

OK... Hotshot drivers... the guys that drive for a living... They can't pull doubles in the states of Washington and Oregon. If there was a way around that, don't you think the guys driving for a living would have found that out?



Check out the state by state towing laws that rob found a link for. Washington and Oregon both say hell no, you can't pull doubles.
http://www.hitchemup.com/statetowinglaws.htm
If you look at California, they say that you can in fact pull doubles with special requirements.



If you insist that it is legal, then please, by all means, post up the vehicle codes that says you can. Hourglass Transpotation in Oklahoma would love to be able to pull doubles through Washington and Oregon, instead of having to drop their tag trailer in Idaho and double back to pick it up. Hotshot drivers don't get paid unless they have a trailer behind them.


But, you already knew that.

You are right and i did know that.

Great and now you got me :shaking: my comment should not have been as positively stated, i was off on a tangent with somebody else and it carried into this page. Plus I errored in stating that it did not effect Pickup trucks, oh well anyways

I used to leave my Tag in Ontario, till another runner was able to point me in the direction of exemption. Id be glad to help, Let me get to digging in my storage unit, because when i did Independent contract Hotshoting my vehicle configuration fell under a state and Federal exemption, without a bed of any kind the truck was classified as a Tractor, Therefore standard transportation guidlines changed, i was then considered a semi and had to abide by all DOT tractor carrier regulations. I had to argue it a few times but did carry the documentation that pertains to this. Glad to help dig. BTW Rob's post is a very good resource, i have refered a couple of people to it.


:beer:

This could actually make for a really good debate.
Here is the email that Bill (he's the one that got me into the clear for doing this stuff) sent me several years ago when we were discussing this. I know it wont help me because it contains no facts just thought some of his comments were clearer that i would be able to present.

==================================================

Dusty like we were talking about in Bend, different states do things differently. In Alabama there was no question as to registering the truck for the use I will have for it. With no pickup bed the truck is not a "truck" any more as it can carry nothing and can only pull trailers. I have mine registered as a tractor and insured as such. Legally this makes it a "semi" and is covered under the federal minimum standards for a semi check the FMCSA book you'll find it. If your state will allow you to do this I am not sure, but I am legal in your state because Alabama has designated my truck as such. You have to watch the designations though, There is "truck", "truck tractor", and "tractor". The only one that fits this purpose is "tractor". In your state you may have to get a remanufacture sticker on it to do this which certifies that the vehicle has been legally converted.

I just went down for the apportioned tags and told them type, tractor and they just put it on. If you move to California, where I used to live, they have a habit of going by the serial number as do the insurance companies. You will have to make a deal out of it with the insurance company to get the 20,000 gvw off the insurance and place it for more weight. It cost me a couple hundred a year to do that. I have Western World. What you are going to be attempting to do is register as a single axle tractor, there is no law that says it has to be any given weight. You just have to clearly define it as a "Tractor", its all a legal terms/ definition game.

Best I can do, hope that this helps. To do doubles though, you have to have a fifth wheel and comply with the FMCSA regulations from the book you should already carry :), and carry the designation as a "tractor". The big deal is getting rid of the pickup truck designation, once you have that done you can open the doors to more options like pulling doubles or tripples for that matter just like a semi does, because now you dont have a cargo area, you are defined as a non-load carrying single axle "Tractor", specifically for pulling trailers. If you're Nuts enough to pull tripples LOL. Anyways you will qualify under federal Guidelines, Hell you could pull a 53' Trailer with any length truck if you want. But like we were discussing the other day to be able to run into states that limit doubles you will have to have your pickup reclassified and carry proof of such.

On another note when are you coming over to my neck of the woods, any time soon? Next Roundabout lets grab a few Scooners on me over one of our weekends in wherever we can plant ourselves with loads at the same time. Give me a call in a couple of weeks ill be home from 8/11-8/15 we'll talk more then.

Bill

================================================== =

anyways ill continue looking for my paperwork but in Montana it was really easy to get reclassified as a single axle tractor. At least to get you started tell Hourglass Transport to start researching this avenue. Like i said i will keep looking but as you can. Love to screw the state DOT, money and fine grabbin bastards at thier own game any chance i get.

Dusty

Sorry to sound like an ass...

If you are in fact hot shoting, then this would be a viable avenue to follow; but for the weekend warrior, it's just too much money and hassle.

I guess we just went a little too far trying to prove ourselves right. :emb:

If we ever cross paths, first :beer: is on me.

The big deal is getting rid of the pickup truck designation, once you have that done you can open the doors to more options like pulling doubles or tripples for that matter just like a semi does, because now you dont have a cargo area, you are defined as a non-load carrying single axle "Tractor", specifically for pulling trailers.


================================================== =

anyways ill continue looking for my paperwork but in Montana it was really easy to get reclassified as a single axle tractor. At least to get you started tell Hourglass Transport to start researching this avenue. Like i said i will keep looking but as you can. Love to screw the state DOT, money and fine grabbin bastards at thier own game any chance i get.

Dusty

What you need to do for this is get your truck listed as a 2 axle tractor. 2 axles 1 steering axle and 1 drive axle. A truck like a 6x6 is a 3 axle truck.

:beer: I too. :beer: :beer: :beer:
Agreed.
Might some day. you never know out there. And you're right

I've always called tractors by the number of drive axles, so did Bill I guess, really didn't pay attention to how he was defining things, but whatever you got the picture. :D Cheers

Dusty

I've always called tractors by the number of drive axles, so did Bill I guess, really didn't pay attention to how he was defining things, but whatever you got the picture. :D Cheers

Dusty
Well when talking to the CHP, DVM, etc. its best to use the terms that they use. Its less confusing that way. Not saying this just for you but other readers too.