What Are the Differences Between a Gooseneck Trailer and a Bumper Pull Trailer

As a hot shot trucker, you know that selecting the right trailer is a crucial step in building a growing business. Your choice of equipment can open doors to exciting opportunities and satisfied clients, setting you up for success from day one.

One of the most important choices you'll face is between a gooseneck and a bumper pull trailer. Both are excellent options for hauling cargo, each with unique strengths that can propel your business forward. But which is best? Let's look at the distinctions between these two popular trailer types and determine how to choose the right one for your hot shot trucking business.

What Is a Gooseneck Trailer?

You'll know a gooseneck trailer when you see it-it's iconic for its curved neck, which extends over and connects to a hitch ball in the tow vehicle's truck bed, usually above the rear axle.

Gooseneck trailers range from 20-50 feet long and can achieve gross trailer weight ratings over 30,000 lbs., making them ideal for hauling oversized machinery, equipment, vehicles, and other extremely heavy cargo.¹

What Is a Bumper Pull Trailer?

A bumper pull trailer has a standard tongue that connects to a ball hitch on the rear bumper or hitch receiver of the tow vehicle. This positions the tongue weight behind the rear axle.

They are a more affordable option for personal hauling, recreational towing, or lighter commercial jobs but cannot handle the largest, heaviest loads that a gooseneck can haul.

Key Differences Between Gooseneck and Bumper Pull Trailers

Size and Hauling Capacity

Gooseneck trailers are designed to be larger, with trailer deck lengths typically ranging from 20 feet to 50 feet or more.

Their unique hitch design and ability to position the tongue weight over the towing vehicle's rear axle allow them to achieve incredibly high gross trailer weight ratings (GTWR). Even on the smaller end, gooseneck hauling capacities start around 14,000 lb. GTWR. The largest gooseneck setups can haul over 30,000 lbs. when paired with a capable tow rig.²

Comparatively, bumper pull trailers are more limited in size and weight ratings. They typically max out between 16 and 20 feet in deck length. With the tongue weight behind the vehicle's rear axle, their hauling capacities top out at 10,000-16,000 lbs. GTWR for most models and tow vehicles.³

The gooseneck's increased size and weight ratings make it the ideal choice for hot shot truckers and haulers who need to transport oversized or overweight machinery, vehicles, or specialty cargo. The bumper pull just can't match that heavy hauling ability.

Tow Vehicle Requirements

Gooseneck trailers require a pickup truck or similar vehicle with a flatbed design. This is because the gooseneck trailer utilizes a hitch ball mounted in the truck's bed, with the trailer's neck extending over the bed sides. Most bumper pull hitches simply won't work with this design.

Goosenecks' extreme hauling capacities require a capable truck with a powerful engine, suspension, and trailer brake controller to handle the load. Typically, heavy-duty trucks-like the Ford Super Duty, Ram 3500, and Chevy Silverado 3500-are rated for these huge gooseneck loads.⁴

Since bumper pulls use a standard ball hitch on the rear of the vehicle, they can be hauled by not just full-size trucks but also smaller trucks, SUVs, vans, and some passenger cars and crossovers. If the vehicle is rated for the trailer's weight, it can tow a bumper pull using a properly installed hitch.

Hitch Installation

Mounting a gooseneck trailer requires cutting a hole in the truck bed floor and installing a fitted hitch assembly. This is necessary to securely mount the vertical gooseneck hitch ball and properly brace the trailer tongue weight.⁵ The installation needs to be done by an experienced professional to ensure it's fitted appropriately for the specific truck.

Some truck models offer factory-built gooseneck towing prep packages with reinforcements and mounting provisions to simplify the hitch installation. However, in most cases, owners will need to have an aftermarket gooseneck hitch installed.

Bumper pull trailer hitches use the vehicle's standard trailer hitch receiver, which is already built into the frame. A ball mount is inserted into the receiver to extend the hitch ball out beyond the rear bumper, which can be removed when not towing.

Turning Radius and Maneuverability

Gooseneck trailers are designed with an arched neck that gives more clearance and pivot room as the trailer turns. This tighter turning radius allows goosenecks to cut sharper corners and navigate areas that would be too cramped for other trailers of the same size.⁶

The gooseneck's ability to start turning before the tow vehicle helps to improve maneuverability at lower speeds, too. This comes in handy when backing into tight spaces or loading/unloading locations with limited room to maneuver.

With the trailer tongue mounted at the rear of the tow vehicle, bumper pulls have to follow a much wider turn path similar to the tow vehicle itself, resulting in a larger overall turning radius.

Stability and Sway

Gooseneck trailers benefit from their hitch location, which positions the tongue weight over the towing vehicle's rear axle. This weight distribution and roll coupling result in excellent high-speed stability with minimal trailer sway or rocking, even in heavier wind conditions.⁵

The over-axle tongue weight also reduces the potential for issues, like jackknifing or trailing, which means the trailer can start pushing the tow vehicle's weight shifting.

Bumper pull trailers don't offer the same luxury. With the tongue weight behind the vehicle's rear axle, bumper pulls have a higher tendency to experience trailer sway, especially at higher speeds or when being passed by larger vehicles. Weight can shift from side to side, causing the trailer to wobble and whip back and forth.

What Are the Cost Differences?

As with most vehicles and equipment, increased capabilities lead to increased costs.

Gooseneck trailers represent a bigger upfront investment than bumper pull models. The materials, design, and overall construction requirements for a gooseneck result in higher base trailer prices from most manufacturers.³

Bumper pull trailers use simpler, lighter-duty construction, which results in lower overall trailer pricing. Even higher-capacity bumper pull models typically cost less than an entry-level gooseneck option.

Which Trailer Is Right for Your Hot Shot Business?

Now that you know the basic differences between these trailer types, consider the following key questions to better understand your needs:

• How large and heavy are the typical loads you'll be hauling? If you regularly need to transport oversized machinery, vehicles, or extreme cargo over 25,000 lbs, then a gooseneck may be required to handle those loads safely.²
• What vehicles do you already have or intend to purchase? If you don't have a heavy-duty pickup truck, you'll be limited to bumper pull options unless you acquire a truck first.
• How important are maximum maneuverability and tight turning ability? Goosenecks have a distinct advantage for easier low-speed maneuvering and navigating tighter spaces.⁷
• Will you be running primarily at highway speeds? The superior high-speed stability and sway resistance of goosenecks provide a big safety benefit over bumper pulls.
• What's your long-term budget and growth plan? Bumper pulls initially cost less, while goosenecks require more upfront investment but enable higher revenue potential.

Remember, the right trailer is an investment in the success of your business, so don't be afraid to do the research to pick the best option for today and tomorrow.

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Sources

1. Jones, KJ. "What Is a Gooseneck Trailer? Insights on the Weird-Looking Heavy Hauler with the Funny Name." MotorTrend, 6 Apr. 2021, www.motortrend.com/how-to/what-is-a-gooseneck-trailer/.
2. DuraMag. "Need-to-Know Towing Facts: Gooseneck vs. Bumper Towing and Trailers." DuraMag Blog, www.duramagbodies.com/blog/need-to-know-towing-facts-gooseneck-vs-bumper-towing-and-trailers.
3. Nationwide Trailers. (2023, December 12). Gooseneck vs. bumper pull trailers: What's the difference? Nationwide Trailers. Retrieved from https://www.nationwidetrailers.com/blog/gooseneck-vs-bumper-pull-trailers-what's-the-difference/.
4. Featherlite. (n.d.). Bumper pull trailers vs. gooseneck trailers. Featherlite. Retrieved from https://www.fthr.com/owner-support/resources/trailer-use-care-maintenance/bumper-pull-trailers-vs-gooseneck-trailers.
5. Big Tex Trailer World. "Understanding Gooseneck Trailer Hitching Systems: Pros and Cons." Big Tex Trailer World Blog, www.bigtextrailerworld.com/blog/understanding-gooseneck-trailer-hitching-systems-pros-and-cons.
6. Admin. (2022, May 18). Are gooseneck trailers better than bumper pull trailers? Kate's Trailer Sales Blog. Retrieved from https://www.katestrailersales.com/are-gooseneck-trailers-better-than-bumper-pull-trailers/.
7. Cimarron Trailers. (2019, November 18). Bumper pull trailers vs gooseneck trailers: Which is right for you? Cimarron Trailers. Retrieved from https://www.cimarrontrailers.com/blog/bumper-pull-trailers-vs-gooseneck-trailers.

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