Gooseneck Trailer Hitches
Gooseneck trailer hitches are used to haul irregularly shaped
trailers that have frontal protrusions that stick out past the
rest of the trailer. Gooseneck trailer hitches are some of the
strongest on the market, often able to handle up to 30,000
pounds. These trailer hitches are not installed at the rear of a
truck like conventional trailer hitches, but they do often use a
similar hitch ball system to secure the trailer to the hitch.
Gooseneck trailer hitches are installed under the middle of the
truckbed, not at the rear bumper like conventional trailer
hitches. Gooseneck trailer hitches are needed to haul
irregularly shaped cargo trailers that stick out in the front.
These trailers are rectangular until the front, where the top
area sticks out past the rest. A good example of a trailer that
would be compatible with a gooseneck trailer hitch is a horse
trailer. One reason a trailer may be shaped like this is to have
a smaller turning radius. The trailer can make sharper turns
since it is attached further into the bed of the truck than
trailers connected at the very rear of the truck.
Installing a gooseneck trailer hitch usually involves
temporarily removing the truckbed in order to install the
necessary frames to hold the hitch ball. People usually have to
drill a hole in the middle of the bed for the hitch ball to fit
through before reattaching the bed to the truck. The hitch ball
must be elevated above the truckbed in order for people to
fasten trailers onto it. Some gooseneck hitches have balls that
can fold down into the bed of the truck when not in use so that
the truckbed is once again a flat surface.
Gooseneck trailer hitches are great for carrying irregularly
shaped trailers and providing a tighter turning radius.
Gooseneck trailer hitches are slightly complicated to install,
but they are extremely secure once they are fastened under the
truckbed.