When it comes to buying a trailer none of
the buying considerations will affect your driving more than the choice between
a bumper pull and gooseneck trailer. With its own set of advantages and
disadvantages, the choice can certainly put a person in a fix. By the end of
this blog, you will have sufficient information to pick the right trailer for
your tow vehicle.
Bumper
Pull
The bumper pull is among the most common
types of trailers. It is also known as a drag or tagalong. Contrary to what the
name suggests, the trailer doesn’t connect to the tow vehicle’s bumper.
Instead, it fits over a ball hitch jutting out from the vehicle’s frame at the
rear.
Advantages
● They
are smaller than gooseneck trailers.
● They
tend to cost less.
●
They work perfectly well across motor homes, SUVs, CUVs,
and others. So, you may not require to buy a pickup truck for towing a bumper
pull.
●
Since they are smaller in size, they tend to weigh less.
This means that you don’t require a special license to haul the vehicle.
However, it’s better to always check for your state’s vehicle regulations in
case there’s a lower weight limit.
●
Bumper pull hitch offers a normal turn radius and, hence,
is easier to handle. This means that the trailer will follow the vehicle with
the turn. This makes it ideal if you are buying a new enclosed trailer or
simply a first-time user.
Disadvantages
● Since
it’s smaller in size, it has
less space to offer. Whether it’s to support living quarters or a dressing room
in your trailer, or hauling horses and other livestock, bumper pull hitch will
limit the number of animals you can transport.
● Bumper pull hitch isn’t an ideal option
when it comes to hauling heavier loads. Incorrect compatibility and coupling
with the vehicle can lead to a lack of stability, loss of control, or even
trailer swaying.
Gooseneck
Trailer
A gooseneck trailer is often owned by
veteran trailer owners. Gooseneck trailers are often confused with fifth-wheel trailers
due to design similarities. The difference lies in their coupling abilities.
Fifth-wheel uses a horseshoe-shaped device while a gooseneck slides onto the
ball mounted on the bed of the tow vehicle.
Advantages
● Gooseneck
trailers offer impeccable stability. Gooseneck trailers are designed in such a way that the tongue weight of
the trailer lies over the truck’s rear axle. This minimizes the ability of the
trailer to sway.
●
They are larger than bumper pull trailers.
● More stability and larger size mean
accommodation of more weight. Goosenecks can support more room for living
quarters any extra cargo you haul.
● They also have a tighter turn radius.
Goosenecks allow maneuver of the trailer in tighter spaces.
Disadvantages
●
The size of the goosenecks trailers can be an issue. They
are heavy enough to be classified as commercial and thus require a special
license or permit for operation.
●
Even the best
gooseneck cargo trailers require a special hitching system installed in
the bed of a pickup truck.
●
Since they are less common than bumper pulls, most trucks
don’t come equipped with a gooseneck trailer ball.
●
Storage of the trailer is another issue owing to its size.
If you are still having difficulty in
choosing the best hitch to optimize your trailering experience, feel free to
reach out to us at 1-800-978-7223 or visit milleniumtrailers.com.