Gooseneck & bed length

[countrylife]

Those of you with gooseneck trailers (and 5th wheels) what is your comment on bed length, and anyone else for that matter. I know that both short bed & long bed will work and that the long bed is a little more stable with cross winds etc because of the wheel base. But, I also have to deal with parking lots and a short bed would be so much nicer. The wheel base difference between the 2 is 16 inches. On the east coast I've always gone with a short bed because of more congestion and tighter roads. But now that I'm in Texas, is that a concern any more? A CrewCab Long Bed sure looks really really long!

P.S. My primary trailer is a 32' RV trailer that I tow everywhere, and sometimes to New England where corners are tight and clearances are thin, but mostly stay in the West.

[westcoaststrokin]

I tow a 35' G/N with my shortie. Stable as hell just have to watch the sharp turns.

[jesilvas]

Between long and short bed, the main difference is how tightly you can turn. I don't see why one would be less stable.
Where ya at in TX?

[44magnum]

Stability wont be an issue, I tow a 38' cargo in cross winds with no issues. Although I do have air bags. Turning will be an issue, 5th wheels tend to be less of an issue than gooseneck's (although it depends on the trailer) but a shortbed will cause issues when making tight turns. Although a tapered front gooseneck trailer would eliminate much of the problem. And when I say gooseneck I mean a gooseneck cargo trailer, not a flatbed as flatbeds don't have the square front that would contact the cab on a sharp turn. I hope that makes sense, I just drank a bottle of wine.

[Frozen Redneck]

I tow that, (below) no problems. I have a headache rack and it's saved my butt a few times in parking lots! I thought I'd hate having a short bed, all I've had is long beds, but there hasn't been one time in the last 6 months that I've regretted this truck.

[Ryan Rønning]

I have a long bed because with my full tank and toolbox combo it becomes a short bed.

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by Ryan Rønning

I have a long bed because with my full tank and toolbox combo it becomes a short bed.

Same way with me. Gotta watch some turns and make sure not to knock off the fuel pump or scrape up the box.

[44magnum]

Notice on ryan's cargo trailer the cargo part dosn't come up to the front of the hitch, so that gives him a little more room, and a flatbed gooseneck dosn't have anything to come into contact with the cab, so no problem there.

[Ryan Rønning]

That was the biggest selling point for me on this trailer. I dont have to worry to much about contacting the front of the trailer and I can just about pull off 90* cornering.

[44magnum]

Originally Posted by Ryan Rønning

That was the biggest selling point for me on this trailer. I dont have to worry to much about contacting the front of the trailer and I can just about pull off 90* cornering.

Ya that would be nice, even with my extend a ball and custom extended hitch I can only make about a 50* turn.