Prepping the truck for pulling a gooseneck

[kirbybc12]

So I want to get a gooseneck to start pulling my girlfriends two horse gooseneck to keep the stress of her ram 1500. I want a fairly cheap setup since I have other plans for the truck as well. What hitch should I get? My other truck had a turnover type with no rails, just the ball and 2 hooks for the chains. Not sure what brand as it came with the truck.
I also wanted to get airbags for the springs to keep the truck level. If I go that road can I just use the airbags as a full time rear level when not loaded? Would save me money adding blocks as I want to upgrade these crappy shocks to bilsteins and need an extra 2 inches of height for them.

[dwcok]

I have the b&w hitch and supersprings. It works great! I think the hitch is around 350-400 installed and springs around 250-300 installed.

[f350powerstroke]

Originally Posted by kirbybc12

So I want to get a gooseneck to start pulling my girlfriends two horse gooseneck to keep the stress of her ram 1500. I want a fairly cheap setup since I have other plans for the truck as well. What hitch should I get? My other truck had a turnover type with no rails, just the ball and 2 hooks for the chains. Not sure what brand as it came with the truck.
I also wanted to get airbags for the springs to keep the truck level. If I go that road can I just use the airbags as a full time rear level when not loaded? Would save me money adding blocks as I want to upgrade these crappy shocks to bilsteins and need an extra 2 inches of height for them.

So u want to get a gooseneck to tow your girlfriends 2 horse gooseneck....interesting...

[montana6.0]

Also have b&w they work great. And air bags are right around 300 and can install yourself, they helped me level my 06 back out pretty easy when i pulled 35 ft fifth wheel.

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[upd103]

Originally Posted by kirbybc12

So I want to get a gooseneck to start pulling my girlfriends two horse gooseneck to keep the stress of her ram 1500. I want a fairly cheap setup since I have other plans for the truck as well. What hitch should I get? My other truck had a turnover type with no rails, just the ball and 2 hooks for the chains. Not sure what brand as it came with the truck.

What kind of horse trailer are you talking here? Are you talking a living quarters gooseneck or just a 2 horse straight or slant with a tack room up front? Even a living quarter with about a 10 foot short wall wont make your truck squat too much. If she's pulling it with a half ton Dodge right now, I'm guessing you wont hardly notice it behind your 2012.

Originally Posted by kirbybc12

I also wanted to get airbags for the springs to keep the truck level. If I go that road can I just use the airbags as a full time rear level when not loaded?

I wouldn't suggest using your airbags inflated at all times even when unloaded just to add height to the rear. If I'm not understanding you properly, let me know. To add that much height with the bags, you're going to see serious ride quality problems.

Originally Posted by kirbybc12

Would save me money adding blocks as I want to upgrade these crappy shocks to bilsteins and need an extra 2 inches of height for them.

As for 2 inches of blocks....... I suggest looking at your 1-ton and see how it is right now. They may have changed it in the new ones, but in my 08, the 1-tons already have factory blocks. Stacking blocks is not a real good idea especially if you are planning on towing often.

When you do put bags on it and start towing, look at something like this as well. They are longer bump stops for your factory overload spring. By leveling the truck out with the bags, you are not using your overload springs as much. By using these bump stops, your overload springs will also help the bags to level out the truck. This will also help on the tipping feeling in sweeping turns.

Vehicle Suspension for 2012 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty - SuperSprings SSS-1

[kirbybc12]

Originally Posted by upd103

What kind of horse trailer are you talking here? Are you talking a living quarters gooseneck or just a 2 horse straight or slant with a tack room up front? Even a living quarter with about a 10 foot short wall wont make your truck squat too much. If she's pulling it with a half ton Dodge right now, I'm guessing you wont hardly notice it behind your 2012.



I wouldn't suggest using your airbags inflated at all times even when unloaded just to add height to the rear. If I'm not understanding you properly, let me know. To add that much height with the bags, you're going to see serious ride quality problems.



As for 2 inches of blocks....... I suggest looking at your 1-ton and see how it is right now. They may have changed it in the new ones, but in my 08, the 1-tons already have factory blocks. Stacking blocks is not a real good idea especially if you are planning on towing often.

When you do put bags on it and start towing, look at something like this as well. They are longer bump stops for your factory overload spring. By leveling the truck out with the bags, you are not using your overload springs as much. By using these bump stops, your overload springs will also help the bags to level out the truck. This will also help on the tipping feeling in sweeping turns.

Vehicle Suspension for 2012 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty - SuperSprings SSS-1

Thanks for your insight! It's only a two horse trailer with a small tack room up front and it only gets pulled with one horse. I'll probably keep the suspension stock right now, but when I start pulling some bigger trailers I'll upgrade the rear. I see what you mean about the air bags just to add height being a bad ride. Suspensions aren't exactly my thing so I'll have to claim ignorance on that, I'm more of an engine guy. I really appreciate the words of advice!

[44magnum]

I love my B&W, its the only way to go.

And I agree, you probably wont need to add anything to your suspension but if you do Airbags are good (I run a firestone setup, no compressor) but I would check out Timbrens, they look interesting, I would have probably gone that way if I had know about them when I bought my bags.

Post up pics when you can!

[bfrenier]

I tow a 3 horse trailer all the time even with 3 in it my truck don't drop much at all and when i have only 1 small horse it don't even sit on the helper springs