Why does a gooseneck tow better

[rjglenn]

I have a '92 F350 powered by a 7.3 IDI with an ATS turbo.

Can anyone tell me why a gooseneck tows better? What I mean is that I can tow my 28' gooseneck equipment trailer with a 9000# tractor and a couple more thousand pounds of implement and the truck rolls along just fine. If I hook up to my 7000# bumper pull camper it's like I'm trying to drag an anchor and I feel like I need to get out and push. The truck is working much harder, higher boost, higher exhaust temperatures, and lower speed.

Weight is weight, doesn't make since, but there's a hugh difference.

 

[87crewdually]

Aerodynamics= surface area + wind resistance

Plus, loaded your camper may be heavier than you think.

 

[Freight_Train]

Air drag mainly.Handling will be much better on the goose since the point of load is directly over the axle more or less instead of 4 foot back acting.The weight is actually multiplied due to the leverage effect.Instead of pushing down on the whole truck it is pushing down on the bumper and taking substantial weight off the front axle.Also sway.Easier for the tail to wag the dog with bumper pull.

 

[OLDBULL8]

Towing and Hauling
Discussions of all aspects of Towing, Transport & Hauling

Wind resistance! Ever try holding a 4X8 sheet of plywood against a slight wind?

 

[RLDSL]

My enclosed carhauler weighs the same empty as my 5er does but the carhailer pulls much easier. The carhauler is 102" wide the 5er only 96" but the big difference is the carhauler is a bit lower and the nose on it comes to a point and the 5er has a blunt nose. Even with the carhauler loaded 4k heavier with a car it still pulls easier than the 5er Both are hitched up via my gooseneck hitch.

 

[oldmisterbill]

Bottom line is wind resistance is as bad as weight resistance .

 

[Agnem]

Somewhere I had once posted a chart that showed for X number of square inches of frontal surface area, it took X number of horsepower to move it at 55MPH. It was very enlightening. I'll be darned if I can find it right now. But yes, it is a documented fact. I do recal the number for MY camper was around 50 HP. So take whatever HP it takes to move that weight, and add the HP it takes to push it through the air. It can be a formidable number.

 

[Freight_Train]

well,if you ever find it....how many ponys to move this thing at 65MPH?

 

[Agnem]

You can probably answer that already. About all that it makes!

 

[rjglenn]

Well, I hadn't considered the difference of wind resistance. The tractor is not areodynamic at all, but it is no where near as wide as what the face of the camper is. Thanks. BTW, I'd love to see the chart mentioned by Mr. Agnem.

 

[bike-maker]

My truck pulls my 5er pretty hard up until around 45 mph. By that point it feels like somebody threw out an anchor. First time I pulled it I was convinced the brakes on the trailer were dragging when they were just fine. With a moderate headwind, WOT only gets me to 65mph. There's an extra 6' x 8' wall over the top of the truck, and the trailer is 8" or so wider on each side as well. Probably a little over 50 square feet. I'd be curious to see the calc of how much power it takes to pull the thing down the highway too.

 

[87crewdually]

Vehicle Drag Coefficient (cd)
Description Low Medium High
-------------------------------------------
Experimental 0.17 0.21 0.23
Sports 0.27 0.31 0.38
Performance 0.32 0.34 0.38
60's Muscle 0.38 0.44 0.50
Sedan 0.34 0.39 0.50
Motorcycle 0.50 0.90 1.00
Truck 0.60 0.90 1.00
Tractor-Trailer 0.60 0.77 1.20

Use this chart to pick your drag coefficient and plug in your #'s at this link. (most cases .90)
To figure your frontal W x H=Sqft.

http://www.bgsoflex.com/aero.html

 

[junior20762003]

well,if you ever find it....how many ponys to move this thing at 65MPH?

lol who needs a deer blind and a four wheeler when you got that

 

[bikepilot]

Yep, aerodynamics makes a huge difference. My 2k lbs 20' box trailer is quite tall and wide and if I hit a headwind it takes a surprising amount of throttle to keep the speed up. I've also towed a much heavier tractor on a flat-bed and found it actually took less throttle at speed, though acceleration at lower speeds was slower.

 

[rjglenn]

When it's loaded like this pic, it's just slow no matter what...