I ran across this article yesterday on the intertubes:
Pickup Trucks 101: What You Need to Know Before Hitching Up a Trailer - PickupTrucks.com News
It's a short little article with some good information, including the difference between a fifth wheel hitch and a gooseneck hitch, the different weight ratings for hitch components, the type of electrical connector you need, and also a link to another good article on pickup weight capacities.
This statement bears repeating: Tongue weight refers to the amount of weight pressing down on your truck’s hitch. It shouldn't exceed 10 to 15 percent of the trailer’s weight for a conventional hitch or 20 to 25 percent for a gooseneck trailer. See, your truck doesn't just pull a trailer, it bears a portion of the trailer's weight too.
Which is why you shouldn't pull a gooseneck trailer with a half ton pickup -- even at 7,000 pounds fully loaded, at 25% you've already exceeded the load capacity of almost every half-ton.
Pickup Trucks 101: What You Need to Know Before Hitching Up a Trailer - PickupTrucks.com News
It's a short little article with some good information, including the difference between a fifth wheel hitch and a gooseneck hitch, the different weight ratings for hitch components, the type of electrical connector you need, and also a link to another good article on pickup weight capacities.
This statement bears repeating: Tongue weight refers to the amount of weight pressing down on your truck’s hitch. It shouldn't exceed 10 to 15 percent of the trailer’s weight for a conventional hitch or 20 to 25 percent for a gooseneck trailer. See, your truck doesn't just pull a trailer, it bears a portion of the trailer's weight too.
Which is why you shouldn't pull a gooseneck trailer with a half ton pickup -- even at 7,000 pounds fully loaded, at 25% you've already exceeded the load capacity of almost every half-ton.