2011 sierra 1500 crewcab 4x4, pull a gooseneck??

music · January 14, 2012

My opinion: if you beefed up the suspension to handle the vertical load, and if you had trailer brakes and a good controller, and if you only did it for short distances. The truck will handle the weight if you beef up the suspension (air bags or add-a-leaf), but the brakes and axle bearings are taking more of a beating than designed for. Over short disances (like pulling a farm tractor), it would be fine by my experience... but I wouldn't put a big 5th camper on it at those weights and take off on long trips. Folks do it. Heck, I saw an elder couple with a mid-sized 5th camper on a late 80's GM truck last year while pumping gas. They had come from Maine, going to FL, and looked to have been doing so for many years (guessing). He clearly had beefed up the springs, but he was certainly over his rated capacity.

We get by with more tag-along trailer on a 1500 because a WD hitch system distributes some of the load back to the trailer axles, and some to the front. A 5th or gooseneck puts that weight straight down on the rear axle. Personally, I'd go with a tag-along with a WD system (over ~4000 lbs)... unless you already have the goose neck.

tyhuck · January 15, 2012

Ive known a lot of people who pull goosenecks with half tons, but all of them had 6.5' beds. Personally, I wouldnt do it with a half ton. But, if I had to, I wouldnt do it with anything less than a 6.5' bed, just for clearance issues. I dont trust those gooseneck attachements like the offset hitches and such.

focijoe · January 17, 2012

As long as you stay within the weight limits for your truck you will be fine. The only problem you will have is your turning radius. I towed a 5,500lb fifth wheel with my 04 1500 6.5 ft bed and it did fine.

00Silverado4x4 · January 17, 2012

Again, reread the OP posting..."I read the owners manual and it says that my truck is neither designed or intended to pull a gooseneck or fifth wheel." Check your local traffic laws. You could also be pulled over & given a ticket/fined for towing/hauling improperly.

Diesail · January 22, 2012

Towing a 5th wheel or a goose neck with a 1500 is very doable. But it has to be the right trailer for the combination. Most 5th wheels manufactures are looking to put a lot of weight in the back of the truck so you have to pick your fiver very carefully.

tyhuck · January 23, 2012

Saw one today pulling a 20' stock trailer. Seemed ot have no trouble, and it didnt appear to have an offset hitch. But, like I said before, I wouldnt personally do it with anything less than a 6.5' bed.

focijoe · January 28, 2012

Again, reread the OP posting..."I read the owners manual and it says that my truck is neither designed or intended to pull a gooseneck or fifth wheel." Check your local traffic laws. You could also be pulled over & given a ticket/fined for towing/hauling improperly.

I find it hard to believe that a cop is going to see this guy towing and say: "That guy has a crew cab short bed 1500, According to his owners manual that truck is not designed to tow a gooseneck.......Lets go get him!!!"

00Silverado4x4 · January 29, 2012

Again, reread the OP posting..."I read the owners manual and it says that my truck is neither designed or intended to pull a gooseneck or fifth wheel." Check your local traffic laws. You could also be pulled over & given a ticket/fined for towing/hauling improperly.

I find it hard to believe that a cop is going to see this guy towing and say: "That guy has a crew cab short bed 1500, According to his owners manual that truck is not designed to tow a gooseneck.......Lets go get him!!!"

So it's ok to disregard SAFETY warnings in our manuals, but "As long as you stay within the weight limits for your truck you will be fine."

Really?

So we pick which rules apply to driving safely dependent on what a cop may or may not notice or be aware of or you can get away with?

Come on!!!

Do me a favor and stay behind my truck on the highway so if and when something happens my family is safely in front of you.

focijoe · January 29, 2012

Again, reread the OP posting..."I read the owners manual and it says that my truck is neither designed or intended to pull a gooseneck or fifth wheel." Check your local traffic laws. You could also be pulled over & given a ticket/fined for towing/hauling improperly.

I find it hard to believe that a cop is going to see this guy towing and say: "That guy has a crew cab short bed 1500, According to his owners manual that truck is not designed to tow a gooseneck.......Lets go get him!!!"

So it's ok to disregard SAFETY warnings in our manuals, but "As long as you stay within the weight limits for your truck you will be fine."

Really?

So we pick which rules apply to driving safely dependent on what a cop may or may not notice or be aware of or you can get away with?

Come on!!!

Do me a favor and stay behind my truck on the highway so if and when something happens my family is safely in front of you.

Ok Mr. Safety. In my opinion staying within the weight limits of your truck is a GOOD idea to be safe. Please tell me how towing a trailer with a truck that has the same suspension, frame, axle, tires, brakes, and powertrain as every other 1500 is unsafe if you stay under the weight limit. The only difference is a shorter bed which is not a safety issue. And I don't appreciate being attacked as an unsafe driver. I too have a family and I have been towing for many safe years.

00Silverado4x4 · January 29, 2012

I don't appreciate people telling others to do something that is spelled out in black and white to not do. As for why you can't I don't know. I didn't design the truck. Obviously GM put that restriction there for a reason. So why disregard it?

focijoe · January 29, 2012

I don't appreciate people telling others to do something that is spelled out in black and white to not do. As for why you can't I don't know. I didn't design the truck. Obviously GM put that restriction there for a reason. So why disregard it?

I understand that his manual says not to do it. I am not disregarding that. The op knows what his manual says and is asking if it can be done. Obviously if hitches are available then it is literally possible to tow a gooseneck trailer. Its up to him whether he disregards his manual or not, but staying under the weight limits of your tow vehicle is good advice no matter what your towing.

music · January 29, 2012

I don't appreciate people telling others to do something that is spelled out in black and white to not do. As for why you can't I don't know. I didn't design the truck. Obviously GM put that restriction there for a reason. So why disregard it?

We don't really know, but I'm guessing that it's purely a liability thing with GM. Putting a goose-neck into a short bed can easily lead to jackknifing into the cab (either crunching metal or shattering rear glass). There's nothing different underneath the truck compared to the ext. cab, so it can't be a handling/pulling issue.

00Silverado4x4 · January 29, 2012

Couldn't agree more. It just sounded like you were giving a thumbs up despite the warning. My apologies for not understanding your posts.

focijoe · January 29, 2012

Couldn't agree more. It just sounded like you were giving a thumbs up despite the warning. My apologies for not understanding your posts.

Apology accepted.

kstruckcountry · January 29, 2012

Yeah, you can do it, but I personally don't like having to watch clearance, all I wanna do is go. That's why our pulling is with 1 ton diesels.

Also, if you are the kind of person who is worried about resale value, people are quick to assume a truck has been abused. I wouldn't want to give them a reason, because most people assume a 1/2 ton with a 5th wheel or turnover has been raped.