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who has the best hydraulic gooseneck trailer?

Chaz Murray

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Messages
215
Location
Stockton CA
hummmmm you guys gonna start building them, chaz?


well we are considering it now...after going to the show in dallas and not getting a good response from a mechanical gooseneck I think we are going to have to come up with something, even as much as we hate to do it...
 

MKTEF

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
1,013
Location
Norway
Occupation
Production manager
Theese guy's make the best ones in Europe:
http://www.vangs.no/hengeralbum
Click on the pics to enlarge the different modells.
(Sorry its only in Norwegian, ask and i'll translate for you;))

They are best because of the weight compared to payload.:)
They use only the best quality materialls and well known suppliers.
They are also in front thecnology wise, with electronic stearing on the axles for instance.
You might get more for a trailer when selling it, than what you bought it for.;)

This page show u some of the details u would be interrested in:
http://www.vangs.no/documents/05.pdf

More of those sheets here:
http://www.vangs.no/losninger/produktark

Maybee a talk with them could give u some design solutions tested and developed for years..:)
 

lamarbur

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2003
Messages
105
Location
MA/CT state lines
Occupation
part time excavator/backhoe operator
There are a lot of them out there and most all are very reputable too,, Here in the New England area, and if you are interested in longevity of trailer, safety of the same, and just plain common sense, all the contractors, this is, the bigger ones, all buy and use Etnyre (sp).. They are bullet proof and also very heavy., One has to design and order appropriately for what they will be hauling for equipment as the Etnyre's are very heavy in them selves, The old saying, you get what you pay for,,
 

dumptrucker

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2007
Messages
205
Location
vermont
The biggest thing I would say is the ease of hooking up to it on site. As we all know sites are not level and even. I have not operated many different models like somebody on this site, pssst! Hey lowboy!

I think I would do a survey on what drivers want in a detachable and design something that is the best of all worlds.

In my opinion it is Ease of hook and unhook with as little steps as possible, the ability to unhook and hook on uneven ground, also the ease to raise trailer up to get over obstacles like RR tracks or big crowns in roads.

hope this helps
 

imbzcul8r

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
22
Location
B.C. Canada
Chaz, I have had good luck with a Aspen hydraulic neck, I use it in BC as a nine axle where we gross 85,000 kg (187,000 lbs) on heavyhaul routes. The neck is able to lift 70t loads to ride height even when extended for a tandem jeep. One change I did make was to throw away the single stage hyd. pump & put a cheap Barnes two stage pump like they use for wood splitters & a 13 hp Honda, when the trailer is empty or lightly loaded you can lift it to ride height in a few seconds & maybe 30-45 seconds under full load. With all due respect, after you have used a hyd neck you will understand why you are seeing buyer resistance to ramp style detachables. The ease for the driver & less wear & tear on the truck plus the ability to raise the deck height make them tough competition. As you know, the penalty you pay is less payload, & for that reason we still have a couple of ramp type. I bet if you design & build a hyd neck, you'll sell even more trailers. Good luck.
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
I see alot of talbert, trail king, and landoll trailers out there. These are mainly 2 and three axle detachables though. I would be nice if someone put cylinders underneath the front corners to level the bed even just a little so you didn't have to be on a perfect surface to attach and detach.
 

ben46a

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
773
Location
Waverley NS/Fort Mac AB
No i dont, If i were home id get you some but im in fort Mac till nov 13th. Basucally theres 2 large hooks on the bottom of the goose neck facing up, that engage in two horizontal fixed pins. The cylinders in the neck work against the deck of the trailer and two steel legs drop down between the deck and neck to keep it up. Works pretty slick. If you need height you just add steel shims under the neck legs. Theres also the stinger on the the neck to keep it up off the ground. Ill get you pictures as soon as i can.

On a side note, If you come out with a Hyd neck id likely buy your trailers, thats the only thing i dont like about yours now.
 

CAT D9H

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2008
Messages
250
Location
New Mexico
Occupation
Heavy equipment operator
we use the Cheater XL's they are great , they are simple , one man hookup and unhook
 

Chaz Murray

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Messages
215
Location
Stockton CA
How do you guys feel about having to slide links? The design we are kinda looking at now will be able to be used on older trailers without modification except we will have to make the links sliding vs. most others using solid oversized links that are fixed in place. I would say we are a good 3-6 months away from a prototype so its still all in the concept stage
 

Dualie

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
1,371
Location
Nor Cal
talking to my buddy's back east they swear by Rogers and XL specialized. But after seeing my 16 tire they both said they were going to look long and hard at getting a Murray interstate.

and backwards compatibility is always a good thing. To have 2 necks for one trailer would only serve to make it that much more versatile.
 
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imbzcul8r

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
22
Location
B.C. Canada
I can understand using a sliding link if you are retrofitting to existing deck sections, but if you are building new from the ground up I think fixed link is a better way to go. One of the purposes of the oversized solid link is lineup- you only have to be close when you back onto the pins, when you lift the deck drops into place and away you go. With sliding links you can't slide them until they are aligned which is ok if you are pulling out from under the neck & letting guides shift the neck, but you won't be doing that with a hyd. neck. I guess you might be able to use a oversized sliding link? Also as a driver you don't have to go to the other side of the trailer, you don't have to kneel down and its quicker. Not a big deal if you only load once or twice a day but for local work it's a plus.
 

tctractors

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
2,382
Location
Worc U.K.
Hydraulic necks,

The U.S. Armed forces love the top design features used by Cometto of N, Italy, they even have these units to lug your space craft about, In Europe a top Co, is Nooteboom, they make super kit, when the bed is sunk 6" into dirt you can still hook up the neck and lift the bed, all the necks are made of Weldox steel and strong as they come.

tctractors.
 

LowBoy

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2006
Messages
1,149
Location
Southern Vt. on the Mass./NH borders
Occupation
Owner, Iron Mountain Iron & Equipment (Transport)
The biggest thing I would say is the ease of hooking up to it on site. As we all know sites are not level and even. I have not operated many different models like somebody on this site, pssst! Hey lowboy!


To the rescue...(I actually tend to stay away from these topics believe it or not, due to the variations of opinions...kinda like politics:Banghead)

In the Northeast here there is a good sales and service network of Fontaine Specialized, Talbert and Rogers for a good quality, 35-80 ton range. So most users tend to go with one of those. I can only speak from my experience and "grunting" out in the field. I've pulled several Fontaines, both 3 and 4 axle level deck and dropsided. And, I've hauled some pretty unique and diversified contraptions. I happen to like them (Fontaines) simply because I got so doggone used to their quirks and ease of operation. However, hooking back into their gooseneck design will try even a passive man's patience sometimes, especially if upon initial detechment that trailer isn't perfectly level and most importantly...lined up dead straight as you pulled away.
Fontaine's design is a dual hook and shaft system. 2 hooks on the trailer mainbeams must line up perfectly with the shaft down on the gooseneck, with about a 1" side to side window of opportunity. Mainly because at the same time, you're "threading a needle" so to speak by having to place the safety pin eyelet on the bottom of the neck into the slot in the trailer bed. Miss this window, be off level or out of square, and you're gonna struggle.
Another little buttache you'll get from a Fontaine is from the safety pin slide. A 2 1/2" pin must slide into a boss locking the neck into the trailer to prevent seperation. Every one I dealt with, (2 I picked up fresh from a dealer...)I had to go home and put the grinder to the pin and give it a good 45 degree bevel so it would freely slide, because they are blunt from the factory. If not, all the tea in China won't be worth the aggrevation you'll recieve trying to put that stupid pin in. My first trip with the 2nd from last trailer, I loaded a D-6 at a Cat dealer in Maine, and I was there over an hour taking up valuable space in the yard, trying to get that pin to slide. Now I had people walking up to me trying to give me instructions on how it's done...but with sweat beading off my forehead and a long string of cusswords, they decided to leave me alone.:D
Talbert, Rogers, Eager Beaver and some others use a simpler "eyelet and pin" design, having the two rugged pins protruding from the front of the trailer bed, and the 2 "eyelets" down on the gooseneck. Even if you're not perfectly square or level with these, once you get somewhat close to attachment and need to adjust things, it can usually be done by lifting the neck with the hydraulics up past the point of normal ride height, and 9 times out of 10 everything slides together. If not, a block under one side of the trailer or the other, raise up and down to determine what needs shimming, etc., and you'll be truckin' in no time...
As one guy mentioned here, Etnyre has been seen around more and more recently. Allstates Asphalt in Mass. runs nothing but them, mainly because of their fleet of asphalt tankers and specialty trailers is so large I imagine it's a loyalty issue between them. They even run Etnyre tag-a-longs.
But if weight is critical, Etnyre won't really be the first choice.
Depending on what your application is, how big, wide, hefty you're going to be...It's a matter of seperating the "fly droppings from the pepper" among the first three mfg's, Fontaine Specialized, Talbert and Rogers.
Another critical issue to mention is "DECK HEIGHT". Fontaine's will squat pretty good with a little imagination and some adjustment to the leveling valve rod. They seem to dominate the market with a 12" deck height on their dropsides. I've moved a good deal of 980G's from places like Long Island to Florida, but on a level deck all the while wishing I had a dropside. It makes for a lot of extra messing around like deflating the tires, removing anything on the roof, and hoping you've read your tape measure right.:p
There you have it. That's MY story and I'm sssstickin' to it.
 
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traveller

New Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Messages
1
Location
canada
new aspen neck

so.. Who makes the best Hydraulic gooseneck and why?:beatsme

i have a fontaine and like it,many of my co-workers have aspen or k line trailers and one has a murray,we are all impressed with aspens new design.they have taken 700-1000 lbs out of coventional hydraulic necks.
their idea could easely be adapted to your outside rail trailers .
what they did is eliminate the lift box and heavy crossmember that the cylinders push on and attatched the hydraulic cylinders directly to the rails of the neck.
 
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