Gooseneck trailers are everywhere in Texas — livestock trailers, flatbed equipment trailers, horse trailers — and picking the right tow vehicle (and the right bed) makes a real difference in how well the combination handles. Here’s what we tell customers speccing a truck primarily for gooseneck towing.
3/4-Ton and 1-Ton Comparison for Gooseneck Towing
| Truck | Max Gooseneck Tow (DRW) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Ford F-250 SRW | ~19,000 lbs | Lighter trailers, daily driver + occasional towing |
| Ford F-350 DRW | ~40,000 lbs | Heavy livestock, equipment, and horse trailers |
| Ram 2500 | ~19,780 lbs | Lighter trailers, daily driver + occasional towing |
| Ram 3500 DRW | ~36,000 lbs | Heavy livestock, equipment, and horse trailers |
| Chevy/GMC 2500HD | ~19,500 lbs | Lighter trailers, daily driver + occasional towing |
| Chevy/GMC 3500HD DRW | ~36,000 lbs | Heavy livestock, equipment, and horse trailers |
SRW vs. DRW for Gooseneck Towing
For occasional gooseneck towing of a small livestock or utility trailer, an SRW 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck is plenty. But if you’re regularly hauling loaded livestock trailers, equipment trailers, or heavier horse trailers, DRW (dual rear wheel) is the safer choice — it roughly doubles your max gooseneck towing capacity and gives you far more stability when the trailer is loaded near its GVWR, especially on Texas highways in crosswinds.
Flatbed vs. Factory Bed for Gooseneck Hitches
Factory beds work fine with a puck-system gooseneck hitch, but many of our customers switch to a flatbed for a cleaner install and added deck space for hauling feed, fencing supplies, or tools alongside the trailer. A flatbed like Bedrock or CM comes pre-drilled or easily fitted for a gooseneck hitch ball, and the flat deck gives you a place to haul feed sacks, tools, or fencing supplies on the same trip.
CA Measurement and Hitch Clearance
When installing a flatbed for gooseneck towing, cab-to-axle (CA) measurement determines where the gooseneck hitch ball lands relative to the rear axle — critical for proper weight distribution and trailer articulation. We always verify CA and hitch placement together before a flatbed install so your gooseneck sits correctly over the axle, not too far forward or back.
📞 Call Star Truck Equipment at (979) 532-1486 — we’re in Wharton, TX and help Texas ranch and ag customers spec the right truck, bed, and hitch setup for gooseneck towing.