Posted 2008-02-05 7:12 PM (#76147 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
I have a short piece on my top 4 picks of cushion coupler/balls in the February Western Horseman Magazine including Star Performance. Star Performance does lessen the impact from the trailer. Because of it's design using fore and aft movement lifting up on the trailer hitch for resistance, I liked it better for trailers weighing 12k and under. On trailers I used over 15k in panic braking, because of the amount of fore and aft movement, tended to push the truck.
The folks that board my Paint mare are using my Star Performance coupler on their flat bed gooseneck trailer and love it. Actually I haven't found anybody that is using one, that didn't like it. I'm just picky as my job is to tear stuff up. Most people don't lock up their brakes at highway speeds to see what moves. But I'm the test dummy, I've got the black and yellow tatoo to prove it.
Posted 2008-02-08 10:31 AM (#76399 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 736 Location: Western WA
Hurley and any other vendor who wants to avoid paying appropriate advertising fees on this site:
Posts like this pretty much ensure I will never buy anything from you. If you can't make an ethical choice to pay for advertising, why would I think you would value me as a customer?
No thanks on spending my hard earned dollar at Hurley Equipment.
Posted 2008-03-20 2:59 PM (#79986 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Bringing this back to the top.
Anyone using this Star Performance hitch? Or the Cody cushion hitch that mounts in the truck. Or how about this PopUp hitch that uses three "Timbren" rubber cushions? I'm kinda leaning toward a Cody.. http://www.codyhitch.com/cody%20cushion.htm
#1 it stays in the truck so It will be used on all four of our gooseneck trailers.
#2 the air pressure is adjustable, so you can adjust it according to the load you're carrying
#3 it is cheaper!!
#4 ????
Is there anyone here other than "Haulin-Horses", that uses the Cody Cushion hitch. Is it worth spending the money??
Posted 2008-03-20 9:28 PM (#80014 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Yea, I listed that one. Only thing is... That works on one trailer. I got four different trailers, so I'm looking for something that stays with the truck rather than springing for, four seperate hitches or switching the cushion hitch from one trailer to another, that would be more than a pain!
To tell you the truth, I probably don't need any of them. I just would like the horses riding as smooth as possible. Some trips are 500-800 miles a day.
Posted 2008-03-21 7:29 AM (#80032 - in reply to #80014) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Originally written by retento on 2008-03-20 9:28 PM
I just would like the horses riding as smooth as possible. Some trips are 500-800 miles a day.
Do you think that a cushion GN hitch really makes the ride that much better? Do your other HT's have air suspension? If not, don't the horses take the same amount of jarring from the trailer suspension?I mean, it's your money, and must be of a concern to you.I just don't see it being that big of a deal.
Posted 2008-03-21 9:52 AM (#80042 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
None of the other trailers we have are on air. They are either torsion axles (horse trailers) or they are 10,000# leaf spring axles, (flatbed equipment trailers), My thinking was any little bit of extra cushioning or shock absorbsion would help. AND if anyone here had used any type of hitch like the ones we mentioned. And, yes it's my money (that I really rather spend it on something for me!!)....... Are these hitches worth the bother or are they some type of "snake oil"? Everyone has some type of "gimmick" these days, this one's better than that one, mine's bigger than yours, etc., etc., !!!
And I have thought of pulling some leaf springs a "bagging" the truck, but for some reason I can't convence myself that I really want to do this. That would actually be the cheapest and cleanest thing to do. I still kinda like this one... http://www.codyhitch.com/cody%20cushion.htm
Posted 2008-03-21 12:23 PM (#80051 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
One last comment, I think whoever you are planning on buying your gooseneck cushion device from, whichever brand, that you try it first. They should have demo's. Ride over railroad tracks and on a lonely empty highway with no horses on board, do the 40 mph panic stop. That's what I do at higher speed with new trucks and trailers with new brakes. You should understand how your rig handles in panic situations anyway. If you ever get a chance to go to the Ice Driving School in Steamboat CO, do it. The trailer towing part is cool, well it's in January anyway. Maybe someday someone like US Rider or AAA will offer trailer towing schools or maybe the new NATDA.
Posted 2008-03-21 12:54 PM (#80054 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
That would be nice, to be able to "try one out".... But there's no one around here that sells anything like this, let alone keep a piece or three in stock... In our area, we are kinda limited to the Walmart and Piggly Wiggly so far as retail stores to buy "hitch equipment"!!!. There's an RV store up the road that can get me a Cody hitch.... If I pay for it upfront and he's about 15% higher than anything on the Internet.
I bet that trailer driving school on the ice and snow was educational!!
Posted 2008-03-21 12:58 PM (#80055 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
Good point, but I'm pretty sure most of the hitch companies will take them back if you aren't happy after you try it. I miss being that far in the country. Now I'm 2 miles from Walmart, 3 miles from Home Depot and 4 Starbachs within 4 miles. But I still hear the coyotes at night and have monthly horse sales 3 miles away. So I must be in heaven.
Posted 2009-04-26 12:59 PM (#103969 - in reply to #79986) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Location: Central Arkansas
We purchased the Cody Cushion Hitch to put in our 08 Ford 450. I really like the ride it gives both the truck and trailer. For that alone, it is worth it. BUT, it is big, bulky, heavy and extremely hard to put in and out of the truck. So mine stays in all the time. We put a plastic box over it so they don't tear feed bags throwing them too close to it. On days that we need the truck without the Cody in it, it will take both of us to get it out. Another good thing about the Cody, is that it brings the level of the Ford up for extra clearance and to equal the same height of the hitch to the Sportchassis. That makes both trailers interchangeable with absolutely no adjustments to the trailers. That makes hubby's life so much easier...........
Posted 2009-04-26 2:32 PM (#103970 - in reply to #103969) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2009-04-26 1:59 PM
We purchased the Cody Cushion Hitch to put in our 08 Ford 450. I really like the ride it gives both the truck and trailer. For that alone, it is worth it. BUT, it is big, bulky, heavy and extremely hard to put in and out of the truck. So mine stays in all the time. We put a plastic box over it so they don't tear feed bags throwing them too close to it. On days that we need the truck without the Cody in it, it will take both of us to get it out. Another good thing about the Cody, is that it brings the level of the Ford up for extra clearance and to equal the same height of the hitch to the Sportchassis. That makes both trailers interchangeable with absolutely no adjustments to the trailers. That makes hubby's life so much easier...........
Hey... I see you're missing a 3500 GM truck from your lineup....
Posted 2009-04-26 7:00 PM (#103983 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Location: Central Arkansas
Boy, nothing gets pass you! Yup, put it in the paper and on Ebay last Sunday. A local guy came and got it on Wed . Took, the cash, cleaned out the truck, came in the house to cancel the EBAY auction just to find that it had sold there on the buy it now! Thank goodness I put in the auction that I reserved the right to sell the truck locally. I made the decision on Friday to go ahead and sell it. So, I had it detailed and hid the keys from the hubby. I could have sold that truck many times more . I guess I priced it too cheap. $14, 900
"R wrote:
Hey... I see you're missing a 3500 GM truck from your lineup..
Posted 2009-04-26 10:42 PM (#103997 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Location: Central Arkansas
I would let you take my Cody Hitch for a spin. But, it is very unlikely that I would leave the Sportchassis at home to drive the Ford to NC with a trailer. The thought of pulling Black Mt with the Ford isn't very appealing to me..............
Posted 2009-04-26 11:22 PM (#103999 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
I have the cody hitch and like it. my saddles no longer fall off the rack and it does ride much nicer. I don't have any problem getting it in or out of my truck as a previous poster did. it is heavy though. 50 pounds?
Posted 2009-04-27 7:18 AM (#104007 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Location: Central Arkansas
My Cody Cushion hitch came with a coating on the shaft that goes down into the B&W thingy. It is really, really tight. You have to have someone underneath pushing it out from the bottom at the same time you are pulling it from the top. It is a real pain but the ride of the hitch still makes it worth it. I sure wish they had left that coating off. I am assuming the coating is a rust inhibitor of some type. It is textured like a thick paint. Maybe there is something that I can put on it to make it slide in and out easier. It is such a tight fit now, just not sure if the thing would even fit in the hole at all if it had another layer of anything on it. Any suggestions?
Posted 2009-04-27 12:23 PM (#104028 - in reply to #76008) Subject: RE: gooseneck hitch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
I've seen them fit tight on the newer B&W's. I did grind a little on my test unit to get it to fit faster. The first year the Cody Cushion had to have it's collar tightened with a wrench after you dropped it in the hole and put the side pin from the hitch in. This was to help prevent theft. The models out now just drop in the hole and pin in like the hitch ball. Here are some pictures, http://mrtrailer.com/cody.htm
gooseneck hitch
)....... Are these hitches worth the bother or are they some type of "snake oil"? Everyone has some type of "gimmick" these days, this one's better than that one, mine's bigger than yours, etc., etc., !!! 