How to connect a Gooseneck Trailer 

I have an old piece of PVC pipe that fits over the ball in the bed. Its about 3' tall and I stick it on the ball vertically and use it to line the trailer up. Once the trailer hits the pipe it falls off the ball and I know the neck is over the ball. Works every single time.

Disclaimer: If your an overweight person with limited mobility and over the age of 40 dont hang out your truck because its almost guaranteed you will be ran over by your own truck. 😂😂

My brother asked for help hooking up his trailer yesterday because he is disabled. I found it so interesting, as I had no idea how it all worked. I was so excited, I had to show my wife this video to let her see it. She acknowledged we must really need some activity, after COVID, because she was fascinated, too. 😂 Thanks for a great video, Alex!

Just wondering how many driver's are going to be falling out of their truck when hooking up..lol

Lol stand out hanging off the side of your truck while in gear backing to a gooseneck... I can see it now.... People following that advice, falling out there truck and while laying out on their ass (and hopefully not running over themselves with their front wheels) watching their truck smack into whatever is behind it.. wonder if there is a liability issue there... Lol

#5 lol Alex, you could always just tape the center line, as a marker.

Since I can't mark my leased RAM, what I do is put an adult toy with a suction cup right in the middle ✌️

Hello, Alex, you can put reflective tape, & is good at nite or days. Just a hint and the camera Pick it up very well, it a good guide. Just try to help the new Driver. It has helped me for 41 years, so it not new.

use a fridge magnet strip if steel; or painters tape if aluminum. Alternatively; learn you use your mirrors and get your reference points. line up 'skin to skin' with your truck vs your trailer rails.

Thanks Dad!

We raise the middle headrest all the way up and then line up the gooseneck between the bars that support the headrest and the center of the rear view mirror. Never miss as long as you remember to keep everything in the center of the mirror. Still need to get a feel for how far back to go, but that comes quickly.

Before I had a camera in the bed I just lined up the center headrest in the back to the hitch.

Lol. Piglet has to be trolling all of y'all in the comments. 😂. There's no way he was really being serious about hanging out the truck like that. 😂😂🤣😕😕🙄🙄

Thanks again Alex, learning so much from your videos, keep it coming

I’m in the UK, we barely have any hot-shot style trailers so I’m not likely to ever need to know this. This is so interesting to me though

can you Make a VIDEO on how to Inspect your truck and trailer before you get on the road and while you on the road empty as well as loaded

Or just line the trailer and truck up. Then back up and hook up. It's simple and if you can't do that then you probably shouldn't be pulling nothing.

Thanks for all the info.i always watch your videos.im interested in getting into hotshot soon.iv learned a lot just from you videos about the road and the load.Thanks Alex

Time to check if your trailer is high enough is before you get over the tailgate

I never heard such bad advice in my life, you should never be standing partway outside to hook up to a trailer, do it like the real truckers do and use your mirrors and line up your trucks back tires to your trailers tires, it will probably be more tricky with a dually but is better than what he suggested

Thanks is was very informative!!

Thanks for sharing this info 🤙🏽

If you need to mark a truck that isn’t yours, chalk works great

Lmao dnt be at a truck stop with big rig truckers standing outside the vehicle trying to backup 😂😂😂😂

There's a third way you can use your mirrors like they're meant for and judge your side to side distance when hooking up

I didn't know how to hook up ANY of this stuff until this video, just those small U-haul trailers but not this kind and I haven't did that since 1995! LOL! You are an excellent instructor and very thorough. I can tell you love what you do. :) Greatly appreciate you taking the time to do this for us all. :)

other methods, call 911, request a traffic uniformed officer to direct the truck positioning while backing or paint actual lines on the pavement on both sides of the truck wheels, to use as a backing guide in the mirrors. Use a laser level and plumb bob, to insure lines are straight and square. If you own the paving where connecting the trailer, delete this idea. If the area is unpaved or lawn, use marker paint that is typically used for marking underground utilities, again NOT on your own property. Failing these ideas, park the truck, & book 8 hours on a trailer connecting simulator. Confirm food & adult beverages are allowed in the simulator before making a reservation.

I would never recommend someone to stand, looking out the door while backing. Somebody slips and there goes everything. Also, always check turn signals instead of just using your hazard switch as they use different circuits. When checking your hubs for high temperature, also check your tires and see if one or more are warmer than the rest as this could be a tire leading to a blowout. Your breakaway cable for your emergency brake on the trailer is way short as it would be no fun if that pulls out and your brakes lock up at 70 mph and with a load on the trailer. In this setup, check all of your hairpins on your lock pins because if one is missing you will have a very bad day. Lots of things missed here.

Check your tires with a hammer, and listen to the sound, I can do 18 wheels in 30 seconds. Look for nails. if you smell something check it out, where that smell coming from.

Hey man what’s a good trailer to start with ? everything I’m finding have a high GVWR

This was recorded in Mishawaka. Never thought I’d see my hometown on a RU-vidrs channel lol

Couldn’t you use some painters tape to mark the centerline of your tailgate on an Enterprise rental?

Hook a bungee cord across bed at center stake pockets, center truck, back until bungee cord contacts leg of GN, stop, lower trailer onto ball, lock, hook chains, lights etc, raise landing gear, do your walk around, go. EZ PZ!!!!

Are all your trucks gooseneck? And how does it compare to 5th wheel?

Do they make a small camera you could mount temporarily (magnet) to the rear roof and then have it send a wireless signal to your smartphone?

Do I get points for knowing you were in Mishawaka, IN for this video?

Most important part!!!! DO NOT FORGET TO LOWER YOUR TAILGATE BEFORE BACKING UP. I have seen people forget and rip their tailgate off.

You’re supposed to cross the chains. Hook the left on the right and the right on the left side.

Wow so many smart ass... out there. You have options to chose, he gives you some samples how is possible to do it & not how you should be doing it. Rethink what ever you guys thinking Before you start to pull air horn 🚚

I can’t believe the factory puck system is not standard on F350 and up. Damn cheapskates. I know it’s a $500 option but on a 50k+ truck it’s peanuts.

Alex, Could you not mark with the Center with tape?

How does Enterprise get away with not running apportion tags on a Hotshot truck?

Ok tried your method of standing on the step to back up and now I’m underneath my truck what part did I get wrong....

Do you have to have the plates bolted to the frame?

LOL - Lean out / Stand on the running board and look back. Who does that? What could go wrong? Anyone who pulls a trailer a lot OR for a living should be able to use mirrors to line up any trailer. Most modern pickups have a back up camera. Some new trucks even have a high mounted camera that provides a view for use with a goose neck. Granted, when you hook up a goose neck trailer the tailgate camera is pointing at the ground. I have hooked up many goose neck, bumper pull and tractor trailer rigs. All without leaning out of the cab. That said, I am a fan and love the channel. IMO not your best tutorial. But keep up the good work.

Good video! I tow 3 to 4 times a week also, not a hot shot. I use the Shocker on a Diamond C 40' with hydraulic everything. Best investment I've ever made in a trailer!!

Step 1 - OPEN TAILGATE

Dude usually you give good advice, I have to tell you though I would not suggest someone stand on the side of the truck like that, especially if you can look out the back window. Just food for thought. I mean I know people that open the door and look but I don’t think I have ever seen someone stand outside like that though. Also, I would suggest marking you truck with some tape or a grease pen. You can wash a grease pen off easily and tape might leave a little residue that easily comes off.

I think Alex in just in the mode of cranking out videos no matter what the content. LMAO

Magnetic pole (bought or DIY) and a wireless portable backup camera would be handy. PVC pipe is a great idea. Using magnetic pole or PVC pipe... you can cut to the length that high enough to clear your tailgate so serve as double duty... or tape some kind of extendable magnetic pickup tool onto it so it's not so weildy to store when not in use.

A couple things. Most people aren't as tall as you and can't see the tailgate out the back window. Especially if they have a toolbox or fuel tank, which further restricts the view. The ball plate is unlikely to break loose from the trailer, unless in some major accident. The likeliness of loosing the trailer would be it coming loose off the ball or the trailer being over loaded and breaking the ball off. The best way to back into the trailer would be to use the mirrors and center the truck with the trailer as you back up. My preference is using a trailer and 5th wheel. The 5th wheel is much easier to connect to and is safer than the goose neck connection. A 5th wheel doesn't require safety chains.

Do you still have to cross the chains? I do hot shot loadings and was told it can be a $200 ticket if chains are not crossed while hauling. Great vids! Keep it up! 🔥

Is it required to learn how to back up with such a long trailer? I drove a 26' Box truck towing a vehicle and I could not figure out how to back up when I was in a serious pickle. I would fear having to back up to park like the CDL driver have to into docks.

Are You on Jones road.

When you use the bumper plug on your truck you can't thread the cord like you did. It will be too short in a sharp turn and break the cord or plugs. If you thread the cord from the gooseneck hitch back over the top of your tail gate, the cord length will never change.

Alex. I question this instruction. Spinning the jack up. I was waiting for you to jam a finger when crack suddenly stops. ;) I showed my wife the running boards backup part. “He’s not serious?” Her second “he is paying more attention to filming than what he is doing...he doesn’t drive with camera on?” Imo first thing. Lower tailgate, measure on your body where top of ball is. Go to trailer raise hitch. People unhook from truck on soft ground. It settles, they back up and ruin tailgate. Riding running boards? OSHA would love that. If it’s short time unhooked. (Oil change, tire repair, running to store, don’t want to drag trailer...) I toss block behind truck tire as I unhook. Take truck wherever, using mirrors back up till I hit block, put in park (often that roll ahead is enough so ball centered, if not brake, gear to N, back to P and truck rolled ahead enough.). It may be I do that from ground but my left hand is holding the brake down till end. The idea of PVC sounds great for newer folk. Sadly you have been doing this for a while. When you are working a lot can be ignored. “It was cut, not shown”. Once you title ”How to connect a Gooseneck Trailer”. You need to go over every step. There could be liability concerns. I was on a jury of a semi driver who got injured falling from his running boards while his truck moving. Jury felt bad for his injuries. But concluded “he was a idiot”

Not a professional driver, I drive with trailer 1-2 times / year. But the turn lights tested with hazzard lights it is something that I will never do. At least not with rental trailers. Almost f**ed me once. I was inspired to test also turn left aaaaand you can guess ...... the trailer was blinking right.

After watching this video, I can't support the channel any longer.

Omg i can see people falling out and damaging their truck 😂

Always cross your chains..... rookie

How about mounting a camera in the bed centered under the back window that show real-time motion on your cellphone and a stick or pipe on the ball as a guide to line it up?

My suggestion is to use a plastic stick that fits on top of your ball and you can line up the hitch to the ball. It works at easier. I use this plastic stick when hooking up to my goose neck 3 slant load horse trailer. Also use your rear view mirror on your windshield to line everything up.

Rear cam??? Alex your truck doesn't come with the 360° cam and line guided options for backing up?? Can you make a video for us out there that just make it happen with cam and mirrors , I always have my rear windows covered . ! Not saying I don't get out to make sure I'm lined up and on top before receiving. F350 2019 XL DRW 75GAL TRANSFER TANK WITH TOOL BOX . 140k miles

Make sure u jack ur tailer high enough to clear the tailgate if u got a bad neck. Dad likes to smash his. Usually wen i unhook it i raise it enough so the ball still hits the gooseneck. Then u can feel it wen to stop wen u hook up next time

WOW!!!! dude you are a nice guy and all but STAY IN THE CAB while the truck is moving!!!! also just use your mirrors, the trailer is pretty much the same width as your truck, but when you get close for sure get out and look.

Why not install a Camera on your Backwindow, with a Monitor on your Dash, on ebay you can find them for 25$°°i did this in my UK🇬🇧 Sprinter.. to drive it safely on right hand Roads🇪🇺in Europe , to see the dead spot. 🤔

Wouldn't it be great if GM,Ford and Ram put a full sliding window into their trucks similar or the same as the Tundra

I need to buy a trailer for two car Huller for my self to get damaged vehicles from the Auction I need your assistance the vehicles most of them won't Run I need to get a truck to I do have a cdl Hzm. and double and triple. Thanks I do appreciate 🙏 you

Hey man I'm interested in getting in have a 40ft big Tex and and a dodge 3500 dually all paid for but it's a 2006 I don't know if you lease on old trucks.

Ohh boy a video on how to hookup to a trailer? I you can't figure that out you shouldn't be pulling one on the road. You would be a liability on the road. It like watching a video's showing a dude where to put his pee pee when getting it on.

I would also recommend to test your trailer brakes on the controller and let the truck idle forward. If it stops the vehicle calmly but effectively, then your brake gain is set correctly. Too harsh and they gain is too high, too light or nothing at all, gain is too low.

Hang off the side of your truck..... no wonder you wreck stuff. How about sighting down your trailer as you back up. Do it 2 times and 99% of the time thereafter you'll be on the money.

Dude... use tape as a marker, cross your chains, grease the ball and inside of the coupler, do not stand on the step while reversing 🤦‍♂️... shoulda thought this video through a little more lol

Crazy to see, went to watch this video and I look in the background and I know exactly where he is. This is literally 20 minutes from me 😂

Mark tailgate with: - China pen (grease pen, you can wash off) - Tape - Magnet (for non-aluminum trucks) - Etc

You could've bought a Gopro and a suction cup mount for your rear windshield if you didn't have a bed/back up camera.

This was a good training video. Thank you.

My sister uses her iPad. Turns the camera on and props it up against back window and watches that. I actually though that was pretty clever.

Camera... backup camera. And what about setting the trailer brakes? Empty get less brake than loaded...

Just have to say.... for backing up..... did the concept of using your mirrors slip your mind?

Sometimes I use an automotive expandable magnets that I can stick by the ball and expand the handle that usually has a larger handle that I can see in the rear view mirror. Always wondered when pulling heavy loads i mountains what is safe oil temperatures. I run 2012 f350 diesel

You forgot one step. You need to check the charge on the battery that runs your safety breakaway system and if it's charging when you are going down the road. Up here in Washington state that's an out-of-service plus a ticket.

Why dont you just center your truck to the trailer with your mirrors? Why did you take all them fancy Big Tex stickers off lol.

5:10 what are you out of breath from. Don't use all your time driving and making videos. You need cardio!

show how you setup truck for long trip to sleep and are you kinda chill too in the way like fishing like enjoying in the way pretty sure your going to a lot of mountains and desert do you carry gun or knife or first aid 😎

Great video on hooking up trailer....always wondered...

I don't even have a truck, still I watch all his videos, just because its so much fun and informative at the same time.

Fantastic Trailler ...!!...Gracias por Compartir... Saludosss

If you want to mark it just put some bright duct tape there to make it easier to see, once your get ready to turn the truck in take it off🤷🏻‍♂️

Enterprise will allow you to mount a plate with the b all in their 2500s? Where do you get the plates from

Dude use your camera and line up with the gooseneck….then drop tailgate and back under it.

Is it legal to drive with the rear view window and back side windows blocked with a sun screen? I see everyone doing.

Thanks for the video! I see you are in Mishawaka, IN here! Hello from a local

Why you didn't cross your chains when you hook them up? I also cross the chains..

that 's what happen when you are not a CDL the only thing you need to see is the side of your tire and the corner on trailer in line. you will be thru the center on truck

The bed has ridges in it. I just follow the center ridge. And I thought that the pigtail needed to be connected inside the bed of the truck.

You can pretty much learn more from us cdl truck drivers Just saying

This channel’s useful info has come and gone, this video is the proof. It is all about cranking out videos now, no matter the content. Time to unsubscribe.

What’s your email address? I’m a hot shotter fro Idaho. I have the coolest trailer you’ve ever seen.

Masking of duct tape work well for marking the middle of the tailgate