If you thought all trailers were the same, they are not. Apart from the differences between bumper tie rods, fifth wheels and goosenecks, there is a huge difference in quality and level of innovation from one manufacturer to another. Davis Industries seems to be very focused on the latter, as this detachable gooseneck with hydraulic hitch lift is pretty neat.
When I saw the demo video of Black Diamond Unlimited that appeared on my Instagram feed, I must admit I was confused. This caught my attention, but what use is this fancy equipment for people who drive pickups? In short, the answer is safety.
Hydraulic cylinders are controlled by manual control. It already has a low platform, and once the trailer head is unhooked, its front end just touches the ground a little. It does not require ramps and requires a lot of roughing during loading.
Anyone who has loaded a car onto a conventional trailer knows that everything, including the trailer, wobbles. Once, when I loaded a 1963 International Loadstar onto a gooseneck trailer attached to a 2008 Super Duty, it shook parts out from under the hood of the Ford. That won’t happen with the Davis Industries trailer. As twitchy as the controls are on heavy machinery, it holds up.
It can also tow a lot as it has axle load ratings of 10,000, 12,000, and 16,000 pounds. The brakes are electric, like a pickup truck. This type of trailer is classified as a Removable Gooseneck (RGN) and is more common in the world of large rigs. In these cases, they are ideal for towing very large loads.
Finally, the David Industries RGN itself is much lighter than other similar trailers. The company claims that most 26-foot goosenecks have an empty weight of 8,500 to 10,500 pounds, while this one weighs 6,400 pounds and retains the same weight capacity. This is great news for those looking to tow more with something smaller than a semi-trailer, as long as they can control the weight of the drawbar with the trailer axle all the way to the rear. In short, lighter by necessity.
A premium trailer with 16,000 lb axles sells for around $45,000. One Black Diamond Unlimited is up for sale, and there appears to be another for the same price in Virginia. You can buy it or not, but it’s still a great product.
Post time: Aug-30-2022