Hydraulic Detachable Gooseneck Trailer Celebrates 75 Years

Talbert Manufacturing’s non-ground bearing hydraulic detachable gooseneck trailer was first introduced in 1962.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of its release.

“Safety is the hallmark of our innovative trailer designs,” said Troy Geisler, Talbert Manufacturing's vice president of sales and marketing.

“Austin Talbert designed the first gooseneck trailer to address the troubling number of injuries and deaths occurring when loading and unloading equipment. Talbert has always been on the leading edge of safe, durable trailer designs,” Geisler added.

Since its release, the trailer has undergone a series of design adjustments to increase safety throughout the loading and unloading process by offering ample clearance and stability. Talbert has designed two different removable gooseneck trailers: the hydraulic detachable gooseneck trailers and the mechanical detachable gooseneck trailers.

Previously, the trailers would sit upwards of 50 inches off the ground and load in the rear. The loading and unloading angle was so steep that the tipping point could be reached quickly without warning.

The lower the trailer deck is, the better and safer the loading angle. That’s why Talbert Manufacturing hydraulic tail series decks can be lowered to ground height or raised to meet a shipping dock for safe loading.

Hydraulic Cylinders to Enhance Safety

Hydraulic goosenecks utilize a series of hydraulic cylinders to safely and easily lower and lift the deck when the trailer is attached to the truck.

Over the last 75 years, the design of the hydraulic detachable gooseneck has been adjusted by Talbert Manufacturing to meet the requirements of operators. In 1970, Talbert Manufacturing raised the bar with the launch of a new, patented hydraulic design called the Hydroneck.

The Hydroneck creates additional customization options for balancing weight distribution. The trailers are customized with shims to help balance weight loads and safely distribute loads based on the load needs without having to rely on preset weight or height limits. Both the double drop series and the lowboy series can feature the Hydroneck.

While the Hydroneck is a popular connection option, some operators prefer the ratchet neck design. The ratchet neck features safety pins to secure the gooseneck with five or seven preset heights which, in certain operations, can increase the ease of loading and unloading. These preset heights are customizable to the application and operator's needs.

In 1989, Talbert designed and patented the mechanical removable gooseneck trailer. The mechanical gooseneck trailers are more lightweight than their hydraulic counterparts and don’t require hydraulics to position them. This type of attachment option is typically used for double-drop trailers.

The mechanical gooseneck trailers utilize front rollers and truck ramps to connect and disconnect the trailer from the truck. These are best suited for longer-distance trucking companies, where the load will be on the truck for several days and unloading will occur on a smooth, flat surface.

“When it comes to our trailers, there’s so much to consider outside the type of neck or trailer weight capacity. That’s why each trailer is built to the needs of the operator,” Geisler explained. “Each trailer we build and each innovation we come up with focuses on balancing operators’ needs when it comes to productivity and safety.”

With over 75 years of experience, Talbert heavy-haul trailers continue to strive for increased safety and usability. Trailer specifications are made to match the specialized uses customers require.

The company also has Tag-A-Long Austin Carry-All Series (AC Series) Trailers as another option. These trailers are designed for minimizing load times and maximizing productivity for hauling small- to mid-size equipment.