There are more full-size American pickups on Australian roads than ever, and their owners are putting them to work. Car carriers, big gooseneck caravans, plant and civil trailers: if you've got a truck rated to haul serious weight, chances are you're hauling it.
These trucks are built to take a heavy load over the rear axle. But being able to carry it and carrying it comfortably are two different things. Every bump the trailer hits gets pushed straight down through the gooseneck ball and into the back of your truck. That's where the Gen-Y SPARTAN comes in.
See it working on the road:
What the SPARTAN Is
The SPARTAN is a gooseneck coupler. It's the part on the trailer side that locks onto the ball in your truck's tray. What makes it different is what's inside: Gen-Y's patented Torsion-Flex system, the same technology used across the BOSS and PHANTOM-XT hitches, scaled up for gooseneck loads.
A standard gooseneck coupler is a rigid steel connection. The SPARTAN puts a cushion between the truck and the trailer, so the two are isolated from each other instead of slamming against each other.
It comes in two versions to suit your trailer's gooseneck tube:
| 4" Round Tube | 4" Square Tube | |
|---|---|---|
| Towing capacity | 5,500 kg | 7,000 kg |
| Ideal ball weight | [CONFIRM: round tube ideal ball weight] | Around 1,500 kg |
| Price | $3,755 | [CONFIRM: $4,070?] |
Why Gooseneck Towing Needs Cushioning
Gooseneck towing puts a lot of weight directly over or just ahead of your rear axle. That's great for stability, but it also means the trailer's movement goes straight into your truck with nothing in between.
Load a trailer up and drive it over undulating country roads, and you'll feel it: the porpoising, that rhythmic up-and-down pitching where the trailer pushes down on the back of the truck, then lifts, then pushes down again. It's uncomfortable for you, hard on whatever you're carrying, and hard on your truck.
Torsion-Flex absorbs most of that shock at the coupler, before it ever reaches the vehicle. The result:
- A smoother, quieter ride. Less bounce, less vibration, less banging through the tray.
- Less wear on your truck. Rear suspension, driveline, wheels and tyres all take less punishment when the hitch soaks up the hits instead of passing them on.
- More control. A settled trailer is easier to manage over rough roads, on bends and under braking.
- Less driver fatigue. On a long haul, a rig that isn't constantly jolting makes a real difference to how you feel at the end of the day.
Drivers who tow regularly with the SPARTAN have also reported better fuel economy and less tyre wear, thanks to the energy the coupler absorbs instead of passing through the rig.
Put to the Test
In the video, we loaded an F-150 onto a car-carrier gooseneck trailer and pushed it right up to the front of the deck. That put us in the SPARTAN's ideal ball weight range of around 1,500 kg on the square-tube model. Then we took it out over undulating roads.
Watch the coupler as the trailer moves. You can see the Torsion-Flex working, taking the movement and dampening it before it reaches the truck. That's the shock your rear end would otherwise be absorbing on every bump, every trip.
Still Quick On, Quick Off
Adding a cushioned coupler doesn't make hooking up any harder. The SPARTAN connects and disconnects just as quickly as a standard gooseneck coupler, so there's no extra time at the start or end of the job.
Who It's For
The SPARTAN suits flatbed, utility and enclosed gooseneck trailers, including:
- Car carriers and vehicle transport. Your cargo is worth protecting from the bumps too.
- Gooseneck caravans. Smoother towing on long trips, and less jolting through the van.
- Horse floats and livestock trailers. When there's an animal in the back, ride quality matters most.
- Civil, plant and equipment trailers. Heavy loads, rough site access roads, and daily use.
Before You Order: Check the Fit
The SPARTAN sits taller than a standard gooseneck coupler. Before you order, measure from the bottom of your existing coupler to the retaining pin on your trailer's gooseneck tube to make sure it'll fit your setup. You'll also need to know whether your trailer runs a 4" round or 4" square tube.
As with any towing setup, your real limit is the lowest-rated component in the chain. That covers your truck's towing capacity, your gooseneck ball and mount, and the trailer itself. Always stay within your vehicle manufacturer's limits.
If you're not sure about either, call the team and we'll help you work it out.
Get the SPARTAN
The SPARTAN Torsion-Flex Gooseneck Coupler is available now in 4" round and 4" square tube. Shop the SPARTAN, call the team on the Gold Coast on 07 5500 0095, or find your nearest Gen-Y dealer.
