Gooseneck vs 5th Wheel hitch setup

[Carlacee]

I'm planing on having a trailer built so I'll have the option of either a Gooseneck or 5th Wheel hitch setup from the get go.



I'm building a HD high ground clearance 3 axle around 21k GVWR. I'll be traveling on unimproved roads more often than not. I'm planing on running at about 75% of GVWR, no more than 80%, FYI.



My question is, what hitch setup would be better? Is chucking an issue with goosenecks as well?



Thanks for your comments in advance,



Cee

 

[SRadke]

Goosenecks give you far more articulation room than fifth wheels. That and the ball takes up much less space in the bed than a fiver hitch.

-Scott

 

[EGroeneveld]

I personally love gooseneck setups since with a B&W turnover ball I have a flatbed when needed, a 30K rated hookup when needed and no 5th wheel hitch to store.



I already have a gooseneck equipment trailer so if we ever switch to a goose/5th wheel travel trailer I will do the gooseneck hitch conversion.

 

[Mark31]

Cee, around here, the feeling is that if two axles with singles can't haul it, go to dual tandems. A good friend got a deal on a triple to haul his backhoe. It didn't hold up, and now money is too tight with him to get what he should have bought in the first place. Turning with a load on "unimproved" roads with triples puts a super amount of stress on everything. Watch one turn. Also, when you hit a bump or a hole, you get a threepeat rather than a repeat. To soften the kick, there is a gooseneck coupler (on the trailer) with Timbrens on it that, if I towed much now, I would try to get some more info and feedback from users. SRadke says you have more articulation with a gooseneck, but with a triple, that wouldn't matter unless you were empty. I would find some owners with something like I thought I wanted and doing what you want to do to find out what works and what doesn't work as well. Don't get in a hurry!! The pain of a higher price will ease much sooner than the pain of something you ain't (permissible in emphatic form of speech!) happy with!! Mark

 

[meanmatt]

wow no body to defend the 5th wheel king pin style hitch. I think with modern 4 way pivot heads articulation is the same between the too . The difference is an optical illusion because of the types of trailers associateded with each style, most 5th wheel type are on boxy trailers like rvs and completely covers the back of the truck giving the illusion of no clearance for tight and un even places. where as the goose necks have just a single pole or triangle over the truck bed and the rest is open air.

As pointed out above the down side to the 5th wheel is hitch takes up more space in the bed . heavy to lift in and out , takes space to store when not in use.

the up side less steps involved in hooking up and un hooking trailer , no safety chains required , the hitch guides the pin in and locks automatically , no jacking trailer up and down to hook . just jack to hold trailer up release and pull out , to hook in just back in and feel for latch . very handy for heavy loaded trailers .

the chucking feeling is on any trailer , air ride hitches help . I think using your mirrors and keeping the trailer out of the rough stuff helps the most

 

[Rowe]

A few years ago I converted my 5th wheel RV to a gooseneck. If had to do it over I would leave it a 5th wheel. It isn't as easy to hook up (as mentioned earlier) but the worst part is the trailer ride. Before most of the road wobble was absorbed by the truck suspension, now with the trailer suspended by the ball and the trailer rocks quite a bit (scarey when you look in the mirror). My wife loves to repack the cabinets, believe me I hear about the stupid conversion on most trips.

FGR

 

[jelag]

We had problems with 3 singles as well, we later moved to a pair of tandems and found it pulled better and worked better for us. . plus those axles had power disc brakes instead of electric... . Our trailer had 2 (12K) axles... and often it would scale at 21K... .

We only used it with a gooseneck hitch... we used the B/W and have great results. . I also pull a 5er and use the B/W change over kit that plugs into the gooseneck hitch and makes it a 5er... but the 5er is only 15K lbs... .

What I don't care for is the time to connect the trailer, easily 3 times a long... . and your required to use safety chains on gooseneck's... .

Hope this helps. .

 

[Adventure Bob]

I have goose with a flipper in the bed and no issues. As far as hook up goes, I hit the ball every time and it rides no worse than a 5th wheel. All my wifes crap stays in the cabinets and the microwave stays put. As far as articulation goes, I take the flatbed goose out in the middle of nowhere to get to where the jeeping is. The drawback is that the trailer hitting the bed is the limiting factor on articulation. Dont ask me how I know that.

 

[Carlacee]

My trailer will be a 34ft garage / living quarters combo... kind of a toyhauler but much more rugged... . and walk on roof... =)



Thanks for taking the time to write, you guys are the best!!



Cee

 

[KSears]

I have a B&W turnover hitch and also the companion hitch setup changing it to a fifth wheel setup , It is the best of both setups, Gooseneck is rated at 30,000lbs and the fifth wheel is rated at 18,000 lbs, Very sturdy well made setup, also nothing in the bed in the way when not in use.

 

[TMRoper1669]

Pulled a lot of trailers in my life both fifthwheel and gooseneck, Fifthwheel hitches are a little bit of a pain to remove but after pulling all kinds of different trailers with different set-up's I wouldn't have anything but a fifthwheel, rides smoother, and hooks up eaiser. Even tried a fifthwheel to gooseneck adapter once worst thing I ever did. All in all it comes down to personal preference.