Gooseneck vs. 5th wheel

[Deezal Man]

I tried to do a search on my question, but came up short.



I'm wondering why agricultural/utility trailers use gooseneck hitches, while campers and such use a 5th wheel???



The whole thing doesn't make sense to me, especially because I don't think they are compatible.



Why? why? why? Where is the logic in this? Big trucks all use the same type of hitch (5th wheel).



I hope I'm not the only one to think this is odd.

 

[Eric_77]

Goose necks allows range of motion of the trailer side to side.

5th wheel only allows forward/backward rocking (normally some people have added a hinged hitch which defeats this)



The gooseneck allows those trialers that go over rough roads to twist.

The gooseneck is more susceptible to cross winds making trailer sway.



The fifth wheel will keep sway to a minimum but on rough roads the "locked" side to side movement can cause the pickup box to fatique over time.



Pick the hitch for the application

 

[Deezal Man]

Ok, so lets say I have a 5th wheel camper, but also want a utility trailer as well. Can I mount a gooseneck ball to the 5th wheel bed mounts?

 

[Eric_77]

I think I heard talk of such a thing existing. I have an even tougher one I would like to have a fifth wheel camper but I have a reverse king pin (think upside down fifth wheel) to pull my utility trailer.

 

[RustyJC]

Yep, Reese sells a gooseneck mounting plate that attaches to the 5th wheel hitch bed rails. Other hitch manufacturers may have the same thing, or something similar.



Rusty

 

[klenger]

I've been thinking about posting this same question, so in my opnion, you are a briliant person for asking it.



Draw-tite has a goose neck hitch that can be used on their 5th wheel hitch rails.



http://www.draw-tite.com/prodinfo/products/p14_s02.htm



My speculation is that the goose neck design allows for much higher loads, but requires a much stronger trailer to support it. Look at a typical goose neck trailer and look at all of the steel used for the hitch. A 5th wheel hitch on a 5er is just bolted to a fairly light weight frame.

 

[merryman]

Klenger has the idea.

I have heard a number of reports of 5th wheel trailers being damaged when pulled with a goose neck and adaptor. At least some of them seem to not be built strongly enough to handle the stress.

I have a goose neck "turn over" ball mounted seperately under my fiver hitch.



Vaughn

 

[Deezul1]

Great question. Was going to post it myself. I have seen a hitch set up that put a goose neck ball in a square hole in the bed with a release latch in the fender well and when not using the ball pull the release and pull it out turn it over and put it back and its flush with the bed floor and now the good part. They also have a 5th wheel hitch that sets in the bed and has a square anchor post that goes in the goose neck hole, thats all there is to it, pull the release and have which ever setup you need. I am looking for the link and cant find it yet but will post if I find it.

 

[metal tech]

Deezul1, I could be wrong but do a search for B&W Turnoverball. I remember hearing that they had some adapter for their gooseneck hitch that allowed for 5th wheel use. B&W does have a web page I don't had the url though.



AL

 

[SA Law]

combo hitches

Deezel1





the site is www.turnoverball.com just ordered my gooseneck yesterday...comes out to $350 incl/shipping... . its rated for 30k, and the 5th wheel adapter for 18k... . im gonna order th e5th when i decide what type of 5er i want... hope this helps



just remembered what the guy at b&w told me... he said the goose uses a hole that already exists in the dodge frame, so the only hole u will need to cut will be in ur bed...

 

[Deezul1]

Thanks guys, thats the one, looks like a great system.

 

[Charley]

I have the turnover ball hitch and have added an adapter to my 36', 15,000# Holiday Rambler because I don't want all that fifth wheel mess in my bed. When I get to where I'm going I turn the ball over and have a nice flat floor in the bed.



Charley

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

the biggest reason i think that t. t. use the fith wheel hitch is ease of hooking it up. all you have to do is line up fairly close with in a couple of inches and then back up until you here a click. goosneck's are rated at almost twice what a fifth wheel is. 18k versus 30k for my b&w turnover hitch.



jim

 

[Champane Flight]

Goose neck.

If you do change your fifthwheel to gooseneck remember to give plenty of room between bed and fifthwheel on uneven roads the fifthwheel will get into the bed! The big difference in fifthwheel and gooseneck trailers is the side clearance,your fifthwheel is wider in the front,gooseneck comes to a narrow front. I like the fifthwheel hitch better,because of ease of hooking and unhooking,stability,and I have seen a gooseneck come off the ball at high speed. Not a pretty sight!

 

[PBaker]

B&W hitch's

My dad and I both have the B&W hitch's in our trucks and I like them alot and my dad has the 5ver adapter hitch it works real well and looks good (built wise) infact I told him that when he decides to get rid of it I want first dibs on it although currantly I just pull a goose neck that I converted into a camper that can also haul my jeep.



Paul

 

[RWorth]

Eric_77,

I also have the B&W Turnoverball gooseneck and their 5th wheel companion hitches. Both are wonderful products. The employees are great to work with and have excellent knowledge of their products. As for your inverteded 5th wheel being on the trailer I believe B&W sells the pin that fits into their hitch mechanism. Look them up on the internet or call them to confirm.



Have a great day