Is there a difference?

[DZink24]

Wondering- is there a difference between a 5th wheel and a goose neck? Or are these 2 terms interchangable? Our 18 wheelers at work, obviously, have 5th wheel/ king pin hitches, but so do our smaller "gooses". TIA

 

[CumminsPower98]

No they are not the same. The goose neck uses a ball unlike the 5th wheel that uses the flat plate and king pin.

 

[CTieman]

Is one better than the other? I've seen adapters to make a 5th wheel into a gooseneck. Seems like a gooseneck is less hassle without the big receiver assembly in the bed.

 

[YFZBOB]

Is one better than the other? I've seen adapters to make a 5th wheel into a gooseneck. Seems like a gooseneck is less hassle without the big receiver assembly in the bed.

Some trailer manufacturer's will void warranty if one installs a Goose-neck Adapter. RE: King-Pin Box wasn't design for the extra leverage from the adapter causing premature failure. Another thought, you loose the right to carry passengers in the 5th wheel since some states see it as a Ball mounted trailer.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

A "real" 5th wheel cannot move side to side in relation to the truck on the hitch. Since the gooseneck has a ball, it can move in any direction. RV 5th wheel hitches will allow side to side movement to an extent. In general a 5th wheel is more stable for on road use and a gooseneck could be for offroad, oil fields, etc. because it allows more travel and allows travel in all directions.