5th Wheel and Gooseneck NOT the same thing.

[Duffster]

Other than a 5th wheel camper? Putting a gooseneck adapter on on voids your frame warranty in any that I have looked into. I have no idea how valid this is or is not. If I needed both, I could just get a gooseneck plate to go on the rails I have.

Hitch removal is a minor issue either way. The head isn't THAT heavy, more akward. It could easily be hoisted with a simple rope and pulley, or a multitude of other methods. Drop it on a dolly of some sort and roll it into the corner. I don't think mine has been removed from my truck since I installed it. If I need to haul something that it would interfere with, I just bring the trailer. The bigger problem with removing it during the camping season is that getting ready to go becomes work. As for rust, I take the pivot pin out of mine once a year and clean/grease it, the rest of it is powder coated. It will probably be around long after the truck has rusted out from under it. Mine is the second truck this one has been installed in. And, hanging on the kingpin it's no more in the weather than in the truck. Would be easy enough to build a "poncho" for it while hanging there. Although it is a bit of a hazard to kids and people mowing.

Given my choices, weight ratings being the same, I MUCH prefer a 5th wheel hookup to a gooseneck. All you have to do is back up to it and it will latch. You don't have to get the ball within 2" or so on two axis to get hooked up. I am sure it's a matter of practice, but the 5th wheel is dead easy to hook up.

The frame warranty on the camper?

 

[radman1]

I guess it comes down to preference. I personally like bumper pulls the best. I had one GN and every time I wanted to haul something with it I also needed the bed so it did not work for me. I agree the 5th wheel is easier to hook up but the way I look at it is if you cant hitch it up being a conventional trailer or GN you probably should not be towing anything at all.

Chris

I agree with you.

 

[wvpolekat]

While bumper pull is convenient, it really isn't in the same league as GN and 5th wheel for capacity or stability. No need for weight distribution or sway control. At least not behind a pickup. A tag trailer behind a dump truck is a whole nother animal.

I have a bumper pull that I use for general trailer duty and hauling my 2N around, but if I could replace it with a GN, I would in a heartbeat.

But, it's all personal preference. I can certainly see if someone used the back of their truck regularly, having a clear bed would be a big advantage.

 

[Harold_J]

Isn't one advantage of the gooseneck supposed to be that it's better in rough terrain than a regular 5th wheel? When the pickup is tilting one way and the trailer another there will not be as much of a side force on the hitch and truck frame.

 

[wushaw]

Isn't one advantage of the gooseneck supposed to be that it's better in rough terrain than a regular 5th wheel? When the pickup is tilting one way and the trailer another there will not be as much of a side force on the hitch and truck frame.

Many fifthwheel plates swivel in all directions except for the big boys (only fwd/aft).

The GN ball is only gonna allow as much tilt as a bumper pull ball mount.

The fifthwheel hitch has two distinct advantages over a GN hitch.
1. Needs no saftey chains.
2. Towing/carrying capacity.

 

[some zilch]

again, a 5th wheel has much more carry/load capacity than a gooseneck. i would perfer a 5th wheel over a gooser any day, much more secure and stout, in my opinion.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I dont see how it has more rating. The GN I had in my F-350 was rated at 30,000#. Thats way more than the truck is rated to tow. Most of the 5th wheels I see on pickups are rated at 15,000-20,000#.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

I dont see how it has more rating. The GN I had in my F-350 was rated at 30,000#. Thats way more than the truck is rated to tow. Most of the 5th wheels I see on pickups are rated at 15,000-20,000#.

Chris

Would that be a B & W ?

I was going to say the same thing that they are rated for 30,000#

 

[wvpolekat]

My 5th wheel pivots on 2 axis, it will tip front to back and side to side.

I suspect the weight rating has more to do with the individual hitch. I have seen 5th wheels rated up to 30k. Mine is rated to 16k. I can buy a GN plate for my 5th wheel rails rated for 25k, so the mount in the truck can handle way more than the head I have. I was also able to find 30k rated 5th wheel heads without any problem. I think the reason is that the amount of cost to get a 5th wheel head up to that rating is significant compared to a GN. Since most people with 5th wheels are pulling less than 16k, they offer them in that rating for less than the 30k heads. But really, once you are pulling a 30k trailer, you are well into MDT territory and probably aren't buying your hitch from etrailer.com.

As for on road/off road. With a 5th wheel camper, there are 2 problems. Hitting the bed rails due to side to side twisting. And, hitting the tailgate from the trailer being lower than the truck. I suspect these same problems occur with a gooseneck given the same trailer dimensions. But, most gooseneck trailers are not as square/boxy in the front over the hitch as a camper, which should buy you more articulation.

The big advantages of both the 5th wheel and GN hitch are that you can turn tighter, they are more stable, and the capacity. Your friends will probably not ask to borrow it since they can't tow it.

The drawbacks are that you have to have a truck setup for it and your use of the bed is very limited while towing. Bed can be used normally with some work when not towing. As a general rule, you need more truck for these because of the amount of weight they put in the bed vs a bumper pull.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Would that be a B & W ?

I was going to say the same thing that they are rated for 30,000#

Yes, but the truck is gone. It was one tough truck that never gave me any problems other than a Cam Pos Sensor but a deer did it in last fall.

Chris