GN or 5th Wheel Question

[radman1]

I would vote for the gooseneck. Gooseneck is much more common and resale would be much easier. Gooseneck will leave more room in the bed. Weight on the ball is not an issue for the truck bed. I assume you have the heavy gooseneck plate that will mount onto the bed rails? Mine pins on the rails with 4 pins. The plate will distribute the weight. If I did it over, I would instead go with a B&W flip over ball instead of rails.

 

[kevinj]

I would vote for the gooseneck. Gooseneck is much more common and resale would be much easier. Gooseneck will leave more room in the bed. Weight on the ball is not an issue for the truck bed. I assume you have the heavy gooseneck plate that will mount onto the bed rails? Mine pins on the rails with 4 pins. The plate will distribute the weight. If I did it over, I would instead go with a B&W flip over ball instead of rails.

Resale and availability are reasons that I went with the goose and put in a 5th wheel pin tube. I can easily change the tube back to goose in about 5 minutes. I prefer the fifth wheel over a goose (former truck driver) and most all the newer hitches have a top pivot to address the trailer twisting. Corn Pro does not build a 5th wheel setup so my dealer got the new post from Drawtite or Putnam which replaces the adjustable ball socket tube.

 

[mjncad]

I don't tow often, and what little towing I've done is with a bumper pull type hitch; and I am absolutely horrible at backing up a trailer with a bumper pull hitch.

Are goose-necks and fifth wheels easier to back up since the pivot point is generally over the rear axle instead of behind it?

 

[radman1]

I don't tow often, and what little towing I've done is with a bumper pull type hitch; and I am absolutely horrible at backing up a trailer with a bumper pull hitch.

Are goose-necks and fifth wheels easier to back up since the pivot point is generally over the rear axle instead of behind it?

In general, goosenecks are easier to back up. However, a bumper pull is easier to back around tighter corners or smaller areas because it will respond quicker to changes by the truck when backing up. Backing up any trailer just requires practice. Find an open area, pick a spot behind you and try to make the trailer go directly to that spot or around an obstacle. A trick my brother in law uses is to place his hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. As he then turns the wheel, the trailer will go the same direction as his hand placement. For example, start hand at 6:00, turn steering wheel to 9:00 (drivers side) position and the trailer will back toward the drivers side. After a while it becomes natural. Always try to anticipate the movement of the trailer and make corrections early before it becomes a critical change.

 

[powerstroke444e]

A gooseneck will not develop the slack a mulit pivot 5th wheel plate will. I like my gooseneck which is a steel plate in the bed, properly tied to the side of the frame on the truck. I have used & abused this setup & like the flex in the gooseneck crossing ditches & going through rough ground.

 

[mjncad]

In general, goosenecks are easier to back up. However, a bumper pull is easier to back around tighter corners or smaller areas because it will respond quicker to changes by the truck when backing up. Backing up any trailer just requires practice. Find an open area, pick a spot behind you and try to make the trailer go directly to that spot or around an obstacle. A trick my brother in law uses is to place his hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. As he then turns the wheel, the trailer will go the same direction as his hand placement. For example, start hand at 6:00, turn steering wheel to 9:00 (drivers side) position and the trailer will back toward the drivers side. After a while it becomes natural. Always try to anticipate the movement of the trailer and make corrections early before it becomes a critical change.

Thanks Radman1, I'll endeavor to remember your brother-in-law's tip and try it out the next time I do any towing.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thats how I showed my wife to back up our boat. She is now a champ. She can put our 36' boat that 10.5' wide in a tight spot.

Chris

 

[LoganWildman]

(whether dirt or paved) I don't think this matters much. I see goosenecks in use for small to medium size horse, farm and equipment trailers, but not for any of the really big stuff.

Not sure how you define small to medium size, but goosenecks are on everything from about 20ft all the way up to 53 ft. open and enclosed trailers ranging from 10kgvw to over 25kgvw.
About the only thing you see 5th Wheel setups on is campers. As I think about the reasons for this what comes to my mind is campers (like semi's) are almost always on paved or gravel roads, and gooseneck's are on the trailers that are in fields, barn yards etc. So if your always going to be on roads, and want the extra expense but easier hook up, put a 5'ver in. If your going to be off road or in rough areas where the hitch flex is needed, go with a gooseneck.

I have owned/pulled all three trailer types and currently own a 25ft goose neck flat deck trailer and my personal favorite is a gooseneck. But then I am often in fields etc so the choice was obvious.

 

[Midsouth]

You didn't say if you already had a 5th wheel hitch or but if you do you can get a gooseneck adapter that fits in the rails for the 5th wheel. That is what i'm going to do when i trade trailers. I have a 16' bumper pull now and will be trading for a 20' gn as soon as i can.