why have 5th wheel and gooseneck couplings?

[Peter 315]

If you look at an 18 wheeler, it has forward/aft movement and ABSOLUTELY NO lateral movement. The truck and trailer stay on the same lateral plane. This is what keeps the truck stable on the road and has no effect on the kingpin being tighter in the jaw, If the pin or the jaw is worn that's when you get the play

 

[cmyoung2]

I think all the above are reasonable answers, goosenecks use a 5/16" ball, and for farm use we really need the articulation of the goose vs 5th wheel. We also hook up to tractors with a 3ph frame, would be very difficult with a 5th wheel. That along with the gooseneck being less expensive and keeps the bed open really makes me wonder why anyone uses 5th wheels. Of course, I'm in the mountains and everything here is off camber.

 

[handtools]

My B&W fifth wheel hitch pivots in both directions. My basic understanding of why RVs don't use gooseneck or gooseneck adapters is due to the frame construction of most RVs is not up to the additional forces that a gooseneck adapter causes.

 

[Soundguy]

one of my trucks has a pop up gn ball. the other has 5th wheel rails in the bed, and I either set in my Reese 5th wheel adapter, or my Reese 'The Goose' adapter which is a GN adapter that runs on the 5th wheel rails.

I like either setup because I can have an open bed when I want, without much work.

 

[dodge man]

In the above post I think he meant 2-5/16" ball.

 

[cmyoung2]

Yep, you are right. 2- 5/16" .
A 5/16" I can shear with a ratchet. Good catch.

In the above post I think he meant 2-5/16" ball.

 

[bdog]

The fifth wheel plate on my peterbilt has zero side to side movement. In fact you have to be really careful with a top heavy load when the truck is close to 90 degrees to the trailer. Very easy to tip over as the plate will pivot and start the process in motion.

Fifth wheel hitches do not require Safety chains by law but goosenecks do.

 

[LD1]

I have often wondered the same thing and have yet to hear a good answer.

As others have said....Equip trailers and horse trailers....usually GN. RV's are about the only 5'ers you see for pickups.

As a consumer.....equipping a truck for GN is cheaper. Hookup is easy because I can look out the back window and line things up.

CAnnot really see any benefit to a 5'er over a GN. Perhaps as someone mentioned that RV frame cannot handle a GN....as a 5th wheel hitch spreads the load out a little more? IF there really was a benefit to 5th wheel....would we see equipment trailers transition over to them?

 

[aczlan]

I have often wondered the same thing and have yet to hear a good answer.
As others have said....Equip trailers and horse trailers....usually GN. RV's are about the only 5'ers you see for pickups.
As a consumer.....equipping a truck for GN is cheaper. Hookup is easy because I can look out the back window and line things up.
CAnnot really see any benefit to a 5'er over a GN. Perhaps as someone mentioned that RV frame cannot handle a GN....as a 5th wheel hitch spreads the load out a little more? IF there really was a benefit to 5th wheel....would we see equipment trailers transition over to them?

5th wheel is considered "more secure" (no chains needed, can have people riding in a 5th wheel RV while moving in many states and most states require it for the first trailer when towing 2 trailers). The 5th wheel should "twist" the trailer frame less (front to back) as there is less of an "arm" for it to pull on (which is why 5th to goose adapters can be a problem).

Aaron Z

 

[Xfaxman]

Today I've learnt that there is a difference between 'gooseneck' & '5th wheel' hitches. I simply thought that they were interchangeable terms or that they were slang words for the same thing.

Thanks TBN! :thumbsup:

Big difference.

Gooseneck, old style plate:

New style:

5th wheel: