Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-06-2015, 10:57 AM   #1
Bolter303
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 22
Which is better 5th wheel hitch or gooseneck.

I guess what I am asking is I have a 5th wheel hitch and a friend of mine has a 5th wheel with a "Pindle" or gooseneck not sure what it is called. Anyway he has a ball resessed in the bed of his truck for his hitch. Which is the best way to go and what is the difference. Is the ride any different? Thanks
__________________

Don
Las Vegas NV
2015 Montana 3710FL
Ford F350 CC DRW
Bolter303 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 11:38 AM   #2
Kristi
Senior Member
 
Kristi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,077
Not sure about the ride, but there are pros and cons to each. If you use your tow vehicle's bed when not pulling the 5er, a gooseneck doesn't take up as much space and you don't have to pull out the hitch to use the truck bed. DH likes the companion hitch for the 5er over the gooseneck cause it's easier for him to hook up and we leave the hitch in the truck 90% of the time. I'm sure others who have pulled both can give you more incite.
__________________

Kristi & Jeff
2014 Cougar 313 rli
2013 F350 king ranch
2014 passport 2650bh (sold)
2009 GMC 2500HD 6.6L 4X4 (sold)
Kristi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 12:40 PM   #3
bsmith0404
Senior Member
 
bsmith0404's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Cruces
Posts: 4,665
The B&W turnover ball is great when dealing with other cargo in the bed. I considered using one on my last truck, but didn't like the gooseneck adapters for the 5th wheel. I've seen more cons than pros from people who used them. If I had been aware of the Anderson Ultimate hitch at that time I probably would have gone that route. Now I have the Reese 20k with rails and I'm not spending $ on a new system.
__________________

Brent
2013 Alpine 3500RE
2019 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
U.S. Air Force Retired (25 yrs)
bsmith0404 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 02:38 PM   #4
hankpage
Site Team
 
hankpage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
From what I understand, the gooseneck adapter may void your warranty. This may be something to consider.
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
hankpage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 02:41 PM   #5
jsmith948
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
As an old, tired and retired over-the-road trucker, I prefer the fifth wheel hitch.
To my knowledge, there is only one goose neck adapter approved by Lippert for use on their trailer frames and that is the Reese 'Goosebox'. I guess there are those who prefer this method of hitching as it does leave the bed free for other uses. I don't like the idea of having to use safety chains with a goose neck/ball type hitch. You will hear horror stories about dropped trailers and damaged truck beds that occurred when using a fifth wheel hitch. If a fifth wheel hitch is properly maintained, adjusted and coupled, it is perfectly safe. Every tractor/trailer on the road uses this type of hitch. No chains - no worries
__________________

Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
jsmith948 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 02:48 PM   #6
Bolter303
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 22
thanks for the info. I just feel 5th wheel hitch is stronger and a safer way to go. For me that is a lot of weight (2,000 lbs) on a small area. As far as taking it out I have a hoist in my garage to remove the hitch when not in use.
__________________

Don
Las Vegas NV
2015 Montana 3710FL
Ford F350 CC DRW
Bolter303 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 05:20 PM   #7
Barbell
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 375
Having pulled several gooseneck stock and grain trailers in my former life as a Missouri farmer, I am perfectly happy with my fifth wheel hitch. The hitch stays in the truck most of the time as I have a flatbed trailer if I need to haul anything. We were parked next to a fiver with a gooseneck hitch last winter in South Carolina. We they got ready to leave, it took them 1/2 hour at least to get the truck lined up to hitch on. It was an older truck and trailer so he wasn't a newby. He even had a camera in the bed of the truck to line it up but it still took forever. I don't remember that much trouble with a stock trailer but the fifth wheel hitch is still much easier to hook up. We did have a Reese hitch come apart a few years back but they paid for all the damage and gave me a new hitch. Now have a Blue Ox bedsaver in case it ever happens again.
Barbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2015, 11:28 PM   #8
Desert185
Senior Member
 
Desert185's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
www.andersenhitches.com
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
Desert185 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2015, 04:12 PM   #9
Face Down
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: RDU Carolina
Posts: 129
I have the Reese Goose Box and love it. Nothing in my bed, a solid connection between the truck and RV, and a hitch that has air bags and shocks. No clanging, no chucking and a great feel while pulling.
__________________
2016 Keystone Carbon 357
2006 F350 4WD CC LB DRW (aka Big Sexy)
Reese 20K Goose Box/Draw-Tite Remove-a-Ball
Face Down is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2015, 05:14 AM   #10
Dustin40
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Utah
Posts: 6
Andersen Aluminum ultimate fithwheel connection.
Dustin40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2015, 05:19 AM   #11
Quad
Senior Member
 
Quad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 264
We also have the goosebox and love it. Clean bed and air ride to boot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
2012 GMC Sierra 3500HD D/A 4x4
2013 Keystone Laredo 321BH
Quad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2015, 06:13 PM   #12
Kickin It
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Commerce, GA
Posts: 37
One more for the Goose Box, I love it and it is so smooth with the air bag and shocks. It does take some "skill" to hook up but do it a few times and you will start to learn. I can hook up by myself and be ready to leave in way under 30 minutes.
__________________

2015 Sprinter 304FWRKS, Reese Goose Box
2014 Ram 3500 CCLB dually 6.7L Cummins 4x4
Kickin It is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2017, 05:19 PM   #13
Chevrolise
Junior Member
 
Chevrolise's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: York Springs
Posts: 27
I leave my 20k attached to the camper. Pull the pins and lift it
right out. I got toys in the back and you can't park at the
trailhead every time. You'll get use to backing under it. If you
do have problems, sit it down in the truck, pull out from under
the camper and line it up yourself. At least then its in the truck
and close to the slots.
__________________

16 Chevy 3500 diesel
16 Fuzion 325
CanAm Spyder, Yamaha Grizzly
Kymco mxu 500i, 2 grandsons
way too many Kayaks
Chevrolise is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2017, 09:13 PM   #14
Alpine
Senior Member
 
Alpine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Oregon
Posts: 783
May be "apples & oranges" but here goes. I have asked before "Has there been a real study or research (not just personal opinion) on the actual stability of a fifthwheel sitting on a plate compared to a fifthwheel sitting on a ball?"

Maybe a little simplistic thinking however concerning "stability"... if someone handed you let's say $80,000.00 (price of a fifthwheel) and gave you the choice of standing on a fifthwheel plate or a trailer ball..... you can keep the money if you can stay standing on either one for just five minutes which one would you choose?

This is not a question of convenience, weight, room in the bed of your truck or ease of hook-up.
__________________


Jeff & Jan - Retired & Full-timing since 2013
2019 Ram Big Horn 3500 Aisin 4x4
2012 Alpine 3450-RL
Double Coin 235/75R-17.5/16 J rated 125lb
Alpine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-14-2017, 08:30 AM   #15
Desert185
Senior Member
 
Desert185's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Nevada
Posts: 2,695
There are three issues here that I see along with a common blurring of those issues.

Fifth wheel plate.

Gooseneck, not to be confused with a Goosebox.

Andersen Ultimate hitch, not to be confused with a gooseneck hitch.

Everyone is familiar with the common plate. Some are not so familiar with the Andersen, which uses an adapter for the king pin box to connect it to a ball. It is not a gooseneck. There are over 10,000 of them on the road with no documented issues (other than the elimination of the negatives of having the ubiquitous plate-type hitch). The Andersen has a FIVE MILLION DOLLAR liability policy. There is no prohibition on the use of the Andersen Ultimate hitch by any manufacturers. It is a 24,000# hitch with a 4,500# pin weight rating.

Because of the long vertical arm on gooseneck hitches (Goosebox not included), there is a strain applied to the pin box attachment that voids any current warranty and compromises the internal structure of the trailer that isn't designed for the added leverage of using a gooseneck adapter on a fifth wheel trailer.

Homework assignment: Check it out for yourself. www.andersenhitches.com
__________________
Desert185 🇺🇸 (Retired Chemtrail vendor)
-Ram 2500 QC, LB, 4x4, Cummins HO/exhaust brake, 6-speed stick.
-Andersen Ultimate 24K 5er Hitch.
-2014 Cougar 326SRX, Maxxis tires w/TPMS, wet bolts, two 6v batts.
-Four Wheel 8' Popup Camper.
Desert185 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 07:57 PM   #16
Whitewolf
Senior Member
 
Whitewolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Eastern U.P. of Michigan
Posts: 237
X2 on what Face Down says.

My pin weight is just under 2200lbs empty and the 5r weighs just over 10K empty. It pull, turns, hooks up and unhooks just fine.
__________________
A rainy day campin' is better than a sunny day workin'.

'14 Montana High Country 305RL - Reese Goose Box - Morryde HD shackles & wet bolts - JoyRider shocks - JT StrongArms - Torklift steps - Correct Track - Progressive EMS-HW50C - Clear Source water filter - On The Go water softener
'21 Ram 3500 w/6.7 Cummins - Sinister Diesel oil bypass
Whitewolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2017, 04:12 AM   #17
gearhead
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,021
I'm thinking about going to the Andersen before next year. I want something lighter because I swap between the cabover and the 5th for travelling. I have heebie-jeebies about the cantilevered weight of the Andersen, but it apparently works.
There are several ways to skin the proverbial cat. I previously had a truck with a B&W turnover ball and used a Curt adapter plate with ISR rails and my Curt Q20 5th hitch. Worked well and left a clean bed.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
gearhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2017, 07:17 AM   #18
gkainz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 708
I had a rail mounted 5th wheel hitch in my previous truck and got my current truck with a gooseneck ball already installed. I wanted a completely flat bed since I use my truck for truck things other than towing, so got the Andersen Ultimate about 3 seasons ago. No complaints whatsoever on the Andersen from me.
__________________
2010 Laredo 245RL
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD 4x4
Andersen Ultimate Gooseneck mount
gkainz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2017, 08:10 AM   #19
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,203
I've had rails in my trucks going back to 1989, and haven't had a single issue hauling anything in my bed.

To each their own, both styles have there advantage to the person using it.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2017, 11:45 AM   #20
RLo
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 21
I would love to not have a 5th wheel plate in the back of my truck and run the goosebox but unless I'm leaving state I always pull the boat behind the camper so I'm stuck with the plate back there.
RLo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:36 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.