Which is better 5th wheel hitch or gooseneck.

[Bolter303]

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

[Kristi]

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.

[bsmith0404]

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.

[hankpage]

From what I understand, the gooseneck adapter may void your warranty. This may be something to consider.

[jsmith948]

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:D

[Bolter303]

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.

[Barbell]

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.

[Desert185]

www.andersenhitches.com

[Face Down]

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.

[Dustin40]

Andersen Aluminum ultimate fithwheel connection.

[Quad]

We also have the goosebox and love it. Clean bed and air ride to boot.


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[Kickin It]

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.

[Chevrolise]

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.

[Alpine]

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.

[Desert185]

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

[Whitewolf]

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.

[gearhead]

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.

[gkainz]

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.

[chuckster57]

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.

[RLo]

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.

[Javi]

I have the factory puck system in my truck and can't see why I'd ever want to change... Hitch comes in two pieces and is easily manageable for me...

As a note... I'm 68 with 5 bad disc, a bad knee and overweight.... Although I've lost 50+ lbs since my stroke in April '16 :D

Oh yeah... as a designer I cannot recommend putting a Gooseneck on a RV 5th wheel... Ever wonder why 18 wheelers ain't got goosenecks... :D

[captcolour]

Factory puck and factory/Reese hitch for me. $79 chain hoist from TSC and the hitch is out. Set it on a furniture dolly from Harbor Freight and can push it where I want it.