why do some trailers have goose necks and some fith wheel ? what is best and why.

 

i like GN because in my experience they give more clearance over the bed rails and its just what im used to!

brett

 

gooseneck trailers are generally used in ag type operations where there may be uneven terrain, and more movement at the hitch point will be present.

5th wheel hitches are supposed to be more stable, and are easier to hook up for the old timers

I've never pulled a 5th wheel, everything we have is GN.

 

I prefer the GN hookup, it allows for more bed rail clearance in uneven terrain. I recently acquired a 5th wheel and converted it to GN. The only real difference between the two is the hookup. The 5th wheel hitch is secured via a locking mechanism that can be one from outside the bed, flip of a lever. The GN requires safety chains, so even though I have a remote cable pull to unlatch the ball hitch, I still have to get into the bed to connect/disconnect the chains.

Personally, I would rather deal with the chains and not have the 5th wheel hitch taking up bed space, or have to take it in and out all the time when I want to use the bed for hauling. If all you do is pull your 5th wheel, then it is an OK system. I like the GN hitch, it offers me the ability to use various trailers around the place without having to swap hitches in/out/around all the time. I've pulled both, really no difference in the pulling part, just the connecting.

CD

 

You can get a B&W Gooseneck hitch and they make a 5th wheel hitch that goes into the same reciever. The B&W is an excellent quality hitch. Check out WWW.turnoverball.com for info.

 

do the fith wheel hitches not require chains and if not does that mean they are safer or stronger?

 

The 5th wheels do not require the safety chains because of the latch mechanism lock. That does not make them safer or stronger, it just has a lock mechanism that is supposed to be a better connection. It is the same type as a semi truck uses. I have seen a couple that cut loose, took out bedsides of trucks and also tailgates. The battery operated e-brake did stop the trailers without damage to other vehicles.

Like I said earlier, I prefer the GN hitch and using safety chains.

I have seen the B&W hitch, it is very well constructed and will give you both worlds of the GN and 5th wheel hitches, whatever you choose to tow and however it is configured.

CD

 

I've just converted my %th wheel over to a GN because of the same reason CD quoted. It's just easier to use the truck bed for other purposes with the GN.

 

I have the B&W, with the Companion fifth wheel hitch. I love it! I bought it because I wanted no rails in the bed, and I knew I was going to eventually have a GN flatbed for the farm. But I needed a fiver for my 32' Jayco now. Max weight for the B&W Companion fifth wheel is 18K lbs, but the GN is rated to I believe 30K lbs. Simple, easy to take out, and built very well.

 

I have a drawtite hitch with 2 plates, a 5th wheel and a gooseneck with quick disconnects. When not in use the rails are the only thing present. It was given to me and the truck had a prior hitch that was alike, so I make do.

 

I prefer 5th wheel, to me its easier to hook up then a GN and I feel safer with it. Plus I have heard a few horror stories involving broken GN's.

I tow heavy is another reason I like 5th wheel over GN you have a better spread of weight with the 5th wheel over the one point the GN has. I also feel more stable with it and I can compare it cause my car hauler was a GN then I swapped it over to a 5th wheel BIG difference.

Also for rail clearance my rail clearance didnt change at all swapping from GN to 5th wheel in fact I think it may have gotten higher with the 5th wheel.