What's the difference between a fifth wheel and a gooseneck?
Is a gooseneck the same as a fifth wheel? No, a gooseneck is not the same as a fifth wheel. A gooseneck hitch uses a ball to connect to a unique style of vertical coupler on a gooseneck trailer. A fifth wheel hitch uses a set of jaws and pivoting plate to connect to the kingpin of a fifth wheel trailer.
Fifth-wheel and gooseneck hitches are two of the most versatile hitches available. In simple terms, fifth-wheel trailer hitches are larger, more costly, and can only haul fifth-wheel trailers. On the other hand, gooseneck hitches are less expensive, take up less room in the truck bed, and pull a wide range of trailers.
Gooseneck trailers are generally stronger than 5th wheel RV trailers, but that's due to how the trailers are built, not because the gooseneck is an inherently stronger design.
The difference is a gooseneck trailer slides over a ball hitch in the bed of a pickup truck, while a fifth-wheel trailer attaches to a pickup truck using a hinged plate hitch; the same type of hitch is used by semi-trucks. The biggest advantage of a gooseneck trailer over a bumper pull is its stability.
Yes, it is safe to use an adapter when you occasionally need to tow a gooseneck trailer with a fifth-wheel hitch, or vice versa.
Gooseneck Hitch
It is typically used for commercial and agricultural towing, including livestock, flatbed, and horse trailers. Compared to the fifth wheel hitch, the gooseneck is minimally invasive and a less expensive mechanism. Also, it is capable of hauling up to 30,000 lbs of weight capacity.
Disadvantages of Gooseneck Tow Trailers:
You won't be able to haul one with anything less than a pickup truck, and unlike bumper pull trailers, several goosenecks are heavy enough to be classified as commercial. Gooseneck trailers also require a special hitching system, installed in the bed of a pickup truck….
Goosenecks can be bigger, can hold heavier and larger cargo, can make tighter turns, and yield more stability when being pulled compared to bumper pull trailers. However, bumper pulls can carry a respectable payload, are cheaper, can be towed by any type of vehicle and are easier for beginners to tow.
Gooseneck trailers, on the other hand, typically max out at around 16,000. The heavier industrial options may be able to tow up to about 35,000 lbs. Typically, the biggest restriction on what you can tow with these trailers is actually the vehicle doing the towing.
Gooseneck hitches offer several advantages over 5th wheel hitches. First, they are far less invasive and bulky in the truck bed. Above the truck bed, a gooseneck hitch consists merely of a gooseneck ball and safety chain anchors.
Can a gooseneck be converted to a fifth wheel?
You can choose from two kinds of adapters to help you. One option is to replace the inner pipe on a standard gooseneck coupler and have a fifth-wheel king pin at the base. This standard king pin will fit right into your existing fifth-wheel hitch.
Popular among full-time RVers, fifth wheels are designed for easier, more stable towing. Living space is maximized with additional over-cab space. This camping trailer—affectionately nicknamed a "fiver"—is a favorite of many, especially those taking extended trips or traveling full time in their RV.
Safe Towing Option: One of the benefits of a 5th wheel camper versus many tow-behind trailers is how much safer they are to operate. A 5th wheel camper rests the weight of the trailer in the bed of your truck. This makes it easier to maneuver the trailer and increases the stability of the trailer when in motion.
In short, the answer is no—you don't necessarily need a dually (dual rear wheel) truck to tow a fifth-wheel trailer, but that doesn't mean you won't want one. On one hand, single rear wheel trucks enjoy slightly greater fuel efficiency and offer greater visibility than dually trucks.
The biggest advantage of a gooseneck trailer over a bumper pull is its stability. Since the tongue weight of the trailer is over the truck's rear axle instead of at the back of the frame, the potential of the trailer to sway is minimized.
Goosenecks, like fifth wheel travel trailers, are more stable than bumper towed trailers, safer to drive, and easier to maneuver. Gooseneck trailers will have room for horses in the back and most will include an area for tack in the front, and in some cases, saddle racks.
Consensus here seems to be that the recreational fifth wheel hitch differs from the gooseneck mainly for the same reason that trailer makers make most such design choices: It's cheaper. X2 to both posts. 5er frames are simply not designed with the strength and structural integrity that gooseneck trailers are.
While a 5th wheel hitch may consist of more components and an overall bulkier and heavier design, this type of hitch is selected for recreational use for a reason. With a more intricate design, a 5th wheel provides generally smoother, quieter and more stable towing compared to a gooseneck hitch.
A gooseneck hitch's advantages include its greater towing capacity, compact size, and relative simplicity. Gooseneck hitches can pull more than 30,000 pounds, at least 3,000 pounds more than the best fifth wheel hitch.
Because the gooseneck hitch overlaps with a portion of your truck and centers the weight on the vehicle's rear axle rather than bumper, these trailers tend to be far more stable. That means increased control and less trailer sway on highways and backroads alike, providing a gentler ride for you and your cargo.
Why not to buy a fifth wheel?
Because they are usually larger than a regular travel trailer, a fifth-wheel can weigh considerably more too. Some can tip the scales at over 15,000 pounds, requiring a heavy-duty truck to tow them safely.
The added structure for a fifth wheel's step up for the gooseneck hitch requires more labor and more materials to build. The Eagle fifth wheel is also larger than the travel trailer. More materials and labor mean more money spent building the RV and more money you'll have to pay to buy it.
As fifth wheels are much larger and heavier, they usually carry more luxuries than a standard trailer. Amenities such as large living rooms and kitchens, fireplaces, and multiple bathrooms have been elevated to different floor heights, providing a more private, roomy feel.
Standard Sizes of the Best Gooseneck Trailers
Typical trailer lengths are 25, 30, 35, and 40 feet. The best gooseneck trailer size depends on how much you plan on hauling. Calculate the average length of your load and add a few more feet. You most likely will end up needing more space at some point!
Gooseneck trailers are designed for hauling heavy loads, such as construction equipment and livestock. These trailers feature a specialized hitch that attaches to a truck's bed, providing increased stability and weight capacity. With proper maintenance, a gooseneck trailer can last 20 years or more.
Compared to other types of hotshot trailers, goosenecks are more stable, easy to maneuver and less prone to swaying or tipping over. Apart from that, they can also easily navigate through tight turns and narrow spaces.
That's enough to haul a modest trailer for your toys (such as a bass boat, camper trailer, ATVs or Jet Skis) or just a box trailer to haul your kid's stuff to college.
Quote: But a 1/2 ton will pull a gooseneck just fine, with a load rated by the common sense of the driver, like Broccoli says. Yes! I would stay withing the rated tow capacity of the truck.
Gooseneck Advantages
With that being said, increased stability also means gooseneck trailers can accommodate more weight and are larger than bumper pull trailers, which means more room for living quarters, as well as more room for any livestock or cargo you haul.
- Know how much trailer sway is normal. When you're towing a trailer or RV, you can expect a little movement, especially when you go over bumps in the road. ...
- Get the right hitch. ...
- Load the trailer correctly. ...
- Install a sway control device. ...
- Driver slow. ...
- Check your tires.
Is it easier to pull a gooseneck trailer?
Gooseneck trailers are easier to tow than their bumper pull counterparts in that they balance the load better and make tighter turns. Goosenecks won't wobble or sway as much as bumper pulls. This is because the weight of the trailer is placed on the rear axles, rather than the bumper.
Gooseneck trailers accommodate higher payloads because the trailer's tongue weight is over the rear axle of your truck, instead of all forced down onto the back of the frame. This improves stability.
I pull a gooseneck with a short bed F150. It is very much easier to maneuver and makes parking etc a lot easier. Trailer has a slightly tapered nose. They make a great hitch for this - I think it's called a slider hitch.
You can't access your living space while on the road.
A Family camping together must remain in the vehicle while on the road. There will be no quick runs to the fridge while you travel.
Ultimately, the average lifespan of an RV is thought to be around 20 years (or 200,000 miles). A used RV that has been well maintained by the previous owner should still last through its 20th total year of life, although maintenance costs may start to rise after 10 or 15 years. Mileage versus age is also subjective.
Towing Size
A travel trailer is lighter than a fifth-wheel, which means less strain on your vehicle, as well as better gas mileage. However, the tow set-up of the fifth-wheel gives greater control over the vehicle when driving.
It logically follows that a larger truck will offer a larger tow capacity and payload. In most cases you'll want to go with at least a ¾-ton truck like the Ford F-250, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, or Ram 2500, or—even better—a 1-ton truck.
A travel trailer is harder to tow, but if you're moving your RV somewhere to park permanently, you don't need the enhanced towability you'd pay for in a fifth wheel. If you're not setting up camp regularly, you also don't need a fifth wheel's fancy (and costly) jack and leveling systems.
The Ram 1500 Classic and Ram 1500
Even if you're interested in a used Ram 2500, the more recent the model you choose, the more power it's likely to have. Technically, the Ram 1500 models can be used for fifth-wheel towing, but there's really no reason to do so.
In most cases you'll want to go with at least a ¾-ton truck like the Ford F-250, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, or Ram 2500, or—even better—a 1-ton truck. These are heavy-duty trucks like the Ford F-350, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Ram 3500.
Should I get a long bed or short bed for my fifth wheel?
Long-Bed Trucks: 8 Feet
An 8-foot bed, also referred to as a long bed, is ideal for towing a fifth-wheel trailer. Fifth-wheel hitches must remain in front of a truck's rear axle, so the camper sits close to the cab.
A half-ton 5th wheel is a 5th wheel that can be towed by a half-ton truck. It is important to know your truck's towing capabilities before shopping for an RV. A half-ton truck can tow around 9,000 – 10,000 pounds, so most half-ton 5th wheels generally fit that weight range.
A gooseneck trailer has limitations, though. One is its size. You won't be able to haul one with anything less than a pickup truck, and unlike bumper pull trailers, several goosenecks are heavy enough to be classified as commercial.
Gooseneck hitches are less invasive, relatively less expensive and make it easier to free up the truck bed with smaller, lighter-weight components. Comparatively, 5th wheel hitches generally offer smoother, quieter, more stable towing and are available in a range of weight capacities to suit a variety of trucks.
Brad Heath, owner of Double D Trailers, says, “Bumper pulls are a little easier to back up than a gooseneck, but moving in the forward direction there isn't a noticeable difference in maneuverability.”
Because the gooseneck hitch overlaps with a portion of your truck and centers the weight on the vehicle's rear axle rather than bumper, these trailers tend to be far more stable. That means increased control and less trailer sway on highways and backroads alike, providing a gentler ride for you and your cargo.
Gooseneck hitches are less invasive, relatively less expensive and make it easier to free up the truck bed with smaller, lighter-weight components. Comparatively, 5th wheel hitches generally offer smoother, quieter, more stable towing and are available in a range of weight capacities to suit a variety of trucks.
Expert Reply: In order to haul your gooseneck trailer with a fleet of semi-tractors you will need to make your own adapter harness which will then make for a plug and play connection but they don't make anything pre-assembled for this out of the box to my knowledge.
The biggest advantage of a gooseneck trailer over a bumper pull is its stability. Since the tongue weight of the trailer is over the truck's rear axle instead of at the back of the frame, the potential of the trailer to sway is minimized.
- Exceptional amount of storage for large, bulky items, especially in the basem*nt “pass-thru” area.
- Because with the tow hitch centers much of the weight of the RV is directly over the rear axle of the tow truck, fifth wheels are very stable to tow.
