fifth wheel or gooseneck ?

[Cowboy69]

I have a tag along 12000 pound tandem dump trailer I pull with my 1 ton dually already equipted with an anti sway firth wheel hitch. But I would like to do away with the tag along hitch, but am unsure what is better between fifth wheel or gooseneck. Any advice or ideas? thanks in advance.

 

[browntown]

I have no practical experience with either, but gooseneck strikes me as the best way to free up bed space when not towing.

 

[Strouty]

I am personally going gooseneck, easy to get a flip style or removable ball so when not hauling, you keep all your storage space. That doesn't mean I won't ever use a fifth wheel, it will also be removable.

 

[2mJps]

I drove my pickup 5000 miles last year and was pulling a gooseneck 3000 of them. It is a flat bed. If i could do it cheaply i would switch to a fifthwheel hitch because you dont have to be dead on to hook up to it. I dont have a place to park were i can back up to my trailer strait. But if you use your pickup bed to haul stuff then its a no brainer some kind of hide away ball.

 

[GShelton]

I have both. I use the B&W Turnoverball with 5th wheel adapter. Amazing product.

 

[chevyc10]

B&W hitches you can have it both ways they have a flip hitch gooseneck that you can also insert a fifthwheel into.

 

[EagleDave]

Once you pull a gooseneck you will never want to pull a tag again. The stability and handling is incredible.

 

[87FoRunner]

Once you pull a gooseneck you will never want to pull a tag again. The stability and handling is incredible.

This.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

personal preference fifthwheel goosenecks are nice i personally think fifth wheels are more stable easier to hook up and give a better ride both are better than tag

 

[Cowboy69]

I`m not too concerned about the box space my fifth wheel takes up as I can put it in and out easy enough, and my hitch is the anti sway one, i`m just unsure if the one is more safe then the other or if the one may handle more weight and abuse then the other on a ruff terrane as it is a dump trailer and im in some pretty uneven places at times.

 

[Cowboy69]

I am also wondering what the distance should be between the front of my trailer and the back of my truck with a fifth wheel or gooseneck. is it the same as the tag along or is it shorter?

 

[Larwyn]

How many semi's have you seen pulling a goose neck?

 

[purplezr2]

How many semi's have you seen pulling a goose neck?

How many semi's have you seen stuck on snowbanks. I have seen quite a few. They each have here benefits. The goosenecks main benefit is that you tip the trailer in greater angles in all directions with out effecting the traction of the two rig. A fifth wheel with pull better and be more stable but can lift the truck it the trailer is lifted.

 

[browntown]

Ive seen what I would call a semi truck (private with sleeper) pulling custom racecar trailers with goosenecks.

Not full 18 wheel setups though which is probably what was meant by the above comment.

 

[KPSquared]

Gooseneck so easy to have a clean box when you're not hauling.

 

[Sureshot]

If you go fifth wheel get one that tilts side to side. I have both. With the fifth wheel you don't need to run safety chains if that is an issue.

I don't get the difference in a fifth wheel and gooseneck in the traction department. They should both be mounted the same distance for and aft for proper weight distribution.

I use the Reese elite system which lets you remove the hitch and have an open box.

Depending on how much hauling and how much you want to spend you can get slider and air ride hitches in fifth wheel.

 

[KPSquared]

I just hate the rails in my box. I'd much rather have an invisible ball than 2 big rails for mud and snow to pack up under. Can't even sweep the box out properly.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

How many semi's have you seen stuck on snowbanks. I have seen quite a few. They each have here benefits. The goosenecks main benefit is that you tip the trailer in greater angles in all directions with out effecting the traction of the two rig. A fifth wheel with pull better and be more stable but can lift the truck it the trailer is lifted.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I was taught that general stability / driving on relatively smooth even surfaces is why campers and big car haulers are fifthwheel and equipment trialers going off-camber off the street / in construction sites is why those are setup with gooseneck / ball hitch.

I converted our 20ton tag along to gooseneck a year or so ago. The trailer mfr had necks made and ready to ship - apparently this is fairly common practice.

 

[metaleltr]

How many semi's have you seen pulling a goose neck?

I have actually seen a few out here in farm country.

 

[glazier]

I have a tag along 12000 pound tandem dump trailer I pull with my 1 ton dually already equipted with an anti sway firth wheel hitch. But I would like to do away with the tag along hitch, but am unsure what is better between fifth wheel or gooseneck. Any advice or ideas? thanks in advance.

I own both a Fifth Wheel Jayco camper, and an Enclosed Gooseneck trailer. I don't fully understand your post, what is a anti sway Fifth Wheel hitch? Do you have pictures of what you are using? I would use a gooseneck for any type of construction trailer as you described. Fifth Wheels are easier to hook up though, and don't require safety chains.

 

[Cowboy69]

I own both a Fifth Wheel Jayco camper, and an Enclosed Gooseneck trailer. I don't fully understand your post, what is a anti sway Fifth Wheel hitch? Do you have pictures of what you are using? I would use a gooseneck for any type of construction trailer as you described. Fifth Wheels are easier to hook up though, and don't require safety chains.

sorry for the miss info, it is a hitch that has side ways tilt aswell as front to back tilt, they tell me it is for uneven ground.

 

[Cowboy69]

I am also wondering how long I should make the tounge, how much distance from the back of my truck and the front of my trailer, and how high above my box should I make it?

 

[Sureshot]

The reese elite fifth wheel system doesn't have rails. You have four under box "pucks" that the hitch sits into and stays in place with four quarter turn pieces. You can use either a fifth wheel or gooseneck with it. I have also been thinking of making a sled ramp that attaches and I can use my inbox winch to pull the sled in.

 

[glazier]

The reese elite fifth wheel system doesn't have rails. You have four under box "pucks" that the hitch sits into and stays in place with four quarter turn pieces. You can use either a fifth wheel or gooseneck with it. I have also been thinking of making a sled ramp that attaches and I can use my inbox winch to pull the sled in.

That is what I have, (Signature Series) very good product. I also own B&W, another good product. The Reese system is much cleaner with GM fender liners, you can't see the mount. No levers to pull from inside the rear tire, or ugly notches in the fender liner. B&W has a terrific reputation with customer service, and nearly a cult following with some of their customers. They didn't get that by making junk, but I feel the Reese system is a step above them as far as clean.

 

[mark52621]

All of the farmers around here have switched to gooseneck trailers. If you have a hard time hooking it up buy an electronic eye.

 

[KPSquared]

All of the farmers around here have switched to gooseneck trailers. If you have a hard time hooking it up buy an electronic eye.

Or some mirrors. . .

Goosenecks have become the farm standard here lately too.

 

[Rezeppa]

I deal with all of them at work. It all comes down to how many people are going to be around with this set up. If I had a son, brother, or friend working with me Gooseneck 100% if I was by my self all the time 5th wheel it is. 5th wheels are extremely simple to hook up. Flipping the gooseneck ball is a pain when it has that pin in the fender well. Also hooking up to a gooseneck when enjoying adult beverages (on private property getting ready for the morning) can result in costly mistakes. Tailgates have gotten extremely costly.