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thomas201
Eastern Panhandle WV
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Joined: 08/21/2014
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How many tractor and trailers do you see with a goose hitch? I can hitch a 5th wheel with a sleeper cab, first time every time. Try that with a goose.
The fifth wheel really spreads the forces. Fontaine or Holland can't be beat, and will pull for 20 years with no fuss.
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Thermoguy
Graham, WA
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Joined: 01/04/2017
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4x4ord wrote:As well as some of the reasons already mentioned favouring 5th wheel hitch I think making a hitching error with a ball hitch is more likely than with a 5th wheel coupler.
It seems like you have never hitched a gooseneck. You can't make a mistake. You drop the hitch on the ball and lock it in, you can't forget the jaws or have the jaws only latch part way. They also can't come undone. The ball is on there and the weight of the trailer holds it on. Not saying if you forget to lock it in, a bounce couldn't bounce it off, but just saying easier to hitch than a 5th wheel. I have moved my gooseneck trailer without latching it because it isn't going anywhere.
I have both a gooseneck horse trailer and a 5th wheel camper. I can say that they are different in the way the hitch and haul. I totally agree with everyone that says the frame of the 5th wheel can not withstand the force of the pull direction from the gooseneck hitch. I looked at both hitch types initially but a friend told me they bent their frame with a gooseneck adapter and their trailer is smaller than mine. I went with the B&W companion and can remove it to hitch the gooseneck. I also have a clean bed when the hitch is removed so best of both worlds. The only complaint is the weight of the base of the B&W. But, I can lift it and move it forward to haul the gooseneck or remove it if I won't be hauling the 5th wheel for a while. It's removed all winter. The experience I have, I would not use a gooseneck adapter. Now if someone can just come up with a way I can haul both trailers at the same time, I would be in heaven.
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Slownsy
USA
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Joined: 01/16/2011
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Ever wondered why they are called FWs and not goosenecks.
Frank
2012 F250 XLT
4x4 Super Cab
8' Tray 6.2lt, 3.7 Diff.
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4x4ord
Alberta
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Joined: 12/23/2010
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Thermoguy wrote:4x4ord wrote:As well as some of the reasons already mentioned favouring 5th wheel hitch I think making a hitching error with a ball hitch is more likely than with a 5th wheel coupler.
It seems like you have never hitched a gooseneck. You can't make a mistake. You drop the hitch on the ball and lock it in, you can't forget the jaws or have the jaws only latch part way. They also can't come undone. The ball is on there and the weight of the trailer holds it on. Not saying if you forget to lock it in, a bounce couldn't bounce it off, but just saying easier to hitch than a 5th wheel. I have moved my gooseneck trailer without latching it because it isn't going anywhere.
I have both a gooseneck horse trailer and a 5th wheel camper. I can say that they are different in the way the hitch and haul. I totally agree with everyone that says the frame of the 5th wheel can not withstand the force of the pull direction from the gooseneck hitch. I looked at both hitch types initially but a friend told me they bent their frame with a gooseneck adapter and their trailer is smaller than mine. I went with the B&W companion and can remove it to hitch the gooseneck. I also have a clean bed when the hitch is removed so best of both worlds. The only complaint is the weight of the base of the B&W. But, I can lift it and move it forward to haul the gooseneck or remove it if I won't be hauling the 5th wheel for a while. It's removed all winter. The experience I have, I would not use a gooseneck adapter. Now if someone can just come up with a way I can haul both trailers at the same time, I would be in heaven.
I tow more gooseneck trailers than fifth wheels. You mention the problem with the gooseneck ..... forget to lock the ball. Or intentionally not lock the ball. There is also the possibility of accidentally using a 2 5/15 ball on a 3 inch coupler. I was lazy once and didn’t lock the ball on a gooseneck that I was just going to move a few feet. Turns out I got stuck .... then pulled on the front of my truck and the coupler bounced off the ball. I was fortunate that minimal damage was done.
2017 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5
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miltvill
Ft. Lauderdale FL
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Joined: 10/20/2008
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I am aware that a true gooseneck hitch may put too much stress on the FW frame causing damage to the frame. However, Reese makes the Reese Goose Box 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Air Ride Coupler Adapter and Gen-Y makes the Executive Fifth-Wheel King Pin to Gooseneck Conversion which uses a rubber torsion and shock system instead of the air bag like the Goose Box. . The Reece Goose Box has been approved by Lippert and will not void the warranty. Lippert has not responded to Gen-Y in reference to voiding the warranty. Both systems cost about the same as a 5th wheel hitch.
I am close to deciding which 5th wheel I will purchase so, have been looking at the different gooseneck and 5th wheel hitch systems.
2020 GMC Denali\Duramax 3500HD Dually Crew Cab
Sold-Trail Cruiser TC23QB
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