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12 Replies | Page 1 of 11 | Top of Page | Bottom of Page

Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel

by Allen , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 01/23/2010 08:18 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Allen

Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
OK, finally getting to the point where I am looking at getting a camper.

And I have been tossing around which whether I would prefer a gooseneck or 5th wheel hitch for about a 28 ft camper?  So what are the major advantages and disadvantes of the two?


Also, I have heard that it IS legal for passengers to ride in a camper connected to a tow vehicle by a 5th wheel hitch, but it is illegal for passengers to ride in a camper towed by a gooseneck.  Is this true?


I guess that in general I would prefer the gooseneck for the rare use of a stock trailer and the smoother truck bed, but that is a very nominal issue.


Thanks!
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by mouseriverrat on 01/23/2010 09:03 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
mouseriverrat
Joined: 12/27/2009
Location: nd
get a b&w turnover gooseneck hitch and a companion fith wheel hitch that fits into the gooseneck hitch then you will have both, they work awesome, plus you still have a flat bed when you arent useing either hitch.
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by Tim Sandstrom on 01/23/2010 09:23 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tim Sandstrom
Joined: 07/14/2003
Location: ND
I'm a long way out from camper purchase but will save this forum in my subscribe list for future reference!

I personally, right now, with no research seem to like the gooseneck approach.  Here's a link I go from my first dinky search on gooseneck adapters:

http://www.gooseneckpopuphitch.com/accessories&adapters

To me, it would be nice to have the pickup box available instead of the 5th wheel plate taking up room.  Not sure how they respond to pulling or whatever.  Just the start of what I hope turns into a good conversation.




 
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Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by huntselk on 01/23/2010 2:19 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
huntselk
Joined: 04/19/2009
Location: ND
Mouseriverrat hit the nail on the head and for the simple reason that was not mentioned.  It will void any factory warranty of a fifthwheel camper to pull it with a gooseneck hitch.  Get the B&W gooseneck ball with the companion fifthwheel hitch; and have the best of both worlds for around 1500 installed.

Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by 5575 on 01/23/2010 4:07 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
5575
Joined: 11/20/2003
Location: ND

I had the conventional 5th wheel hitch on my first outfit, it was a pain in the butt and always in the way.And the easy to remove pins were never easy, and when not in use you always had to lug it around and find some place to store it.
 I now have a  b&w turnover goose neck hitch  and I would never go back. I bought it new off ebay for under $300 and installed it myself, it wasn't to hard with the help of my neighbor and and a case of beer.
The next thing I'm going to buy is one of those remote release adapters so I won't even have to go into the box. One like this. Folks have one and its a slick unit.

As far as voiding warranties, I've never heard of anyone having a problem with their goose neck trailer hitch adapter, And besides that camper warranties are hardly worth the paper they are wrote on and are what about a year.
I pull a 30.5 ft camper and a 2050 walleye boat behind that without any trouble.
That companion fifth wheel hitch you speak of looks like its just another thing to have to lug around and store just like a traditional 5th wheel hitch. I'll stay with clean and simple, its nice to have the box anytime you need it thats for sure!
 






 
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by wslayer on 01/23/2010 7:44 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
wslayer
Joined: 07/27/2002
Location: ND
Have a little rocker 5th wheel plate, actually pretty light to remove when not needed. Pull 4 hitch pins out and remove. It is visible thru the back window so you can see for "very" easy hookup. Goosenecks are alittle tough by yourself (get use to it in time)
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by yellowdog on 01/23/2010 7:48 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
yellowdog
Joined: 11/21/2006
Location: ND
I have considered changing my fifth wheel over to a gooseneck ball and I spoke with a tech. at Capital RV and he told me it doesn't seem to be a problem on the small fifth wheels but he said he has torn the upper floors out of many larger campers because the gooseneck adapters cause extreme flexing in the frame structure and cause welds to break.  I stuck with my clumsy fifth wheel rather than have to rip the bedroom out of my camper to fix and reinforce the front frame.
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by PoleKat on 01/23/2010 7:57 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
PoleKat
Joined: 11/14/2007
Location: MT
i have the gooseneck adapter and love it only way in my book. i pull a 33' and have never had a problem. my buddy has the companion fifth wheel hitch all though a good idea still a pain u have the big plate to pull in and out not a one man job. plus after some use it doesn't just pull out nice and easy it takes some wiggling and jiggling.

with the gooseneck adapter flip over the ball, flat bed, my 6 year old can do it.

Rob Arthur

<*))))))><{
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by bigwrench on 01/23/2010 11:01 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
bigwrench
Joined: 08/27/2007
Location: ND
One thing to consider is the 5th wheel is a little more stable.  I have a 27ft  and I purchased a different pickup last Feb which came with a goose neck ball already in it which I was very excited about.  The rails for the regular hitch are a HUGE PAIN IN THE A$$ in my opinion.  So I started out by borrowing my buddy's gooseneck adapter to try it out, it was an Anderson ranch adapter.  First thing I noticed was it was a little jerky compared to the fifth wheel and deffinately has some more sway/rocking in a cross wind.  I ended up buying a Converta Ball cushioned adapter, it's better, not so jerky but a little bounce.  I'm seriously looking at the RB&W companion, couple guys at work have them and absolutely love them.

Hope this helps.
I guess my definition of change just ain't the same!
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by bigwrench on 01/23/2010 11:05 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
bigwrench
Joined: 08/27/2007
Location: ND
Put some Anti-sieze on the shaft and use the camper to lift the plate out.  Plate is a little heavy but not to bad.
I guess my definition of change just ain't the same!
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by RNinND on 01/24/2010 08:01 AM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
RNinND
Joined: 01/18/2007
Location: ND
I have a Lil Rocker 5th wheel hitch.  The ease of hook-up is very nice.  However, as mentioned above the space it takes in the box is the major disadvantage.  The other thing I dislike but have to deal with is the weight of the hitch.  Once I add it in the spring it's pretty much there til winter because of the weight.  

I too have been thinking about a gooseneck type hitch but haven't researched it.  The box space would be great.  I camp alot in the summer and one thing I've noticed is that it's very rare to see a gooseneck camper hitch in the state parks.  Is there something too that??? 
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by Bowhuntin on 01/24/2010 12:39 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Bowhuntin
Joined: 11/17/2003
Location: ND
The real question should be why a 5th wheel/gooseneck in the first place? Besides the obvious answer of being able to pull a boat behind that is. I've never seen a 5th wheel camper floor plan I was too fond of, but to each their own I guess. 

I don't see energy prices going down in the foreseeable future and it takes a lot of it to pull a camper/boat all over the place. I've got a 30' conventional camper parked on a rented lot with enough room to store the boat by it all summer and wouldn't consider anything else after I've done that a few years. It's already set up when you get there, the food is all there, fridge plugged in and no packing/unpacking. Sure beats the days of spending half of friday packing it up and half of sunday unpacking it. Might not be for everyone, but something to consider.
Re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel
by Allen on 01/24/2010 2:25 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Allen
Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
Thanks for all the input fellas.  


Bowhuntin, I like the variety offered up by the 5th wheeler when it comes to being mobile.  DL this week, northern Sak the following, etc, etc.

We too were not liking many of the floor plans, but there are a ton of different ones out there so just keep looking.
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
12 Replies | Page 1 of 11 | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
Posted By: Allen
Posted On: 01/23/2010 08:18 AM
1580 Views, 12 Comments

Tags: 5th, wheel, camper, gooeneck, gooseneck, getting, prefer, hitch, tossing, finally
More Tags: IS, Human Interest Hospitality_Recreation
Region: North Dakota

Categories: Outdoor Sports > Camping
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