Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel Recent Comments

re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel

2010-01-24 14:25:16

posted by: Allen. 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.

re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel

2010-01-24 12:39:19

posted by: Bowhuntin. 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

2010-01-24 08:01:13

posted by: RNinND. 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

2010-01-23 23:05:01

posted by: bigwrench. 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.

re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel

2010-01-23 23:01:22

posted by: bigwrench. 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.

re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel

2010-01-23 19:57:20

posted by: PoleKat. 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.

re: Gooeneck vs. 5th wheel

2010-01-23 19:48:48

posted by: yellowdog. 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

2010-01-23 19:44:31

posted by: wslayer. 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

2010-01-23 16:07:37

posted by: 5575.

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

2010-01-23 14:19:45

posted by: huntselk. 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.