Gooseneck and 5th wheel hitches, both hitches for trucks, are both very useful and popular. Although they both have their uses, is one really better than the other?
When picking a hitch for your vehicle, you should look for one that works best for your needs. This article explains the differences, pros, and cons of the gooseneck vs 5th wheel.
Let’s get started.
What Is a Gooseneck Hitch?
The gooseneck hitch is a type of trailer hitch, which is mounted onto the front of a truck to support the trailer. The gooseneck allows you to easily pull the trailer without bending or straining your neck.
The gooseneck hitch allows for ease of access for repair and maintenance, and also allows for all-around visibility. The gooseneck hitch was originally designed for tractors and their payloads, but after World War II, gooseneck hitching was used by the trucking industry.
What Is a 5th Wheel Hitch?
A 5th hitch is a trailer hitch that is not only large enough to carry a 5th wheel and its attached trailer, but also large enough to haul a travel trailer, tow a boat, and more.
5th wheel hitches are also often better at accommodating the weight of your truck. Although a gooseneck trailer hitch is not as long as a 5th wheel hitch, its two-inch pins are often set back above the frame of your vehicle making it easier to hitch into it.
Also Read: How Are 5th Wheels Measured?
Pros and Cons of Gooseneck Hitch
Pros:
- It allows you to pull heavy loads. Also, gooseneck hitch are widely used to pull trailers and box trucks, which can carry heavy loads, such as tents and motorcycles.
- The gooseneck hitch comes with adapters, which makes their usage easier and convenient.
Cons:
- Gooseneck hitches are designed for the tail end of the vehicle only
Pros and Cons of 5th Wheel Hitch
Pros:
- It has the highest load carrying capacity (up to 7000 lbs)
- Have good eyelets (fits most 5th wheel chassis up to 36”)
- Great for heavy lifting Fast loading time
- Is designed to be at the front or at the rear of the vehicle
Cons:
- Only one size available for the majority of vehicles (35” to 36”)
- You need a big truck with a front loader to pull it with
- Bottom up design is more difficult for beginners and even some professionals to set up
Significant Differences
Body Styles
The most obvious difference between a Gooseneck and a 5th wheel hitch is the size of the bumpers on a 5th wheel and a Gooseneck hitch. The Gooseneck hitch is about two feet longer than the 5th wheel hitch.
Since the front of the 5th wheel hitch often pulls the truck forward on some occasions, having the bumpers that come off the trailer is important.
Connections
Most 5th wheel hitches only have two back-haul connections for the hitch arms to run through. These connections only go from the 5th wheel to the truck and don’t allow for a second connection back to the 5th wheel.
Gooseneck hitches have three back-haul connections, two of which go from the 5th wheel to the truck and one connecting to the front of the 5th wheel, making it easier to connect two trailers together or a 5th wheel and gooseneck hitch.
Towing
When it comes to towing capacity, a 5th wheel hitch tows substantially more than a gooseneck hitch.
While the bumpers that bump in the middle are the same, it is the way that they are attached to the truck that really determines the benefits and drawbacks of each type.
Also Read: How To Increase Towing Capacity?
Price
Unlike 5th wheel hitches, gooseneck hitches are available in a wider variety of styles and configurations than their 5th wheel counterparts. This gives the advantage in price to the gooseneck in most applications.
This should not affect your purchasing decisions, and the two hitches perform different jobs depending on your needs.
Installation
Gooseneck hitching requires about the same amount of tools as a 5th wheel hitch. However, it is faster to install a gooseneck hitch due to the fact that you only need one hand to work the 3-point hitch.
In a 5th wheel hitch, you will need two hands or a hand truck. This is because you need to connect all the components. This makes the 5th wheel hitch installation a bit more complicated.
Which One Should I Buy?
Buying the wrong hitch could seriously damage your vehicle, so why not make an informed decision before committing to one? To figure out which hitch you should get, look at all the different features and make an educated decision.
Also Read: Best Weight Distribution Hitch Travel Trailer in 2021
What will you be using the trailer for? If you are only going to use the trailer for towing, then a gooseneck hitch is best. However, if you have a boat or RV, you should consider buying a 5th wheel hitch.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our article about gooseneck vs 5th wheel. Planning out what you need a hitch for will help you make an informed decision when purchasing a hitch.
In our opinion, the gooseneck will fill most people’s needs. They are available nearly everywhere, are economical and can handle most loads with no problems.