Gooseneck or 5th wheel for a 2/3 car trailer?

Michael Kilduff · 04-21-2013, 10:30 PM

Hey gang,

I've only towed single car tag style car trailers before and am looking to buy a 2 or 3 car open aluminum trailer. I'm curious as to what is preferred and why-gooseneck or 5th wheel? Looks like the 5th wheel is easier to back into for hook up, but maybe I'm wrong about that?

Tow vehicle is a crew cab '98 Chevy dually, will have a new or slightly used Dodge or GM dually in the next year.

Give me the good, the bad, and the otherwise on the gooseneck or fifth wheel if ya can. Thanks in advance

Sean Marconette · 04-22-2013, 11:36 AM

As for the amount of room that is used in the bed of your truck. I have a hide away ball for my gooseneck. I can remove the ball and flip it over and have full use of the entire bed of the truck. I am not sure what the 5th wheel hitches offer, but this is the hitch that several experienced racers suggested to me. It is not that big of a deal to hook the truck and trailer together with the gooseneck. Just find a center point on the truck and that is what you are shooting for to get it lined up, to connect.

Sean

bobby · 04-22-2013, 01:22 PM

Most 2-3 car trailers are going to be gooseneck. Most 5th wheels are found on travel trailers. I would get a hidden hitch. 5th wheels are heavy and cumbersome to move if you ever need to use the bed to haul bigger stuff around.

jmcarter · 04-22-2013, 02:25 PM

Advantage of the fifth wheel arrangement is a easier ride by offering a "soft" attachment to the truck. Either way I'd recommend a B&W hidden hitch which they offer a "companion" hitch for if you decide to go fifth wheel (which are common on big toy haulers and such). I have a B&W companion for sale btw.

B&W is a great company...google them.

G Anderson · 04-22-2013, 09:35 PM

The Goose Neck is MUCH harder to hook up than the bumper !
But you wont hardly know the GN is back there,follows you real well no pull-push from passing semi's!
The GN is also quite a bit heavier,so takes a bigger horse-towed my 34' Haulmark with 98 3/4ton 350 vortec 1st year bought 2003 3/4 ton Dodge Cummins after that--previous trailer 24' Haulmark bumper The hitch for my GN is called Drop n Locks,I like it real well

04-21-2013, 10:30 PM	#1
Michael Kilduff Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Carolina Beach, NC Posts: 281 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gooseneck or 5th wheel for a 2/3 car trailer? Hey gang, I've only towed single car tag style car trailers before and am looking to buy a 2 or 3 car open aluminum trailer. I'm curious as to what is preferred and why-gooseneck or 5th wheel? Looks like the 5th wheel is easier to back into for hook up, but maybe I'm wrong about that? Tow vehicle is a crew cab '98 Chevy dually, will have a new or slightly used Dodge or GM dually in the next year. Give me the good, the bad, and the otherwise on the gooseneck or fifth wheel if ya can. Thanks in advance __________________ IHRA STK 932 O/SA

04-22-2013, 11:36 AM	#2
Sean Marconette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 958 Likes: 618 Liked 165 Times in 60 Posts	Re: Gooseneck or 5th wheel for a 2/3 car trailer? As for the amount of room that is used in the bed of your truck. I have a hide away ball for my gooseneck. I can remove the ball and flip it over and have full use of the entire bed of the truck. I am not sure what the 5th wheel hitches offer, but this is the hitch that several experienced racers suggested to me. It is not that big of a deal to hook the truck and trailer together with the gooseneck. Just find a center point on the truck and that is what you are shooting for to get it lined up, to connect. Sean __________________ Sean Marconette 84 Mustang 5060 SS/N

04-22-2013, 01:22 PM	#3
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gooseneck or 5th wheel for a 2/3 car trailer? Most 2-3 car trailers are going to be gooseneck. Most 5th wheels are found on travel trailers. I would get a hidden hitch. 5th wheels are heavy and cumbersome to move if you ever need to use the bed to haul bigger stuff around. __________________ Next time wave all of your fingers at me.

04-22-2013, 02:25 PM	#4
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,122 Likes: 1,978 Liked 2,707 Times in 853 Posts	Re: Gooseneck or 5th wheel for a 2/3 car trailer? Advantage of the fifth wheel arrangement is a easier ride by offering a "soft" attachment to the truck. Either way I'd recommend a B&W hidden hitch which they offer a "companion" hitch for if you decide to go fifth wheel (which are common on big toy haulers and such). I have a B&W companion for sale btw. B&W is a great company...google them. __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock

04-22-2013, 09:35 PM	#5
G Anderson Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 103 Likes: 12 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Gooseneck or 5th wheel for a 2/3 car trailer? The Goose Neck is MUCH harder to hook up than the bumper ! But you wont hardly know the GN is back there,follows you real well no pull-push from passing semi's! The GN is also quite a bit heavier,so takes a bigger horse-towed my 34' Haulmark with 98 3/4ton 350 vortec 1st year bought 2003 3/4 ton Dodge Cummins after that--previous trailer 24' Haulmark bumper The hitch for my GN is called Drop n Locks,I like it real well