5v'er to gooseneck solution

TexasDad wrote:
2 years using the goosebox and still loving it.

only trouble with the goosebox is it's only rated to 16K..You've had yours 2 years? Didn't think it had been out that long, from what I understood, it's fairly new...

2 years using the goosebox and still loving it.

Thanks NC/Jim... yes one does wonder what goes on behind closed doors. Like the automotive industry, my younger brother worked in a body shop across from a dealership(no brand needed as happens at them all) they got most of their business from the dealer, amazing the percentage of new vehicles are damaged while in transit or being moved around dealer lots. And yes good discussion, and we didn't have to resort to nasty's... :)

I agree JIMNLIN, see all kinds of 1 ton service trucks, some with small pickers and "welded" fifth wheel mounted, they're pulling goose neck trailers. What I meant to say was the trailer frame itself, goose neck trailer will carry more then a fifth wheel trailer designed for the RV industry. But as far as hauling/pulling a fifth wheel (rv trailer) either hitch is just as good as the other. But load up that RV fifth wheel trailer with 12-15 round bails of hay or some drilling pipe and its gonna break no matter the hitch.

dirtyoil wrote:
I understand the difference between a goose neck and fifth wheel trailer, haul both.. hence why I have the set up I have. Difference between them, is more weight can be carried on a goose neck then a fiver, rather huge difference.

Actually its the other way around.
5th wheel hitches start with very light weight RV types at 3000 lb verticle load and move on up in capacity to 150000 lb verticle load and 200000 lb draw. I had a 5th wheel hitch flatbed trailer with a SAF Holland at around 12k load and 65k draw for a time when I hauled steel for my job sites. Pins for the 5th wheel hitch are 2" for std loads and a 3.5" diamenter for heavy duty types.

The GN hitch is limited to the 7500-8000 lb load range and around 35k-40k draw on the 2 5/16" ball.

The GN/5th wheel hitch mount brackets on all of my trucks were welded to the trucks main frame rails.

I've seen them move 5er's around with the big tractors at other RV lot's and you're right, They aren't easy on them. Sort of reminds me of when people ask questions about how level does the 5er have to be, (or even TT on this one), before you let the slides out. I've seen slides stay out on units on RV lot's for months on end and the rv is NO WHERE NEAR level...sort of makes you wonder if that does any damage to them over a period of time, (slide outs, or other pertinent components)....

Andersen makes some great hitches, I came within a hair of "pulling the trigger" on an Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch, utilizing the center hole in my truck bed for the drop in ball, (my truck has the GN/5er prep package), but I finally got the picture frame adapter in, so it was back to my Reese 20K Signature hitch.

Thanks for the discussion, I enjoyed it :)

Jim

No problem NC... theres only one member I pick on... and he hasn't posted in some time... kinda miss him :W

I understand the difference between a goose neck and fifth wheel trailer, haul both.. hence why I have the set up I have. Difference between them, is more weight can be carried on a goose neck then a fiver, rather huge difference. You have to agree though, that regardless of the hitch set up, the forces acting on the fifth wheel trailer are downward on the pin, and those forces are then pulling on the pin portion of the fifth wheel trailer when in motion. The way the 5'er trailer hitch mounted to its frame puts all the stress on the cross members its welded to within the frame. Those stresses are then transferred to the two "corner uprights" where the stress cracks or tears occur.

Maybe the damage to those few frames were caused by the dealers shuffling trailers around their yards? Many of the dealers around my area use small farm tractors using 3-point hitches with a ball or "pin" cup to move them around... and from what I've seen they ain't all that gentle with trailers.

With my Andersen hitch I pull my 5'er on some pretty rough oilfield roads when doing remote well testing, although not near the highway speeds, would like to redo the suspension something like what they do down under.

whsk wrote:
different strokes for different folks!-whsk

Sly and the Family Stone, 1968....good song and the year I graduated from HS:)

different strokes for different folks!-whsk

DirtyOil wrote:

I also NEVER said it was "bad" to use a GN instead of a 5er hitch, Nor am I "anti-GN, whatever that mean.

hmm... looked back at my posts, can't see where I singled you out...
I was asking "anyone" for details, reports, facts is all...the downward force of the fifth wheel trailer is the same whether its on a fifth wheel or on a pin, only difference is the "load" is spread over a slightly larger surface, load is still being held up by the same "pin" from the trailer. I wonder, should those that use those fifth wheel stabilizers when parked ought to install a fifth wheel table on them rather then those flimsy pin "cups"? I know the landing gear is down and stabilizers are just as they say to stabilize...just wondering.

Not pointing fingers at any individual... just want to understand what the big deal is, fifth wheel vs goose neck?

Sorry DirtyOil, I was just going by information that I know. There are 5er manufacturers out there that don't care if you tow their 5er with a 5er hitch or a GN, but there are some who will tell you if you tow their 5er with a GN hitch and you have issues with frame, pin box or siding issues, they won't cover it under warranty if they deem it happened due to towing with GN...That was all I was saying, heck, pick up the phone, call them and ask them..if they DON'T recommend a GN, ask them why....The physics are different with GN and narrower, longer length neck going to deck of truck and the 5er hitch being higher up and a wider plate that the pin box is setting on with conventional 5er hitch....This seems to relieve the stress put on the pin box which can support the front end of the 5er's frame as well as the sidewall stress that could happen when towing up and down the roads of America, these 5er's aren't built the same way a horse trailer is built, not as sturdy in my thinking, but again,....Just my take and probably not worth a lot of "putting stock into" if one doesn't want to...