gooseneck vs fifth wheel hitch

drenjoey wrote:
I don't know if this has been posted before but here it is:

We're in the process of buying a Montana 325rl and I will have to equip my pickup truck with a hitch. I'm debating on what to buy.....What are the pros and what are the cons of each of the set ups !!!!

I know I can count on you for advice.

Thanks

I am using the Andersen Ultimate which attaches to the ball but IS NOT a gooseneck hitch.

Buying new make sure using a gooseneck adapter will not void your warranty. It does apply a different set of stresses on the trailer frame.

1st, I have not used a gooseneck.

Primary advantage of gooseneck as I see it is the flat bed when unhooked. Hitching can be a little more difficult as you must have the ball nearly directly under the hitch before lowering the trailer. And you may be required to use safety chains connected to the truck bed. May be hard to see ball from driver's seat when getting truck in position.

For 5th wheel hitch you can still have a flat bed after unhooking, but only if you remove the hitch from the bed. Hooking up is not as precise as you can be off a couple inches either direction and it will self align as you back into the hitch. I can easily see my 5th wheel hitch from driver's seat, but I am fairly tall.

Been debated a lot and there are many who much prefer the gooseneck. I would say the warranty issue would be the primary concern.

Can't imagine why!

A

Allworth wrote:
Listen to Lyle. Good advice.

Thanks, Allworth. Went over better than my "call Guido" post last week, I guess. :-)

Lyle

Listen to Lyle. Good advice.

drenjoey wrote:
I don't know if this has been posted before but here it is:

We're in the process of buying a Montana 325rl and I will have to equip my pickup truck with a hitch. I'm debating on what to buy.....What are the pros and what are the cons of each of the set ups !!!!

I know I can count on you for advice.

Thanks

If you're buying a new FW, using a GN adapter will almost certainly void the frame warranty. This is an old, and somewhat controversial, issue here. Use the Search feature to find out.

If you have need for a GN for other uses, the best option is, IMO, the B&W Turnover Ball. They have the Companion FW hitch that uses it as an anchor. Both fixed and slider versions of the Companion. If you have NO need of a GN, B&W also makes hitches to fit the OEM factory puck systems, if you have it, as well as versions that fit a universal rail kit.

There is what's called the GooseBall, which raises the GN ball up to the kingpin level and is approved by Lippert for many, NOT all, of their frames.

If you're looking at a used FW, especially from the early 2000-2010 range, there are numerous reports of frame issues with Lippert frames failing in the pinbox area. IMO, using a GN adapter will only exacerbate these issues. Anecdotally, there have been many fewer reports on frame breakages in the past 3-4 years, which I take as a good sign.

Yes, I'm an avowed B&W "fanboy", and proud of it. www.turnoverball.com for B&W's complete product lineup. They make a lot more than just hitches.

Lyle