Why No Goosenecks?

KZ offered a gooseneck hitch on most of there 5th wheels when I was looking years ago, don't know if they still do. I pulled "X" brace to strengthen the mount and distribute the stress a little more.

Endricken wrote:
Have towed my Fiver with the Star Performance Kingpin (Gooseneck) adapter since 07. It has a glider motion that eases towing stresses. Never worry about dropping the trailer, its on the ball or not. Do hook up chains so that requires some personal flexibility. Hookup takes longer as you raise and lower the trailer onto the ball using the front jacks which are so slow. Turnover ball leaves my truck bed free for other uses. Works for me.

With my set up, I can remove my hitch and the adapter it's mounted to and my bed is clear, nothing in it at all.

Before I towed a 5th wheel with a GN, but this is just "me", for the money I've put into one, I would call the manufacturer and see if they recommended that their 5er be towed with a GN, if they say yes, hey, maybe I would, but if they said no, that there might be structural issues, I wouldn't do it...but again, that's just me..

SpeedRacer350 wrote:
It seems like all RV travel trailers are fivers, and only construction related flatbeds or horse trailers are goosenecks. Is that pretty much true? And why is that? It seems like a gooseneck hitch would be easier to deal with since they can disappear below the bed.

Back to the OP's thread-starting post:

"It seems like all RV travel trailers are fivers ....."

Not true. Lots of "travel trailers" are *NOT* fivers.

(Maybe that's simply the OP's nomenclature "difficulty")

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"...and only construction related flatbeds or horse trailers are goosenecks. Is that pretty much true?"

Mostly true - but as noted some folks *do* use goosenecks.

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"And why is that?"

As noted, many 5th wheel mfgs don't want end users towing with GN hitches - and will void warranty for same.

Some mfgrs will allow double tow with their frames, some won't.
(Like a toy hauler - the weight capacity isn't unlimited. Plan ahead!)

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"Gooseneck disappear below the bed (etc.)"

Plenty of "non-gooseneck" 5th wheel hitches are completely removable.

Four pins make a Pullrite SG "disappear" - along with other brands.

Welcome to the forums!

Next questions................:@

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Endricken wrote:
Have towed my Fiver with the Star Performance Kingpin (Gooseneck) adapter since 07. It has a glider motion that eases towing stresses. Never worry about dropping the trailer, its on the ball or not. Do hook up chains so that requires some personal flexibility. Hookup takes longer as you raise and lower the trailer onto the ball using the front jacks which are so slow. Turnover ball leaves my truck bed free for other uses. Works for me.

No dog in the fight - except a need to clarify your last statement.

Besides your turnover GN adapter (etc.) - most "other" 5er hitches when removed *also* have the ability to leave the "truck bed free for other uses" - usually very quick & easy!

If the hitch buyer purchases a "bottom-of-the-line" hitch with rails that must remain (bolted) in the bed - he either didn't care or he "cheaped out"..:W

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Have towed my Fiver with the Star Performance Kingpin (Gooseneck) adapter since 07. It has a glider motion that eases towing stresses. Never worry about dropping the trailer, its on the ball or not. Do hook up chains so that requires some personal flexibility. Hookup takes longer as you raise and lower the trailer onto the ball using the front jacks which are so slow. Turnover ball leaves my truck bed free for other uses. Works for me.

Go look at the beams on a gooseneck trailer. They tend to be very tall and if you watch them they tend to flex.

That height eats into the living space and while a bit of flex is no problem for exposed beams, if you are trying to maintain a weatherproof living space on top, it's a lot harder.

I'm really digging the Drop 'n' Lock gooseneck hitch. No handles, no springs, just two moving parts.

Drop 'n' Lock

They've been making these since 1987 ish.. I'm surprised that this made in the USA product isn't more popular.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

The B&W Turnover Ball hitch is a very popular hitch: top quality and made (almost) locally, Kansas. :) I'm very happy with mine.

I just bought a BMW (th wheel adaptor that work and looks great in the bed of my truck it just fits in the place where the ball was any one else use this style of 5th wheel hitch?

In Michigan a gooseneck is considered a ball tow trailer. This means safety chains and no double tow. I know many get away with double towing and no chains, but it is what the law says.