Normal towing can be done with the receiver on the bumper but for heavy-duty towing, a hitch is mandatory. Though hitch comes in different varieties and sizes, many people get confused when it comes to selection between a gooseneck hitch and a fifth-wheel hitch. 

Bumper towing is limited and not effective when it comes to towing heavy weights. These conventional hitches are good for towing a car or some other weight to a small distance but for professional heavy-duty towing, a bumper hitch is no good for it will come right off under that much weight. Here gooseneck hitch or fifth wheel hitch comes into play. They provide more stability and are capable of hauling heavy weights for they move the hitch from the bumper to the truck bed over the rear axle. This shifts the weight of the trailer to a much more stable and stronger part of the truck and enables it to carry a lot more weight than it would have from a bumper hitch. It has been found that with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch in contrast to a conventional one, the towing capacity of a truck increases by some 10000 pounds. 

What’s the Difference?

Where fifth-wheel hitches use hinged plates that sit in the bed of the tow truck, gooseneck hitches use balls that are installed within the bed of the truck. The trailer tongue rests on the plate on the truck bed, here the trailer tongue kingpin is connected. To connect the trailer is adjusted to a proper height and the truck is backed up while the pin fits into the fifth wheel hitch. Then safety chains and wirings are connected. For a gooseneck hitch, a ball is fitted in the truck bed and a round receiver is placed on the trailer tongue. The ball fits into the hole in the bed of the truck. The trailer tongue and the ball are connected and safety chains and wiring are put in place to further strengthen the bond.

The fifth wheel hitches are generally more stable with taller trailers as compared to gooseneck hitches. On the other hand, the gooseneck hitch takes up considerably little space in the bed and is relatively lighter than fifth-wheel hitches. But they are difficult to install and require cutting the truck bed if the truck doesn’t include a built-in gooseneck hitch. However, a fifth-wheel hitch requires only small drilling on the truck bed if the truck doesn’t include a built-in hitch. Gooseneck hitches are more adaptable and can be connected to many attachments, unlike fifth wheel hitches which can only connect to fifth wheels.

Given that both types of hitches have their pros and cons, you have to decide which best suits your specific requirements. Although adapters can be used to switch hitches, make your decision based on your long-term requirements. Fifth wheel hitches are generally more favored owing to their greater stability and higher weight towing capacities. The only concern that remains is of selecting a fifth wheel hitch that gives the best value and overall experience, Tulga Fifth Wheel Hitch is a good option to consider.