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11-08-2007, 05:05 AM
The gooseneck is basically just a ball that sticks up. The hide-a-ball setups like Ian's are pretty cool, but even just a ball won't get in the way that much...
The 5th wheel uses a kingpin and receiver, similar to a tractor trailer setup. The gooseneck allows the trailer to articlulate on the ball, which is why it's popular on horse trailers because of people driving off-road. I think most(all?) of the kingpin receivers articulate now, so it's not an issue anymore.
The main advantage of either setup, in my opinion, is moving the weight of the trailer closer to the middle of the tow vehicle. This lessens the effect of the trailer weight on the tow vehicle. This is more important on a short wheel base vehicle, which is why I commented that a proper tow vehicle is key. On a longer wheel-base vehicle, like my 2005 extended cab dually 3500, it takes a much bigger trailer to affect it.
For example I used to tow a single car steel trailer (5000 lbs or so with car) with my 2002 Chevy Tahoe. Because of the Tahoe's short wheel base, sometimes the rig would porpoise (and sway), sometimes to the point of lightening the front of the truck and making it hard to steer. Exactly like on a top fuel car, the longer wheel base means more leverage to keep it on the ground. Also, weight distribution bars help this situation by increasing the resistance to a change in angle between the truck and trailer.
So everything is a compromise of course. My dually tows a bumper mount 36' 2-car open trailer wonderfully. I don't think it would be much better with a 5th wheel or gooseneck. The other extreme is a lightweight SUV, aluminum trailer, load distribution bars, and sway control.
The 5th wheel uses a kingpin and receiver, similar to a tractor trailer setup. The gooseneck allows the trailer to articlulate on the ball, which is why it's popular on horse trailers because of people driving off-road. I think most(all?) of the kingpin receivers articulate now, so it's not an issue anymore.
The main advantage of either setup, in my opinion, is moving the weight of the trailer closer to the middle of the tow vehicle. This lessens the effect of the trailer weight on the tow vehicle. This is more important on a short wheel base vehicle, which is why I commented that a proper tow vehicle is key. On a longer wheel-base vehicle, like my 2005 extended cab dually 3500, it takes a much bigger trailer to affect it.
For example I used to tow a single car steel trailer (5000 lbs or so with car) with my 2002 Chevy Tahoe. Because of the Tahoe's short wheel base, sometimes the rig would porpoise (and sway), sometimes to the point of lightening the front of the truck and making it hard to steer. Exactly like on a top fuel car, the longer wheel base means more leverage to keep it on the ground. Also, weight distribution bars help this situation by increasing the resistance to a change in angle between the truck and trailer.
So everything is a compromise of course. My dually tows a bumper mount 36' 2-car open trailer wonderfully. I don't think it would be much better with a 5th wheel or gooseneck. The other extreme is a lightweight SUV, aluminum trailer, load distribution bars, and sway control.