5th Wheel vs Gooseneck Hitches: Which Is Right for Your Trailer?
IIf you tow with a pickup and your trailer is too big for a bumper-pull hitch, the choice usually comes down to two setups: a 5th wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. Both sit in your truck bed, and both are stronger and more stable than a receiver hitch. But they connect differently, and the right one depends on your trailer.
How a 5th wheel hitch works
A 5th wheel hitch sits in your truck bed and connects to a kingpin on the trailer, the same way a semi truck connects to its trailer. A jaw mechanism closes around the kingpin and locks it in. It is the standard setup for RVs, campers, and large travel trailers. It gives you the most stability at highway speed, and it is the easiest to hitch on uneven ground. We carry the B&W Patriot and the B&W Companion, including models that drop into factory puck systems and slider models for short bed trucks.
How a gooseneck hitch works
A gooseneck hitch puts a ball in your truck bed, centered over the rear axle, and connects to a coupler on the trailer. It is the pick for flatbeds, stock trailers, and horse trailers. The ball flips over and stores upside down when you are not towing, so the bed stays flat. We carry the B&W Turnoverball and the CURT Double Lock, plus drop-in balls for factory puck systems.
Which one is right for you?
- Towing an RV, camper, or large travel trailer? A 5th wheel hitch is almost always the right call.
- Towing a flatbed, stock trailer, or horse trailer? A gooseneck hitch is usually better.
- Need your bed back between trips? A gooseneck ball stores flat in the bed. A 5th wheel head comes out too, and takes more effort to remove.
- Short bed truck? Both setups need care on tight turns. A slider 5th wheel hitch moves back to clear the cab. Ask us about your exact truck before you decide.
Can you switch later?
Yes, in most cases. A gooseneck-mount 5th wheel hitch, like the B&W Companion, drops onto a Turnoverball base. And adapters can connect a 5th wheel trailer to a gooseneck ball, though that changes how the trailer rides, so talk to us before going that route.
Still not sure? Call Hitch Corner in Littleton at 303-904-1558 and describe your trailer. We will tell you straight. We are open Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, and closed Saturday and Sunday in winter. Installations are by appointment, so call first. Same-day appointments are usually available. Hitches we install carry a lifetime warranty. Family owned since 1990, with the Kiefer family in towing since 1970.
