Quick answer
If you tow an RV fifth-wheel camper, a fifth wheel hitch gives the smoothest, quietest ride. If you tow horse, livestock, flatbed or equipment trailers, a gooseneck hitch is the standard and keeps your bed almost completely clear when unhooked. Many owners run a gooseneck ball and use an adapter for an occasional fifth wheel.
How each hitch connects
Both hitches mount in the bed, over or slightly ahead of the rear axle. That puts trailer weight where the truck can carry it best, which is why in-bed hitches handle much heavier trailers than a bumper-pull hitch.
- Fifth wheel: a flat, wide hitch plate with locking jaws. The trailer's kingpin slides into the jaws and the trailer's pin box rests on the plate.
- Gooseneck: a hitch ball (usually 2-5/16 inch) sits in the bed floor. The trailer's coupler drops over the ball.
Fifth wheel vs gooseneck compared
| Fifth wheel | Gooseneck | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical trailers | RV fifth-wheel campers | Horse, livestock, flatbed, equipment |
| Ride | Smooth and quiet, less chucking | Firmer, more metal-on-metal feel |
| Bed space when unhooked | Hitch head removes, rails or base may stay | Ball flips or pulls out, bed nearly flat |
| Hooking up | Back in, jaws lock automatically | Line the coupler up over a small ball |
| Weight | Heavy hitch head to lift out | Light ball |
Factory puck systems
Many late-model Ford Super Duty, Ram and GM heavy-duty trucks, plus some half-tons, have a factory puck system in the bed floor: four or five mounting points built into the frame. Puck-mount fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches drop into those pucks with no drilling, and come out in minutes. If your truck doesn't have pucks, you'll use universal rails or an under-bed kit that bolts to the frame.
Short-bed trucks
On a short bed, the front corners of a fifth-wheel camper can come close to the cab on tight turns. Sliding hitches move the hitch back for maneuvering, and some pin boxes extend the trailer's pivot point. Measure your trailer's front corner radius and your truck's cab-to-axle distance before you decide.
Can you switch between them?
Yes. Gooseneck-to-fifth-wheel adapters and pin boxes let a fifth-wheel trailer connect to a gooseneck ball. It's a popular setup for owners who tow both kinds of trailers or want a clear bed most of the time. Check the trailer manufacturer's rules first, since some don't allow adapters.
Ratings come first
Your truck's payload, rear axle rating and GCWR limit what you can tow, regardless of what the hitch is rated for. Fifth-wheel campers put a lot of weight on the bed, so check pin weight against payload. Pair heavy setups with towing suspension to keep the truck level.
Shop fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches from Husky Towing and GEN-Y Hitch, or browse all towing gear.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gooseneck or fifth wheel safer?
Both are very stable when installed and rated correctly, because both place trailer weight over the rear axle. Choose by trailer type and follow the trailer maker's requirements.
Do I need to drill my bed for a gooseneck hitch?
Not if your truck has a factory puck system and you use a puck-mount gooseneck. Trucks without pucks need an under-bed kit, which usually requires drilling a hole for the ball.
Can a half-ton tow a fifth wheel?
Some can tow light fifth-wheel campers, but payload is usually the limit because pin weight sits on the bed. Check your truck's payload sticker against the trailer's loaded pin weight.