5th wheel vs gooseneck for a car hauler

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by BigBaBaGanoush, Mar 5, 2021.

  1. BigBaBaGanoush

    BigBaBaGanoush Bobtail Member

    4
    1
    Mar 5, 2021
    0
    Hello I'm sorry if this topic has been beat to death but I searched it and couldn't find much. Which is better / safer for a car hauling operation with a dually pickup truck fifth wheel or gooseneck? Trailer is a three-car Coffman wedge. I know a gooseneck is a simpler design and I see a lot of guys running them but my truck is already set up for fifth wheel it has a Curt q25 in it would this be sufficient to pull that Coffman wedge?
     
    Lite bug Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    5th wheel single pivot is what you want to haul a wedge. 25k rated 5th wheel should be fine to haul a 3 car.
     
  4. BigBaBaGanoush

    BigBaBaGanoush Bobtail Member

    4
    1
    Mar 5, 2021
    0
    16049_1024x768_a.jpg This is the hitch I have. It has alot of pivot side to side and a little front to back. Would that be a 4 way pivot?
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2021
  5. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    If it moves side to side and front to back its a dual pivot. Can still work just gotta be careful with a heavy car ontop and a tight or fast curves.
     
  6. BigBaBaGanoush

    BigBaBaGanoush Bobtail Member

    4
    1
    Mar 5, 2021
    0
    Yeah my main concern was rolling. Do you suggest a particular model fifth wheel and do you use fifth wheel or gooseneck?
     
  7. longhaultransport

    longhaultransport Light Load Member

    205
    548
    Dec 25, 2009
    West Central, Florida
    0
    You might be able to block the side to side pivot with rubber blocks or some such thing.
     
  8. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

    801
    874
    Feb 19, 2019
    New York
    0
    I got a single pivot on chassis cab upfit from hitchcrafters. I don't know the specific brand.
    Rubber blocks won't last long.
     
    Shawn2130 and singlescrewshaker Thank this.
  9. Charlies_Contingency

    Charlies_Contingency Bobtail Member

    25
    27
    Mar 22, 2021
    San Antonio, Texas
    0
    IMO, it really depends on what kind of car hauling you plan on doing. If you plan on doing rough road placed like the oilfields by moving rental trucks, you may want to consider goose-neck to have more flexibility when on uneven surfaces. Otherwise, fifth wheel is usually the ideal option for blacktop only use. Avoid L-R pivot as the others have mentioned. Another note is the advantage of not dealing with chains cluttering around your hitch, especially if you have to switch trailers or just unhook a lot. Landing a 5th wheel is far easier than a gooseneck.

    I can't say that curt 25k will be adequate, assuming everything else is within ratings, you should be good to go. Just remember to keep everything within safe margins, and drive carefully. I see a lot of rolled wedges at sharp highway exits.
     
  10. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

    1,469
    3,061
    Jul 28, 2019
    Neenah Wi
    0
    I did a year long farm tour , the F350 we used was a airide 5th wheel rode great with proper inflation , gooseneck is a PITA to hook up. 5w2_srcset-large.png
     
  11. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

    1,732
    1,575
    Jun 28, 2017
    0
    Just remember almost all flipped-over hotshot trailers are 3 car wedges. 99% of those happen because of driver error and the driver being too lazy to move the top cars back down to put weight on the trailer axles after delivering the one on the back.. Facebook HS group is filled with 3 car wedges laying on their sides..

    You do not want a side-to-side pivot and make sure to move every car back no matter if you are just driving 5 miles down the road...
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.