Fifth Wheel vers Ball/ Hitch

Your biggest differance will be your pivot point and this will affect backing to begin with. And the fact that you will now get to see the trailer in you side window "first" if you jack knife

Of course, if you are doing this with a pick-up/dually. It now places the trailer at a level that can remove the top of the cab, and it's contents (read: your head) with ease in the event of a jack knife. Learn to duck fast.

A ball and hitch back the same way to me, just faster. But depending on the trailer tongue design and length of trailer, I might put it into the frame/bed before I realize it.

 

In general, a 5th wheel type of hitch will be a little bit more stable than a ball hitch type. The hitch point is directly over the axle, so there is less opportunity for the hitch to develop any sway by rocking the last 5-6 foot of the truck from side to side. They back basically the same, and if you have the skills to back one, you'll have no real problems with the other. Biggest thing is make sure the trailer is loaded correctly, and has enough, but not too much weight on the hitch point. Most trailers you see that are a bear to handle are not loaded right, and sway because of it.