Gooseneck - Fifth Wheel Car Carrying Trailer

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

What are the advantages of gooseneck or fifth wheel trailers? I watch a lot of American-based youTube clips about working on cars, trucks and tractors. Frequently when the people go to pick up a new project they tow a gooseneck or fifth wheel open trailer. Here in Australia from my checking out vehicles on the road and looking online, I have seen enclosed gooseneck/fifth wheel trailer such as horse floats and caravans. I have yet to see a gooseneck/fifth wheel car trailer - as in a dual axle trailer that transports cars or small plant equipment on.

Is my perceived lack of seeing gooseneck/fifth wheel car trailers due to there not being that much benefit of having a car trailer set up in that configuration?

I read somewhere that because the towing point is in the centre of the cargo bed a lighter vehicle can carry a heavier load as compared to a rear chassis mounted towing hitch. What are the other advantages?

Yes, I am aware that there is a difference between gooseneck and fifth wheel trailers ... accessed 24th November 2023 from Gooseneck vs 5th Wheel - 5 Key Differences (https://www.curtmfg.com/5th-wheel/gooseneck-adapters/learn-more)


Kind regards
Lionel

[Tins]

I think the biggest disadvantages are price and convenience. The fifth wheel is IMO the far and away best system for towing heavy trailers currently available ( just look at semi trailers etc )*. But, it requires the correct tow vehicle, which most people neither have nor want, the trailer is not able to be towed by anything else other than a similar vehicle, the fifth wheel set up is more expensive than a standard towbar, and this is then compounded by the lack of volume. In the US, the F100 was, and possibly still is, the most sold vehicle out of any. The "pickup" is immensely popular, and lends itself to the fifth wheel setup. The style of "ute" popular here doesn't really lend itself to this setup, and I observe that most of them are fitted with some form of canopy which precludes the fifth wheel setup.

But the fifth wheel transfers what is known as "ball weight" on conventional trailers to directly above the axle, rather than on what is essentially a lever at the rear of the vehicle, thus having little effect on steering loading, and virtually eliminating trailer sway. So many negative points of conventional towbars are eliminated. But, the load bed of the tow vehicle becomes useless when the trailer is attached.

*Yes, I am aware of dollies, RingFeeders, Pig and Dog trailers, etc. Fifth wheel makes for a more stable tow in most circumstances. Obviously one size does not fit all.

Cue the arguments......[bigsad]

[Tins]

Also, and I'm only surmising here, but having had some experience with Govt bureaucracies, I imagine some form of licence endorsement would be required; something that personally I would like to see required for anyone who wants to tow anything bigger than a 6x4 box trailer. Perhaps them as well, given the level of (in)competence demonstrated on a daily basis.

[stuarth44]

i built a goosenecked trailer,I suppose Icould put ramps on
it
DECK IS 32 mm ironbark ATM 3800 kg
I do not load the ball too much at all, tows very well, 12 inch electric brakes Nissan rims
WEIGHT 900KG, Max recommended tow speed 150km/h

[DieselLSE]

That's not an Esky... This is an Esky!

[V8Ian]

i built a goosenecked trailer,I suppose Icould put ramps on
it
DECK IS 32 mm ironbark ATM 3800 kg
I do not load the ball too much at all, tows very well, 12 inch electric brakes Nissan rims
WEIGHT 900KG, Max recommended tow speed 150km/h
The picture is not a gooseneck trailer.

[stuarth44]

The picture is not a gooseneck trailer.
it is an upside down gooseneck , goosenecks go either way, so there!!

[V8Ian]

[biggrin] Fair call, but we're discussing trailers that connect above and between the axles of the tow vehicle. [tonguewink]

[Rick1970]

Also, and I'm only surmising here, but having had some experience with Govt bureaucracies, I imagine some form of licence endorsement would be required; something that personally I would like to see required for anyone who wants to tow anything bigger than a 6x4 box trailer. Perhaps them as well, given the level of (in)competence demonstrated on a daily basis.

Mate put together a gooseneck rig for his missus…… f250 with USA extra cab, 460 big block on gas, gooseneck horse float. Very long, but weights (and RTA) said fine to drive on a car licence.
Towed extremely well apparently, lot better than their cruiser with normal double horse float.

[scarry]

I was at a rodeo in Dirranbandi a while back.

Quite a few of the larger horse float set ups were goosenecks,mainly using large US utes,some were also 70 series.

No pics unfortunately,but there were quite a few there.

[123rover50]

Here is one I built back in the 80,s. No big deal ,just drove on ordinary Licence.


http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad232/123rover50/Forward%20Control/Earthmoving001.jpg