The Gooseneck Hitch - A Great Trailer Hitch

Gooseneck hitches are a type of fifth wheel hitch intruck's rear frame. This is different from the
that it is also connected securely to the frame of thegooseneck and fifth wheel hitches that are connected
pickup truck that it's mounted on.The funny name ofto the bed and frame of the pickup. Gooseneck
"gooseneck" is a pretty good description of the visualhitches use a hitch ball that comes thru a hole in the
look of this hitch. Trailers that are made with anbed of the truck. Then the arched arm of the trailer
extended front end are what the gooseneck hitchhitch locks in place on the hitch ball.
was designed for; to accomodate the 'overhang overThere are two main advantages to the gooseneck,
the bed of the truck..and they are the ability to handle heavier tow weights
The gooseneck hitch can haul quite a bit of weight - upand make tighter radius turns. The tighter turning
to 30,000 pounds, which means it is a Class V hitch.capability is a great feature, and is due to the pivot
Class I and II hitches, on the other hand, can onlypoint for the trailer's hookup being in the bed of the
manage 3500 pounds and their bigger brothers - thetruck instead of on the bumper.
Class III and IV trailer hitches - can pull 10 thousandTo install a gooseneck means you'll have to remove
pounds. Conventional trailer hitches that are attachedthe truck's cargo bed and bolt the frame of the hitch
to a trucks bumper or rear frame always use a hitchonto your truck frame. With the bed of the truck
ball system. Many gooseneck hitches also use hitchremoved, the hole in the bed is measured and drilled
balls, but are never attached to the bumper.and/or cut so that when it's replaced on the truck
The hitch most people are familiar with is the one withframe, the hitch ball rises thru the bed. Replacing the
a hitch ball and attached to the truck's rear bumper,truck's bed, the hitch ball should fit right thru the hole.
often beefed up by being welded or bolted to the