i'm new here so forgive me if im wrong. a hitch style trailer is called a TT correct? or a tag along? ive never heard that til i started surfing here.


im buying a enclosed trailer and dont know if i should get a gooseneck/5th wheel or a conventional style (TT?) trailer.i just got today a 05 duramax 2500 HD CC LB 4x4.ive got a 03 3500 drw and a flatbed car hauler. im going to buy a 24' enclosed trailer to haul a 2900lb corvette with maybe 2000lbs worth of tools, gear, and tires. and all the other time i'll be using the trailer to haul anywhere from 4 to 8 atv's, about 5000lbs with gear all over the country. 1-2 trips a year to Oklahoma from NC. and some drag racing with the corvette maybe 6 times a year 200-500 mile trips. so i'll be towing about 8k+ miles a year minimum. ive never owned a gooseneck trailer ive always had hitch style trailers.my question is, should i buy a gooseneck? do i need one?


also if i buy a gooseneck i have to have a hitch that will remove easily so i can use the bed to haul stuff.so which one of those should i buy? i know if i get a under frame that the Reese class 5 is the one to have. i know nothing about 5th hitches

I would save the money and just use a regular hitch. I have a 32 ft. car hauler that I haul 8 motorcycles with and have no problem at all.

Yes, you are correct. A TT stands for Travel Trailer or, bumper pull or, tag along. I think the abbreviation was started by the RV'ers over on the Open Roads Forum or RV net, same place.


A gooseneck trailer tends to be used for horse or equipment trailers.


A 5th wheel is used for either camping trailers or toy haulers which are modified camping trailers with a garage in the back.


I don't know too much about gooseneck hitches other than what's been kicked around here or at RV.net. But I've heard of the B&W turnover ball, which allows you to use the bed normally. I think they also make a 5th wheel conversion but I'm not sure.


Reese makes their signature series which have the hitch rails mounted underneath the bed with a removable pivot plate assembly. That allows you to remove the 5th wheel hitch when you don't need it and have full use of the bed.


Personally, I'd run the Reese unless I had a real need for a gooseneck hitch.


I pull a 30ft TT from the stock class 4. No problems so far but I know to check the mounts periodically due to cracking. Based on what I've read from others who pull, it is a matter of when, not if the stock receiver fails. When I start to see structural problems with the current hitch, I will switch to the Titan Class V.

Another thing to consider.....5th. wheels are a little harder to re-sell
if you ever want to. Most everyone with a truck is equipped to tow a
TT but a 5th. is a very specific need. The buyers market is not as
large.



Rob


Edited by: skoryaro2

I prefer a fifth wheel because here it is legal to pull a bumper hitch behind your fifth wheel. I like to be able to pull my camper and boat.
A fifth wheel is also a lot easier to hook up then a bumper hitch or a gooseneck. I hook up by myself most of the time so this i a big advantage to me. I also like how a fifth wheel pulls compared to a bumper hitch.


The only disadvantages to a fifth wheel to me are the cost of the hitch and you can't put as much stuff in your box when towing.

5th/goosneck pulls considerably better IMO, easier to pull, turn, park, more stable. my .02.

There are definitely trade-offs between the fifth wheel and TT types of trailers. The fivers are inherently more stable in tow than TTs, but the advantage can be narrowed or eliminated entirely with a good sway control hitch. Things to consider include whether you want to use your truck bed for anything at the same time you’re trailering. If you do, you might want to choose a TT, which frees the bed for other things. Fivers are supposed to be slightly easier to hitch up, but that’s not an issue for manly men. Also, as Max Power mentioned, you can tow another trailer behind a fifth wheel trailer in many states. My TT is about the same weight that you will be pulling with all your toys on board. It is dead stable on the road regardless of conditions, heavy rain, blustery winds, heavy truck traffic. No worries. One thing, if you ultimately choose a heavy TT style rig, give serious thought to upgrading the receiver. Many members have never had a hint of trouble from the OE hitch. Others have. If you are going heavy a beefier receiver is cheap insurance against trouble and you’ll sleep better.


TC

I agree with Tsckey. The 5ers are usually a lil heavier and cost more and dont resale as well. The TTs tow just fine with Equalizer hitch and sway bar !! I tow a TT all over the place with lots of ATVs ' in it and one in the truck all with stock reciever hitch . So far so good !!!

I've never towed a well configured TT but you can't beat the stability of a gooseneck trailer. Sounds like you'll spend quite a bit of time on the freeway which is where the stability is most important.

As far as a gooseneck, B&W turnover is excellent. The quality is top notch. The rating is way over the limits of your truck. When it turns over, the bed is completely flat. Some people even by the B&W and the 5er companion because they prefer it.

I do both GN and bumper pull, both have trade offs as cited above, for manouvering nothing beats the GN style, never pulled a 5th wheel but I hear similar reports there, with traditional you do lose part of your bed with rails, I chose this to minimize lost space when towing from the bed I chose Putnam, Lock & Load www.putnamhitch.com (http://www.putnamhitch.com/) as all of it disappears under the bed, ball is spring loaded into a well and is sealed off from the elements with oring sealed cap, I've seen B&W sockets get crudded up or rusty.

The L & L hitch is there always when needed simply remove cover, pull hitch release and ball pops up for use, takes about 1 minute to be ready to hook up. It is also convertable to 5th wheel, allowing to tow any way you want.

Down toward the end of this old thread are pics of the installed hitch in my truck http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1125

Another handy item for either GN or bumper I can highly recommend www.activesuspension.com (http://www.activesuspension.com/) really helps with either style of towing.

I think the problems with resale on a 5th wheel hitch aren't as bad as they would appear to be from some of the comments above. . . You will pay more for a 5er, but if you buy a quality trailer, you won't have problems reselling it. The other thing about resale is if you are going to keep it forever or not. . . If you keep it forever, who cares about resale. . . I love my 5th wheel rig. You can't get the same stability in a tag-along, regardless of how you tow it. Yanking around 10,000 pounds on a tag-along is a lot closer to the limit than 10k on a 5th wheel (or gooseneck) hitch is. . .PM Zeeb about his hitch, he did a lot of research prior to buying his and is extremely happy.

Not to go off thread, I know in certain states there are commercial towing laws enforced. Commercial just being a weight classification including your personal truck. In the last 3 years here in Minnesota the state patrol has a commercial vehicle enforcement task force. They set up stings and pull over all kinds of trucks and trailers. They look for everything including your capable load rating, vehicle and type of license you have. If you were to get into an accident and did not have a class whatever license you're screwed! I want a 5'er for smooth towing but bought a tt to bring myself away from a class A license and insurance hikes. I am not sure if this even applies to you, just sharing my experience.