On Jul 6, 2004, at 12:19 AM, Randall wrote:
>
>> why are all travel trailers 5th wheel mount...
>
> They aren't, not by a long shot. However, past a certain weight, 5th
> wheel
> is the only practical way to attach a trailer. So the 5th wheels tend
> to be
> the upper end of the travel trailer spectrum, simply because they are
> heavy.
> Maximum trailer weight for a ball-type hitch is about 5 tons, while 5th
> wheel travel trailers run 6-8 tons.
>
>> and all "utility, farm, car
>> haulers" goose neck ???
>
> Seems to be a disconnect in terms here ... "goose neck" refers to a
> type of
> 5th wheel trailer where the hitch comes up, forward and back down to
> connect
> to the tow vehicle. This allows the use of a pickup truck as the tow
> vehicle, as opposed to a special-purpose vehicle (like a semi tractor).
Nope. They're different things. Reese use that terminology, so I'm
pretty sure it's standard.
Generally, people who say "gooseneck" mean a trailer thats attached to
a ball in the bed of the towing truck, much like the normal hitch ball.
The ball is typically 3", I think.
A fifth wheel trailer has a hitch pin that engages a slot on the hitch
of the towing vehicle, just like a semi-trailer attaches to a
semi-tractor. I don't know if the pins are the same size, but it's the
same attachment method.
One reason that stock trailers and other farm trailers tend to have a
gooseneck is that you just need a ball in the bed of the truck -- the
frame of the hitch is underneath. With a fifth wheel, you need a large
turntable in the bed. That gets in the way of using the bed to haul
things when not pulling a trailer. Most gooseneck hitches make it easy
to remove the ball, a number allow it to be flipped over a minute or
two. When not towing, you've got the whole unobstructed bed.
|