whats the difference?

[patrick m.]

for you heavy haul guys, i just tow with a reciever, so im a little ignorant. what is the difference between a "5TH wheel" and a "gooseneck". i have always assumed they were the same, because you hear people calling each both. :rolleyes:

[chevmeister]

fifth wheel
http://www.turnoverball.com/companion.jpg
Gooseneck
http://www.turnoverball.com/turnover.jpg
Both are set in the center of the bed and as you can see the fifth wheel has a "plate" and a "kingpin" where a gooseneck is just a ball in the canter of the bed.