Although Class I through V receiver hitches are suitable for towing cargoes like horse trailers, campers, and light boats, sometimes, you need more pulling power than they can offer. This is where heavy duty hitches can help. They let drivers tow larger, heavier freights by placing the hitching point in the truck bed, over the rear axle. This type of setup allows your towing vehicle to support a lot more weight than a traditional bumper hitch. When it comes to heavy duty towing, it is important to have a quality hitch setup in order to remain safe on the road. There are two main types of heavy duty hitch systems: Gooseneck hitches and Fifth-Wheel hitches.
Continue reading to learn some basics surrounding each hitch system, and who to trust for professional towing service or advice.
Gooseneck Hitches
Gooseneck hitches are very well-suited for trucks, especially those with 4-wheel rear axles. They are designed for a precise fit for any make or model truck, SUV, or van. The ball mounts in the middle of the truck bed, which allows for heavier weight and tighter turns. Furthermore, this setup allows for easy hitch ball conversion; simply pull and twist the latch pin, then turn the ball over, and finally re-engage the latch pin. This easy set up allows for simpler and safer truck towing.
Other great features include:
☑ They Meet All OEM Mounting Requirements
☑ It Bolts to All Existing Holes in Truck Frames
☑ No Need for Drilling or Welding
☑ Truck Bed Doesn’t Need Removed
☑ Manufacturer’s Warranty
☑ Minimal Need for Changes
☑ 30,000 lb. GTW/7,000 lb. TW
☑ Long-Lasting Powdered Coat Finishes
☑ All Gooseneck Products are Manufactured in the USA
Recommended Product: B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck Hitch, $502.70 – $592.90
This hitch is widely popular because it doesn’t require truck owners to drill holes into their frame for installation. Instead, it has an easy design making it simple to use. In just seconds, it allows you to set the hitch and return to a flat level bed in just a few seconds! However, it does require a four inch hole in the truck bed; but it’s rated to 30,000 pounds Gross Trailer Weight and 6,000 pounds Tongue Weight.
Fifth Wheel Hitches
Fifth Wheel Hitches look just like the hitches you see on semi-trucks, but they are not quite the same. Similar to Gooseneck hitches, they retain a very high tow weight capacity. Because of their bed-mounted design, they can tow between 16,000 and 30,000 pounds Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), and up to 5,000 pounds Tongue Weight (TW). These hitches are great for towing large campers and multiple vehicles since they are easy to install and maneuver well. They are usually mounted to rails that must be permanently bolted to a truck bed, but can be removed at any time for better truck bed access. Furthermore, many fifth wheel hitches are made with a pivoting design that absorbs and adjusts to changing road conditions, rendering a smoother towing ride.
Recommended Product: Curt E5 or Curt Q24 Fifth Wheel Hitch, $276.73 – $722.12