I Need Advice on a 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Adaptation

Iplayfarmer · Aug 30, 2013

I got a new truck and now I need to outfit it to pull my trailers.

Old Truck = '99 Chevy Silverado 1500 extended cab long bed, 5.3L engine
New Truck = '07 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Extended cab Short bed, 6.6L Duramax with the Allison Transmission.

The new truck came with a B&W turnover ball installed. I have a tagalong flat bed trailer, a gooseneck horse trailer, and a 5th wheel camper. The tagalong and gooseneck are no problem, but I need advice to help me decide how to modify the truck or trailer so that I can pull the 5th wheel

I like the idea of not having the rails in the bed, but that's not an absolute must.

Here are the options as I see them...

1) adapt the king pin so that it has a gooseneck coupler instead
2) get the Andersen ultimate 5th wheel connector
3) install traditional rails in the bed.
4) use an adapter that connects to the turnover ball and gives me rails that are removable
5) other options that you geniuses think of that I never would.

Ready..... Discuss.

wolfpack2 · Aug 30, 2013

Why not get the 5th wheel hitch for the B&W?

Companion 5th Fifth Wheel Hitch | B & W Trailer Hitches

Soundguy · Aug 30, 2013

i agree. use a hitch converter that plugs into your flip over ball rcvr already in the bed.

my 350 has a flip over ball.. my 450 has rails for a 5th wheel reese hitch, and i have that out right now and have a reese 'the goose' installed to use a GN on the rails.. etc..

nc redneck · Aug 30, 2013

Small 5th wheel 28 or less, convert it to goose neck. Over that size check with camper manufacture to see if it is allowed to convert to goose neck. I have 43 foot Toy Hauler and 28 foot horse trailer. It is a pain to change out hitches. 5th wheel hitch is heavy and hard to remove but it sure does pull great at 65 to 80 MPH. Much better than goose neck or bumper pull.

Diamondpilot · Aug 30, 2013

Iplayfarmer said:
I got a new truck and now I need to outfit it to pull my trailers.

Old Truck = '99 Chevy Silverado 1500 extended cab long bed, 5.3L engine
New Truck = '07 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Extended cab Short bed, 6.6L Duramax with the Allison Transmission.

The new truck came with a B&W turnover ball installed. I have a tagalong flat bed trailer, a gooseneck horse trailer, and a 5th wheel camper. The tagalong and gooseneck are no problem, but I need advice to help me decide how to modify the truck or trailer so that I can pull the 5th wheel

I like the idea of not having the rails in the bed, but that's not an absolute must.

Here are the options as I see them...

1) adapt the king pin so that it has a gooseneck coupler instead
2) get the Andersen ultimate 5th wheel connector
3) install traditional rails in the bed.
4) use an adapter that connects to the turnover ball and gives me rails that are removable
5) other options that you geniuses think of that I never would.

Ready..... Discuss.

Where are you at? I have a used B&W 5th Wheel Companion. Stored indoors and used maybe 15 times.

Chris

diesellineman · Aug 30, 2013

I say get the B&W Companion hitch as well. If you take out the turnover ball that's in there and replace it with a rail system you're going to end up with a 4 inch hole right in the middle of your bed and then you will always have the rails to deal with if you ever need to slide anything in and out of there as well.

AGRIMAN · Aug 31, 2013

I farm/work with my trucks so there's no way I wanted to deal with the 5 wheel hitch, so when I bought my 36' camper I installed a king pin adaptor and changed it over to a goose neck. I had a 7'' offset built into it that gives me some extra turning room with my 250. I'm very happy with it and have change over two ofter friends campers. I have pulled it at 80 + before and it does just fine.

Iplayfarmer · Aug 31, 2013

I like the idea of the companion hitch. It's too bad it's so expensive compared to other options. It's also too bad Diamondpilot is in Indiana. I'm in Idaho, and that would be a long drive to pick up a hitch. My trailer is only 17 foot, but it's likely that we'll upgrade sometime in the future.

Another question I'm hoping to discuss here is what, if anything, do I need to do now that I have a short bed truck? There's a guy locally selling a Popup brand hitch adapter for the trailer at what I consider a good price, but it's a straight down type of hitch. There's no offset. What are the factors that will help me decide if I need the offset?

diesellineman · Aug 31, 2013

I know guys have run into clearance issues while towing a gooseneck horse/stock trailers before. B&W makes an offset ball that will move it a couple inches toward the rear of the truck to help with this issue. My truck is a short bed and I have never had any issues with either gooseneck trailer I tow, but neither one of them are horse trailers. I didn't realize the companion hitches were so expensive. When I bought my turnover ball for my truck I could of sworn I could of got the companion hitch for $400 more if I bought them together. I guess I was wrong now after checking prices.

rustyshakelford · Aug 31, 2013

Depending on the pin box you have check out the goosebox by Reese. Replaces the entire pin box and adds air bags and shocks. Made a huge difference in ride and ease. I had the companion and sold it to get the goosebox.

Brett