i just bought a new truck and put a flip over gooseneck hitch in it. my old truck had a reese rail type goose and fifthwheel. now the problem is, i was going to use a fifth wheel adaptor alot of people are saying that using an adaptor will rip the pin box out of the trailer. anyone have any experience with using an adaptor or suggestions??? thanks jon
5th wheel to goose neck
- Thread starter donais
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wushaw
Elite Member
I take it you are wanting to use a gooseneck adapter to tow your fifthwheel camper. You will need to contact your camper manufacture to see if it will void the frame warranty if it is still in warranty.
If it is out of warranty they probably won't care since it is your nickle if it breaks.
A gooseneck frame is built differently than a fifthwheel frame, the fifthwheel frame is usually not designed to take the stress a goosneck adapter can put on it.
If it is out of warranty they probably won't care since it is your nickle if it breaks.
A gooseneck frame is built differently than a fifthwheel frame, the fifthwheel frame is usually not designed to take the stress a goosneck adapter can put on it.
B&W Custom Truck Beds, Inc.
Here is the hitch style I have... I don't have the 5th wheel adapter, but know someone who does.
Here is the hitch style I have... I don't have the 5th wheel adapter, but know someone who does.
heard about the b&w after i installed the pop-up brand flip over ball. the 5th wheel companion would have been great but..... pop-up's adaptor seems to be pretty heavy duty. has anyone seen one pull off a pin box im not worried about warranty just my family's life and people in the other lane.. i will put the rails in the truck if i have to but really really really dont want to... watcha think... jon
Ford960
Silver Member
Ya pays ya money, ya takes ya chances...
Adding a goose adapter to your 5th wheel will increase the leverage on the 5th wheel pin box and may result in broken welds and cracks in framing memebers that are not visible without removing the skin at the front of the trailer. You can not do an inspection or keep an eye out for damage and if you do catch it in time then the repairs involve deskinning the affected area so that it can be rewelded.
Another point to make is the type of hitches involved, a 5th wheel hitch is a positive lock hitch and does not require safety chains. A gooseneck hitch requires chains. I don't know that a goose is any less safe than a 5th wheel, the goose is always rated for higher loads. When I toyed with the idea of putting an adapter on my Newmar 5th wheel camper my old lady asked why the goose adapters had chains. She didn't like the idea and so I dropped it even though Newmar is one manufacturer that approves.
On the other hand my buddy has put an adapter on every 5th wheel that he has owned, it's on his 37' Montana now and he just bought another 30' 5ver that he plans to adapt also. When he bought the 30 footer he had to borrow my 5th wheel hitch to go get it. Actually we met as he was trying to install the adapter on a trailer several years ago and I pitched in to give him a hand.
Adding a goose adapter to your 5th wheel will increase the leverage on the 5th wheel pin box and may result in broken welds and cracks in framing memebers that are not visible without removing the skin at the front of the trailer. You can not do an inspection or keep an eye out for damage and if you do catch it in time then the repairs involve deskinning the affected area so that it can be rewelded.
Another point to make is the type of hitches involved, a 5th wheel hitch is a positive lock hitch and does not require safety chains. A gooseneck hitch requires chains. I don't know that a goose is any less safe than a 5th wheel, the goose is always rated for higher loads. When I toyed with the idea of putting an adapter on my Newmar 5th wheel camper my old lady asked why the goose adapters had chains. She didn't like the idea and so I dropped it even though Newmar is one manufacturer that approves.
On the other hand my buddy has put an adapter on every 5th wheel that he has owned, it's on his 37' Montana now and he just bought another 30' 5ver that he plans to adapt also. When he bought the 30 footer he had to borrow my 5th wheel hitch to go get it. Actually we met as he was trying to install the adapter on a trailer several years ago and I pitched in to give him a hand.
DrRick
Silver Member
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- dk55, jd 450,case 811b,kioti mechron,farmal cub & super c
The B W fifth wheel adaptor is an adaptor that doesn't change the trailer- at all- only the truck unit, from gooseneck to a fifth wheel mechanism. Feel confident in the strength of this unit as it does NOT affect the warrenty of any trailer manufacturer. The capacity of the B&w as a gooseneck is a healthy 30,000 pounds, however the adaptor for the fifthwheel is limited to 18,0000 capacity.
I think the confusion arises from the misconception that the trailers are modified,and this is incorrect. The gooseneck ball is removed from the square receiver in the bed and a fifthwheel mechanism is place in the bed attached in the square receiver. It is a quality unit. I routinely pull tripple axle goosenecks with a 450 JD dozer with my B&W hitch. ( I do have a class A license w/an ag exemtion from CDL) Hope this helps
rick in west texas
I think the confusion arises from the misconception that the trailers are modified,and this is incorrect. The gooseneck ball is removed from the square receiver in the bed and a fifthwheel mechanism is place in the bed attached in the square receiver. It is a quality unit. I routinely pull tripple axle goosenecks with a 450 JD dozer with my B&W hitch. ( I do have a class A license w/an ag exemtion from CDL) Hope this helps
rick in west texas