goose neck or fifth wheel hitch for trailer

[darcydw]

This may be a little off from the original topic but it ties into the conversation. I have a friend with a triple axle gooseneck trailer. He also has the fifth wheel adapter. I borrowed it and used my fifth wheel hitch on my Ram 2500 with the factory hitch prep and a Reese slider hitch. While everything seemed good I quickly found an issue - the combination of the height of the truck, the hitch and the adapter caused the trailer to sit high in the front. The front wheels were barely touching the ground. A little weight (two older parts Jeep Cherokees) on it helped but still isn't perfect. Keep an eye out for this.

 

[mikehaugen]

This may be a little off from the original topic but it ties into the conversation. I have a friend with a triple axle gooseneck trailer. He also has the fifth wheel adapter. I borrowed it and used my fifth wheel hitch on my Ram 2500 with the factory hitch prep and a Reese slider hitch. While everything seemed good I quickly found an issue - the combination of the height of the truck, the hitch and the adapter caused the trailer to sit high in the front. The front wheels were barely touching the ground. A little weight (two older parts Jeep Cherokees) on it helped but still isn't perfect. Keep an eye out for this.

Wasn't the hitch tube adjustable?

 

[mikehaugen]

Even though I have a prep for the goose neck ball I would have to buy and install the goose neck ball and chains.

A fifth wheel doesn't require chains? I guess I never realized that.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For me I would choose the goose neck over the bumper pull any day. I know a few people that have king pin adapters on there goose necks and really like them. They pull campers too and don't have to remove and replace the hitches all the time and a bit easier for them to see the hitch when hooking up. You can purchase a standard gooseneck trailer then replace the ball hitch with something like this.

If it were me I would convert the camper. 5th wheel hitches ruin a trucks bed usefulness and removing and reinstalling is a pain. All GN with a flip over ball is 100 times easier.

Chris

 

[bironacad]

If it were me I would convert the camper. 5th wheel hitches ruin a trucks bed usefulness and removing and reinstalling is a pain. All GN with a flip over ball is 100 times easier.

Chris

My Ford has the prep package so the drop in hitch when removed leaves a clean bed. I like the stability of hitching over the trucks wheels, it really isn't a load factor as my tractor ways in at 4000 lbs without loader and hoe so lets say six thousand pounds. The dually can almost put that weight in the bed, lol. Fifth wheel hitch quite stable however goose neck or fifth wheel adds close to twelve hundred dollars to the new trailer price.

Are you required to have your trailers inspected every year?

 

[Diamondpilot]

My Ford has the prep package so the drop in hitch when removed leaves a clean bed. I like the stability of hitching over the trucks wheels, it really isn't a load factor as my tractor ways in at 4000 lbs without loader and hoe so lets say six thousand pounds. The dually can almost put that weight in the bed, lol. Fifth wheel hitch quite stable however goose neck or fifth wheel adds close to twelve hundred dollars to the new trailer price. Are you required to have your trailers inspected every year?

No inspector here. My neighbor has a 2012 F350 with the 5th wheel prep and GN in it. The hitch for the 5er is still heavy and awkward to remove. It's a 2 man job. His is a B&W made for the Ford 4 puck system.

Chris

 

[bironacad]

No inspector here. My neighbor has a 2012 F350 with the 5th wheel prep and GN in it. The hitch for the 5er is still heavy and awkward to remove. It's a 2 man job. His is a B&W made for the Ford 4 puck system.

Chris

Mine is the 25K Ford hitch made by Rease for the puck prep package, it breaks down into two parts but yes it is not light much like the ramps for a trailer lol.

 

[darcydw]

The hitch was adjustable. I had my fifth wheel hitch set as low as possible and the adapter as far as possible up into the gooseneck assembly hitting on the gusset reinforcements. Perhaps they could have been trimmed a bit. I think the problem is the new trucks sit too high in the rear. With the new truck my fifth wheel travel trailer sits high in the front. I had the springs flipped on top of the axles to match up with my old 2004 Dodge 3500. The new Ram 2500 is probably 3 inches higher at the top of the box.
If I ever borrow his trailer again I will buy the gooseneck ball assembly that attaches to the factory hitch assembly. It has both provisions drilled through the box.