Towing a 5th wheel camper with a 9' flatbed?

[truckdiagnostics]

You're not changing where it contacts the truck, which is very important to how it handles with the trailer.

Thought about it after I said it, adapter on the trailer shouldn't move the load point? But like deere dude said he might be able to get away with it.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I just went measure and it is about 69" from the center of the ball to the back corners of the bed, and about 60" from the center of the ball to the back of the bed.

You can see in the pics how the ball is recessed in the bed. Moving the ball would be difficult. And you can also see where my tool boxes are mounted on the bed just ahead of the ball. They are fairly tall, and that might be an issue also.

I'm going to try to go look at the camper tomorrow. It is at my brother's house about 30 miles from me.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Here are a couple pics of the camper hitch that my brother sent me a few weeks ago.

 

[jenkinsph]

Does not look like you have enough clearance for turns imo.

 

[Rustyiron]

I modified the trailer side of a 5th wheel camper to a g/n for a friend that already had a g/n hitch in his truck. Now this was on a reg. 8' p/u, not a flat bed with the ball down about 6-8" in "the hole" of a flat bed so this might not help at all, but looking at the trlr pic you might have a shot at continuing that forward/downward angle of the trlr hitch out forward some to get the clearance you need, then put a g/n hitch on the end??:confused3:

 

[GLyford]

I would be worried about the bunk area hitting the toolboxes on turns, especially off-camber (like when pulling into/out of a road surface at a different slope to the one you are on).

I suspect it would take a goose adapter long enough to let the bunk swing completely outside the toolbox, or about 4+'...I doubt that is practical?

What is the height difference between the 5th and goose? If you have enough height to play with it might still work...maybe, kinda sorta.

 

[RobertN]

I would 2nd that you might have issues clearing tool boxes. You're kind of in a pickle; have to clear the back of the bed, but also need to clear the tool boxes in front. And get height right.

1st priority would be how trailer pin centers near axle. Get the weight distribution correct over the axle so it tows safely.

2nd and 3rd are clearance. You could possibly tow if you don't turn tight.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I did some more measuring and research today. My toolboxes are 18" tall, and my ball is recessed about 3.5" for a total of about 21.5"

I can buy an adapter that will give me 16" from the TOP of my gooseneck ball to the bottom of the 5th wheel plate. Forward Hitch

Now I need to determine how much clearance is from the bottom of the 5th wheel plate to the bottom of the camper. If it is 8" or more, that should give me about 6" of clearance over my tool boxes. Looking at the pics I posted earlier, it's probably closer to 12" or more. Someone suggested that most pickup beds are as high as the bottom of the windows. My tool boxes look to be about 2" higher than the bottom of my windows. I was also able to find that most regular pickup beds are about 21" deep.

All this leads me to think that I can make this work. Maybe tomorrow I can get over to the camper and check it all out.

 

[Gunny]

You also want to make sure the fifth wheel is reasonably level when it's hitched. Makes a world of difference towing it down the road

 

[rustyshakelford]

Late to the party but I have a Reese goosebox I'm selling. We sold our camper and it's just sitting in the garage. Replaces the 5th wheel part completely. Check them out and let me know if that would work for you. We're by Houston and going to Mississippi at the end of the month.

Brett

Reese Goosebox