5er conversions to ball (are you safe)

[CUMMINZ]

Several forums have had lots of conversation about safety issues with 5er to goosneck conversions. I have posted on the internet at: http://www.gorowan.com/2004ram/pin_box/ ,,,,,

Are you safe pulling a trailer behind your 5er or placing others at risk?

 

[RustyJC]

If you wished to discuss the admittedly simplified example I cited on the other thread, it would have been more intellectually honest to respond on that thread rather than open a page where no dialogue is possible regarding your hostile remarks toward me and my example.



Suffice it to say I'm most disappointed at this point.



And, by the way, a horizontally extended pinbox is a completely different creature from a vertical gooseneck adapter. I would have been glad to explain why if you had bothered to inquire. Since I obviously have no credibility with you at this point (even though you've yet to challenge the accuracy of any calculations I've provided), allow me to quote from the April 2005 issue of Highways magazine, specifically from Bob Livingston's Tech Topics column that deals with RV technical issues. A reader had asked Livingston about adding an extended 5th wheel pin box:

Extending the king pin box is tricky business. In many cases, the pin box and/or the fifth-wheel structure cannot handle the additional stresses created by an extension. Therefore, most manufacturers (fifth-wheel and pin box) recommend against such an extension. Of course, pin boxes designed to extend past the front of the trailer and installed by the trailer manufacturer to accommodate the additional leverage should work just fine.

Rusty

 

[RustyJC]

By the way, if you'll take the time to do a forum search on "gooseneck adapter", you'll find 383 threads that include discussion on this topic (at least that's what I just came up with). Why not take the time to do some reading instead of typing and find out what others have to say?



Rusty

 

[CUMMINZ]

Hostile comments

Rusty,



I have gone back and read the posts I made and I can't seem to find that I made any hostile comments toward you I simply used your examples and comments and stated my opinion which you can't seem to tolerate. In your earlier post you did state figures but no real supporting facts. The reason I posted on my own webpage with pictures is that I could use up my server resources and not TDR's. I did use examples with supporting pictures to let the browser make up his own mind. A picture is worth a thousand words. Even your posts of several years ago you used terms like "allegations"... I do think that everyone that opposes your stand on conversions "are out to get you". .

In a post dated 03-07-2002, 06:07 PM you stated "that is why you had the failure". That is such a bold statement that it astounds me. Have you taken into consideration the owner's driving habits? He may have driven his truck/trailer conbination very roughly. Engineering standpoint or not we can't assume his failure was totally attributed to modifications. Any manufacturer would be placing his business in a liable position to back ANY modification to frame, hitch, rear bumper or axles.

If you look at my stance and questions that I have raised you can't say I don't have my doubts about their safety. If they are so dangerous maybe you should take the issue up with the Product Safety folks.



http://www.gorowan.com/2004ram/pin_box/ ,,,,,



CUMMINZ NC

2004. 5 CTD, Flip-Over/RV2, 32' KeyStone Sprinter, Tornado, TST, AMSOIL, 4x4, 4. 10LS, 315x70Rx17 BFG, 8" Factory cast aluminum, 2" front lift/w RC shocks, Line-X, Banks monster exhaust

My Truck at www.GoRowan.com/2004ram