5th wheel, g-neck advice (a bit long)

[CIverson]

Well my mom went and bought a new 5th wheel for her and her fiance. They had been using his travel trailer up until now.



Anyway, she wants me to move it around for her w/ my truck. Not sure on the size or weight yet, but I will only be moving it a short distance to their campground, and then to and from their storage place in fall / spring.



I figured I could get one of those combination gooseneck / 5th wheel hitches (she said she would buy the hitch for me), then I would be all set for when I retire my current trailer and get a gooseneck flatbed.



So I'm basically looking for suggestions on the best combo's out there. I like the B&W turnover ball and see that they have a 5th wheel adapter for it.



Has anyone used one of those adapters that converts a 5th wheel to a gooseneck?



I have a shortbed also, so I'm not sure if a slider would be necessary, or even an option for what I need. I'm wondering if I would have to take out my toolbox also.



I also wanted to see if anyone had experience w/ raising the trailer up at all. The salesman told my mom that you could adjust the axles to raise or lower the trailer height. I'm running a KORE chase system w/ 35's but I could put my stock tires on if needed.



After typing all of this out, I'm wondering if I should tell her to just get someone else to move it

 

[RustyJC]

The first choice would be the B&W turnoverball gooseneck with the companion 5th wheel RV hitch. The gooseneck adapters that bolt onto the pinbox of the 5th wheel are just like a cheater pipe - they impose forces on the 5th wheel frame that it was never designed to take since it was never designed to be a gooseneck trailer. Some have used the gooseneck adapters with no problem - others have severely damaged the frames of their 5th wheel RVs.



Getting someone else to move it sounds like a pretty good idea.



Rusty

 

[klenger]

B&W would be 1st choice, 2nd would be a Reese or PullRite 5th wheel hitch/rails. The hitch can be removed and replaced with a gooseneck plate.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I've heard a lot of good about the B & W, but I don't think it is the right application with a short bed. Go with a slider. I like my Reese.

 

[RJOL]

I own the B&W with the Companion hitch, but I would not recommend this for your "shortbed" application. You need to look at a slider type hitch, but they can be very spendy ($2000+ installed). Also, you don't give any details about the 5th wheel but if it's over 30' and especially if it has a bedroom slideout, you will most likely be overloading your rig... .

 

[RustyJC]

So I'm basically looking for suggestions on the best combo's out there. I like the B&W turnover ball and see that they have a 5th wheel adapter for it.



Has anyone used one of those adapters that converts a 5th wheel to a gooseneck?

I'd like to clarify my response. Of the two options listed above, the B&W turnoverball with companion 5th wheel RV hitch is the first choice. When not restricted to these two options, the shortbed truck really needs a slider hitch - how badly it needs it depends on the width and front end configuration of the 5th wheel as well as hitch placement.



Rusty

 

[CIverson]

Well, thanks for the replies.



I think I'm just going to tell her to pay the people at the RV dealer to move it for her, it sounds like too much of a paint to worry about.

 

[RustyJC]

Probably a very wise choice. No sense setting up a truck for 5th wheel towing if you're only going to do it once in a blue moon.



Rusty