Goose-neck Hitch on 5th wheel RV

[BIGNASTY]

Can any 5th wheel RV trailer be converted to a goose-neck mount without doing any irreversible modifications to the RV?



Thanks

BIG

 

[BILLUA]

UH-OH, here we go!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Some sore spot????? im sorry but until recently I had no need to THINK about these things

 

[jhenderson]

The story, as I understand it, is the framework in the front of the trailer is not able to take the punishment that a GN can transfer to it.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Thanks thats what I wanted to know. SORRY if I stepped on UNSTABLE SOIL here. I can only GUESS who is at the head of the controversy on ANY RV subject :-laf



And only because of some POLITICAL REASON!!!!! of the Keynan and Dumocraps.





Thanks

BIG

 

[BILLUA]

Big, no harm intended. I have seen these threads go back and forth for many pages about voided warranty's and stress cracks etc followed by the "I have a hundred thousand miles towing with my conversion" etc... .

Cheers

 

[BIGNASTY]

Big, no harm intended. I have seen these threads go back and forth for many pages about voided warranty's and stress cracks etc followed by the "I have a hundred thousand miles towing with my conversion" etc... .



Cheers

Thanks! I just have a few different kinds of trailers and most are goose-neck and pintle hook , Wife and I are kicking around a few ideas and I dont want to invest a sum of cash, and then have a SHOULD-A , COULD-A MOMENT down the road.



BIG

 

[tuffs93]

Big,

Everyone has there own opinion. I owned a 32' fiver with a bolt in goosneck adapter for alot of years. The trailer when loaded weighed about 16k. I pulled it to the coast and back several times a year when the kids were at home. Az. and Cal. highways and several trips up in northern Az. during Elk season. Rough roads. All in all probably 35K to 40 K miles on the trailer fully loaded, and never had a problem with it. Alot depends on how you drive with that much weight . When I sold it the guy who bought it went over it with a fine tooth comb. No cracks or problems that he could find and he works for DPS. Like I say, everyone has there own opinion.

 

[BIGNASTY]

As I figured about opinions They are all different



I have never even looked at an RV with a 5th wheel or Goose-neck connection. I could see where the goose-neck idea has its merit! My BIG TEX is a goose-neck and looks allot more substantial in build than any 5th wheel but its not meant to be good looking and covered up with RV its a utilitarian trailer and capable of hauling more weight. All I was looking at was the idea of not having the 5th wheel on the deck of the tow vehicle and having to remove it when I wanted to haul a different kind of trailer.



BIG

 

[RustyJC]

The gooseneck adapter acts as a cheater pipe (longer moment arm) to amplify the torque forces going into the pinbox areas of the 5th wheel. Some 5th wheel frames can tolerate it; some can't. Most RV manufacturers will void any structural warranty if a gooseneck adapter is used - there's a reason for that.

If you need both a gooseneck and 5th wheel capability, I'd highly recommend the B&W turnoverball gooseneck hitch and its Companion 5th wheel hitch.

Rusty

 

[NIsaacs]

Can any 5th wheel RV trailer be converted to a goose-neck mount without doing any irreversible modifications to the RV?



Thanks

BIG

Hey Big, how about going the other way? If your goosenecks have the round or square adjustable insert, get the fifthwheel type, there will be no loss of integrity of the hitch. Then just keep the fifthwheel on your truck.



Nick

 

[AClayton]

I would never consider doing that with a toyhauler but I have seen many regular 5th wheels at campgrounds and on the interstates... . some have noticeable bends at the pin and some don't. My personal opinion is not to do it. Lippert doesn't recommend it and will not cover their warranty. All it takes is one time bottoming out and your frame is bent... . Hell, that could happen on I-10 in only a few miles!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Hey Big, how about going the other way? If your goosenecks have the round or square adjustable insert, get the fifthwheel type, there will be no loss of integrity of the hitch. Then just keep the fifthwheel on your truck.

Nick

Will have to look into that, kind of scary to do any mod's to the stock trailer there is a lot of weight in it with 8 animals and gear they dont always stand still for the trip either. I dont usually pull it with a full load of animals with the Dodge, (in coming )I dont think that if I had a 1 ton dually I would want to pull it loaded up like that I have but its a PUCKER CITY RIDE FOR ME.

BIG

 

[NIsaacs]

Here is a picture of one.



Nick

 

[BIGNASTY]

Here is a picture of one.

NickView attachment 84286

Nick!!!

Have you used one of those in a high stess condition? it must be pretty thick material!!! OR IS IT SOLID?

 

[NIsaacs]

Big, I have never used one, I don't have any fifthwheel hitches, however I can not see any weakness of the design. I can see where some trucks/fifthwheel hitches might be too high, that there might not be enough adjustment on the trailer to keep it level.



Nick