gooseneck hitch adapter`

[tmarti96]

Has anyone adapted their fifth wheel hitch to use with a gooseneck ball. What I mean is, do away with the hitch and use a ggooseneck type. I plan to do this next week. I frequently find myself in an uneven ground situation and it is hell with a basic hitch that doesnt pivot. what do gyou think?

 

[klenger]

If I understand your question correctly, you want to change the hitch on a 5th wheel camper and teh truck to a goose neck type. I don't think it's a good idea. The goose neck type hitch puts alot more leverage on the trailer structure because of the longer arm. I've heard it can tear up the 5th wheel frame. Why not just get a pivoting 5th wheel hitch? I have a 15K Draw-Tite which pivots, and seems to work fine.

 

[Whitmore]

Out here in WYO that is almost the norm as everyone pulls horse trailers too, The only brand I can think of off the top of my head is a CODY HITCH they are made right here in CODY WYO, I dont know if they have a site but give it a search... ... ... . Kevin

 

[Whitmore]

tmarti96, I found my flier on their products they have a web site at www.quickhitch.com

 

[merryman]

I was intrigued by the idea; I was warned of the danger.

I bought a Cody adaptor; I went on trip of 2500 to 3000 miles.

I tore the pin box loose----driving down the highway and looking in the mirror I could see LOTS of movement between pin box and trailer. When I checked it out the welds holding the pin box to fram were more than 1/2 torn out of fram metal. Lots of welding to cripple home.



Sold adapter. Still have the quick hitch ball--bolts right into Dodge and its for sale. 3oK rating and only $140 plus shipping.



Vaughn

 

[Whitmore]

Vaughn, thanks for the heads up, I was going to buy a Cody hitch adapter, guess I will re-think the deal, So what system do you have in place now? Kevin

 

[Happy Camper]

I too looked into the adapter. The 5vr manufacturer said NO,NO.



I purchased the B&W hitch which allows you to remove it in two pieces and insert the ball for the gooseneck pull. Installation is fairly easy with only the 4" hole in the center of the bed to cut. Bolts to existing holes in the frame.

 

[WeirCummin]

Happy Camper

I've been looking at the B&W setup. I have seen the gooseneck and like it. If you had to do it again, would you buy the same setup. How is the quality of the 5th wheel attachment. and does it mount securely to the pin in the bed.

Dean

 

[merryman]

Kevin,

I went with the RBW "lil rocker" . I really don't like it very well and keep thinking about going back to my old cross bed fiver hitch. I used it for 10 years and liked everything about it except that it did not rock side to side. Once in a while when the truck and the trailer not tiped the same way, unhitching could be difficult as it did not have side to side movement. I thought that the side to side rocking would eliminate that problem; But I do not like the working mech. of the lil rocker, and I have more problem unhitching with it than I ever did with the old cross bed.

I would change back, but having put holes in the bed of my truck for the lil rocker, the gooseneck hitch and for the generator--exhaust and wiring, the bed allready will like like swiss cheese, so I am reluctang to pull out the lil rocker and drill holes for the cross bed.

From what I see, seems like the Reese is a better setup.



Vaughn

 

[ramman]

I've used the cody hitch for two years with no problems and there are three others around home that saw mine and got one also,one pulls a trailer behind the 5er. I would switch it to my next trailer,so be your own judge,mine is on a 29'holiday rambler.

 

[merryman]

My guess is that the construction method used for the frame of the fiver determines whether it will tollerate the stress of the gooseneck adapter.

My fiver that was damaged by the adapter used two square tubes welded together. This is apparently plenty strong, but it means the thickness of the metal in each box is less than the thickness of the steel on, say an I beam type const. In may case the welds were pulling out of the boxed beams. On I beam const. the metal would very likely be thicker and hold.



Ramman, I allso had significant surging under some conditions with the adapter; I suspected it was the surging that produced the excess stress that damaged the fiver. That surging went away when I returned to a standard fiver hitch. Do you experience any of that?

Good luck with which ever.



Vaughn

 

[ramman]

If I've had the problem I don't know it on real rough interstates at 70-80 mph the expansion joints can set up a harmonic sometimes but that's just the road,I've never had a conventional 5ver hitch as I don't want all of the stuff to put in and take out,If i were pulling a 36' or something I probably would be a little reluctant to use the Cody hitch but after looking at the extended pin boxes it looks to me like they would add stress to the trailer just like the Cody. I guess the moral of the story is use what makes ya happy and hope for the best.

 

[bellman]

I have the reese 15k and have not had any problems with it but I also was the goose which mounts to the same rails as the 5th wheel hitch so I just pull four pins and have one in or out and the reese is alittle ceaper

 

[CRamsey]

Gooseneck adapter

I am using a "Vemco" gooseneck adapter for our 29' Serria 5th wheel. Have only pulled a few times so far but have seen no damage to the 5er frame so far... .

 

[GSchroeder]

I have run a homemade gooseneck adapter for five years from texas to Alaska and points in between on a 27 foot Hitchhiker with no problems. It tows great. I think it is all in the quality of the manufactering that matters. I now am a dealer for Cody and,Ultra Hitch Ranch Adapter. The Ultra couples with a remote pull cable so you don't have to reach into the bed to hook and unhook. It is heavier duty than the Cody and very high quality.

 

[RWorth]

Look at the B&W Turnoverball system.

www.turnoverball.com

 

[CRuD]

B&W Turnover ball Best of Both worlds

I like my B&W Turnover Ball alot. I to was looking into a adapter from 5er to goose neck. This site and camper dealers in the area advised against it. I sent some emails to "Happy Camper" he told me about the B&W setup he runs. I took his advise and have the same system in my truck. The B&W has fore and aft movement and side to side movement. I don't know the degrees, but can dig up the info if needed. I mainly didn't want to have rails mounted in my bed of the truck. I haul all kinds of things from drywall to plantly things (better half projects)

Food for thought

I think the goose necks are put togather stronger than the 5er camper are in that area.

Install is easy the worse part was drilling a 4 or so( I can't remember if it was 4"or 4 1/2") hole in the truck bed. My 13 year old son and I put our hitch in in an afternoon. I painted things as we went to prevent anything from rusting.

Sorry for such a long post.

See Ya

Chris

 

[MidwestMotorman]

GN's and fivers

My vote goes to the B&W setup.



A gooseneck is good for some flexibility, but that can also be its weakest link. Too much flexibility will cause the neck to pop off of the ball, or the ball to shear off. I have personally seen both instances. The fifth setup is designed to be more secure. If you want more fliexibility go to the flexible fifth setups.



Manufacturers of car hauling trailers will recommend only the fifth hitch for reasons mentioned above. I know that Hideabed Inc will personally demonstrate what happens when a gooseneck hitch is used on their trailers. They will pop them right off the ball in their own parking lot!



Good luck with whatever you choose, and use the one that makes you happy.