A Complete Guide to Tow a Fifth Wheel with a Gooseneck Hitch

When your hitch and trailer combination isn’t the right fit, the 5th Wheel to Gooseneck converter makes things simpler. For customers who desire to pull a fifth-wheel trailer, a gooseneck hitch is among the finest available solutions.

Because the Gooseneck is put on the fifth-wheel trailer itself in place of the trailer’s existing pin box, it eliminates the need for the heavy machinery that a normal fifth-wheel hitch requires of the truck. You only need a safety chain hook and a goose ball to start towing. Installation may require at least two persons because a geese box is a sizable piece of equipment.

A great feature of the gooseneck hitch is that it is designed to give you an increased height adjustment which basically means you have several options when it comes to bolting the goose box to the trailer swings.

This ensures you get the right amount of clearance between your truck and trailer, especially with the Latest large beefier pick-ups. Once the goose box is installed then it will stay on your trailer and you are ready to go.

Tips For Towing a Fifth Wheel With A Gooseneck Hitch

 If towing is a big deal for you then it is better to understand and remember a few things prior to towing a fifth wheel with a gooseneck hitch. The following are the tips that will help you to avoid minor mistakes and protect from any major damages to your trailer setup.

• Think about weight and towing capacity. It’s crucial to be aware of your towing capability and gross trailer weight prior to attaching your truck to the trailer or even choosing a 5th-wheel hitch for your truck. Keep in mind that the lowest-rated towing component always has the greatest towing capacity. It is advised to buy a fifth-wheel hitch that has a towing capability that is equal to or greater than that of your truck for this reason.

• Become familiar with the truck and trailer measurement concepts. The gap or clearance between your truck and trailer while hitched up depends on the length of the vehicle bed. In general, a long-bed pickup truck offers more clearance whereas a short-bed vehicle offers less. The style of mounting platform your fifth wheel hitch needslegs or a slideris then determined by this.

• Pay strict attention to your tires. Although the tires on your pickup truck and fifth-wheel RV are probably strong, heavy-duty tires, they are not invincible. Before every journey, check the tire pressure on your truck and the tires on your RV. Any reduction in pressure in any of them could cause an accident or increase the risk of road debris punctures on the wheels.

• It is best to learn how to effectively use your mirrors. In order to see around a large RV linked to your truck, you will not be able to use your vehicle’s side or rear-view mirrors, which you are probably used to utilizing for everyday driving. You can make a wise choice that will enable you to see safely around the sides of your fifth-wheel RV by adding longer side-view mirrors or buying extensions for your side mirrors.

Towing a Fifth Wheel with a Gooseneck Hitch

It may look difficult and confusing for newbies to tow a fifth wheel with a gooseneck hitch. However, if you understand the basic manual and are familiar with the process then it will just take a few minutes to attach the light adapter to the Kingpin of your trailer. A kingpin is a ball that is easily visible from your truck’s cab. Just get close enough to the coupler tube that funnels in the ball and let gravity do the rest. Isn’t that simple?

Let’s understand the easy way to tow a fifth wheel with a gooseneck hitch.

A practical and useful solution to a typical towing issue is to pull a fifth wheel with a gooseneck hitch. There are only two types of trailer hitches utilized for pulling big loads: fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches.

You may purchase a hitch adapter that will alter the kingpin on your fifth-wheel trailer and allow it to lock securely into a gooseneck hitch to save time and money. Connect a larger metal adapter to the kingpin so you can reach the gooseneck ball effectively.

1. Adapters to Attach the Gooseneck Ball in the RV

You can use an Adapter that attaches to the gooseneck ball the under the bed of your truck followed by adjusting the height of the hitch. There is a range of the lightest hitch options available in the market. 

This setup operates on the premise that the higher attachment point between the trailer and the hitch, which places stress on the trailer’s frame and pin box, should be reduced.

2. Adapters to Attach the Fifth-Wheel Trailer King Plate

The kingpin and pin box stay connected in this type of configuration. You might need extra assistance installing the adapter because it can be quite heavy. This particular fifth-wheel to gooseneck adapter consists of a tube that mounts around the kingpin of the fifth-wheel trailer on one end and fastens to the gooseneck ball on the truck’s back end on the other.

However, not all trailers can use this particular adaptor. Because of this, it is essential to confirm and examine the trailer manufacturer’s recommendations, as some manufacturers advise against using their adapters with pin boxes that are longer than a specific length. In order to avoid stressing the trailer frame and hitch, always check the maximum suggested pin box length. Although it could be a good short-term fix, it can also be a problem.

3. Installation of 5th-wheel adapter in the ball hole of the gooseneck hitch

You can choose to swap between different sorts of trailers if you’re seeking a good answer for regular use without having to modify the trailer. When you need to haul freight in the truck bed, you may quickly remove the fifth-wheel hitch if you want to tow several trailer types with the same vehicle.

You must look at the plate or label on your pin box to ascertain your brand and model of yours because certain adapter types are designed to fit particular pin boxes. You won’t need to take height measurements because this adapter swaps out the kingpin on your trailer.

4. Replace the trailer pin box with the 5th-wheel adapter

This alternative is the safest and was made to suit particular pin boxes, so it doesn’t put additional strain on the trailer frame or hitch. You can make a more long-lasting adjustment while leaving your truck bed available for other purposes.

• To increase clearance use Offset Adapters

You can get a little more space using an offset adapter between the back of the truck cab and the overhang of the fifth-wheel trailer. There may be more space between the trailer and the truck’s back end as a result. Short bed vehicles will need a sidewinder pin box, a sliding fifth wheel hitch, or a permanent fifth wheel hitch in order to safely make a 90-degree turn, despite the offset adapters’ increased clearance.

• Cushioned Adapters by Convert-A-Ball

The polyurethane cushioning of a cushioned adapter reduces bouncing and vibrations for a safer, more comfortable, and quieter ride by absorbing the movement and jarring of the trailer.

CONCLUSION

There are various fifth-wheel to gooseneck adapters available to help you get your fifth wheel on the road. We’ve talked about A Complete Guide to Towing a Fifth Wheel with a Gooseneck Hitch. By understanding more about them and working alone, you can make the greatest choice.

While utilizing a gooseneck hitch to tow a 5th-wheel trailer is OK and vice versa, there are situations when it is preferable to use the correct hitch. This is especially crucial if you tow on a regular basis. so that you can drive more and make judgments more quickly.

FAQ’S

1. Is it possible to Convert Between Fifth Wheel and Gooseneck?

Fifth-wheel kingpins can use gooseneck adapters. The likelihood is that your camper has a kingpin under the front cap, so if you use a gooseneck hitch, you’ll need to buy one of these adapters. It’s a straightforward addition that reaches below the kingpin and makes a hole for the gooseneck hitch.

2. What is a gooseneck adapter?

A gooseneck adapter is a piece of equipment that enables a gooseneck hitch to connect to a fifth-wheel trailer. It consists of a shank and a set of fifth-wheel rails. The shank section fits into the gooseneck hitch like a gooseneck ball. The adapter rails, however, serve as a mounting surface for a 5th wheel hitch rather than the ball serving as the coupling mechanism.

3. Why does the 5th wheel need ample storage space?

You must locate a location to keep the trailer while it isn’t being used with your fifth-wheel camper. 5th wheels require a fair amount of space, as opposed to a little camper van or pop-up trailer. For this, off-season rental of an RV spot or storage container may be necessary.