Fifth Wheel or Goose Neck

Endricken wrote:


Based on my long ago study of statics and dynamics and the ongoing experience I've had with an adapter (sorry, no strain gauges/testing), apparently the increased forces (if any) are very small and do no harm, mostly due to the solid nature/construction/installation of the adapters which prevent "moment arm" / torque movement or rotation as some believe must occur, but in fact cannot under normally encountered conditions.

So if I weld a cheater bar to a bolt rather than just slip it over the head, then the increased leverage magically goes to zero? And why insert "(if any)"? Maybe your studies have found that GN extensions are a unique case of a longer lever NOT producing more leverage?

I can understand that if a specific frame is built well enough to handle the increased stress, then that creates the impression with the owner that stress is minimal. But when the adaptor manufacturers state that not all fiver frames can handle the increased stress, then isn't that what a prospective buyer should know rather than just made-up science?