GOOSENECK TO FIFTHWHEEL ADAPTOR
I bought an adaptor to go from fifthwheel to gooseneck. I pulled the trailer 1800 miles and the pinbox is bent 3" out of line. The manufacturer says tough you caused the problem by going to the Goosen...
Forum Discussion
The basic concept is the same as if you had a piece of 1/4" flat aluminum say 2" wide by 8" long and you installed a 1" long bolt in one end of it while the other end is locked in a vise. When you pull on the 1" bolt, it doesn't stress the aluminum much. Now install an 8" long bolt in place of the 1" bolt and yank on the end of the longer bolt. You will easily twist the aluminum like a pretzel. The gooseneck adapter is doing the same thing to your pinbox. The adapter leverages the box in directions it is not designed to handle.
I haven't found a manufacturer yet that will warranty a pinbox used with a gooseneck adapter. It is one of those things that people do to save money maybe because a gooseneck hitch plus the adapter is cheaper than a fifth wheel hitch, maybe they already have a gooseneck hitch or maybe they are not physically able to handle a fifth wheel hitch. No matter the reason, chances are the adapter is going to cost a lot more in the long run. It's a gamble at best. Like somebody already said, some lighter trailers may never have a problem, but most heavy trailers with a marginally rated pinbox will experience problems.
I haven't found a manufacturer yet that will warranty a pinbox used with a gooseneck adapter. It is one of those things that people do to save money maybe because a gooseneck hitch plus the adapter is cheaper than a fifth wheel hitch, maybe they already have a gooseneck hitch or maybe they are not physically able to handle a fifth wheel hitch. No matter the reason, chances are the adapter is going to cost a lot more in the long run. It's a gamble at best. Like somebody already said, some lighter trailers may never have a problem, but most heavy trailers with a marginally rated pinbox will experience problems.
