Gooseneck welded on pinbox

SWD wrote:
and we are off! Grabbing chair, beer and some popcorn. This should be a gooder!:B

Yep! especially when one comes on immediately with a wild exaggeration or out right lie to prove he has the ultimate knowledge of the subject. Good thing I bought some ice cream yesterday as this is gonna be good.

newman fulltimer wrote:
There is plenty of proof to prove the frame breaks just reading in this forum alone .i have inspected tons of broken frames caused by goosers

There have been several broken frames on these forums but none have been from gooseneck adaptors except one lately. Your last sentence, "i have inspected tons of broken frames caused by goosed" tells me this is a total lie and I'll challenge you to provide only three documented cases. I used to design and build both gooseneck and bumper pull trailers for farm and commercial use.

There have been several pictures and reports of broken frames on these threads and LOTS of folks claiming gooseneck is all wrong but like I said the data isn't there to prove it so. I even posted several times a picture of mine with dimensions indicating that a gooseneck should put more stress on the frame, yet the data just isn't there to back it up while there are a number of us who use gooseneck and now Reese even make a gooseneck hitch to replace the fifth wheel hitch.

Like I posted in one other thread, I've studied the fifth wheel and I think I know why they have broken some pinbox mounts but can't prove it so will wait to state what I've come up with until I can.

If it is welded on pin box (vs an adapter) odds are that the pin box structure was braced/gusseted/reinforced when it was welded on.

Simple look at front cap directly above pin box and at the side walls and trim.
See any cracking/hair lining/evidence of movement..excessive caulking, trim screws broken, misaligned seams at front cap/side wall.

See any.........pass

I'm one who has had bad luck with a g-neck on a 5er but it was a forest river and I think the nomad is a step or three up. I kinda liked it but a 5er hitch is way easier to hook up. Sounds like yours has been on there for awhile. Might as well leave it on if you don't see any damage in the front area. Watch for siding/paneling popping off, cracks, flexing etc. Craig

Just look at any gooseneck trailer, all the extra metal for gusseting and bracing. You don't have this under the skin of a 5er.

and we are off! Grabbing chair, beer and some popcorn. This should be a gooder!:B

newman fulltimer wrote:
There is plenty of proof to prove the frame breaks just reading in this forum alone .i have inspected tons of broken frames caused by goosers

I agree and there's evidence everywhere one cares to look. Sure some get away with it but why would a person take such an expensive gamble.

My unscientific perception is that the 5th wheel hitch is designed to allow a range of movement and some flexibility to prevent shock loads from the trailer being transmitted to the truck and from the truck to the trailer.

A gooseneck has not as much flexibility in my view.

That said - every one of a couple hundred race car rigs I know uses a gooseneck with no problems.

I just bought a tow vehicle for it and having a B&W hitch put in it. Should I buy the Companion hitch for it and cut off the goose neck hitch?
I drive a truck for a living and I am only home (I stay in the trailer) for a week every couple of months. I am thinking about taking the trailer for a week long vacation about 250 miles from the house in the summer time. That will be the first time it has been pulled in almost 2 years since I have owned it. The hitch was installed by the guy selling the trailer on consignment because a potential buyer said thats what needed to happen for him to buy the trailer. How much truth is to that, I am not sure. The trailer was clean and did not get much use so I am thinking that is probably the truth.

There is plenty of proof to prove the frame breaks just reading in this forum alone .i have inspected tons of broken frames caused by goosers