Forum Discussion

cgrace1998's avatar
cgrace1998
Explorer
Mar 11, 2014

Hidden Gooseneck to new 5th wheel problems

We have just purchased a Sprinter 269FWRLS Copper Canyon. Our tow vehicle is a 2011 Chevy 3500HD 4x4 Ext. Cab 8 foot bed. We have a B&W Hidden Turnoverball. The bed of the pickup also has a fuel tank and large tool box at the front and side tool boxes. Our problem is finding a proper (not losing our warranty) or structurally damaging the frame or fiberglass pinbox or adapters/extensions that will allow clearance of all these boxes. The side boxes are flush to the top of the bed. We need to be able to clear the toolbox and fuel tank in front, so something that extends us back from the hitch. Also, something that adapts the ball higher for clearance of the side tool boxes. Please help we have been trying to get our new 5th wheel picked up for 2 weeks. I guess we should have just stuck to travel trailers, but we fell in love with this 5th Wheel and now can not even find anyone who can figure out how we are going to tow.

Update, we have decided to go with the B&W Companion 3500 to get clearance of the fuel tank and tool box in front of bed. After HOURS of research and lots of wonderful answers from this forum, we have removed the side boxes and are looking at some under bed/body boxes to replace side boxes. Thank you to you all! Hopefully, God willing after 4 weeks we will be able to pick our new 5vr.
Has anybody heard of or used colibert rail rider or Free Ride BW?
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 11, 2014
    cgrace1998 wrote:
    We have just purchased a Sprinter 269FWRLS Copper Canyon. Our tow vehicle is a 2011 Chevy 3500HD 4x4 Ext. Cab 8 foot bed. We have a B&W Hidden Turnoverball. The bed of the pickup also has a fuel tank and large tool box at the front and side tool boxes. Our problem is finding a proper (not losing our warranty) or structurally damaging the frame or fiberglass pinbox or adapters/extensions that will allow clearance of all these boxes. The side boxes are flush to the top of the bed. We need to be able to clear the toolbox and fuel tank in front, so something that extends us back from the hitch. Also, something that adapts the ball higher for clearance of the side tool boxes. Please help we have been trying to get our new 5th wheel picked up for 2 weeks. I guess we should have just stuck to travel trailers, but we fell in love with this 5th Wheel and now can not even find anyone who can figure out how we are going to tow.

    Update, we have decided to go with the B&W Companion 3500 to get clearance of the fuel tank and tool box in front of bed. After HOURS of research and lots of wonderful answers from this forum, we have removed the side boxes and are looking at some under bed/body boxes to replace side boxes. Thank you to you all! Hopefully, God willing after 4 weeks we will be able to pick our new 5vr.


    Hard to beat any B&W product. I have, and use, both the Turnover Ball and Companion.

    Lyle
  • cgrace1998's avatar
    cgrace1998
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    Well I guess I posted an update with wishful thinking... The service tech at the dealer after putting together the companion 3500 B&W says based on the pictures we sent him with a tape measure displaying measurements the B&W 3500 is not going to have enough height to get over the tool box and fuel tank in the front of the bed. So after he told me the only clearance problem was the side tool boxes and we remove them we are back to square one. No way to tow our new 5vr. After removal of the side boxes the front tool box is a must as is the fuel tank. No one out there has a Chevy 3500HD 4x4, 4 door with a fuel tank and toolbox in front? If I knew how to attach the pictures I would. Please help, I am at the point of begging.
  • nremtp143's avatar
    nremtp143
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    Congrats on the B&W as I believe they are the best hitch on the market, plus the customer support is second to none! Take a look at the rear bed boxes for the truck like these maybe..5th Wheel Tool Boxes
  • sk734's avatar
    sk734
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    Buy an under the bed tool box-you should have no clearance issues. I run an under the bed aux fuel box with no problems with my B&W. The only problems with some trucks today is the height of the truck box sides. B&W does make a Patriot hitch that is 19" high at its highest point however the tow rating is for 16K max. Good luck
  • motorcycle_jack's avatar
    motorcycle_jack
    Explorer II
    Mar 12, 2014
    Why not convert to a B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch (fits in the turn over hole) and remove the goose neck adapter and put on a Trail Air 5th wheel. You can then adjust the B&W and the Trail Air for the clearance needed. Lots of people run this combination.
  • Pipeman's avatar
    Pipeman
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    I have a 1 ton GMC dually, crew cab 4 door, long box with a 50 gallon fuel tank in front of the 5th wheel. It sits below the bed rail. For some odd reason I'm not understanding your problem. With an 8 ft box , your 5er should not even come close to hitting your tool box/fuel tank combo unless the combo is very wide. I even put a 50 gallon fresh water tank behind the fuel tank and no problem with clearance. I have a trailer air pin box that I have to watch on tight turns so that it clears the rail that the the tonneau cover lays out on. The 5th wheel is a Reese.
  • ddschuman's avatar
    ddschuman
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    We have a 50 gallon aux fuel tank/toolbox in the bed of our truck next to cab and have no problems. The toolbox section is narrow though. It is just large enough to carry a few "toolbox" necessities. Not sure what you have. Our 5th wheel has plenty of clearance with our setup.
  • cgrace1998's avatar
    cgrace1998
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    I think putting some measurements on this site will help you all better understand the issues. We only have 12 1/4" from front fuel tank to the B&W Hidden Gooseneck ball center. Front Toolbox is 28" tall sits on/above bed rails. From ball to tailgate is 48". Still looking for suggestions, but at this point we just want to get 5vr picked up. So until someone out there has a suggestion we are taking everything out of bed, and we will just have to put it back in. Thanks for your help.
  • Dayle1's avatar
    Dayle1
    Explorer II
    Mar 12, 2014
    cgrace1998 wrote:
    I think putting some measurements on this site will help you all better understand the issues. We only have 12 1/4" from front fuel tank to the B&W Hidden Gooseneck ball center. Front Toolbox is 48" tall sits on/above bed rails. From ball to tailgate is 48". Still looking for suggestions, but at this point we just want to get 5vr picked up. So until someone out there has a suggestion we are taking everything out of bed, and we will just have to put it back in. Thanks for your help.


    With the long bed you have roughly 60 inches from the cab to the rear axle which is also the hitch center line. So, if you have about 12 inches left, that means your tool box and fuel tank are roughly 48 inches wide total. And the tool box is 48 inches tall??? Which puts it about 26 inches taller than the truck bed rails. Is that correct?? If so, how do you see out the back window to hitch up??? Anything taller than the bed rails that is closer than 48 inches from the ball center is a problem. Pics and/or more measurements are really needed for any useful assistance.

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