NC Hauler wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
rynosback wrote:
These have gotten really good reviews on the Cummings/Dodge forum. As most manufactures are not ready with after market parts right away either.
http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/ultimate-5th-wheel-connection.aspx
Seems like it brings together the worst of both designs. It eats up a lot of bed space when installed and requires more accuracy to hitch up than a 5th wheel.
Also, I suspect from a legal perspective, the authorities may consider it a goosneck and require chains.
No, it is considered a 5th wheel hitch, the "authorities" do not consider it a GN...It is really considered a 5th wheel hitch...it's there for the research. May not like it, but it is. It's very light weight and when you remove it and the Reese drop in ball, the bed is free and clear.
.......one more time, it DOESN'T require chains....do the research.
From the defintion of a 5th wheel: The coupling consists of a kingpin, a 2-or-3 1?2-inch (50.8 or 88.9 mm) diameter steel pin on the front of the semi-trailer, and a horseshoe-shaped coupling device called a fifth wheel on the rear of the towing vehicle. So no, it's not a 5th wheel.
Kingpin vs ball is the difference. With a 5th wheel arrangement, it's harder to get it wrong (not impossible) and being locked-in can be visually verified, so the authorities are OK with skipping the chains (probably came about because historically 5th wheels were commercial and bumper pulls were recreational but like a lot of our laws there are often googy reasons for how where we are today).
Ignoring the potential for structural failure (which this "high gooseneck" does address), how high off the frame must the ball be before it's considered a 5th wheel? 1", 2", a foot? It is functionally a gooseneck with a short neck. By your logic, you could use a standard gooseneck, call it a 5th Wheel and skip the chains. It's the connection method that makes the difference, not how high the connection is.
Realistically, unless you are dealing with an accident reconstruction, odds are no cop is ever going to check if you used chains. Then again, if you do manage to annoy an officer and get a ticket 500 miles from home but are in the "right" are you really going to drive back 500 miles to fight it or just pay?
But back to the main point, it's got the disadvantages of both. If you don't like the bed rails, they have options with a 5th wheel hitch for eliminating them, so that's really not an advantage. Otherwise pull 4 pins and just lift the hitch out on the kingpin.
