5th wheel vs goose neck hitch

Slownsy wrote:
Henry wher do you get that a gooseneck is rated double the toving weight of a FW.
Frank.

Typically gooseneck hitches are rated for 25,000lbs with a 2 5/16" ball and 30,000lbs with a 3" ball. Most 5er hitches are in the 14K to 20K range. My guess is that's where Henry's numbers come from. Maybe slightly over-exagerated, but the general idea is relates to the higher rating.

Henry wher do you get that a gooseneck is rated double the toving weight of a FW.
Frank.

Look into the Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch. IMHO it's the best solution to the problem if you are at all concerned about the stresses a gooseneck adapter puts on a weak 5th wheel frame.

If you never get the trailer hung up anywhere, a gooseneck adapter won't be a problem. But if you sink the trailer in the mud and need to really tug on it to get it out, that's where a gooseneck adapter might be a problem. The Andersen Ultimate eliminates this by putting the stress back up at the kingpin where it was designed to be while giving you the flexibility of the gooseneck hitch without having to lug around a 250lb fifth wheel.

I know a couple of ranchers who put gooseneck adapters on their fifth wheel RV, because they were towing gooseneck trailers most of the time, the fivers occasionally. Neither experienced frame failures on their RV, but neither pulled their RVs very often, very fast, or very far.

If you need to have a gooseneck ball hitch to tow other trailers, a better solution for a fifth wheel RV is to install a fifth wheel hitch on the gooseneck ball. This is an inconvenience if you have to remove and replace it frequently because you are towing several different trailers day to day. Thus why some folks use the adapters (and why the same ranchers don't often bother with weight distribution for conventional hitches).

The bottom line, of course, is: It is your trailer, you can do what you want with it.
Personally, with my background as an A&P mechanic, and having worked with weight and balance, leverage, arms, and such, I would not use an adapter. Even though I don't remember the formulas at this late date, I do remember that moving the pivot point/making the arm a foot and a half longer is not a good idea! It WILL increase the stress where the hitchbox attaches to the frame by a noticeable amount!

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Although your Cardinal is 'out of warranty' contact them and inquire

"Would the use of a gooseneck void my frame warranty"??

Answer YES
then question is why?

WHY.because pin box structure is NOT designed for the added leverage/stress a gooseneck can apply.

Look at the structural design differences between a gooseneck trailer and a 5th wheel pin box

One uses large beams/heavy supports/bracing-----other uses a wide spread frame with thin/light weight cross pieces and some web bracing.
One designed to carry/handle heavy/high stress loads----other designed to carry/handle much lighter loads spread out across the structure


Gooseneck...for gooseneck trailers

5th wheel hitch...for 5th wheel trailers

Right tool for the right job.

X2. If you search the forum, you'll find dozens - if not hundreds - of threads on this same topic. You'll find a few who say they've "done it for years without a problem." Then you'll find those with an engineering background or who have seen the failures resulting from the use of a gooseneck adapter who will tell you otherwise. There are several fifth wheel hitches which mount to the truck using the gooseneck ball in the bed (B&W Companion, Andersen Ultimate, etc.). These are still fifth wheel hitches and are not to be confused with gooseneck adapters. Search and read on...

Rob

Moved from Forum Technical Support

As noted above, some manufacturers will void the warranty due to the different stresses a gooseneck adapter puts on the frame. Lippert does allow use of a Goosebox adapter, that has shock absorbers and air bag.

Having said that, there are a lot of people tow their 5ers using gooseneck adapters seeming with no problem. A matter of rolling the dice and taking your chances.

Old-Biscuit wrote:


Gooseneck...for gooseneck trailers

5th wheel hitch...for 5th wheel trailers

Right tool for the right job.

I thought the same thing.

This is for technical support of the forum, you might get more answers in another forum or a mod could move it.

Although your Cardinal is 'out of warranty' contact them and inquire

"Would the use of a gooseneck void my frame warranty"??

Answer YES
then question is why?

WHY.because pin box structure is NOT designed for the added leverage/stress a gooseneck can apply.

Look at the structural design differences between a gooseneck trailer and a 5th wheel pin box

One uses large beams/heavy supports/bracing-----other uses a wide spread frame with thin/light weight cross pieces and some web bracing.
One designed to carry/handle heavy/high stress loads----other designed to carry/handle much lighter loads spread out across the structure


Gooseneck...for gooseneck trailers

5th wheel hitch...for 5th wheel trailers

Right tool for the right job.