My wife and I just bought our first camper. 2002 R-Vision Trail Lite model 5281-S. We will be towing it with our dodge 1500... For now. I have been reading that converting from 5th to gooseneck will save some weight. More importantly I would rather not have to mess with the in and out of the hitch when i am using my truck for other things. The 5th wheel has an aluminum frame. I have heard people who "think they have heard that you can not goose neck an aluminum framed camper? What do you think?Thanks, Mike

Most certainly your camper is not aluminum 'framed' but aluminum superstructured. The frame is steel. Check it with a magnet. Using a goose neck adaptor on a rig designed for 5th wheel adds a lot of leverage to the frame. The pin box attachment frame is not designed for that added stress. Warranty will be voided. It is a PIA to have a 5er hitch in the bed of the truck, but I feel it is offset by the ease of hook up.

I don't think that the wheel frame is made of aluminum but rather steel. The walls are what are probably made of an aluminum frame construction. I'm not crazy about goose neck hitches but if you like em you can use it.

Investigate the STAR Performance Kingpin Adapter (Gooseneck).Google it.I've used one successfully since 2007.

Use it and you will likely be doing some frame repairs within a year or so.

Some (many?) manufacturers claim they will void the warranty if you use a gooseneck adapter as the frame is not designed for it. And undeniably it does put additional torque forces to the frame.But many people do use them. And I do not remember ever reading that someone had a frame failure due to using one.SO. Consider all info before you decide to chance it.

5th wheel to goose neck??? | Good Sam Community

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Most certainly your camper is not aluminum 'framed' but aluminum superstructured. The frame is steel. Check it with a magnet.
Using a goose neck adaptor on a rig designed for 5th wheel adds a lot of leverage to the frame. The pin box attachment frame is not designed for that added stress. Warranty will be voided.
It is a PIA to have a 5er hitch in the bed of the truck, but I feel it is offset by the ease of hook up.

Good info.

Contact the trlr mfgr's Tech Line and ask - way better info than an internet forum..:S

BTW - how long does it take to remove/install your 5th wheel hitch?
(Mine takes all of 5-10 minutes to a "clean bed". No big deal)

.
Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Maybe I missed it; does your truck already have an in bed ball for a goose or are you setting up the truck?
mowermech
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Ever seen the pin box structure and overhead frame on a 5vr.
Compare that wide spread, thin cross beamed structure to a goosneck trailer design.

YES some folks use a gooseneck adapter...and don't have any known damage.

Then some folks who have never used a gooseneck adapter have had a complete frame/pin box failure.

It's your trailer.......use what you want.
Personally I stick with a hitch design that the 5vr frame was designed for......and not add an additional stress.
Enough of that happening with the bouncing going on while traveling on the bad roads.

My sentiments exactly: It is YOUR trailer, do it YOUR way!
dbear
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
TXiceman wrote:
Other than the shock reduction in the Goose Box, it is really no different that the G/N adapter as for additional stresses on the pinbox area of the trailer. manufacturers void the structural warranty if you use a G/N adapter for a reason. It is not good for the trailer frame.

K

The why has it been approved by Lippert for use on their frames?
jerem0621
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2013
avantidave wrote:
sdetweil wrote:
see the Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel hitch if you want to limit the impact on the FW

x2

I have gone from traditional 5th wheel hitch to gooseneck adapter and now to Andersen Ultimate, which is for me the best yet.

Absolutely the best, IMHO, especially for a Half Ton, Payload conscious application.

Add some Fiver Rails and use the Anderson designed for Fiver rails. The hitch is in and out in about 2 min and only weighs like 40 lbs and can handle 4500 lb pin weight. No reaching into the bed to latch and unlatch the hitch. Wonderful set up IMHO.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
bfast54
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
Well....Your Camper is WAY off warenty, that way, when you do something the MFG did not intend...YOU pay for repairs...............everyone is happy..( Except maybe you when you did something not designed for it).

Your choice.
TXiceman
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2013
Other than the shock reduction in the Goose Box, it is really no different that the G/N adapter as for additional stresses on the pinbox area of the trailer. manufacturers void the structural warranty if you use a G/N adapter for a reason. It is not good for the trailer frame.

K
Me_Again
Explorer III
Oct 26, 2013
With a goose neck hitch you will be required to have safety chains, which means crawling into the bed under the 5th wheel overhang to hook them up and disconnect them. You also have to hump the trailer up and over the ball to attach or unattach it. Then there is the issue of needing a second person to spot for you to get aligned over the ball when hitching. Given that you do not have a goose neck ball or hitch now, do it right and get the 5th wheel hitch.

Chris
avantidave
Explorer
Oct 26, 2013
sdetweil wrote:
see the Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel hitch if you want to limit the impact on the FW

x2

I have gone from traditional 5th wheel hitch to gooseneck adapter and now to Andersen Ultimate, which is for me the best yet.
C_Schomer
Explorer
Oct 25, 2013
I used an adaptor and no permanent frame damage but the siding and paneling all broke loose from the flexing. No cheap or easy fix for the alum. siding with the crown staples snapped off. Craig