Fifth wheel to Gooseneck ????

[wmiller2502]

Anyone have any problems with this setup? I just bought the gooseneck adapter and planning on installing it in the next day or so. I have a nice heavy square adapter that mounts directly to the fifth wheel pin. I am going to weld the corners to ensure no twisting and turning. I have a 34ft montana Mountaineer. Thanks for the info

[wmiller2502]

Dsteiner, are you running a gooseneck adapter?

[DSteiner51]

laknox wrote:

Put a 2' cheater on most any 1/2" ratchet, and you're likely to break the wrench. Translate that torque multiplication onto a GN adapter and the forces acting on the FW frame. You're, in effect, putting an 18-24" "cheater" on the king pin.

Lyle

Yes, from an engineering standpoint there is the possibility to put more stress on the hitch with an adaptor but not an 18-24" "cheater" bar. Here is mine with the long pin box. If I remember correctly in the last 5years plus, there has only been one or max two frames broken with an adaptor but more that have never been converted. Pivoting a 5th wheel beyond the couple degrees most new hitches are made to pivot to the sides so that the hitch takes the stress from the truck also far exceeds the extra stress the extra 6 inches or so will ever put on the frame.

The stress from the goose box would be identical to any other hitch with the same dimensions.



Lippert knows this yet they still only allow the goose box because it puts $$ in their coffers.

[DSteiner51]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

There is good reason why the total hitch isn't shown in these pictures. If I remember correctly these, or some like it, were posted only to be discovered it was an unconverted hitch. The factory 5th wheel hitch.

[Me_Again]

There is a reason that gooseneck trailers are made the way they are with all the framing coming to together in the center and spanning a couple feet in height! The average 5th wheel has 6 to 8 inches in height of the framing in that area and does not have braces angled into the area.

Chris

[wmiller2502]

Dang, I sure hope I dont end up with that ^^^^^^^ Problem.

[Old-Biscuit]

[wmiller2502]

hmmm

[laknox]

wmiller2502 wrote:
I think I have the sand to just go with it and see what happens. No travel trailer company is going to reccommend this because it would be too much of a liabilty. I'm cool with that but i see alot of these on campers at campgrounds. I just never bothered asking anyone about them until now. YOLO !!

How do you loosen a stuck bolt/nut? You put a cheater on your wrench. Put a 2' cheater on most any 1/2" ratchet, and you're likely to break the wrench. Translate that torque multiplication onto a GN adapter and the forces acting on the FW frame. You're, in effect, putting an 18-24" "cheater" on the king pin. IMO, the Anderson (and any other raised ball-type hitch) would be the only thing I'd consider using. In AZ, =all= ball hitches must have safety chains used, so now you've also got to have chain anchors in the bed. YMMV... I have the B&W Turnover Ball and FW Companion and use (and love) both.

Lyle

[wmiller2502]

Endricken wrote:
Have used the Star Performance adapter since 07 on my Montana.
At least 3 other Gooseneck Adapter users in my RGV Winter Texan Park, towed from way up north.
Too many makers/sellers of different adapters and enough of a market to keep them all in business so any problems must be very rare if any. The marketplace rules!
What's so special about the Goosebox that any other sturdy adapter doesn't fulfill the same functional performance with the same stress?
As this topic is raised weekly, I wonder when (or why not?) the moderators will make it a sticky indicating simply caveat emptor, no evidence they do any harm.

I figured that this topic was beat to death but I just wanted to hear from some of those that have had no problems with this setup.

[wmiller2502]

Lyrikz wrote:

wmiller2502 wrote:
This is what i have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PopUp-Industries-5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck-Adapter-No-Offset-Fast-Free-Shipping-/181221192919?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a319ff4d7&vxp=mtr

I wouldnt use that sir unless you call your frame manufacturer.

They are going to tell me not to use it. It's too much of a liabilty for them to say yes even though they think it will work.

[Endricken]

Have used the Star Performance adapter since 07 on my Montana.
At least 3 other Gooseneck Adapter users in my RGV Winter Texan Park, towed from way up north.
Too many makers/sellers of different adapters and enough of a market to keep them all in business so any problems must be very rare if any. The marketplace rules!
What's so special about the Goosebox that any other sturdy adapter doesn't fulfill the same functional performance with the same stress?
As this topic is raised weekly, I wonder when (or why not?) the moderators will make it a sticky indicating simply caveat emptor, no evidence they do any harm.

[Lyrikz]

wmiller2502 wrote:
This is what i have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PopUp-Industries-5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck-Adapter-No-Offset-Fast-Free-Shipping-/181221192919?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a319ff4d7&vxp=mtr

I wouldnt use that sir unless you call your frame manufacturer.

[wmiller2502]

I think I have the sand to just go with it and see what happens. No travel trailer company is going to reccommend this because it would be too much of a liabilty. I'm cool with that but i see alot of these on campers at campgrounds. I just never bothered asking anyone about them until now. YOLO !!

[wmiller2502]

This is what i have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PopUp-Industries-5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck-Adapter-No-Offset-Fast-Free-Shipping-/181221192919?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a319ff4d7&vxp=mtr

[Dayle1]

wmiller2502 wrote:
I've read some but I was hoping to hear from people who use this setup and have had good luck. I just can't see how it puts anymore stress than hooking up to a fifth wheel hitch.

Just because you can't understand it, doesn't make it true. Look on page 65 of the Feb. 2014 issue of Trailer Life and read what PopUpHitch states. If they recognize that some frames aren't strong enough (and Andersen hitch knows it too), they must recognize something that you might be missing. And since they can't supply a list of OK vs. weak frames, then it is entirely your guess about risk.

Other than the already mentioned Goose Box, if a GN adaptor is absolutely needed, then the Andersen Ultimate hitch is the safest answer (and likely why Andersen introduced it). With the ball just a few inches from the king pin, it puts far less stress on the fifth wheel frame. And since the ball is elevated, it is much easier to see from the driver's seat. Andersen also claims it doesn't need safety chains, but you should check with your state authorities.