Gooseneck Extenders

[Tripp2022]

We have a gooseneck extender for our fifthwheel as we have needed for pulling other gooseneck trailers that we don’t have anymore. We have a 2018 39’ Jayco North Point and pull it with a 2005 3500 Dodge Diesel. The actual Lippert hitch is rusting in the seem and they are replacing but it but will not pay for labor. Anyway, my question is regarding the extender vs a fifthwheel hitch at this point. We have the fold down ball and the extender is not very long but I have read negative comments about them. Camping World installs them all the time and has had no problems. It would be a big expense for us to change at this point but if we were going to do it, now would be the time. My husband feels that no longer than the extender is that it is no more likely to cause a problem than a regular fifth wheel hitch. It tows so smoothly you rarely know it’s back there. Can anyone give me a really good reason not to reinstall the extender when they replace the hitch? I am very disappointed in Lippert. This unit is not very old and has been used very little. I’m not having luck posting a picture.

[n0arp]

We use a Reese Goosebox V2. I suggest going that route, if you want a gooseneck, for the reasons aforementioned in this thread. Those adapters are a lot more sketchy. The Goosebox is not without some risks, but the risks are smaller.

[laknox]

Tripp2022 wrote:
We have a gooseneck extender for our fifthwheel as we have needed for pulling other gooseneck trailers that we don’t have anymore. We have a 2018 39’ Jayco North Point and pull it with a 2005 3500 Dodge Diesel. The actual Lippert hitch is rusting in the seem and they are replacing but it but will not pay for labor. Anyway, my question is regarding the extender vs a fifthwheel hitch at this point. We have the fold down ball and the extender is not very long but I have read negative comments about them. Camping World installs them all the time and has had no problems. It would be a big expense for us to change at this point but if we were going to do it, now would be the time. My husband feels that no longer than the extender is that it is no more likely to cause a problem than a regular fifth wheel hitch. It tows so smoothly you rarely know it’s back there. Can anyone give me a really good reason not to reinstall the extender when they replace the hitch? I am very disappointed in Lippert. This unit is not very old and has been used very little. I’m not having luck posting a picture.

Unless you have a very light weight FW, as the others have said, DON'T. Almost all mfrs will void the warranty if you do add a GN adapter. Camping World sells them because they know that, if something happens, they run a good chance of getting to "fix" the problems, which warranty won't cover, but the owner will pay for. All about the $$$! The GooseBox is a good alternative, as LCI will warrant its use on most, but not all, their frames. Personally, I went with the B&W Turnover Ball and Companion, and couldn't be happier. Since you already have the folding GN ball (I had one and hated it), you =could= use an Andersen Ultimate FW hitch that pins to the GN ball (check out their site for how this works). You =will= need to put safety chains on your FW, as the Andersen is considered a ball hitch, like a GN, in many states.

Lyle

[DSteiner51]

I know many say, "don't" but it has obviously worked all this time for you so why not? I had a gooseneck on my 5th wheel for 14 years without any problems. I bought a new 5th wheel and truck and wasn't sure if it would clear the cab and at the same time I found a PullRite auto slide for $500. so I went that route. Do I need it? I don't know but I don"t worry about my cab although I admit I've been considering switching back to goose neck because the hitch is so heavy and old age has caught up with me.

The Reese gooseneck and using another extender put the ball at the same angle and distance so I would not be afraid of using your old extender. Reese is owned by Lippert so they say their's is the only one they will warrant. your warranty is already expired so there is no difference there either. My warranty too has expired so another reason for me to switch now.

[valhalla360]

It's all about the pivot point.

With a 5th wheel hitch, it sits around 12-16" above the truck bed, so there is comparatively little torque applied to the trailer frame.

If you just use an extension leg to meet a ball that is sitting at bed level, you dramatically increase the torque applied to the trailer frame, so unless the frame is designed to handle the extra loads, it can fail. Not guaranteed to fail but generally they aren't designed for these loads.

There is a gooseneck system where a frame is mounted in the truck bed and it still uses a ball but the pivot point is basically at the same level as a 5th wheel pivot point negating the issue. Of course, that eliminates the idea of not having a big hitch in your truck bed.

[C_Schomer]

It’s definitely best to avoid adding length and leverage to An RV pin box. I’ve messed up a fiver pretty bad with one of those G neck extensions but it was a crummy POS entry level RV to begin with, which didn’t help matters.
When I had both kinds of trailers I found a tube for my gooseneck that had a king pin at the bottom for $100. I loved that thing… No more switching hitches every time I changed trailers. Craig

[Diamond_c]

My brother-in-law has a 5th wheel hitch that fits in the place that the turn over gooseneck ball goes. He loves it and says it works great.

[Allworth]

Don't!

[dieseltruckdriv]

I have posted this here before, but I see you are a new member so here it is again.

When I was first looking at getting a fifth wheel I asked my local mom and pop camper dealer about using a goose neck extension since I already had a goose neck ball and his exact words were "Don't do it to a camper you want to keep." He went on to explain the build differences between a goose neck trailer and an rv frame. This was 15 or 16 years ago, and I took it to heart and will never use one.

The fact that I had been a truck driver for 17 years also made me appreciate hooking up to a fifth wheel plate as opposed to a ball mount.

[MFL]

^^OP, if you want to continue using your gooseneck ball for attachment, rather than install an actual FW hitch, the above mentioned Goosebox connection would be a good option.

Lippert may work something with you, rather than them replacing the original pin box.

Jerry

[JTrac]

Have you looked at the Reese Goosebox? As far as I know it is the only goose neck type hitch that is approved by Lippert for use on their frames. It has an air bag and 2 shocks which really cushion the ride. We have used ours for 2 full seasons on our Pinnacle. It is super convenient and really does make for a better ride.

[MFL]

http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=1

You can paste above on google search, to go to rv.net photo posting.

Welcome to the forum!

[MFL]

Yes, it would be best to change now to a standard FW hitch. If you could see, to compare the framework of your previous gooseneck trailers, to the much lighter duty pinbox frame area, it would be obvious why an extension is not the best choice. A FW of that size and weight, puts a lot of twisting torque, when maneuvering, on a frame meant for a hitch rising to meet the pin.

Jerry