New to me fifth wheel and hitch solution

[ChadHubbard]

Hi All
New to the Fifth Wheel Forum. Previously owned truck campers.

My wife and I were gifted a 2003 Fleetwood Pride 31-5G fifth wheel from her mother. It has been stored inside and unused since 2007. I have a 2014 Ram 3500, SRW, 4x4, diesel pickup, B & W turn over ball.

I backed the pickup up to the camper and the top of the bed rails was even with the bottom of the camper - 60" tall!! I had already removed the spacers from the truck rear suspension.

I was not willing to raise the camper 6" for the requisite clearance. It was already 13' at the highest point. My solution was to have a flat bed installed on the truck and weld a gooseneck adapter to the pin box. Multiple measurements indicated a 7" gooseneck pipe length from the top of the ball. Installed the pin box / gooseneck hitch today and hooked up to the truck. Pulled the camper out of storage. Camper sits level. I am satisfied with the solution. I know many do not approve of use fifth wheel conversion to gooseneck. Not my first choice either, but for those with an older fifth wheel trailer and a newer pickup, this may be a solution for them as well.

I will try to add a few pics to show the pin box / gooseneck adapter and the trailer hooked to the truck.

Planning our first outing in 2 weeks.
[img]C:\MyFiles\Pics\FleetwoodPride\HitchWithGussets.jpg][img]C:\MyFiles\Pics\FleetwoodPride\GooseneckHitch.jpg]
[img]C:\MyFiles\Pics\FleetwoodPride\CamperFrontHitch.jpg][img]C:\MyFiles\Pics\FleetwoodPride\RtSideTruckCamper.jpg]

[Bionic_Man]

Looks like a very nice set up to me. I remember looking at those 5ers back in 2002 when I bought my Sea Hawk. They were nice units.

[Cummins12V98]

I really doubt you will have any issues, sometimes ya gots ta break out da box!

[Johnny_G1]

Very nice setup, the goose neck hookup shouldn't be any different to pull than a standard 5th hookup, Just my thought's. Like that 3500, have a 2001 dully to drag mine around with.

[ChadHubbard]

I appreciate all the comments. Thanks!

The frame may/may not be made for this hitch. It is not actually designed and manufactured by Fleetwood. These campers were designed and manufactured by Pride Coach Company (or something like that) in Louisiana I believe. Marketed by Fleetwood for 5 or 6 years. Don't know if that is good or bad. It was sold with a 2" receiver hitch on the rear.

I did call Fleetwood and talked to their technical support. They referred me to dealer in Michigan to whom they refer all the fifth wheel questions they receive. The dealer technical support person told me they could not officially approve the gooseneck conversion, but they were aware that this modification was common. They did not expect it to be problematic, but said to watch the hitch for any out of plumb after towing.

Anecdotal: The certified welder that attached the gooseneck tube to the pin box has done this for 6-7 other campers with no issues to date. Four of the employees at Eby (the flatbed people) have campers with this conversion with no issues to date.

I guess if it breaks in half I get to keep both pieces!?!

For me it seemed the only workable solution.

[pyoung47]

Check and repack the wheel bearings. Height of the new Dodge prevented me from replacing my 05 CTD with another. Now have a "ahem" Ford F 350 with 17 inch wheels. It seems great though.

[Dayle1]

It all looks very nice, but first priority is to replace the tires on the fiver.

[garyp4951]

Looks great, I like that flat bed.

[Cummins12V98]

I can guarantee you Fleetwood did not design this to be used as pictured. Had a 02 Fleetwood Avion Platinum, poorest frame I have ever seen.

[valhalla360]

ScottG wrote:
It looks like the GN is rigidly mounted to the trucks frame? If so I suspect that would be better for the fiver than the adapters are because they basically have another hinge point.

Looking at the pictures, it will function the same as an adapter. The hinge point is down a foot or so increasing the leverage the same way.

If the frame is designed for it, no big deal.

Otherwise a nice setup.

[ChadHubbard]

Thank you for the comments.

The gooseneck is very rigidly attached to the fifth wheel plate. Solid welded around the diameter of the pipe + 6 gussets of 1/4 plate each running to the edge of the plate, so hard connected to the sides of the pin box.

The bed is by Eby. Installed was about $5,000. Includes the side rails, mud flaps, tool boxes and raising the bed an additional 1/2" so the ball can stay in the 'upright' position when the 'trap door' is closed. I hope the camper is worth more than that amount. I preferred to sell it and buy a bumper pull. Wife wanted Daddy's camper. So, happy wife happy life. Camper is really nice on the inside. Will probably serve us well. And, I do like the looks of the flatbed. There are some advantages of not having to load/unload items over the 60" high bed rails.

Now, off to the tire shop.

Happy travels and camping.

[ScottG]

It looks like the GN is rigidly mounted to the trucks frame? If so I suspect that would be better for the fiver than the adapters are because they basically have another hinge point.

[Cummins12V98]

Nice setup, I am assuming the bed cost about what the RV is worth. Sometimes money is not the issue!

[Durb]

Nice solution to a common problem. My trailer is an 08 and will in no way fit a new truck. It certainly limits the pool of potential buyers. It's too bad you had to lose your truck bed however that aluminum flat bed looks nice. My guess is they didn't give it away.

Welcome to the forum. I've been her a while and still can't post a picture.

[ChadHubbard]

The other three pics...sorry for so much confusion.
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