Adapter to Pull 5th Wheel Trailer with Gooseneck Hitch in 2001 Ford F-450 Flatbed

Question:

I bought a 2015 couger fifthwheel I have a2001 f450 9 ft bed with gooseneck ball recessed under a hatch. From center of ball to corner of bed is 77. Do the make a configuration gooseneck that will clear the truck on 90degree turn?

asked by: Tony L

Expert Reply:

We do offer adapters that allow a gooseneck hitch to tow a 5th wheel trailer and some of these adapters have offset to provide additional turning clearance between the truck and trailer. You may still not be able to make a full 90-degree turn with one of these adapters, depending on the king pin to trailer distance, but you can gain useful additional turning clearance.

You will need to measure from the center of the 5th wheel king pin straight back to the nearest part of the trailer. This distance must be less than the 77-inch measurement from your gooseneck ball to the rear corner of the truck bed. If you use an offset adapter coupler like the Ranch Hitch Universal 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Coupler # AM3139, which has 8-inches of offset, your measurement from the king pin to trailer can be slightly closer.

Please refer to the linked diagram that shows the recommended minimum clearance distances for towing safely. If your measured truck-to-trailer distance with the 8-inch offset coupler gives you the recommended clearance then this will be a good option.

expert reply by: Adam R