Converting a Fifth Wheel Trailer to Be Used with a Gooseneck Hitch In a Shortbed Ford F-250 Truck

Question:

I have a short bed F250 Ford truck witha gooseneck hitch on it. I a purchasing a 2000 Hitchhiker 2 trailer with fifth wheel setup. What is the best way product to convert the trailer to a gooseneck connection?

asked by: danny f

Expert Reply:

The best way to convert a fifth wheel trailer to the gooseneck hitch setup in your short bed Ford F-250 is to use the Ranch Hitch Universal 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Coupler Adapter w/8 inch Offset for Short-Bed Trucks, item # AM3139. This is a semi permanent installation that works very well.

If your truck has a bed shorter than 6 feet, you will need to measure to be sure that you will have enough clearance for maneuvering and pitch and roll of the trailer before deciding to order the adapter. Measure the width of the trailer and the distance from the center of the gooseneck ball to the back of the cab of the truck. Divide the width of the fifth-wheel trailer by 2 and add 8 inches (offset of AM3139) to the distance from the gooseneck ball to the cab. If the difference is 4 inches longer to the cab, than 1/2 of the trailer width, you will have room for maneuvering and pitch and roll of the trailer without contact between the trailer loft and the cab of the truck.

You may also want to consider the Safety Chains for Ranch Hitch 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter, item # AM3109.

Finally the Slide Hammer for Ranch Hitch 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Coupler Adapter, item # AM3103, is a handy tool to ease the installation of the Ranch Hitch 5th-wheel-to-gooseneck coupler adapters.

expert reply by: Robert G