Options to Tow 5th Wheel Trailer with Flatbed Pickup with Tool Boxes

Question:

Im putting 5th wheel rails on my welding truck and I will have to cut them down to about 38inch to fit between the tool boxes on top. They will be bolted through the 3/16inch top deck centered over a metal framework that supports a gooseneck hitch. Im wondering if it hurts to just put 4 bolts through the raised part of the rails instead of the 10 bolt style

asked by: Eric

Expert Reply:

You will want to install your 5th wheel base rails according to the manufacturer's instructions because any deviation from the specified installation method will result in an unknown actual capacity. Unless mounted as intended by the maker the rails cannot deliver their maximum rated performance.

There are adapter products that will let you tow a 5th wheel trailer with your goose neck hitch. These are shown on the linked page. For example, if you have a B&W goose neck with a square shank you can use the Curt X5 # 16310. This drops into the square ball hole and provides the equivalent of industry-standard base rails that will accept most brands of hitch. If your goose neck is a round-shank type like the Curt C-60 and C-600 series then you could use the X5 # C16210.

Your flatbed truck's existing gooseneck hitch and it's underlying framework may provide a strong enough mounting point for the rails but this is not something I can confirm for you. Also, your tool boxes may present a clearance issue with the trailer. This is something you'll want to carefully evaluate before installing any 5th wheel hitch.

If you need a wiring harness you can use # PK11893-11932 that plugs inline with your existing 7-way to provide a receptacle for the 5th wheel's connector.

expert reply by: Adam R