5th Wheel Trailer Chucking when Using EAZ Lift 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Adapter

Question:

I am towing a 2014 Keystone, Cougar High Country 315 Helium Technology light weight fifth wheel with a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500, Hemi 5.7 liter. The hitch is your BandW Hide a ball hitch. The Goose Neck Adapter is a eaz Gooseneck Adapter, 15 inch 7500 lb. rating with the standard turn over ball 2 5/16 inch 30,000 lb rating. The dry weight is under 8500 lb. We travel light less than 1000 lb. I feel some back to front rocking motion on hill acceleration and whenever I hit a bump. not side to side Is that normal? Would the 3 inch ball fit my Gooseneck and would it help with the back and forth motion?

asked by: Ed W

Expert Reply:

The EAZ Lift gooseneck adapters are rated for 30,000 pounds gross trailer weight so that 7,500 pounds must be the pin weight capacity. The adapter takes a 2-5/16 inch ball so a 3 inch ball would not fit in it.

The ball cavity of the adapter has to be a little larger than the ball so even when locked down there is going to be some front to back chucking on starts and stops. This is amplified by the use of an adapter because the connection point between the trailer pin box and the ball in the truck bed is greater than if you were using a 5th wheel hitch.

The best solution for the best ride is to use the B&W Companion hitch # BWRVK3500 for a long bed truck or # BWRVK3400 for the slider version and a short bed truck.

Otherwise you will continue to feel the chucking, which is normal, if you stay with your current set up.

expert reply by: Michael H