How To Measure For Correct 5th Wheel To Gooseneck Adapter on 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD Short Bed

Question:

Have 2003 2500HD Duramax shortbed. I have a BandW flip over goosenech ball hitch. I want to pull a 28foot Komfort 5th wheel. Which hitch should I use and how should I measure for it. Thanks,

asked by: Craig

Expert Reply:

To determine the correct hitch that you will need for your 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax short bed to safely execute 90 degree turns when towing your Komfort Fifth Wheel trailer, you need to take the width of your trailer and divide by two. Then measure from the gooseneck hitch ball in the truck to the back of the truck cab and that dimension should be 4 inches more than your first measurement for correct clearance.

For example, if your trailer measures 96 inches wide, take half (48 inches), then add 4 inches (52 inches). So if the measurement from the gooseneck hitch ball in the truck to the back of the truck cab is 52 inches or more, you will have enough clearance for the Ranch Hitch Universal 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Coupler Adapter, # AM3139, or any of our other 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck coupler adapters.

Since you have a short bed truck, you will most likely need to use a sliding fifth wheel hitch, like the Pro Series 20K Sliding Fifth Wheel Hitch, # PS30121 and # RP30035, to make a 90 degree turn without hitting the cab of your truck. The Ranch Hitch offset adapter will provide additional clearance to make a sharper turn than a standard 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck adapter, but it will most likely not provide enough clearance to safely make a 90 degree turn.

expert reply by: Reno H