How To Measure Clearance on Ford F-250 Short Bed to Determine if Offset Gooseneck Adapter is Needed

Question:

i have a f250 super duty 6.5 bed with a bandw gooseneck in bed hitch i need more room my kz durango 32 foot rubs the cab if i get in a tight turn i have a gooseneck adapter made by gamco 15inch but i an not sure what to put on my 5th wheel that will give me the room that i need to stop the rubing if i get in a tight spot .

asked by: Winston

Expert Reply:

To determine the clearance needed on your F-250 Super Duty 6-1/2 foot bed, you need to take the width of your fifth wheel and divide by two. Then measure from the gooseneck hitch ball in the truck to the back of the truck cab. 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 a straight gooseneck adapter.

If you do not have enough clearance, then you would have to use an offset gooseneck adapter. The offset on the the adapters increase your clearance by either 7-1/2 inches or 8 inches, depending on which adapter you use.

I have three fifth wheel to gooseneck adapters available with an offset. The Convert-A-Ball Adapter with Offset, part # CAB-C5GX1216, has an offset of 7-1/2 inches and a height range of 12 to 16 inches. The Ranch Hitch Adapter with Offset, part # AM3139, has an offset of 8 inches and a height range of 11-3/4 to 14-3/4 inches.

To determine the height of the adapter you will need, park the truck and trailer on level ground. Back the truck up as if you where connecting to the trailer. Measure from the top of the ball to the bottom of the pin box (not the king pin). This distance is the height you will need. Five or six inches of clearance between the overhang of the trailer and side rails of your truck is necessary for safe operation.

I am including a link to a FAQ page on fifth wheels.