Does Demco Recon Need to Have Base Entirely on Truck

Question:

1997 F350 8’ bed with an Atwood 75064 over bed folding gooseneck hitch welded to a 3/8” thick 24”x48” steel plate which is bolted to the bed bolt heads are 40” across from each other. Does the DM8550045 work with this setup? I understand the dimensions of the base of the Demco Adapter and understand that the base may hang over the front and back edges of the steel plate by about 2” on either side. Plan on using with a Jayco Fifth Wheel Trailer with the orbital pin box locked out. Just want to make sure the gap between the bottom of the adapter and the truck bed will not present a problem with regards to load bearing and stabilization.

asked by: Jeremiah H

Expert Reply:

We have a potential solution for how you can tow your fifth wheel trailer with your gooseneck hitch but the Demco Recon Gooseneck-to-5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter # DM8550045 does need to have full contact with the truck bed.

What I recommend as an alternative is the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter # CAB-C5G or the same adapter with an offset, the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter with Offset # CAB-C5GX1216.

You will need to keep the orbital pin box locked out with this option and you do need to measure from the top of the ball in the truck bed to the base of the pin box on the trailer, and this measurement needs to be between 12" and 16" for the Convert-A-Ball to work.

expert reply by: Kyle S