Improving Fifth Wheel Ride Quality with Fifth Wheel To Gooseneck Adapter

Question:

I have a 2004 GMC 2500 HD Duramax diesel towing a Forest River 26 ft camper using the convert a ball cushioned 5th wheel to goose neck adapter 12 to 16 inches tall 20,000 # The camper jerks and jumps every time I hit a bump, is this because I do not have enough weight on the tongue. Please tell me how to fix this problem. Thanks

asked by: Roger C

Expert Reply:

For starters, keep in mind that for the best ride quality, ideally you would want to tow a fifth wheel trailer using a fifth wheel hitch. Sacrificing some ride quality is usually the nature of the beast when using a fifth wheel to gooseneck adapter.

Having said this, there are some things you will want to check. If you are using the offset adapter like part # CAB-C5GX1216, you will need to make sure that the flange on the top of the adapter is bolted to the bottom of the pin box. Make sure that all the jamb nuts on the adapter are fully tightened. Check the connection between the adapter and the gooseneck ball, by making sure the locking handle fully in the locked position and that the positive lock handle is being used.

Once all this is checked, you can certainly move more weight forward in the fifth wheel to add some pin weight.

expert reply by: Mike L