Troubleshooting 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Adapter Installation on 1997 Dutchman 28-Foot Trailer
Question:
2005 GMC Sierra 2500 Diesel Duramax shortbed....we bought a 1997 Dutchman, Signature Series 28 fifth wheel. We need to convert fifth wheel to gooseneck...ball is already installed in back of truck bed. We did our measurements and it states we need a 7inch offset to avoid hitting cab.....we purchased it....here is our problem...after we hooked units truck and trailer together on level ground..we do realize we needed to remove tailgate from getting hit, also the trailer is not level..like 25 up in front and very low..we also attempted to slowly make a 90 degree turn...watching to see if anything makes contact...well while in the turn we had to stop because the fifth wheel arm closest to the front of trailer underneath it was going to make contact with the side of the truck as far back the taillights. We have made many adjustments and were actually able to raise that arm higher about 1inch above side of truck but then by doing so it places the camper trailer at a greater degree higher....knowing we cannot even attempt to travel like that because the tires on back axle on trailer is holding a great deal of weight and the tires would blow. Does anyone have any answers why this is happening or where did we go wrong? I will try and send some pictures.
asked by: Tracy B
Expert Reply:
Trying to tow a 5th wheel with a short bed truck always poses a challenge for clearance. The two best solutions to the trailer/cab clearance issue are either to replace the standard pin box on the trailer with a Sidewinder type for use with a fixed 5th wheel hitch or to use a sliding 5th wheel hitch with a standard pin box. I have linked an article concerning options for towing a 5th wheel with a gooseneck hitch and also one concerning Sidewinder pin boxes.
Sidewinder pin boxes move the pivot point back by a full 22-inches, providing much more trailer/cab clearance. Sliding 5th wheel hitches typically provide 12 inches of front-to-back travel to allow low-speed turns. Unfortunately no sort of adapters can be used with a Sidewinder so you would still have the issue of adapting the 5th wheel trailer to your gooseneck-equipped truck. In your case there is no easy fix to the problem since you have both clearance and hitch height issues and need to tow two types of trailers.
If you are using the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter # CAB-C5G do note that the trouble with using any adapter is that it can cause stress in the trailer frame and hitch, and some manufacturers recommend against using their adapters with pin boxes over a certain length.
The best and safest solution is to install a fifth wheel hitch in your Sierra and to replace your trailer pin box with a Sidewinder. I have included a link to our page for custom-install 5th wheel hitches for your Sierra. The article on Sidewinders includes a reference table to help you identify a compatible replacement Sidewinder pin box based on your current pin box part number.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter - 12" to 16" Tall - 20,000 lbs
- Gooseneck and Fifth Wheel Adapters
- Adapts Trailer
- Fifth Wheel Trailer to Gooseneck Hitch
- No Offset
- 20000 lbs GTW
- Bolts Over King Pin
- Adjustable Height
- King Pin Adapters
- Convert-A-Ball
more information >
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