Concerns About Towing a 5th Wheel Trailer with a Dodge Ram 3500 Equipped with a Goose Neck Hitch

Question:

What do you think about towing a 5th wheel with a goose neck and ball in the newer trucks. Ive heard you can mess up the suspension on your 5th wheel. Do you really need dual wheels. Seems like you avoid the cost of say a standard Reese setup with the goose neck. 2014 3500 truck 2005 30 foot 5th wheel.

asked by: Mike W

Expert Reply:

There are several ways to adapt a 5th wheel trailer to enable it to be towed with a truck that has a goose neck hitch installed. The best choice for you will depend on how often you need to change between trailer types. Some of the adapters that allow this flexibility will put more stress on the trailer frame than other types. Options are still somewhat limited for newer vehicles like your 2014 Ram.

The best method is to replace the pin box on your 5th wheel with a compatible goose box coupler such as Reese # RP85FR. These couplers are fitted based on your original pin box number. Other options are also available for different pin boxes.

A fifth wheel adapter that bolts onto the king pin, such as Convert-A-Ball # CAB-C5G and the others shown on the link provided, are available in both fixed- and adjustable-height versions, and also versions that provide offset for additional trailer-to-truck clearance. These are offered with weight ratings from 20,000-lbs up to 30,000-lbs. This type of adapter is suitable for occasional use, but may have limited compatibility with longer pin boxes. This kind of adapter can cause stress in the trailer frame and hitch and may have implications for your trailer warranty. Also, some OEM gooseneck hitch systems use a ball with a plastic cap that will be damaged by the internal nut in the adapter.

We also offer the B and W Companion # BWRVK3500 for long bed trucks, and the # BWRVK3400 for short beds. These hitches install in the goose neck ball hole and are preferable to adapters that attach to the ball itself.