Solution for Towing 5th Wheel With Goosneck Hitch on Flatbed Truck

Question:

Thank you for your reply. We already had a fifth wheel adaptor, and the frame on the trailer will not take the added torque. The frame on the trailer flexes. I need some kind of a fifth wheel that I can put on a flat bed, even if it means bolting and unbolting. Thanks

asked by: Theodore V

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you still want to be able to use a 5th wheel hitch with your flatbed with the built in gooseneck hitch it has. Unfortunately, without the B&W gooseneck hitch you will be unable to use the Companion. The Companion head is also not compatible with something like the Patriot base that would work with industry standard rails.

My recommendation is the use an adapter like the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter # CAB-C5G. This will bolt onto your king pin and allow you to tow your trailer with the gooseneck ball on the flat bed. With the adapter you won't have to remove anything to pull a gooseneck trailer. It will also eliminate the need to install rails and buy a new 5th wheel hitch.

expert reply by: Robin H

Theodore S.

9/18/2022

Robin H.

9/18/2022

Since you can't use an adapter there are two other possible solutions. If you have a recessed ball you could use the # DM8550046. If not, the only other solution is the Reese Low-Profile 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30054. This hitch will mount directly to your frame using either a bolt-on or weld-on installation. Since you don't want it permanently attached, you will have to bolt it through the floor of the bed to a substantially designed steel support structure that connects the hitch to the tow vehicle frame per the instructions.