Using A Universal 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Coupler Adapter

Question

Question:

hello, i have a 2008 dodge ram 2500 short box with a hide a ball goose neck installed in it. i also have a truck tool box installed in the back. i was wondering on any suggestions for a gooseneck to 5th wheel hitch adapter that would not require welding or drilling holes. im going to be picking up a camper in a different state and wont be able to do a bunch of installation steps like drilling/welding. i was looking for something simple to install, but something that offered an offset that would give me more clearance in the bed of my truck. any ideas suggestions or comments would be appreciated!! thanks in advance!

asked by: Joe T

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Expert Reply:

Of the 5th wheel to gooseneck adapters that we currently carry, the Rapid Hitch # AM3139 that you referenced does provide 8 inches of offset. But this may not be enough clearance considering the toolbox that you have in the cab and how far into the bed your toolbox extends.

The installation of this hitch adapter does included some drilling required to attach this to the trailer. I will be sending you the instructions in a separate e-mail for your reference.

The purpose of an offset gooseneck adapter is to provide more clearance between the underside of a fifth wheel trailer and the back of the truck bed, and you will need to consider the height of your toolbox if it is not a flush mount style.

If clearance on tight turns is what you are hoping to accomplish, either one of these adapters will provide some additional clearance on turns. However, they will may not allow you to make a full 90 degree turn. If you want to make sharper turns without hitting your truck cab, you may wish to consider a sliding fifth wheel hitch or a Sidewinder.

Sliding fifth wheel hitches and Sidewinders provide the necessary clearance for sharp turns is because they actually change the pivot point of the trailer when turning. I understand that these are more of an investment but it may be the only way to get the clearance that you need.

To determine if the adapter will allow you to make 90 degree turns without the trailer corner hitting the rear of your truck cab, you can use the formula shown in the provided diagram. Keep in mind that if your toolbox does sit above the bed rails, and is not a flush mount style then you will want to consider this measurement as well.

I have included links to the products mentioned, a demonstration video, and a couple of helpful articles for your reference.

expert reply by: Rachael H

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Answer 1

The Andersen Ultimate Connection Adapter part #AM3139 that you referenced is height adjustable from 13-1/2 inches to 16 inches. I attached a picture that shows more info on this adapters dimensions as well as shows where the maximum height…

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Answer 2

The easiest conversion from Gooseneck hitch to fifth wheel hitch is the Demco Recon part #DM8550046. It doesn't require you to remove the goose neck ball because it attaches to it and gives you a 5th wheel hitch in the bed. However, the…

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Answer 3

There is a threaded collar that goes around the king-pin. The Ranch hitch is threaded on to the collar and tightened to 400 ft. lbs. Then you will either drill 4 holes into the pin box and install bolts, or use four 1-inch tack welds to weld the…

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Answer 4

When adjusting the height of a pin box such as #LC1191191 it is important to support the pin box when removing the bolts. I recommend 2 or 3 buddies to give you a hand and make sure no one is beneath the pin box while raising or lowering it. With the…

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Answer 5

To drop the front of the pin box and thus lower the front of the fifth wheel, you'd need to RAISE the pin box, not lower it. Lowering the pin box would raise the height of the fifth wheel at the front. If you have an available set of holes at the…

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Answer 6

At this time we do not carry 16 inch wheels with a 5 bolt pattern or a lower profile tire. You would be best suited to stay with a 15 inch wheel and the highest rated tire available bias ply tire for 15 inch wheels, like the Karrier ST225/75D15 Bias…

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Answer 7

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 8

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 9

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 10

If you take a look at the linked diagram you can see the minimum recommended clearance distances between truck and trailer for 5th wheel towing. It is recommended to have at least 5-inches from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the trailer…

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Answer 11

I spoke with my contact at Trailair and from your serial number we were able to determine that your trailer came with a 1621 HD pin box which is a long pin box style. I was unable to obtain the exact part number for your Trailair pin box but from the…

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Answer 12

The head alone for the B&W Companion hitch #BWRVK3500 weighs about 70 pounds. Everything else weighs about 130 pounds. So the total weight of the hitch is approximately 200 pounds.

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