Recommended 5th Wheel Hitch for a Gooseneck Ball  

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Congrats on the new trailer! It looks like a 2023 Keystone Cougar 31' 5th wheel trailer tops out somewhere around 10,000 lbs depending on which model you're getting. A 5th wheel hitch like the Demco Recon Gooseneck-to-5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter for Recessed Ball item # DM8550046 or the Demco Recon Gooseneck-to-5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter for standard gooseneck hitches item # DM8550045 would both have plenty of capacity. These hitches max out at 21,000 lbs so you would be good both functionally and legally.

Another option is to replace the kingpin with a Reese Goose Box 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Air Ride Coupler Adapter like item # RP85FR. This is a common upgrade made by 5th wheelers. It changes out your pinbox for one with a gooseneck connection. This means you don't have to purchase a 5th wheel hitch and you connect directly to your truck's gooseneck ball. Again, this is also legal and the Reese option is covered under Lippert's chassis warranty.

The pin boxes have specific patterns so if you wanted to make this pin box upgrade I would need you to email me a picture of the sticker on your pin box.

As far as the legality goes for pulling a trailer behind a trailer you will need to check with state laws not only where you reside but also where you will be traveling. It is only legal in 30 states and they have different length and weight restrictions. Something you will want to remember when towing is you are subject to the laws in the states you are traveling through not just where your trailer is registered.

expert reply by: Jerred H

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