gooseneck hitch adapter - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Melstar · RV-Dreams Family Member

gooseneck hitch adapter

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lots of 5th wheels have a frame built by Lippert. Most often they do not warrant the frame if it has a goosneck adaptor. Check into the manufacturer to se if the gooseneck negates any warranty issues. I understand it is not a new rig, but in some instances, an incorrect towing apparatus causes undue frame component stress and leads to cracking of welds and metal fatigue.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I second what 53merc said. The seven miles home would not hurt it though so get it home then get rid of the adapter.

dewwood · RV-Dreams Family Member

If the original owner pulled it with the gooseneck adapter I am sure it would be safe to pull it to your home.

FD5 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would call the manufacture of the trailer (not a dealer for the trailer) and ask about the gooseneck adapter. The torque applied to the frame from a gooseneck is much more on a 5th wheel hitch (2 different designs) for the frame. A gooseneck adapter can cause unseen frame damage that may show up years later. Before I would purchase the trailer I would call the manufacturer.

Just my 2 cents.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

John makes a good point I didn't think of.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melanie,

With this one, I'm surprised that you didn't get differing opinions. On some other RV forums, that question has usually caused some very spirited discussions, with strong adherents in both for and against camps.

While the normal pulling of a fifth wheel camper with the normal fifth wheel hitch causes a "direct pull" on the fifth wheel pin, the use of the adapter doesn't have so much a direct pull but a "leveraged" pull. So, the force on the fifth wheel pin is enhanced in an almost upward pull, tending to want to "bend" the fifth wheel pin itself. I don't know if that is a good description, so think of the force on a pipe wrench handle by the use of a piece of pipe as an extension of the handle. On occasion, too much use of additional leverage leads to failure.

If your camper is NOT loaded to max and you are going just a short distance, I would guess that it would be okay as long as there are no long uphill pulls or dips or whatever that could put a sudden "jerk" on the pin. However, as soon as possible, I suggest getting the fifth wheel. If you were to get the fifth wheel hitch first, your dealer could make sure of any adjustments necessary to the hitch to make your fifth wheel camper more level when towing.

Terry

Melstar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks...we are definitely going to get a 'regular' 5th wheel hitch installed when we get a truck. The trailer had a gooseneck adapter....we will have it taken off.

We may need it only for moving from our driveway to the spot in the yard where my husband is pouring a pad to park it on. son in law has a truck with a gooseneck so we'll use his truck only for that movement.

the RV place will be bringing the trailer to us, I think....or we'll pick it up with son in law's truck. Only 7 miles and it's pretty flat! We're in SW Louisiana!

We did check for any seeable fractures, etc. if the person who owned it traveled with the gooseneck. Nothing that we can see.

Melanie