The wife and I are looking to purchase a camper trailer. I've always been a gooseneck fan, but didn't want the extra expense of a 5ver hitch. I've seen a gooseneck conversion, that basically bolts to the RV then you can use your gooseneck ball in the bed. Are these things reliable? Do they allow the trailer to rock or sway more than a regular 5ver plate? I've found some deals on used 5vers and this would make things easier on me. Let me know.

 

If you search a little on here it seems that the general opinion is do NOT convert the 5ver to gooseneck. It's apparently damaging to the trailer and some manufacturers won't warranty the trailer. I went the other way and made my equipment/carhauler into a 5ver that can be converted back to goose by removing one bolt and installing a different post. This way I pull my Rv and carhauler with the same hitch.

 

If you have a B&W GN ball, you can buy the 5th wheel adapter. Slides into the receiver for the ball.

 

What busboy said. frame manufacturers state that the use of the adaptor overstresses the frame, particularly in the overhang area.

Bill

 

just installed one on our 5th , spoke to service managers at at least 10 major RV dealers not one of them has witnessed any problems directly related to a conversion . And i have two friends that converted years ago ,no problems so far .

 

Interesting...... but the 5ver pin is way easier to hook up by yourself than the goose ball and with the 5ver theres no need for safety chains like with a gooseneck.

 

I've seen some 5vers almost split in two. Ask the manfactor not the dealer if a gn adaptor will work without any structural problems. JMHO

 

Wow, if safety chains are a concern for you you might want to just get a pickup camper.

I always wondered why the chains are not requested on 5ers.

They will save many peoples lives if trailer comes loose.

Breakaway switch ? What a joke.
What would you choose, being behind a trailer that comes loose at 70mph and locks up brakes in front of you, or getting hit by a runaway trailer with bad switch ?

I'd choose none of them. When I had my 5er I added myself safety chains, takes 15 seconds to hook up and saves lives.

 

I have only heard of anecdotal evidence of damage caused by the conversion. Here in Texas about every third fiver is converted. Mine was done in '99 and hauled over some pretty rough roads. No damage so far. One caveat though, it is a quality built adapter that has a triangular gusset that helps to alleviate the torsional motion (moment forces) that may damage some lighter-built frames. Below is a link to the adapter I use.

http://users.htcomp.net/drycreek/adapter.jpg

By the way, in Texas safety chains are NOT required for any trailer classified as a "semi" trailer. This is further explained as any trailer having a fifth wheel or gooseneck type hitch.

 

With my DSP hitch it is TOTALLY impossible for the trailer to become disconnected from the hitch. Should the hitch break away from the bed of the truck (which I have never heard of) safety chains wouldn't help as they would be connected to the hitch. I'm not against safety chains and I have always used them when needed or called for.

The 5ver is still easier to hook up by yourself and you can't haul heavy equipment in a pickup camper.......

 

I hook up to a gooseneck trailer (of one type or another) at least once or twice a week. Doesn't seem any harder to line up on than any other type.

 

It is easy to see that by adding the adapter, you are in effect lengthening the arm. Much like slipping a pipe over the end of a rachet wrench. You are magnifying the stress on the point where the arm is mounted by around 50% plus or minus depending on the length of the arm and adapter. Also, the lower the pivot point between the trailer and the tow vehicle, the less you feel what the trailer is doing.

 

Huh...... ?????

 

Weight and moment discussions can be a long and drawn out exercise.
That is what was considered when they designed the adapter I use. If you look carefully, you notice that the ball connector is directly below where the king pin sat with the original extended pin box coupler. The gusset was designed to absorb any forward or aft "torsional" stresses caused by acceleration or deceleration. Some of the lesser engineered adapters merely bolt on over the kingpin. Although the weight transfer point remains unchanged, there is the concern of the back and forth stresses that it may encounter.

 

They ARE required in some places. I know they are here for RV type 5'ers, but not for semis. Not a commonly enforced law, but every once in a while you hear of some rookie from regina that starts writing safety chain tickets like they're going out of style.