Many areas require safety chains on ball type hitches, which include gooseneck hitches. Also, in many places, double towing is not allowed with 2 ball hitches.
I've been following this topic with great interest.I intentionally sought out a converted to GN fiver when I purchased my Carri-Lite early this summer.I haul a GN stock trailer to haul cattle, so a converted fiver made sense to me. Never dreamed it could cause a structural problem. Handles very well for the most part, have what I believe is referred to as a little "chucking" on rougher roads, but for the most part is very smooth and pleasurable to haul. Coffee pot, potted plants stay on the tables. If this is really a potential problem waiting to happen, I may install a regular fifth wheel mount. My fiver is 28', fairly light, maybe not as much a threat as bigger/heavier units? Any thoughts?
I will continue to follow this thread, thanks, Larry
If GNs (which have been around a long time on stock and heavy equipment trailers) were the BEST way to hitch up RV trailers, the industry would not have spent a great deal of time and money developing and testing 5th wheel systems.
Use your equipment the way the engineers designed it!
Formerly posting as "littleblackdog"
Martha, Allen, & Blackjack
2006 Chevy 3500 D/A LB SRW, RVND 7710
2008 Titanium 30E35SA; EZ-Lube axles; wet bolts; spring hanger gussetts; BFG Commercial TAs
"Real Trucks Don't Have Sparkplugs"
eldee wrote: I've been following this topic with great interest.I intentionally sought out a converted to GN fiver when I purchased my Carri-Lite early this summer.I haul a GN stock trailer to haul cattle, so a converted fiver made sense to me. Never dreamed it could cause a structural problem. Handles very well for the most part, have what I believe is referred to as a little "chucking" on rougher roads, but for the most part is very smooth and pleasurable to haul. Coffee pot, potted plants stay on the tables. If this is really a potential problem waiting to happen, I may install a regular fifth wheel mount. My fiver is 28', fairly light, maybe not as much a threat as bigger/heavier units? Any thoughts?
I will continue to follow this thread, thanks, Larry
Ever put a cheater on a wrench to break a bolt/nut loose? That's effectively what you're doing to the pinbox and frame by putting a GN adapter on a FW. If a manufacturer, RV or frame, will not void the warranty on the frame, or damages caused by a frame failure, by installing a GN adapter, then go for it; if they will void the warranty, then avoid the adapter. Really a no-brainer, given the cost of a hitch vs. damage potential of a frame failure.
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 55 Year Member
Seems like most of the frames that are breaking are using 5 th. wheel hitches, is that true? And are toy hauler frames stronger just camper frames? Thanks neal
neal172 wrote: Seems like most of the frames that are breaking are using 5 th. wheel hitches, is that true? And are toy hauler frames stronger just camper frames? Thanks neal
There have been some issues with Lippert frames no matter how or what they were hooked to, (different issue altogether)...Bottom line, and it's been stated in these post on GN vs 5er hitch many times, is to call the manufacturer of the 5er and ASK them about towing THEIR 5er with a GN or a 5er hitch...if they say they don't care, then tow with what you like, if they tell you that they don't recommend a GN hitch to tow their 5er with, that it will void some of the warranty, then you got your answer....short and sweet, and just common sense...
Don't know about Toy Haulers, not into them, but again, same answer...ask the manufacturer what THEY say you should tow THEIR 5er with....
Horse Trailers are constructed differently than a 5th. wheel is....there are some 5er's out there that the manufacturer has stated it's ok to tow their 5er's with, BUT, the MAJORITY of 5er manufacturers will tell you to use a 5th. wheel hitch to tow theirs with or you'll void some or all of your warranty....just call several of them and ask them....it's there for the research....
Jim & Kathy
2013 Dodge 3500DRW Longhorn 4X4/CC/LB/Aisin tranny/4:10/Cummins: 385HP/850TQ
06 HR Presidential Suite 37RLQ/ 4 slide/ dual pane windows/Winegard SK3005 Satellite/Splendide XC2100 W/D
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...as an edit to my post above; if the 5er is out of warranty, then I guess it really doesn't matter what you use to tow with, BUT, if you want the 5er to last for awhile and the manufacturer doesn't recommend towing the 5er with a GN, why would one want to use something that might be detrimental to the integrity of the 5er's frame or sidewall?
When I had my HR Alumascape 5er, I called HR and talked to there tech department, this was long before they folded, about using a G/N adaptor. They said that the frame should not have any issues with it if it was braced for the "fulcrum" effect to distribute the force to the whole pinbox as the 5er puck did. I built an "X" brace that attached to the G/N adaptor and the rear of the pinbox. Worked great and stopped the bucking.....JMO.
mountainkowboy wrote: When I had my HR Alumascape 5er, I called HR and talked to there tech department, this was long before they folded, about using a G/N adaptor. They said that the frame should not have any issues with it if it was braced for the "fulcrum" effect to distribute the force to the whole pinbox as the 5er puck did. I built an "X" brace that attached to the G/N adaptor and the rear of the pinbox. Worked great and stopped the bucking.....JMO.
Just the opposite with sig. 5er from HR, (06 Presidential Suite)....I had a sweet deal on a GN and pin box...I called HR (Oct. of 07') to inquire if it was ok with them for me to hook the 5er up to a GN and I was told by their service rep. that they didn't recommend using a GN to tow their 5er with...seeing as how it was brand new and had full warranty, I stayed with a 5er hitch
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