bpounds wrote: When you call the manufacturer, they will say NO, because they always say NO. No upside for them to say yes. So ask them if they have the engineering documentation for the study on gooseneck adapters. If they don't, then they are just using the boilerplate answer. I'm curious as to what they will say.
Then call the gooseneck adapter manufacturer of your choice, and ask them if they will guarantee no damage to your frame from use of their product. I'm curious about what they would say too.
Everyone else here, is just repeating what they've heard here.
Meanwhile, there are thousands of adapters in use daily. Enough to support several manufacturers product. And very very few reports of any damage.
So If I purchase a brand new 5er, dish out all that money and ask if they will honor my warranty if I use a GN hitch and they tell me "NO"....I'm supposed to question that, "take ownership" of the 5er, while it is still under warranty, ignore the people who designed and manufactured the 5er and go ahead and do what ever I please??? Tow with a GN ANYWAY, and doggone the consequences?? I don't want to take that chance just to "see what they'll say", much less what the guy who sold me the GN will say or do...doubt he'd help me any at all...
you right...we're repeating what we've heard from the manufacturers of the 5ers.. Most in here who purchase a brand new 5er, won't go out of their way to see if they can void the unit's warranty...just common sense...
I don't disagree with you. I probably would steer away from the adapter too. Fortunately I don't have any need for a gooseneck trailer, so pulling gooseneck and fiver is not an issue for me. I really haven't taken a stand on whether the adapters are safe, or not. What I have said is that there are thousands of the adapters in use, and I see them very very often. It obviously is not all doom like many here seem to believe. There is something to be said for empirical evidence. Plus, I believe very little of what I read here on this forum, when compared to that empirical evidence. Too many parrots here.
RedAce wrote: We have a B & W turnover ball and companion hitch. A very good system. I would highly recommend it. Many say that fithwheel RV frames are not strong enough for a gooseneck adapter and ball.
I wholeheartedly agree on both points. B&W is a great hitch and a great company. Having a proper hitch is cheap insurance when you consider the very real possibility of frame damage.
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
I know it's a moot point, since the OP stated he has made up his mind, but I would just like to throw out something for thought.
Every manufacturer takes every opportunity they have to make extra money selling every option you can think of. If they weren't afraid of liability or warranty claims, why wouldn't the manufacturer offer the gooseneck hookup as an option, unless they have doubts?
Just my 2 cents...
05 Ford F-350 Lariat CC 4X4 PSD DRW Line X Retrax
02 Montana Big Sky 3295 RK (2) Honda EU2000is
When my grown kids were inspecting our new fifth wheel, one asked why we bought a trailer that sleeps 4. My reply was that we couldn't find one that sleeps 2!
Some people are satisfied with their hitch. Some people like their hitch. B&W companion owners love their hitch with an almost disturbing passion. Sounds like a good choice.
Supreme Oppressor wrote: Some people are satisfied with their hitch. Some people like their hitch. B&W companion owners love their hitch with an almost disturbing passion. Sounds like a good choice.
very good choice....
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
Boxers;Buddy& Sheba II
USAF 71-75 Nam Vet
curt12914 wrote: I know it's a moot point, since the OP stated he has made up his mind, but I would just like to throw out something for thought.
Every manufacturer takes every opportunity they have to make extra money selling every option you can think of. If they weren't afraid of liability or warranty claims, why wouldn't the manufacturer offer the gooseneck hookup as an option, unless they have doubts?
I think most of the 5Vers you see in rural ranching country have the goose neck adapter because they also own goose neck stock trailers and flatbeds to haul equipment. They don't want to remove and replace hitches in their truck on a regular basis. Plus they need the full use of their truck beds without the interference of a 5Ver hitch.
I would not even think about a goose neck adapter unless I was in that situation. I also tow a goose neck stock trailer. Now that I see how cheap the 5Ver frames are being made for 5th wheel RVs I think I will just stick with a bumper pull trailer.
I owned a 2001 32RL Alpenlite 5Ver and I saw how those frames were constructed. They were very sturdy frames at the time. I would not have been concerned about a goose neck adapter on that 5Ver. In fact the new owner of that 5Ver did run a goose neck hitch and has had no trouble that I know of.
WyoTraveler wrote: I think most of the 5Vers you see in rural ranching country have the goose neck adapter because they also own goose neck stock trailers and flatbeds to haul equipment. They don't want to remove and replace hitches in their truck on a regular basis. Plus they need the full use of their truck beds without the interference of a 5Ver hitch.
I would not even think about a goose neck adapter unless I was in that situation. I also tow a goose neck stock trailer. Now that I see how cheap the 5Ver frames are being made for 5th wheel RVs I think I will just stick with a bumper pull trailer.
I owned a 2001 32RL Alpenlite 5Ver and I saw how those frames were constructed. They were very sturdy frames at the time. I would not have been concerned about a goose neck adapter on that 5Ver. In fact the new owner of that 5Ver did run a goose neck hitch and has had no trouble that I know of.
Though the frame of the 5er is constructed differently than the frame constructed on trailers that are normally towed with GN's, it doesn't necessarily equate to "cheap" 5er frames. The 5th wheel has been designed, in most cases to be towed with a "5th wheel hitch"...giving more support and less stress on the area where the pin box and frame are attached.
There are some manufacturers of 5th wheels that don't mind if you tow their 5er with a GN or a 5er hitch...some, but not many....just takes a call to find out, (if warranty is a concern).
I've owned quite a few TT's and 5er's over the years and I never thought about NOT getting a 5er because I couldn't tow it with a GN hitch, never a part of the equation...IF your want a 5er at a certain point in your life, you purchase the necessary "tools" to tow it with, ie, the right truck and the right hitch, just as you would purchase a TT, again, the right vehicle to tow it with and whatever hitch works best to tow it with, WDH, Hensley, etc....just part of owning and towing a TT or a 5th wheel. Horse Trailers and construction trailers are completely different in their design.....weren't designed anywhere near like a 5th wheel. When you think of driving your "home" down the interstate or on city or secondary roads going through curves, up and down hills or mountains, possibly hitting rough roads, potholes, what ever, in reality, it's amazing how well they stand up and how little damage you see to them, so "cheap" frames???? Guess it depends on how you look at it, or how they hold up over the years....as several have stated in here, they've towed 5er's for years WITH GN's and no issues, so sort of negates some of your thoughts on the matter.
guess if you didn't want to mess with a 5th wheel hitch, then either tow your 5er with a GN and let the chips fall where they may, if they fall at all, or stick with a TT....one thing about it, it's an individual choice.
When I remove my hitch from my truck, I have two rails that sit about an 1" above my bed, I can put anything in the bed I want to, and I have...it isn't that big of a deal to remove an put my hitch back in, but it's a choice I made when I decided to purchase my 5er and was told by HR that they didn't recommend towing their 5er with a GN.....it is what it is..
If a person really wants to tow an RV trailer with a gooseneck hitch, the best thing to do would be to choose a gooseneck enclosed trailer and have it fitted out as an RV inside.
There are gooseneck horse/stock and race trailers that are built with RV living quarters in the front half of the trailer. The rear half is cargo area for the horses, livestock, or vehicle being hauled. Some of them are quite opulent in the RV portion of the trailer, as nice or nicer than the most expensive 5th wheel RV trailers made.
SoCalDesertRider wrote: If a person really wants to tow an RV trailer with a gooseneck hitch, the best thing to do would be to choose a gooseneck enclosed trailer and have it fitted out as an RV inside.
There are gooseneck horse/stock and race trailers that are built with RV living quarters in the front half of the trailer. The rear half is cargo area for the horses, livestock, or vehicle being hauled. Some of them are quite opulent in the RV portion of the trailer, as nice or nicer than the most expensive 5th wheel RV trailers made.
I've seen some of the horse trailers with living quarters you are talking about and I was floored at how plush the living quarters were, as stated, as nice if not nicer than some of the most expensive 5er's made...but they too come with a nice price tag....good thing is, you can use a GN and have the best of both worlds if you have need of a livestock or race car trailer.
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