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Cptnvideo
Arizona - most of the time
Senior Member
Joined: 11/05/2006
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Question: When going over uneven railroad tracks or something similar, can the gooseneck style hitch allow the trailer to tilt enough sideways to damage the pickup bed rails?
Bill & Linda
Arizona
2019 Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 dually 4x4 diesel
Hensley Trailer Saver BD5 hitch
2022 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS
1600 watts solar, Victron 150/100 MPPT controller, GoPower 3kw inverter/charger, 5 SOK 206AH LiFePo4 batteries for 1030 ah
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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Cptnvideo wrote:Question: When going over uneven railroad tracks or something similar, can the gooseneck style hitch allow the trailer to tilt enough sideways to damage the pickup bed rails?
Sure.
The issue with a gooseneck lowers the hitch pivot point. That creates a larger lever arm on the hitch for acceleration and braking forces where the hitch connects to the trailer frame.
If it was designed to accommodate those forces, it can be fine.
- If you look as typical gooseneck trailers, they have big heavily built beams to take those forces.
- If you pull the skin off your average 5th wheel, the frame is far less robust.
Also, keep in mind, if you drive mostly on smooth roads with very gentle acceleration and deceleration, that will reduce the loads on the frame substantially, so if someone says they got away with a gooseneck for years, doesn't mean you won't hit a pothole during a panic braking and crack your trailer frame day one.
Check with the manufacturer and if they say they will warranty damage related to a gooseneck, you are probably fine. If not, you roll the dice and take your chances.
PS: There are 5th wheel hitches that attach to a gooseneck ball (rather than rails) thus raising the pivot point such that it's similar to a standard 5th wheel hitch. Those should be fine.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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TXiceman
Bryan, TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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spoon059 wrote:TXiceman wrote:Goose neck trailers are specifically built to be pulled by a goose neck ball. Adding an after-market adapter to a 5th wheel trailer does not make it suitable to tow from a goose neck ball.
Ken
Reese Goosebox
The GooseBox is nothing more than a glorified adapter with an air bag. I would not put on my RV even though Lippert guarantees it. Lippert now owns Reese.
Ken
Amateur Radio Operator.
2023 Cougar 22MLS, toted with a 2022, F150, 3.5L EcoBoost, Crewcab, Max Tow, FORMER Full Time RVer. Travel with a standard schnauzer and a Timneh African Gray parrot
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OverNightSensation
West Central Ohio
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Joined: 11/02/2016
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BB_TX wrote:If you are buying new, Lippert frames approve a Goosebox adapter (has shock absorbers and air bag) but not rigid adapters.
That is incorrect information. I have a Lippert Gooseneck Connect that does not void Lippert's warranty. https://store.lci1.com/gooseneck-connect-21k-2020043670
Pulled my 45' toyhauler 6 thousand miles so far, no problem.
2020 Chevrolet C/C 3500HD DRW Duramax
2021 Vengeance Rogue Armored 351 G2 Toy Hauler 45'
2021 Can Am Maverick Trail 1000 DPS
If a hammer can't fix it, you got yourself an electrical problem!
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slider45
GA
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Joined: 06/13/2017
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C Schomer wrote:I built my RV bed for fifth wheel hitch and gooseneck ball. When I had both kinds of trailers I was constantly switching back-and-forth so I put a king pin post on my gooseneck trailer so the fifth wheel hitch worked for both. That was the best of both worlds… The easiest hitching for both trailers and no gooseneck adapter problem on the fifth wheel RV.
I will mention this setup to my uncle. He also has two trailers and he's tired of switching. We'll just finish installing the new suspension and truck tires on his F250 this week before we can work on the hitch.
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