Can You Tow a 5th Wheel With a Gooseneck Hitch? Adapter Tips
It is an idea. How good an idea depends on your point of view. Some people have good luck towing their 5th wheel with a gooseneck hitch while others are not in favor of this method of towing. The change may not have any real advantages.
Yes, this is possible but you need the right adapter or you may risk ruining your tow vehicle and trailer. There is no real advantage to doing this towing option and you may have trouble when you go over uneven and very bumpy roads.
To learn more about this towing option, just continue to read our article. It explores the issue so you have the information you need to make a smart decision. Not all change is for the best even though it may work
Towing 5th Wheel With Gooseneck Hitch 101
Can You Pull a 5th Wheel With a Gooseneck Hitch?
It is easy to do the reverse. All you need is the proper adapter and you should be able to use your 5th wheel hitch to tow a gooseneck trailer. Many owners do this step because they may only have one 5th wheel trailer on their property and many gooseneck trailers.
The adapter just makes the towing very convenient and spares the truck from having two hitches in the bed. You will need a special adapter for the gooseneck hitch if you want to use that device to tow your 5th wheel trailer.
It is possible to do this task but the gooseneck has to be able to handle the weight of the trailer or it won’t work. One reason owners go to the gooseneck is that this type of hitch leaves them room for cargo. The 5th wheel hitch does take up a lot of needed cargo space.
Once you get the adapter, you should be able to pull your 5th wheel trailer with ease. However, you may have some ride issues as the 5th wheel hitch provides a smoother, quieter and more stable ride.
Is There a Gooseneck To Fifth Wheel Adapter?
Yes, there is and many people use this adapter all the time. The good news is that there are a lot of different adapters you can purchase. Some are even adjustable so you can get the right level for your 5th wheel trailer.
The bad news is that these adapters are not cheap. They are running in the neighborhood of $300 at one outlet. Some of the better models are going to cost you about $1000.
You will want to check out the different designs, their construction material and their weight limits before making this decision. One of the biggest issues is how the hitches are designed to work.
The traditional 5th wheel hitch is designed to move with the trailer so that your towing experience is a lot better. That flexibility really helps in tough situations.
However, when you adapt a gooseneck to accommodate the 5th wheel kingpin, then you are using a more rigid system that does not move when the trailer moves. the result is a rougher ride.
How Does a Gooseneck To Fifth Wheel Adapter Work?
The concept is quite simple and it does not take a lot of mechanical education to install or use one of these adapters. What the adapter does is help the 5th wheel kingpin reach the gooseneck hitch.
It is a metal tube that connects directly to the kingpin on your 5th wheel. That connection provides enough length for the ball to attach to the gooseneck hitch. That is about all there is to this adapter’s operation.
The device has thick metal bolts to help secure the adapter in place and make sure the trailer does not go anywhere even when going over bumpy roads. The adapter is a very simple design but you can get more complicated ones that help smooth out the ride a little bit.
The cost of these adapters will range so you will need to do some comparison shopping. This is to make sure you get one that will handle the weight of your 5th wheel trailer and provide enough security so that your trailer does not get unhitched.
Is a Fifth-Wheel Gooseneck Adapter Safe?
For the most part, yes it is. The construction of these adapters is made in such a way, that they are a good solution for a temporary tow. They are not meant to be a permanent fixture on your truck or 5th wheel trailer.
The biggest concern is for the frame of the trailer and the truck. The added stress is said to not be that good for either and there is a possibility of damage. The other concern is about the ride.
Many owners who have tried this method of towing have had such bad ride experiences, that they will not do it again. There is supposed to be a good adapter on the market called Reese goose box and this option is supposed to take the risk out of the adaption. There are two models of this adapter on the Reese website
There is one other concern about doing this towing method. If you are still under warranty, it is said that some RV brands will void the warranty while others will not. Some people who do this type of towing do not care about that action and use the adapter anyways.
Is a Gooseneck Adapter Bad For a 5th Wheel Camper?
It is possible although some owners have not heard of anyone who has used the different adapters having their 5thwheel trailer damaged. That does not mean it hasn’t happened and in our research so far, we have not heard of any horror stories.
We have come across people who have tried this method of towing and were not impressed by the ride. They did think that the roughness of the tow was going to damage both their truck and trailer.
However, they did not report any damage being done. You may have trouble getting your trailer fixed if damage does occur through the fault of other events not related to the hitch. The reason for saying that is that there is the possibility of companies voiding their warranty protection if they find out about the adapter.
The Reese option is said to be the approved adapter that does not void warranties. The design looks very safe, a lot safer than many of the other designs we have seen for this adapter. But you have to be the judge as this model will cost you over $3000 and the other one will cost you over $2500.
That is a big price difference between the other adapters and this brand.
Can You Have a Gooseneck And a Fifth Wheel?
Obviously, you cannot do this at the same time. There is only room for one trailer at the rear of your tow vehicle. However, if you have one style of hitch, you can use an adapter to tow the other style of trailer.
For example, if you have a gooseneck hitch, you can pull both a gooseneck trailer and a 5th wheel trailer using the right adapter. Then the reverse is true as well. However, if you want both hitches installed in the bed of your truck at the same time, then that seems to be an impossibility at this time.
You can only have one hitch or the other and then use the appropriate adapter to attach the other trailer. There is a way to easily tow both trailers without having to change the hitch but there is no combination hitch that works for both styles of trailers.
The best option is to pick the hitch you will use the most and then buy an adapter for the trailer you will not use as often. Just be mindful of the price of the different adapters.
Pulling a Fifth Wheel With a Gooseneck Hitch
There are people who do it and seem to not have any complaints. However, there are an equal number of those who have done it and will never do it again. If you are the type of person who wants a smooth ride, then pulling a 5th wheel with a gooseneck hitch is not the answer.
Not if you do not spend the big bucks to get the Reese adapter mentioned earlier. The key is that you are not gaining any towing advantage when you use your gooseneck hitch to tow your 5th wheel. Handling may be worse as the gooseneck hitch is more rigid than the 5th wheel hitch.
The weight of the trailer will play a role in how your trailer handles and if it gets any damage. The heavier the trailer the more likely there will be some damage eventually. You can do this towing option if you want. There is no law that states you cannot do it.
So legally, you are in the clear. However, if you bought your trailer from one of those companies that will void the warranty, then you may be looking at paying high repair costs out of pocket.
Why Convert The 5th Wheel To a Gooseneck?
There are two main reasons why owners buy the adapter and use their gooseneck hitch to tow their 5th wheel trailer. The first reason is convenience. They have many gooseneck trailers they use for their work, farm or other activities. It makes sense to install a gooseneck hitch over a 5th wheel option.
They may only use their 5th wheel part-time over the year so it makes sense to pay a lower price for the adapter than to pay a higher price for the 5th wheel hitch. It just makes sense to them.
The second main reason is that gooseneck hitches are said to be able to tow heavier weights than the 5th wheel hitches. So if you own a very heavy 5th wheel trailer, it is better to use a gooseneck hitch.
You are a bit safer and should be able to make your destination with ease. Other than that, there is little reason to use the adapter as it is recommended that this type of towing is only good for temporary situations.
How To Convert 5th Wheel To Gooseneck
The simplest way would be to buy the appropriate adapter. This is not a rare event and many people have the same idea when they want to tow heavier loads. Or do not want to replace the hitch.
The gooseneck adapter attaches to the bottom of the 5th wheel towing plate and to do this you have to first, measure from the ground to the ball and the height of the gooseneck receiver.
Second, once you have those measurements, buy an adapter that will even out those measurements. Third, put the adapter on the kingpin following all manufacturer’s instructions. There should be set screws to hold it in place. Make sure the adapter is locked into place.
That should do it. The next step is to back your truck up under the gooseneck ball and attach both the ball and the receiver. These adapters come in a variety of sizes so you should be able to find one long enough to handle the ball with ease.
One thing to be concerned about is that the adapters put a lot of strain on the ball and the support bars. This may make it unsafe to tow the trailer. Double-check with qualified mechanics to make sure the adapter is safe to use.
Some Final Words
While it is okay to tow a 5th wheel trailer using a gooseneck hitch and vice versa sometimes it is best to stick with the proper hitch. This is most important if you are towing on a permenant basis.
These adapters provide the best results when used on a temporary basis. The cost may not be worth the convenience though. Check your budget to make sure you can afford the extra expense.
