Convert 5th Wheel to Gooseneck

[mario430]

Has anyone used any of those adapters or conversion kits to change a 5th wheel trailer into a Gooseneck?

My truck came with a B&W gooseneck hitch already installed so I'd love to use that VS having to buy and install a 5th wheel hitch. I'm trying to find out if its worth it or safe or anything like that. I see there's a few companies that sell them but not sure if there is a downside or opening myself up to other issues. This will be for an RV that will be used 1-2 times per month with the family, travel distance max 400 miles each way I think?

 

[hrlyguy2]

I have a reese hi rise fifthwheel hitch. That hooks right to my B&w goose neck.
easy to remove and no rails.Plus I still have a gooseneck in case.
Alot of trailer forbid using the adapter.Will not warranty anything.
Have a friend use the adapter and he hasn't had a issue yet.

 

[Subman]

Agree on the B&W 5th wheel adaptor. Slips right into the B&W goose neck mount in your bed. One problem with trying to adapt the 5th wheel to a goose neck is some of the 5th wheel trailers are not built strong enough in the frontend to handle the potentil torque that you might put on the hitch caused by the additional leverage caused by the extended goose neck hitch.

 

[ALLY Fox]

B&W makes a Companion 5th wheel hitch that uses the GN hitch, it is one of the best 5th wheel hitches made. They recently improved the design to make it better yet. As others have pointed out, do not use the adapter unless your 5th wheel manufacturer recommends it, those adapters can bend and crack 5th wheel frames that were never designed for those stresses.

 

[RedHotGMC]

I use an adapter on the fifthwheel for my gooseneck and have never had an issue. Trailer is 14k. But my frame is also 9in IBeam. My manufacture never stated for or against but I've never seem an issue. Ive towed with the companion and adapter and never felt a difference towing. I also have a nice open bed with the fifthwheel adapter.

 

[mario430]

The companion would be awesome but it's so expensive the adapter from what I've seen is about $400-$600 cheaper so that is why I'm asking. I don't have a fithwheel picked out yet but I'm still trying to see what is best. Now is it possible to re-enforce the frame so I don't break anything or not worth it?

 

[hrlyguy2]

Not sure what type of trailer you have.But call the make and see what they say.See alot of adapters out there.50/50.I personally wouldn't do it.So much easier to hook up with a fifthwheel. IMO
Look around o craigslist or something used

 

[TheBac]

Since you dont even have a trailer yet, why dont you just save up a little longer and do it the correct way and buy the BW companion hitch? You're "putting the cart before the horse" doing things the other way.

 

[Ne-max]

Not sure what type of trailer you have.But call the make and see what they say.See alot of adapters out there.50/50.I personally wouldn't do it.So much easier to hook up with a fifthwheel. IMO
Look around o craigslist or something used

X2.

 

[jkholder09]

This is the main reason I have not bought a travel trailer.
They are not byilt strong enough for the gooseneck and the adapters are pricey.
Giving up the bed for a heavy permanent 5th wheel is not appealing either.
Info is hard to find and this thread has been the best so far.
Maybe there will be a solution that is more universal at some point.
I think there would be a good market for gooseneck travel trailers.:thumb:

 

[02dirtymax]

I used a Colibert adapter on mine. It was on there almost 10 years when I sold the camper with quite a few miles on it. The guy I got the camper from bought it new and the dealer put the adapter on for him.

 

[Harbin_22]

I guess I don't get it, you guys can afford a big fifth wheel travel trailer but can't swing less then $900 for the b&w fifth wheel plate or $600 for a Reece plate?

 

[Harbin_22]

Not trying to be an ass, but towing is somewhere I won't cheap out on. I want it to be as right as it can be

 

[Ne-max]

Here are some pointer I have learned after owning a couple 5th wheel campers.

First off. Is you truck a long box or short? The king box design on some of the older campers are not short box friendly and will require a slider hitch to allow for sharp turns. Witch is needed for getting into camp sites. But a slider hitch on a newer one is a big no no. My old camper required me to have a slider. My new one will take out my tail gait if it slid back. So I sold my slider cause I did not want the risk of it. I don't think they make a sliding ball.

On hitches them self I was debating on a b&w since my truck already had the hole for one but after helping my brother I decided on doing the rails and running a Curtis 16k 5th wheel. The Companion for the B&W is a heavy unit compared to my Curtis. They both come apart east but the base of the B&W is still heavy. Having rails is not as bad as people say it is. They don't stick up that high. I run mine with a plastic bed liner and it sits almost flush. Just notched out the plastic.

But like said above. Find your camper first then decide on a hitch.

 

[ALLY Fox]

If you're pulling a $20-$50K trailer with a $30-$50K truck, a couple thousand dollars for a safe connection between the two doesn't seem like a lot. FWIW, I bought my nearly new B&W Companion four years ago on craigslist for $400 and it's worked flawlessly for about 22,000 miles on some rough roads.

 

[jkholder09]

You guys are probably right Iit is a small amount of money for safety.
I think i have just been on the fence and used that as an excuse.

So basically the consensus is a camper should be towed using a 5th wheel with rails in a long bed truck if I am reading everything correctly.

 

[hrlyguy2]

My lifted 2500 lb had reese with rails.And My 3500 lb dually had a goose neck when I bought.Just bought the hi rise 18k fifthwheel hitch.Easy to remove and keeps the bed smooth .I like it alot better and its a much better to hook and unho.
Gotta figure out how much trailer you are going to pull
dont want a hitch not rated for the weight of the trailer

 

[Dozerboy]

We have ran adapters and I have seen crack in our trailer frames, but these where used for work. Trailers where over loaded and abused. You just have look things over good. I would use one, but there are better options out there for not a lot of $$$.

 

[mario430]

We have ran adapters and I have seen crack in our trailer frames, but these where used for work. Trailers where over loaded and abused. You just have look things over good. I would use one, but there are better options out there for not a lot of $$$.

Dozerboy, What kind of options if you don't mine me asking?

I have found some used 5th wheel companion hitches used but dang they are wanting the same amount as a new one or only $200 less.

 

[Dozerboy]

companion hitches, reinforce the frame, or build your own trailer...

We just welded up the cracks and they may have reinforced the frame some. This was a while back before companion hitches or before I knew about them. It was an issue we knew about so we just watched out for cracks and the trailer where only hauled down the road a few times a year.