Does Towing a 5th Wheel Trailer with a Gooseneck Trailer Hitch Damage the Trailer Frame

Updated 02/17/2016 | Published 02/16/2016

Question:

I have heard that converting to to a gooseneck from the 5th wheel is hard on the frame of the trailer because the goose neck is to rigid of a mount.

asked by: Dwayne

Expert Reply:

Actually, it depends on the type of adapter that is used. An adapter such as # CAB-C5GX1216 can put too much stress on a 5th wheel trailer frame. But it isn't just the rigid mount design. It is the distance from the gooseneck ball to the 5th wheel pin box. The distance is greater between the hitch and the pin box with this sort of adapter and that creates extra leverage on the trailer frame.

Another type of adapter is the Reese Goose Box. This is the only adapter approved by Lippert, the company that makes the majority of 5th wheel trailer frames. The Goose Box will replace the pin box on the trailer and it has a gooseneck coupler on it to attach directly to the ball so it isn't really an adapter.

There are 3 Goose Box options and they fit different factory pin boxes.

# RP85FR fits Lippert 1621, 1621HD, 0719, Fabex PB-600 pin boxes and is rated for 20,000 lbs pounds

# RP94716-61301 fits Lippert 0115, 1116 and 1716 pin boxes and is also rated for 20K.

I have linked a video review of a Goose Box for you as well. I have also included a link to a help article I wrote on towing a 5th wheel trailer with a gooseneck hitch.

expert reply by: Michael H