Can a Sidewinder be Used with a Gooseneck Coupler Adapter

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Question:

Thank you for your response. My truck is a 2004 GMC Duramax Diesel Crew Cab 4x4, the length of the truck bed is 6 foot 5 1/2 inch and the distance from the gooseneck ball to the back of the cab is 39 inches. We are still searching for the 5th wheel rv we want, however the ones we are looking at have a width of 8 foot. I hope this helps. I am looking for the safest and most economical solution. I do not want to have to worry about the camper hitting the cab of my truck. Thanks again.

asked by: Howard

0

Expert Reply:

No, Reese does not recommend the use of any kind of adapter with the Sidewinder Fifth Wheel King Pins or the Fifth Airborne Sidewinder products.

If you would like to send me some information about your vehicle and the trailer you will be towing, I will be glad to try to make a recommendation for you that includes a gooseneck adapter. The length of your truck bed, the distance from the gooseneck ball to the back of the cab, the width of the trailer and the amount of any pin box extension will all help in making the correct determination.

I have provided a link below to all of the gooseneck adapters we carry at this time, and some information on gooseneck and Sidewinders that should be helpful.

expert reply by: Robert G

0

Howard

4/13/2011

Thank you for your response. My truck is a 2004 GMC Duramax Diesel Crew Cab 4x4, the length of the truck bed is 6 foot 5 1/2 inch and the distance from the gooseneck ball to the back of the cab is 39 inches. We are still searching for the 5th wheel rv we want, however the ones we are looking at have a width of 8 foot. I hope this helps. I am looking for the safest and most economical solution. I do not want to have to worry about the camper hitting the cab of my truck. Thanks again.

Reply

Bob G.

4/13/2011

That is great information. We can now determine what width trailer you can tow with your vehicle. It is a pretty simple formula. The distance from the gooseneck ball to the back of the cab has to be at least 4 inches greater than the width of the trailer you purchase. This means that with 39 inches to the cab and an 8 foot trailer with the king pin right at the front of the trailer you would need 13 inches of offset to safely make a 90 degree turn with the trailer. If the trailer you select has a extended pin box, with a king pin that is extended past the front of the trailer, you can add the distance from the center of the king pin to the front of the trailer to the equation. Lets say you select a trailer with a king pin that is extended 6 inches past the front of the trailer. The equation would look like this. 1/2 the width of the Trailer = 48 inches Clearance for pitch and Roll = 4 inches Ball to Cab = 39 inches Pin Box extension = 6 inches 48 + 4 = 52 inches, 39 + 6 = 45 inches, 52 - 45 = 7 inches (amount of offset needed from an offset gooseneck to fifth wheel adapter) It looks like with your truck an extended pin box of at least 6 inches will be needed, along with an offset gooseneck adapter. We carry several gooseneck adapters that offer 7 inches or more offset. Convert-A-Ball has the Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapters. The # CAB-C5GX1216 is adjustable from 12 to 16 inches in height and offers an offset of 7-1/2 inches. Ranch Hitch offers the Universal 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Coupler Adapter w/8 inch Offset, # AM3139. This adapter is height adjustable from 11-3/4 inches to 14-3/4 inches. I mentioned height adjustability. This is another consideration you should look at when selecting your trailer. The gooseneck adapter you select will need to match the tow vehicle and trailer. To measure to determine the correct adapter, you will need to park the truck under the trailer you select with the gooseneck ball centered under the king pin. then measure from the top of the ball to the bottom of the pin box. This distance will be the height of the adapter that you will need. One final thing to check, with the trailer manufacturer or dealer, is to make sure that the trailer you select is compatible with an adapter for your gooseneck hitch. Some fifth-wheel trailer manufacturers do not recommend the use of adapters with their trailers.

Reply

Frank S.

12/23/2024

i have a 2019 Mini Plus with a side winder kingpin but the customer wants to pull it with a goose neck ball the pin box is BAL 27 REOK /NARCO PART # 2010083 , WHAT KING PIN CAN I USE

Reply

Jesse M.

12/23/2024

@FrankS I would need to know the bolt pattern of your pin box in order to confirm the correct parts. We do not have any record of what bolt pattern the Narco 2010083 pin box uses, so your best option will be to use the guide in the link below to determine the bolt pattern/ pin box size. Let me know the pin box size and GVWR of your camper and I can make sure you get the right one.

Helpful Links

faq-measuring-a-fifth-wheel-pin-box.aspx

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Answer 1

There is definitely a way to tow a 5th wheel trailer with your 2021 Ram that is equipped with the RamBox, but it's going to require some new components both on the trailer and your truck. The issue with the Ram Boxes is that they make the bed…

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Answer 2

There is a way to to a fifth wheel trailer with your 2020 Ram 2500 that has the Ramboxes but you have to install a Sidewinder pin box on the trailer so that the pivot point is raised up high enough that there isn't interference between the pin…

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Answer 3

So for your set up, a 2021 Ram 2500 short bed with the RamBoxes, you will need to use a Sidewinder in order to have the clearance to tow a 5th wheel. The Goose Box doesn't move the pivot point and an offset ball just won't be enough for…

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Answer 4

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 5

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 6

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 7

Yes, the puck system used on the 2016-2019 Chevy/GMC trucks is different than the pucks used on the 2020 and newer trucks. So you would need a 5th wheel like the B&W Companion #BWRVK3710 for your 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 with an 8' Bed. If you…

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Answer 8

Hey Randal, so it looks like the Custom Underbed Installation Kit for B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches #BWGNRK1313-5W that your neighbor had on his 2013 Dodge isn't going to also work with your 2018 Ram 3500. You'd instead need to…

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Answer 9

Hello Gary. For your 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD with short bed it is recommended to have a sliding hitch to ensure that you can get around those really tight turns without damaging the cab of your truck. For a Curt sliding hitch I would recommend…

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Answer 10

Yes, we do. What you are describing sounds like the Inner Frame Brackets for Under-Bed Rail and Installation Kit for Reese Elite Series 5th Wheel Hitch item #RP27FR. I have attached a picture below. These come welded to the frame exactly where you…

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Answer 11

I spoke with my contact at Trailair and from your serial number we were able to determine that your trailer came with a 1621 HD pin box which is a long pin box style. I was unable to obtain the exact part number for your Trailair pin box but from the…

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Answer 12

Great questions! Reese actually makes the OEM puck system for Ford so if the 2022 F-250 is cheaper by a lot then I recommend going that route and installing the Under-Bed Rail and Installation Kit #RP87FR. The only thing you'll really be missing…

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Can a Sidewinder be Used with a Gooseneck Coupler Adapter

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