Fifth Wheel Trailer Bounce When Towing with a 2002 Chevrolet 2500 HD and Gooseneck Hitch  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Trailer bouncing and rough rides are common complaints among customers that are towing their fifth wheel trailer with a gooseneck hitch and a gooseneck adapter like part # AM3100. Gooseneck adapters create extra distance between the king pin and trailer hitch and this extra distance creates torque on the trailer frame which creates the chucking and bouncing that you are referring to.

Fifth-Wheel-to-Gooseneck coupler adapters are a good solution if you tow a gooseneck trailer and a fifth wheel trailer, but they do not provide as nice of a ride when towing with an actual fifth wheel hitch. Since you have the B&W Turnoverball gooseneck hitch in your truck, I recommend picking up the B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch, # BWRVK3500. This hitch was designed to work with the B&W Turnoverball gooseneck hitch and will cure most of your ride quality issues.

Another option that you could look into is the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned Fifth-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Hitch Adapter, # CAB-C5G. This adapter should help with the bouncing and bucking that you are experiencing as the cushioning inside the adapter will soften the up and down motions at the point where the trailer is connected to the truck.

If the pin box on your fifth wheel trailer is a Lippert 0115, 1116, or 1716, then you could replace your pin box with the Reese Goose Box, # RP94716-61301. If your pin box is a Lippert 0719, 1621, or 1621HD, then you could use Goose Box, # RP85FR. At this time these are the only pin boxes that our Goose Boxes are compatible with.

I have attached a link to an FAQ article that details the different types of Fifth-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapters for you to review.

expert reply by: John H

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