Troubleshooting A Demco Recon Gooseneck-to-5th Wheel Hitch Adapter

Updated 05/03/2022 | Published 04/29/2022

Question:

The book says to torque the top screw to 30 ft pnds , and the hitch still twisted in the bed of the truck, I now torque to 80 ft pounds and tow the trailer 40 miles and the hitch has started to twist again, it is mounted on a B and W gooseneck ball in the bed. Help please. 2011 f350 with a Salem hemisphere fl378 5th wheel

asked by: Randall M

Expert Reply:

I spoke to a representative with Demco about your Demco Recon Gooseneck-to-5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter for Recessed Ball - Single Jaw - 21,000 lbs, part # DM8550046. and he gave me some things for you to check.

The first thing he suggested is to check the height of your gooseneck ball. It needs to be between 13/16" below the truck bed to 3/8" above the truck bed. The representative said if the ball is sitting too high you can get some twisting of your Demco Recon.

If your height is OK, the next thing you check is if you have a spray in bed liner. The Demco Recon is designed to suction to the bed of your 2011 Ford F-350's bed liner, not any other type of bed liner.

Please let us know if none of these fixes work for you.

Lastly, the Demco Recon is not designed to work with rotating pin boxes like the Sidewinder. The representative said having two pivot points, instead of one, can cause this hitch to rotate in your truck bed.

expert reply by: Mark Smith