Converting a Jayco Fifth Wheel to Gooseneck Without Losing Clearance  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hi Don, that’s a really smart question and you’re thinking about exactly the right thing. When you switch to a gooseneck using a full replacement pin box style setup, the front to back position of the trailer stays very close to what you have now, so the distance from your bumper to the front of the trailer is not going to noticeably change.

Where you do want to pay attention is bed rail clearance, since the trailer can sit a little lower when connected to a gooseneck ball. The good news is the Shocker Hitch pin box part # SHK89YR you’re looking at has about 8 inches of vertical adjustment, which gives you plenty of room to dial the height back in and maintain a safe gap over your bed rails. As long as it’s set up correctly, most people end up with very similar clearances to what they had with a fifth wheel hitch.

You’re also on the right track looking at a full replacement pin box instead of a clamp-on adapter. Those are much better for the trailer frame and give you a more stable, predictable towing experience. The only thing we’ll want to confirm before locking in the exact part is the bolt pattern on your current pin box. Jayco commonly uses the Lippert Turning point pin box, If your Jayco currently uses the Lippert Turning Point pin box the Shocker Hitch part # SHK89YR will bolt right up.

Once we confirm that, I can point you to the exact Shocker model that will bolt right up and give you the setup you’re looking for. Can I ask what’s driving the switch to gooseneck, and what kind of truck you’re towing with?

expert reply by: Heather A

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