5er hitches
#21
04-17-2007, 09:29 AM
Anyone else got an opinion or experience on this?
I had another RV dealer tell me to use the converter hitch since i am putting it on a light weight camper (6500 lbs dry). He did say its like anything, if you use something for more than its intended use, it could fail. He wouldn't advise puting this converter on a 12k lb 5er. but sia dhe has installed several and had no problems come back.
I had another RV dealer tell me to use the converter hitch since i am putting it on a light weight camper (6500 lbs dry). He did say its like anything, if you use something for more than its intended use, it could fail. He wouldn't advise puting this converter on a 12k lb 5er. but sia dhe has installed several and had no problems come back.
#24
04-18-2007, 07:08 AM
Diesel Wrench
I think you will find that this will void almost all warranties on your RV if you use these. They tend to put alot of extra twisting torque on the neck of your trailer that a 5th wheel isn't designed to handle. If your wanting to go this route of using the gooseneck hitch for a 5th wheel the only safe way to do it is with the B&W hitch system or a Turn Over Ball System which is the same thing. They have an actual 5th wheel plate attachement that uses your gooseneck as the mounting point. I've been in the trailer business for several years and can tell you that I have always succsefully talked anybody interested in these types of adaptors out of em, because in the end I would have refused to sell them. Folks do use them, and like em until the day comes.
i didn't know that B&W even had a 5th wheel companion hitch.
a smooth truck bed is a must for when i use my truck for business,
which is about 90% of the time....
#25
04-18-2007, 10:28 AM
Diesel Fan
Hey, sorry I did not respond to your question immediately, have been out of town and no computer.
I got the RV2 5er to GN adapter for my trailer. I too have a lightweight and truthfully using this hitch should be NO problem. I know several people who have done this adaptation with NO problems. Some have used the ranch adapter and some have used the PopUp. A couple have switched from the ranch to the PopUp because it has more adjustability.
Many of the 5er manufacturers are now offering either hitch when you order a new trailer. I toured a 5er manufacturing plant recently with a friend. I saw both hitches being installed on the new trailers, interestingly enough, the structure of the area that the hitches attach to was exactally the same. All of the supporting framework was the same. I asked the person giving the tour about differences and was told that there were none on the lighter trailers. Where the differences occurred was on the heavier trailers. They use a shock-absorbing extended type mount for the GN's coming out of the factory. It had 2 shocks and a pivoting (up/down) mount. It was a really nice engineered 'tongue' so-to-speak. I asked if one could be obtained on the aftermarket and was told that they expected them to be on the market some day soon AND that if you installed the shock-absorbing mount it would NOT be a warranty issue when converting from 5er to GN on the larger trailers.
Just some FYI, do with it what you will. I have a small older Fleetwood 5er that is lightweight. I e-mailed them regarding the installation/use of my PopUp adapter on my model trailer. Of course I have a trailer that is older has no warranty from them. Fleetwood's response was that the hitch appeared to them to be of good quality and suited for the adaptation, they did not see where I would comprimise the structure of my trailer as it was reinforced/built structurally correct. Now I don't know what 'reinforced/built structurally correct' entails, but their statements give me the impression that using this hitch with their trailer is OK. You might want to try e-mailing your trailer manufacturer, give them a link to the hitch, and ask them their opinion. Then make your choices and go from there.
I got the RV2 5er to GN adapter for my trailer. I too have a lightweight and truthfully using this hitch should be NO problem. I know several people who have done this adaptation with NO problems. Some have used the ranch adapter and some have used the PopUp. A couple have switched from the ranch to the PopUp because it has more adjustability.
Many of the 5er manufacturers are now offering either hitch when you order a new trailer. I toured a 5er manufacturing plant recently with a friend. I saw both hitches being installed on the new trailers, interestingly enough, the structure of the area that the hitches attach to was exactally the same. All of the supporting framework was the same. I asked the person giving the tour about differences and was told that there were none on the lighter trailers. Where the differences occurred was on the heavier trailers. They use a shock-absorbing extended type mount for the GN's coming out of the factory. It had 2 shocks and a pivoting (up/down) mount. It was a really nice engineered 'tongue' so-to-speak. I asked if one could be obtained on the aftermarket and was told that they expected them to be on the market some day soon AND that if you installed the shock-absorbing mount it would NOT be a warranty issue when converting from 5er to GN on the larger trailers.
Just some FYI, do with it what you will. I have a small older Fleetwood 5er that is lightweight. I e-mailed them regarding the installation/use of my PopUp adapter on my model trailer. Of course I have a trailer that is older has no warranty from them. Fleetwood's response was that the hitch appeared to them to be of good quality and suited for the adaptation, they did not see where I would comprimise the structure of my trailer as it was reinforced/built structurally correct. Now I don't know what 'reinforced/built structurally correct' entails, but their statements give me the impression that using this hitch with their trailer is OK. You might want to try e-mailing your trailer manufacturer, give them a link to the hitch, and ask them their opinion. Then make your choices and go from there.
The following users liked this post:
CHenry (04-18-2007)
#26
04-18-2007, 11:05 AM
Hey, sorry I did not respond to your question immediately, have been out of town and no computer.
I got the RV2 5er to GN adapter for my trailer. I too have a lightweight and truthfully using this hitch should be NO problem. I know several people who have done this adaptation with NO problems. Some have used the ranch adapter and some have used the PopUp. A couple have switched from the ranch to the PopUp because it has more adjustability.
Many of the 5er manufacturers are now offering either hitch when you order a new trailer. I toured a 5er manufacturing plant recently with a friend. I saw both hitches being installed on the new trailers, interestingly enough, the structure of the area that the hitches attach to was exactally the same. All of the supporting framework was the same. I asked the person giving the tour about differences and was told that there were none on the lighter trailers. Where the differences occurred was on the heavier trailers. They use a shock-absorbing extended type mount for the GN's coming out of the factory. It had 2 shocks and a pivoting (up/down) mount. It was a really nice engineered 'tongue' so-to-speak. I asked if one could be obtained on the aftermarket and was told that they expected them to be on the market some day soon AND that if you installed the shock-absorbing mount it would NOT be a warranty issue when converting from 5er to GN on the larger trailers.
Just some FYI, do with it what you will. I have a small older Fleetwood 5er that is lightweight. I e-mailed them regarding the installation/use of my PopUp adapter on my model trailer. Of course I have a trailer that is older has no warranty from them. Fleetwood's response was that the hitch appeared to them to be of good quality and suited for the adaptation, they did not see where I would comprimise the structure of my trailer as it was reinforced/built structurally correct. Now I don't know what 'reinforced/built structurally correct' entails, but their statements give me the impression that using this hitch with their trailer is OK. You might want to try e-mailing your trailer manufacturer, give them a link to the hitch, and ask them their opinion. Then make your choices and go from there.
I got the RV2 5er to GN adapter for my trailer. I too have a lightweight and truthfully using this hitch should be NO problem. I know several people who have done this adaptation with NO problems. Some have used the ranch adapter and some have used the PopUp. A couple have switched from the ranch to the PopUp because it has more adjustability.
Many of the 5er manufacturers are now offering either hitch when you order a new trailer. I toured a 5er manufacturing plant recently with a friend. I saw both hitches being installed on the new trailers, interestingly enough, the structure of the area that the hitches attach to was exactally the same. All of the supporting framework was the same. I asked the person giving the tour about differences and was told that there were none on the lighter trailers. Where the differences occurred was on the heavier trailers. They use a shock-absorbing extended type mount for the GN's coming out of the factory. It had 2 shocks and a pivoting (up/down) mount. It was a really nice engineered 'tongue' so-to-speak. I asked if one could be obtained on the aftermarket and was told that they expected them to be on the market some day soon AND that if you installed the shock-absorbing mount it would NOT be a warranty issue when converting from 5er to GN on the larger trailers.
Just some FYI, do with it what you will. I have a small older Fleetwood 5er that is lightweight. I e-mailed them regarding the installation/use of my PopUp adapter on my model trailer. Of course I have a trailer that is older has no warranty from them. Fleetwood's response was that the hitch appeared to them to be of good quality and suited for the adaptation, they did not see where I would comprimise the structure of my trailer as it was reinforced/built structurally correct. Now I don't know what 'reinforced/built structurally correct' entails, but their statements give me the impression that using this hitch with their trailer is OK. You might want to try e-mailing your trailer manufacturer, give them a link to the hitch, and ask them their opinion. Then make your choices and go from there.
#27
04-18-2007, 11:36 AM
Diesel Fan
Yes, I have a shortbed. Actually, I probably did not need the extension as I have other GN trailers and have not had cab clearance problems - guess I pay attention to that when turning. I just thought I would set it back a little while I was at it. I have the in-bed PopUp hitch too. I also have both their *****, the std height and the taller one. I have two trucks with different bed heights, so what happen is that I am always having to adjust the height of my flatbed GN as I use both trucks to haul it. I now don't have to mess with that stuff because I can make up the differences by using one ball or the other. Much easier to pop in the ball than adjust the hitch. By the way, I forgot to add that the trailers they use/recommend the shock absorbing hitch on are ones that are 10-12 K and higher. I've seen a couple hitting the aftermarket that are shock mounts for the kingpin but not the GN adapters yet. PopUp offers the tube insert with a shock absorber that plugs into the round or square standard box tubes used of GN's, I have one on my 16K flatbed and also on my 32'x8' GN horse trailer with living quarters, they really ARE nice!! Noticed a real difference in towing, especially on the cement freeways where the bobbin' stuff is really irritating, takes the bob out nicely.
