AGBAT
NM
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Joined: 04/12/2004
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Ken when did you become an engineer? When we discussed this before you made no such claim. Having consulted a real engineer, the gooseneck DOES NOT put more stress on the pin box area. A pin extension does but a gooseneck does not. I bet all that damage you saw was due to a extension not the gooseneck.
Chevy 2500 Duramax, 30ft Prowler, 18ft Bass Boat, 2 big dogs,
Boondocking at Rio Costilla, NM
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sandy43
Hockley, TX
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Joined: 10/08/2009
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I'm kinda new here and certainly not going to debate the pro RV'ers on this forum. I,ve been pulling RV's and all kinds of trailers for many years and have always used gooseneck hitch's. I presently pull a 29' 5th wheel and a 20' bassboat behind it. Been doing this since '90. When I was younger I was doing 20 tournaments a year and on the road with my train (that's what I call it) often. Now days I probably pull it twice a month, mostly for fun. I've had three different RV's and four different boats. My rig is over the length limit, but never been questioned, even at weigh stations. The point is, I have always felt more comfortable and safe with a GN hitch. I know several others doing the same thing as I do and no one has ever had a problem. Whatever your comfortable with is what works best. Thanks
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Eugarps
Hagerstown, MD
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Joined: 09/26/2002
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Here's my email exchange with the Arctic Fox factory:
MY QUESTION:
Hello,
I would like to use a gooseneck adapter with a 9” offset to haul an Arctic Fox 23-5A fifth wheel trailer behind my 2007 Toyota Tundra. Would that void the trailer warranty?
Thanks,
Bill
AF’S ANSWER:
“we don't recommend the gooseneck. it wouldn't void the warranty, but if you experience structural problems, ie; cracks in fiberglass sidewall at stress points, we wouldn't cover it as warranty.”
"...cracks in the sidewall at stress points..." 
I wonder how often that's happened?
Bill
Current Truck - 2007 Tundra 4x4 DC TRD
1978 27' Southwind MH - Gone
1982 19' Terry Taurus TT - Gone
1990 24' Prowler TT - Gone
TC and different truck coming SOON!
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fourwalls
SE Ohio
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Joined: 09/07/2008
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We pull with a goose neck adapter that was installed by the dealer. I specifically ask the dealership if it voided my warranty and was told no. If it would they would not sell it or install it. I told them if it would I would switch to a 5er hitch and have it installed also by them. They responded that the adapter was fine and they installed it for us. We love it. It is actually our 4th adapter we have had but the first one installed by a dealership and under warranty. Our 5er is a 2008. with 1 more year of warranty. I had never heard of the dangers of pulling with an adapter until I started following the thread here on this site. Since I have heard it on other sites as well. I have chosen to go ahead and pull ours with the adapter and take our chances. Good luck with your decision. and Happy camping
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laknox
Arizona
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Joined: 01/06/2008
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sandy43 wrote:I'm kinda new here and certainly not going to debate the pro RV'ers on this forum. I,ve been pulling RV's and all kinds of trailers for many years and have always used gooseneck hitch's. I presently pull a 29' 5th wheel and a 20' bassboat behind it. Been doing this since '90. When I was younger I was doing 20 tournaments a year and on the road with my train (that's what I call it) often. Now days I probably pull it twice a month, mostly for fun. I've had three different RV's and four different boats. My rig is over the length limit, but never been questioned, even at weigh stations. The point is, I have always felt more comfortable and safe with a GN hitch. I know several others doing the same thing as I do and no one has ever had a problem. Whatever your comfortable with is what works best. Thanks
In many states, AZ included, double-towing behind a gooseneck is illegal and will get you taken right off the road, should a cop pull you over. Here in AZ it's illegal to tow with consecutive ball hitches, which a GN is. Personally, I can see how an =improperly-designed= adapter could conceivably damage a pin box. You have anywhere from 1 to almost 1.5 feet more lever arm trying to torque the pin box (height difference from the hitch plate to the center of the GN ball) fore and aft. As someone who has twisted off his share of 1" bolts with an 18" wrench, I know how much torque you can put on steel with that short a lever. Translate that to an x-thousand lb. fiver you're trying to stop. Now, I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, but do your due diligence on the conversion. You could also switch to a B&W Turnover ball and get the best of both worlds. :-)
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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Joined: 05/20/2005
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First time I ever had a conversation about towing with a gooseneck was with Coachmen and I was told by them, if I towed the Coachmen with a gooseneck and stress fractures occured on the sidewalls up front on the 5er, my warrantee would be void because Coachmen said DO NOT use a gooseneck hitch to tow their 5er's with. Same information I also got from HR before they "went under". BUT, everyone has there way's they want to do things. If the 5er is under warranty and that means anything to you, I'd call the manufacturer of the 5er, (not the dealer that sells it), and find out if it's ok to tow it with a GN hitch. if they say it's ok...have at it...if they say it'll void the frame and sidewall warrantee, guess it's up to you, hey maybe nothing will happen, and maybe it will. I'm not a gambler, if the manufacturer recommends not to tow with a GN hitch, then I won't. I remove the entire hitch, less the rails when I need the bed of my truck, not really a big deal. A horsetrailer isn't built like a 5th wheel, stress points are different between the two, the gooseneck hitch puts more stress on the pinbox, where as a 5th wheel hitch has more area for the pinbox to sit on, eliminating some of the stress that is put on the frame and sidewalls of a 5er, and that was from a Design Engineer with Monaco..coure he may be out of a job right now..
Jim & Kathy
07.5 Chevy K3500DRW/CC/LB/LMM/D/A/6speed/ LTZ,Prodigy,Reese 20K Ht.
08 Jeep Liberty Sport 4X4
06 HR Presidential Suite 37RLQ (39' 6")4 slide
09 Hyundai Accent SE (resting the Dually some )
Boxers;Buddy& Sheba II
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B W M
Princeton IN.
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Joined: 08/23/2009
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fourwalls wrote:We pull with a goose neck adapter that was installed by the dealer. I specifically ask the dealership if it voided my warranty and was told no. If it would they would not sell it or install it. I told them if it would I would switch to a 5er hitch and have it installed also by them. They responded that the adapter was fine and they installed it for us. We love it. It is actually our 4th adapter we have had but the first one installed by a dealership and under warranty. Our 5er is a 2008. with 1 more year of warranty. I had never heard of the dangers of pulling with an adapter until I started following the thread here on this site. Since I have heard it on other sites as well. I have chosen to go ahead and pull ours with the adapter and take our chances. Good luck with your decision. and Happy camping
I would not trust most dealers that are out there.
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NC Hauler
Asheville NC
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Joined: 05/20/2005
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B W M wrote:fourwalls wrote:We pull with a goose neck adapter that was installed by the dealer. I specifically ask the dealership if it voided my warranty and was told no. If it would they would not sell it or install it. I told them if it would I would switch to a 5er hitch and have it installed also by them. They responded that the adapter was fine and they installed it for us. We love it. It is actually our 4th adapter we have had but the first one installed by a dealership and under warranty. Our 5er is a 2008. with 1 more year of warranty. I had never heard of the dangers of pulling with an adapter until I started following the thread here on this site. Since I have heard it on other sites as well. I have chosen to go ahead and pull ours with the adapter and take our chances. Good luck with your decision. and Happy camping
I would not trust most dealers that are out there.
Agreed, I'd "gotten it in writing" and I'd sure called the manufacturer of the 5er to see what their opinion was, but, sounds like your covered....hopefully...
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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As for the safety issue, ever wonder why a gooseneck hitch requires safety chains, but a fifth wheel does not?
I, too, have a gooseneck ball in my truck. I have towed both types of trailers, and I do NOT agree that the gooseneck is easier to hook up. I have found the fifth wheel much easier, just back up, set the trailer height, and go for it!
If I want a "clean bed", it takes five minutes to remove the fifth wheel hitch, and another 10 minutes to remove the rails, if absolutely necessary. I have removed the rails twice in all the years I have had the hitch installed!
To get a quick explanation and example of the leverage involved, get a standard axe. Single bit or double bit, doesn't matter. Grab the axe right behind the head, and hold your arm out horizontally in front of you. Easy, right? Now, grab the axe handle at the end opposite the head, and again hold it out horizontally in front of you. Can you hold it like that? Not many can. The weight is the same, but the leverage is different. The forces acting on your trailer frame are similar! When you change the length of the lever, the forces change. As some are fond of repeating, you can't mess with the LAWS of physics!
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 274,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '08 Subaru Outback
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited/Load Trail 16' flatbed
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skeetshooter
The Woodlands, Texas
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Joined: 06/01/2004
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When I visited Doubletree, maker of Mobile Suites products I was informed that towing with a GN hitch would void the warranty.
SS
Skeetshooter and Mrs. Skeetshooter
2008 HitchHiker Champagne 36 LKRSB
2003 F250 Lariat 6.0L SD diesel CC, Longbed,4X2 SRW
20K Reese Hitch, Tekonsha Voyger BC, Quadra Auto Big Foot Levelers
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