Ranch Hitch Adapter
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Ranch Hitch Adapter
Hey Guys:
95' f250 HD 2whl drive ext. cab 8' bed auto PSD Powered
Pulling a 11,300 to 13,000 gvwr trailer
I'm new to this whole site as I have tried to educate myself on my 1st PSD. My problem is truck has a mounted ball in the bed so when we bought a used 5th wheel we either had to purchase a 5th hitch or use the ball in the bed. Dealership talked me into a Ranch Hitch Adapter and said this would the towing just fine. Again NEW TO PSD & Towing a 5TH WHEEL. Problem drining home 1st time --BUCKING-- when I hit some bad pavement. Really rough let off the gas for the Truck & Trailer to quit I call it flexing I call it. I'm just going to pull the 5th wheel trailer not farm trailers. Has anybody had any or purchased this kind of adapter or did the dealership just talk me into something that's not safe for this kind of towing just like not knowing but trying to make a safe and informed choice. I hope this was not the case of a (nothing personal) used car salesman talk. Thanks for any info you can provide... Leonard
95' f250 HD 2whl drive ext. cab 8' bed auto PSD Powered
Pulling a 11,300 to 13,000 gvwr trailer
I'm new to this whole site as I have tried to educate myself on my 1st PSD. My problem is truck has a mounted ball in the bed so when we bought a used 5th wheel we either had to purchase a 5th hitch or use the ball in the bed. Dealership talked me into a Ranch Hitch Adapter and said this would the towing just fine. Again NEW TO PSD & Towing a 5TH WHEEL. Problem drining home 1st time --BUCKING-- when I hit some bad pavement. Really rough let off the gas for the Truck & Trailer to quit I call it flexing I call it. I'm just going to pull the 5th wheel trailer not farm trailers. Has anybody had any or purchased this kind of adapter or did the dealership just talk me into something that's not safe for this kind of towing just like not knowing but trying to make a safe and informed choice. I hope this was not the case of a (nothing personal) used car salesman talk. Thanks for any info you can provide... Leonard
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 462
Likes: 13
From: Lovettsville, VA
When you say bucking...what specifically do you mean?
I've never heard of gooseneck (or 5th wheel) trailers causing a truck to "porpoise" like TAG trailers do. Porpoising is when the pickup hits a bump, and then the whole rig starts to do what is essentially the wave from front to back until it settles out.
Or do you mean the trailer was pushing against the adapter and causing the adapter to bend to and fro from the trailer?
I've never heard of gooseneck (or 5th wheel) trailers causing a truck to "porpoise" like TAG trailers do. Porpoising is when the pickup hits a bump, and then the whole rig starts to do what is essentially the wave from front to back until it settles out.
Or do you mean the trailer was pushing against the adapter and causing the adapter to bend to and fro from the trailer?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,667
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From: Glen Rose,Texas
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
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From: Orrville, Ohio
As far as the "bucking" goes if it is not porpoising (up and down movement between the truck and trailer) what you may be feeling is just the push/pull "bucking" that is typical with pulling a trailer that size and weight. If you're not used to it, it can really feel like there is something wrong, but some degree of this "bucking" feeling is normal with a large, heavy trailer. It is caused by the fact that the trailer pulls on the truck as it goes up a bump and pushes on the truck as it goes down the bump. Think of the bump as a small hill and you'll see what I mean.
Have you towed anything like this before? I really hope you don't think I am talking down to you, but if it is the first time you've towed something this size, it can really be an eye opening experience when you feel that "bucking".
Have you towed anything like this before? I really hope you don't think I am talking down to you, but if it is the first time you've towed something this size, it can really be an eye opening experience when you feel that "bucking".
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Berwick, PA
Thats a pretty neat looking adapter. Doesnt look like there would be any flex really. The only part that bothers me is the 2 set screws for the up and down adjustment( I watched an installation video). I would want bolts that go all the way through. But thats me. And I have both a gooseneck and a 5th wheel. You wanna use the gooseneck you just pull 4 pins and the 5th hitch comes out and the gooseneck is right under it.
Maybe you could get somebody that pulls with a 5th wheel to ride with you and verify the feel of it if it is your first time.
Maybe you could get somebody that pulls with a 5th wheel to ride with you and verify the feel of it if it is your first time.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 5
From: Slatington, PA
Sometimes the box for the kingpin on the trailer can flex from the extra leverage that adapter puts on it. Does the trailer feel like its pushing/pulling on the truck when this happens?
If you're strictly pulling a 5th wheel trailer and won't tow a gooseneck, its worth investing in a 5th wheel hitch instead of using the adapter.
If you're strictly pulling a 5th wheel trailer and won't tow a gooseneck, its worth investing in a 5th wheel hitch instead of using the adapter.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
From: West Texas
I'd keep the gooseneck if it were mine. I trust mine a lot more than any 5th wheel I've ever seen. I've busted kingpins twice now on big trucks and it was not fun. Both had diesel tankers on the hitch too. One was in the Army in Iraq and one was a civilian truck in the states just going over some tracks.
Anyway, the trailer place I deal with here sells something that looks like those but since this is gooseneck country they weld them on to the king pin plate and last one I got I welded the tube too after I set the height where it's supposed to be. Nothings moving then. My gooseneck plate is a 1 1/4 thick piece of steel welded across the frame with the big shank ball screwed in so no way it's going to go anywhere. I never have to worry about steep driveways, ruts or railroad tracks with it. That's the nice thing about goosenecks. I also don't have to take my big fuel tank out of the bed to use it. With the 5th wheel in place I do because the fuel tank is over two of my bolt holes.
Anyway, the trailer place I deal with here sells something that looks like those but since this is gooseneck country they weld them on to the king pin plate and last one I got I welded the tube too after I set the height where it's supposed to be. Nothings moving then. My gooseneck plate is a 1 1/4 thick piece of steel welded across the frame with the big shank ball screwed in so no way it's going to go anywhere. I never have to worry about steep driveways, ruts or railroad tracks with it. That's the nice thing about goosenecks. I also don't have to take my big fuel tank out of the bed to use it. With the 5th wheel in place I do because the fuel tank is over two of my bolt holes.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 339
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From: Texas
I am right there with RRanch on this one, I've never had any trouble with my gooseneck, fully loaded @15k lbs, I've seen kingpins break on the trailers of some hot shot jobbers i know, had me reaching for the Fanny Floss
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As the word bucking came from the dealer. It sounds like porpoising is the same thing that I had. The new to me 95' PSD is 3/4 ton with 3 extra leaves on each side. what will a set of air bags help and what size what brand? I have towed travel trailers but not this big before. I do think safety first then peace of mind on my nerves not to mention the wife which reflects directly back on me!!! The though of FANNY FLOSS should be in the 1st aid kit and should be easy to get too. Also the dealership was talking to me about a 16k Reese hitch as an option any thoughts or should be a little bigger this is another can of worms...Thanks for the info and I'll try to weigh through the info...Leonard---High Ridge,Mo.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,408
Likes: 75
From: Plankinton, SD
I'm not for the adaptor at all. I say you should set up the combination the right way, whichever way you want to go. I'm more of a fan of the gooseneck, that's the way my truck is setup, my trailer has a tube you can change to whichever way the truck is. I'd much rather have a 5th wheel though than any combination with the adaptor.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 462
Likes: 13
From: Lovettsville, VA
You'll have to take the add-a-leafs off to add the air bags. The nice thing about air bags is you can deflate them when you're running empty. With add-a-leafs the rear suspension is very stiff when you're empty and very rough on the bumps.
That being said, the add-a-leafs should prevent the porpoising. I can't imagine how bad it would have been without them installed.
I looked at the webpage for the adapter and it costs about the same as a good 5th wheel setup. So, I'd throw my hat in for returning the adapter and buying a 5th wheel hitch. All of the ones I've seen are removable.
Just make sure you keep the hitch plates well greased, and don't drive it like you stole it. You'll be just fine. That's my $0.02 on the subject.
That being said, the add-a-leafs should prevent the porpoising. I can't imagine how bad it would have been without them installed.
I looked at the webpage for the adapter and it costs about the same as a good 5th wheel setup. So, I'd throw my hat in for returning the adapter and buying a 5th wheel hitch. All of the ones I've seen are removable.
Just make sure you keep the hitch plates well greased, and don't drive it like you stole it. You'll be just fine. That's my $0.02 on the subject.
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