Reese 5th wheel hitch question???
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
When I had my old V10 gasser 250, I used a goose neck adapter for 2 seasons and put about 21,000 miles on the 9500 pound trailer. I did develop cracks just forward of the wheels on the passenger side frame rail on the camper. Dan, where did you read or hear about frame cracks and where did the develop? I bought my camper new and the dealer installed the adapter so I could drive it off the lot, but when I got my 7.3 F-350 dually, it had a fifth wheel already installed in the bed so I didn't need the adapter anymore and since the factory repaired the cracks, they have not redeveloped. The factory rep that repaired it, said it was because the frame was flexing side to side along with the length of the spring shackles. He put a 2 inch square thick wall tube between the frame rails to prevent flex and welded up the crack and put stiffening plates on each side of the frame rail and so far so good..nearly 15,000 miles since and all is OK......Thanks for any insight on frame cracks..Dave
See the pics of the cracks....As you can see, it is directly above the forward spring shackle on the right frame rail.
See the pics of the cracks....As you can see, it is directly above the forward spring shackle on the right frame rail.
Here are two examples after a quick google search:
Sorry to hear about your spring shakles tearing away.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...onversion.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...gooseneck.html
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
From: Charleston SC
Looks like mine was different
Thanks for the links Dan. It looks like the manufacturer of my camper was correct in thier assesment of the cracks being related to the frame flex. The fix he did was a manufacturer approved modification to the frame rails to stiffen them up to prevent further cracking. I have checked my pin box and there appears to be no cracks or anything related to the adapter. Thanks for the links...Dave
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