hi, have a 48' race trailer with LQ. gooseneck and a 96 dodge 1ton ext cab. found a cowtown walk in sleeper worth the money and with 5ppl on 6+ hour trips could use the the extra seating. but with 33inch sleeper we can not turn the truck vary far before it hits the sleeper.. can you convert a gooseneck into a 5th wheel then use like the sidewinder to move the pivit point back and clear? Just tring to get a lil more room for the crew with out having to buy a new truck. Thanks for the help. Anthony
... can you convert a gooseneck into a 5th wheel then use like the sidewinder to move the pivit point back and clear?
Should work. Any decent welding shop can replace the gooseneck with a pinbox and kingpin. A Sidewinder is a simple pin box extender that moves the pin out 20". That's still not enough to clear a 33" box in the bed for a full jacknife, but it would give you a lot tighter turning radius than you now have.
But instead of a sidewinder or manual sliding fifth-wheel hitch, I'd want to get the automatic PullRite SuperGlide hitch. Not cheap, but you're worth it. But you probably still can't fully jacknife the trailer. With a 14k or 18k hitch, the SuperGlide adds 14" to the hitch during a tight turn, which is even less than the SideWinder. But when I'm on the interstate, I want that kingpin over the axle, not 20" out behind the axle. PullRite SuperGlide
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I have a 4 horse goose neck that I converted to fith wheel. all it took was an isert that slips in where the goose neck insert is. than you can get the sliding Fith wheel hitch made for short bed trucks and than you are in business
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CLICK HERE to see a round gooseneck insert with a kingpin on the bottom. I think this is like what PATC used. It will not help with clearances issues, though - Smokey's "trip to the welder" is probably what you will need.
Dave / Believer45
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Last edited by Believer45 : 10-31-2009 at 06:34 AM.
thanks for the help guys!! are worry is if we are up on the highway and something bad happen and i had to jack knife the trailer in a hurry, the trailer would take out who ever is in the sleeper....not worth it, but i am only 200 in on the sleeper. It was a good though tho....
But instead of a sidewinder or manual sliding fifth-wheel hitch, I'd want to get the automatic PullRite SuperGlide hitch. Not cheap, but you're worth it. But you probably still can't fully jacknife the trailer. With a 14k or 18k hitch, the SuperGlide adds 14" to the hitch during a tight turn, which is even less than the SideWinder. But when I'm on the interstate, I want that kingpin over the axle, not 20" out behind the axle. PullRite SuperGlide
I can vouch for that. I've been using mine behind a sleeper for years. Best hitch money I ever spent for my application. I use it with a TrailAire pin box extension as well. Can't see that in the pic. See my rig in my sig.
I can vouch for that. I've been using mine behind a sleeper for years. Best hitch money I ever spent for my application. I use it with a TrailAire pin box extension as well.
How much extension did TrailAir add to your stock pin box? It looks like their stock unit replaces your stock pin box without adding an extension? Trailair
With your setup, how close to a 90° jacknife can you get?
The Colibert Rail Rider slider gooseneck setup gives you only 9" extra cab clearance. Colibert
Certainly better than a sharp stick in the eye, but not much.
How much extension did TrailAir add to your stock pin box? It looks like their stock unit replaces your stock pin box without adding an extension? Trailair
With your setup, how close to a 90° jacknife can you get?
My 5vr had a fixed, extended pinbox, I ordered it that way. The TrailAire just gave it a cushion between the truck & trailer. My recollection is the pinbox extension was approx 8" -10". With the PullRite & ext pinbox, I can get to about 70* maybe. Just a guess though. I've been using this setup for about 6 years now. I know it's not for everyone, but this solution was good enough for me. I didn't want to lose the sleeper.
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