If you stay with the gooseneck, I will offer the thought that perhaps you should change the bottom part of the gooseneck adapter to the straight version which is compatible with your long bed and would eliminate the weight being behind the ball. Part No. For newer models that need longer steel bars, order the Extended Rota-Flex lockout kit (item 123082). Roto Flex will set you back around $700 and the B&W hitch another $1200. This kit is designed to fit most Rota-Flex pin boxes. You are correct that changing over will be expensive. Another part of that solution is the Curt Roto-Flex pin box which also absorbs a lot of the motion. BTW, chucking was always a problem with my gooseneck horse trailers. I don't know if the same will be true for the gooseneck. See the attached picture that's my "avatar". I have it set at the upper position and the clearance to the box is more than 6 inches and the trailer sits level. This hitch is great for off camber hitching. The B&W Companion is very quiet and there is absolutely no chucking. I'm sure there are fifth wheel hitches that suffer from "chucking" and noise. In fact, because the hitch breaks down in two pieces, I can take the whole thing in/out by myself. Very secure and not a permanent mounting. My truck has the factory gooseneck/fifth wheel package which allowed for a drop in B&W hitch using cam locks. I won't say that is unsafe, but would say "suboptimal". Fits Rota-Flex Box with outside edges from 10-7/8' to 11-5/8'. Keeps rubber pad in the Rota-Flex pin box from shifting over time. Prevents damage to the hitch or tow vehicle. My estimate is that situation puts an upward strain on the ball any time the front of the trailer goes down. Required when using the Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection with Rota-Flex pin box. The offset you have creates a lever where the pin weight is behind the ball. The gooseneck adapter changes that to a point load. If you look at a gooseneck horse trailer there is considerable "webbing" along the hitch to distribute the load. The gooseneck adapter changes the geometry of how the load is distributed quite dramatically. Fifth wheel trailers are designed to carry the hitch load through a pin box. The gooseneck is not more solid the fifth wheel hitch "captures" the pin more securely and allows significant articulation both side to side and front to back. ![]() Again, these are my opinions and others may disagree.
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