5th Wheel Hitch Installed

Hello All,

I'm new to TW, been researching a lot about putting in a 5th wheel/gooseneck hitch and noticed no one really did a build on one.

I purchased a camper in hopes that i could figure out some way to mount a gooseneck hitch. But i've only seen one or two installs for smaller trailers.

The Taco is a great truck and rated to pull 6500 lbs with the towing package. I'll be towing a 5000lb camper loaded so about 6000.

Recently I fabricated a mounting kit, and mounted my Curt gooseneck. Here are some pics. I'll post more on this later depending on how many others are interested.

BTW, I took this project very seriously. I'm not completely done yet, but for sure when i'm finished it will be very safe and stable. I'll post completion pics later on next week.

Thanks,

 

Welcome to TW!

I don't mean to rain on your parade but the Tacoma isn't really the best haul vehicle for a trailer that requires a goose neck. What's the tongue weight on the trailer? Hopefully you did your homework and will be happy with the Tacoma as a hauler!

 

I wanna see what it looks like haulin the trailer!

 

I've wondered if this could be done...

 

Anything CAN be done. Notice the custom made bracketry the OP had to make in order to mount the gooseneck onto a Tacoma. There's a reason no one makes a gooseneck hitch for a Tacoma. The majority of trailers that require that kind of receiver will be way too heavy for the Tacoma to handle.

 

Ive never seen a 5,000 lb fifth wheel camper...

 

Scamp makes a couple.

 

• 
  [*]Fiberglass construction
  [*]
  Overall length: 19’ 0”​
  [*]
  Overall height: 8’ 10”​
  [*]
  Overall width: 6’ 8”​
  [*]
  Interior length: 17’ 10”​
  [*]
  Interior height: 6’ 3”​
  [*]
  Interior width: 6’ 6”​
  [*]
  Super insulation (R15)​
  [*]
  20 amp power converter​
  [*]
  12 and 120 volt lighting​
  [*]
  12 gallon fresh water tank​
  [*]
  Sleeps one to six​
  [*]
  Rear opening window​
  [*]
  Table converts to bed​
  [*]
  Sofa converts to bunks​
  [*]
  Queen size bed in loft​
  [*]
  Upholstered interior​
  [*]
  Cushions​
  [*]
  Wood panel interior doors​
  [*]
  Sink​
  [*]
  Ice box​
  [*]
  Fiberglass cabinets​
  [*]
  Dual gas tanks​
  [*]
• 
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  [*]Beige curtains
  [*]
  Sliding windows/screens​
  [*]
  Roof vent​
  [*]
  Mounted stabilizer jacks​
  [*]
  Custom made in Minnesota​
  [*]
• 
  
• 
  
  
  

• 
  [*]Approx. weight: 2000 lbs.
  [*]
  Electric brakes​
  [*]
  5000 lb. hitch​
  [*]
  3500 lb. axel​
  [*]
  Hitch weight: 400 lbs. approx​
  [*]
  25’ service cord​
  [*]
  Spare tire wheel & cover​
  [*]
  Safety chains​
  [*]
  Torsion bar suspension​
  [*]
  Tires: 13” C load radial​
  [*]
  11 gauge steel frame​
  [*]
  Fiberglass coated floor​
  [*]
  Two burner stove​
  [*]
  Outside step​
  [*]
  Brown carpet​
  [*]
  Clothes closet​
  [*]
  Privacy room​
  [*]
  Porch light​
  [*]
• 
  
• 
  
  

 

It's a Jayco 24ft. Around 5400-5500lbs dry and was somewhere around 6200 when it was loaded with basic stuff (tanks empty). Tongue Weight is around 600lb.

 

I hope you have the suspension to handle it... I think I would have chosen a heavier tow vehicle if it were me. Let us know how it goes!

 

sounds completely managable. what do you have left to do to finish the install?

 

2 Extra Leafs in the rear on each side for now. As I said, not yet done so if it sags too much I'll go with an airbag system. My main concern is keeping it safe. Making sure that the mount isn't going anywhere and that the taco can stop it quickly and safely. I've added EBC Yellow Stuff brakes along with some heavier rotors for better braking.

As always, Safety First

 

It's good to hear you're not taking this project lightly. That's a lot of weight that's going to be behind the cab and it seems you're taking precautions and trying to do things the right way.

I'm going to leave this here in anticipation of the finished product hooked up to the trailer!

 

No one ever got anywhere without taking a little risk. Go for it man, the taco is beast and I would really like to see the outcome of this.

 

If you notice where the shock is mounted there isn't an angle mount put there. A 1/2" Steel block will go there and be welded in place. Other than that just a trip to the hardware store for some Grade 5 carriage bolts and some paint I'll be done.

 

Grade 5?

Safety first! Grade 8.

 

x2, grade 8 for this kind of application.

 

grade 5 has a minimum tensile strength of 120000psi. at 60% of the tensile strength (what is considdered the standard for calculating sheer since there are not official shear ratings), grade 5 has a 70000psi shear strength. with the number of bolts he's using and the decently large size(crossectional area in the direction of the forece), you're not going to be breaking grade 5 hardware.

but i do completely agree, why not use grade 8 for a couple extra bucks and some extra piece of mind.

 

IF anything were to go wrong, good luck getting insurance to be on your side. Even if it 100% isn't your fault.

They'll take one look in the manual, see that it states the Tacoma is not rated to tow 5th wheels, and that you modified it yourself, and deny your claim right then and there.