How to Pull a Gooseneck Trailer With a Bumper Hitch?

My previous guide was about how you can hook up the gooseneck trailer. But many people seemed to be curious about the bumper hitch and how it can be helpful in pulling the gooseneck trailer. Well, many people believe that gooseneck trailers can only be pulled by gooseneck hitch. Is it true?

Can a bumper hitch be used to pull a gooseneck trailer? Or if it is used then how to pull the bumper of the gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch? There are so many questions that can quite easily confuse one who has no technical information. 

Yes, the Bumper hitch can be used to pull a gooseneck trailer. For this purpose, you will need to use the modified hitch that will provide a third axle to your truck and then you can easily connect the trailer with the bumper hitch.

In this blog post, I will try my level best to answer all the related questions that pop up in one ‘s mind. So, something very special is coming on your way. Stay connected so that you don’t miss any information.

Related Article: Can You Pull a Fifth Wheel Trailer With a Van or SUV?

Is it possible to tow a gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch?

Yes, it is possible to tow a gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch. But it is not a very practical and reliable way of towing. Keep in mind that the gooseneck is usually attached to a truck by a ball hitch that is mounted in the bed of the truck. 

But the bumper hitches are attached to the bumper of a vehicle and are not strong enough to handle the weight of a gooseneck trailer. The weight capacity of most bumper hitches is on the lower side. In contrast, the gooseneck trailers are heavy in weight.

Have you ever thought about why gooseneck trailers are so famous among auto motors?

The reason is that they are much heavier than regular trailers and capable of carrying the heaviest of loads that a normal trailer cannot carry. So when you tow such a trailer with the bumper hitch then the result will be dangerous. In fact, if you do that, you might end up damaging your vehicle and the trailer or face a severe accident.

Key Takeaways: Towing a heavy trailer can be dangerous, so it’s essential to have the right hitch and to make sure that it’s properly installed. Bumper hitches have lower weight capacity and they won’t be able to tow the gooseneck trailer smoothly. You will need the hitch with a higher weight capacity.

How to Pull a Gooseneck Trailer With a Bumper Hitch?

Again saying, pulling the gooseneck trailer with the bumper hitch is not recommended.  These hitches are not very strong and have a lesser weight capacity. When you tow or pull the heavy gooseneck trailer, then they will break, the trailer will be separated from the vehicle and you will see a severe accident.

But if still you want to tow your gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch then you will have to modify it. For modification, you will have to visit the mechanic. Once the bumper hitch is modified then it will provide a third axle to your truck.

Once you have modified the bumper hitch, then you can connect the safety chain from the gooseneck trailer to the bumper hitch.  After that, you will need to attach or put the coupler on the hitch ball and lock them there so that their connection doesn’t get loose. 

In the end, you will have to attach the safety chain to the hook of the bumper hitch and tighten them. Before driving the truck, make sure to check the connection by driving it slowly and see the trailer is towed perfectly. I hope by following the modified hitch, you will do a perfect job. 

Disclaimer: I don’t recommend you use a modified hitch to tow the gooseneck trailer. Do it at your own risk.

Use Bumper hitch adapter 

Safety Towing Systems, Inc. has introduced a bumper hitch adapter that works perfectly when used for towing or pulling the gooseneck trailer. This adapter or the modified hitch is like a bumper hitch but without modification, it provides a third axle to the truck and then you can connect the trailer with the truck quite easily.

If you’ve made up your mind to use a bumper hitch, then I recommend you to use these adapters or modified hitches as they give you easy installation and prevent issues like damages or accidents. Another advantage of using these adapters is that you won’t have to go to the mechanic for modification of your bumper hitch.

Can you pull a fifth wheel with a bumper hitch?

To be honest, you can’t pull a fifth wheel with a bumper hitch. A fifth wheel is a type of trailer that is designed to be pulled by a pickup truck. You will have to use a special hitch which is known as a fifth-wheel hitch. However, if you still want your bumper hitch then you will need a hitch adapter produced by Safety Towing Systems, Inc. which will help you use a bumper hitch to tow or pull the 5th wheel. 

Note: The adapter that used to be the fifth wheel is similar to the adapter that you use for pulling a gooseneck trailer. Thanks to the Safety Towing Systems, Inc. 

Is it safe to use a bumper pull adapter?

Yes, Using a bumper pull adapter is safe and you won’t face any problems while using it. But make sure that you don’t exceed the towing limit of the adapter.  I’ve already mentioned that a bumper adapter is a device that helps you to tow a trailer that is designed for a bumper hitch with a gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitch. 

When you are going to tow a trailer having a weight of fewer than 10000 pounds then you can be assured that nothing bad will happen and the bumper pull adapter will give you the smoothing towing. But you might face issues when towing the trailer having a weight greater than 10000 pounds. I recommend you use a bumper pull adapter for towing less than 10000 pounds.

Is it legal to tow a gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch?

The legality of towing a gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch depends on the laws and regulations in your state or region. In some states, it is legal to use a bumper hitch to tow a gooseneck trailer while countries don’t allow this.

I suggest you check the towing regulations in your state or region before towing a gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch. You might feel confused about how you should know if it is allowed or not. Don’t worry. Visit the website of your state’s department of transportation and their laws and regulations will be mentioned there.

Why do some states consider it illegal to tow the gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch?

Many regions consider it illegal due to safety concerns. Towing a heavy trailer with a bumper hitch can put a lot of stress on your vehicle and can make the towing experience more dangerous and make you more exposed to accidents. 

It is not only bad for you, but also for other citizens driving on the road. You can hit other citizens on the road and cause problems for them due to your improper way of towing the gooseneck trailer with a bumper hitch.

Conclusion

So, winding up this article by saying that you can tow the gooseneck trailer with the bumper hitch, but it can be scary bad if it fails. I don’t recommend you go that way.  However, if you are willing to use a bumper hitch, then use an adapter that will make life easier and give you an easy and comfortable towing experience. I hope that this guide will be useful for you.