# Travel >> Transportation >> RV

How to Convert a Ball to a 5th Wheel Adapter

Adventure seekers tend to tow their accessories, such as boats or trailers, with a large pickup truck. The actual towing attachment is usually either a gooseneck ball or fifth wheel plate. Both of these attachments are permanently connected to the center bed of the pickup truck. However, some truck owners need to attach a fifth wheel trailer to a pickup's permanent gooseneck ball, requiring a costly removal and replacement procedure to match the towing attachments. Luckily, many manufacturers offer adapters for converting a ball into a fifth wheel attachment, saving time and money.

Ball-to-fifth wheel adapter

Instructions

- 1
  Place the adapter's tube length onto the pickup's gooseneck ball. Tighten the adapter to the ball with the protruding lever. Pull up on the adapter to verify that the ball and adapter are snugly pressed against each other.
- 2
  Back the pickup truck under the towing item's connection point. Make sure the towing item's fifth wheel connection point is centered exactly above the adapter in the truck bed's middle area.
- 3
  Carefully connect the towing item, or trailer's, fifth wheel connection point into the adapter. Attach the safety chains from the adapter to the connected trailer attachment. Verify that the chain connection is closed before driving.
- 4
  Start the pickup truck and test the towing configuration by driving a short distance. The adapter should not alter how the vehicles move with each other. The feel of the towing process, while driving, should resemble a normal towing process without an adapter.