SuperSprings International and B&W Trailer Hitches announced a new partnership surrounding B&W’s Fifth Wheel to Gooseneck Adapter, a jointly developed towing solution that uses custom SumoSprings® technology to improve the connection between the truck and trailer.
The new adapter has already been recognized by the RV aftermarket, winning 2026 Product of the Year at the RV Industry Association's Aftermarket Conference.
For SuperSprings International and B&W Trailer Hitches, the partnership was a natural fit from the start.
B&W Trailer Hitches has spent decades designing towing products and understanding the forces and movement at the truck and trailer connection. SuperSprings International has spent decades developing suspension products that control movement, absorb road shock and improve the way vehicles feel under load.
This project gave both companies the opportunity to bring those two areas of expertise together.
“When we decided to develop a fifth wheel to gooseneck adapter, we conducted market research to determine which features were most important [to customers],” said Taylor Jones, Director of Engineering at B&W Trailer Hitches. “I believe that we have a superior product because of the SumoSpring.”
More Than Just an Adapter
A fifth wheel to gooseneck adapter already solves a practical problem: it gives owners another way to connect their trailer without losing valuable space in the truck bed.
But B&W wanted to do more than simply change the connection point. They wanted to improve the ride.
That’s where SuperSprings came into the project.
B&W Trailer Hitches and SuperSprings International worked together to develop a SumoSpring specifically for the adapter, rather than taking an existing spring and trying to make it fit the application.
The custom SumoSpring works with B&W’s trapezoidal linkage design to provide both vertical and longitudinal cushioning. In simple terms, it helps absorb movement from the road while also controlling the push and pull between the truck and trailer, commonly known as chucking.
“The best thing about the SumoSpring is its superior dampening characteristics,” Jones said. “We spent a ton of time dialing in what I call the spring curves, or the spring characteristics, to get the perfect spring.”
According to B&W Trailer Hitches, dual-axis cushioning is what sets the new adapter apart. “…[And] the SumoSpring just made it that much easier to do,” stated Jones.
Tackling Chucking in the Real World
One of the biggest takeaways from testing was just how much longitudinal movement can impact the towing experience. It becomes especially noticeable in stop-and-go traffic, where the trailer repeatedly pushes and pulls against the truck as the driver accelerates and brakes.
The SumoSpring became an important part of controlling that movement.
“The SumoSpring really shines when it comes to damping that out,” Jones said. “That was something we focused on because we wanted to make the towing experience as good as possible. Once we got there, it really delivered.”
Ultimately, that was the goal of the partnership: not simply adding technology for the sake of innovation, but developing something that drivers can actually feel when they’re towing.
Proven Technology, Used Differently
SumoSprings are already widely used on trucks, SUVs, vans, RVs, and trailers to improve stability, load support, and ride quality. What’s new is where it is being used: integrated directly into the towing connection rather than the vehicle suspension.
For B&W Trailer Hitches, the technology’s proven performance and strong reputation were a key advantage.
“What we love about the SumoSpring is that it's durable, maintenance-free, and it has superior dampening characteristics,” Jones said. “The SumoSpring was already used in the RV industry, and it had a really good reputation, so ease of adoption for a new and innovative product — that's really critical.”
Unlike air-based systems, the SumoSpring requires no airlines, compressor, or pressure adjustments. It simply works as part of the adapter.
“This partnership is a great example of what we mean when we talk about solving real problems with the right technology,” said Gerry Lamberti, CEO of SuperSprings International. “B&W Trailer Hitches knows towing, we know suspension, and by bringing those two areas of expertise together we were able to create something that genuinely improves the experience for the customer.”
A Partnership Built Around Quality
There was another reason the companies were a natural fit: both place a high value on American manufacturing and maintaining tight control over product quality.
For this application, consistency in the SumoSpring is especially important. Even small changes in its characteristics can affect how the adapter performs, something B&W Trailer Hitches emphasized throughout the development process.
“It's just paramount that it's an American-made product. We have a great partnership,” Jones said. “The tight control that SuperSprings and SumoSprings has on the quality... that’s being maintained because it ultimately controls the overall performance of the product.”
The partnership went beyond simply sourcing a component. Both teams worked together to develop and refine the spring and adapter until they achieved the ride characteristics they were looking for.
That level of collaboration is what made the project successful. Each company brought expertise the other didn’t have, and the finished product is better because of it.
Making Hookup Easier, Too
While ride quality was a major focus of development, B&W also paid attention to one of the less glamorous parts of towing: getting connected.
Anyone who’s hooked up a truck to a trailer knows that lining the ball up beneath the coupler isn’t the easiest, especially if you’re more accustomed to towing with a fifth wheel hitch. The new adapter addresses this with a large funnel designed to help guide the gooseneck ball into position. The coupler also features an automatic latching system that resets when the trailer is disconnected, leaving it ready for the next time you need to hitch up.
These may seem like simple features, but they help solve real-world frustrations. That same philosophy carries through the entire product: make it easier to hook up, make it better to tow, and do it without adding unnecessary maintenance wherever possible.
Awarded 2026 RVIA Aftermarket Product of the Year
The new Fifth Wheel to Gooseneck Adapter received an early vote of confidence from the RV industry when it was named 2026 Product of the Year at the RV Industry Association's Aftermarket Conference.
For B&W Trailer Hitches and SuperSprings International, this recognition is especially meaningful because it came from a true development partnership. B&W Trailer Hitches brought the hitch expertise, while SuperSprings International engineered the integrated SumoSpring® specifically for this purpose.
Together, the teams tested, refined and fine-tuned the system to create an American-made adapter designed for a smoother, more controlled towing experience.
Sometimes innovation is simply finding a smarter way to make two great things work together.
For more information, visit https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/ and https://www.superspringsinterational.com/.