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Old 03-16-2016, 12:07 PM   #1
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Goose neck or 5th wheel hitch

I just bought another 5'ver, 38QB Sanibel. I was talking to an installer and he recommended a gooseneck as opposed to a 5th wheel hitch. I have towed 5th wheels before. I have a new F350, no hitch.
Looking for some insight about the towing difference, pros and cons. The goose neck comes with an air ride. The trailer weights about 14,000 and the pin is around 2,300.
Big difference in the weight of the hitches and I want an under body set up, leaves the bed open. My old Ford Had rails, didn't like it, plus the weight of the hitch to take in and out.
Thanks Bob
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Old 03-16-2016, 12:14 PM   #2
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Tastes Great
Less Filling
Tastes Great
Less Filling

haha.

You'll get a ton of answers. Here's what I just installed. All of that comes out and just one small hole in bed of truck:


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Old 03-16-2016, 12:29 PM   #3
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Many fifth wheel trailers are not designed to be used as goosenecks too much stress put on the front frame. Having said that many have done it with no issues but personally if you added a gooseneck adapter I would keep a serious eye out for frame cracks and double check that it won't void your warranty. And yes Lippert makes an adapter...........

It is easier to hook up a fifth wheel.......... I have a gooseneck car hauler that now has a fifth wheel plate. . I went the other way.


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Old 03-16-2016, 01:23 PM   #4
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Oak Level, Thank you for your reply. I didn't ask about the warranty, but I will. I always towed with a 5th wheel hitch, teamster 17 years plus all my other 5'vers. The installer just brought up the thought of the gooseneck, with the air ride built in. It's a lot cheaper, but I never towed with a gooseneck before. I'm leery about towing 15,000 lb trailer on a ball anyway.
Getting old and hitch removal going to be problem for me. Just wanted to get some incite on the two. I am leaning toward the 5th wheel hitch.

Bob
Ps. My buddy had a 65 muskrat with a 289 hiper in it and a 67 with a 390. just noticed you Sig. They are long gone. I know he wishes he had them now.
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Old 03-16-2016, 01:34 PM   #5
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I just bought the Andersen Ultimate aluminum fifth wheel hitch. I use it for the first time Friday but so far taking it in and out of the truck as been awesome. It weighs 32 pounds.
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Old 03-16-2016, 01:43 PM   #6
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Google "Reese Goosebox" and also search this forum. You will find a ton of information, and several posts by me on the advantages of the Goosebox. Nothing to put in the truck bed or remove. No maintenance except to keep 35-50 psi of air in the Goosebox. I really like mine, and will never use anything else. The only downside is that it's a little more trouble to hook up because you cannot see the hitch ball, so there is a little trial and error to hooking up, unless you have a single cab truck. Two people make it easy. Install a B&W turnover ball in the truck, and you will always have a clean bed...no rails that keep snagging on everything you want to haul. Good luck
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Old 03-16-2016, 01:55 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidg View Post
Google "Reese Goosebox" and also search this forum. You will find a ton of information, and several posts by me on the advantages of the Goosebox. Nothing to put in the truck bed or remove. No maintenance except to keep 35-50 psi of air in the Goosebox. I really like mine, and will never use anything else. The only downside is that it's a little more trouble to hook up because you cannot see the hitch ball, so there is a little trial and error to hooking up, unless you have a single cab truck. Two people make it easy. Install a B&W turnover ball in the truck, and you will always have a clean bed...no rails that keep snagging on everything you want to haul. Good luck
That's the hitch I was talking about. I figured it would be more difficult to hook up, like hooking up to a boat trailer.
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Old 03-16-2016, 01:58 PM   #8
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Big difference in the weight of the hitches and I want an under body set up, leaves the bed open. My old Ford Had rails, didn't like it, plus the weight of the hitch to take in and out.

Sounds like you have it figured out....if not, flip a quarter.
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Old 03-16-2016, 02:07 PM   #9
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Check with Lippert about their warranty. The Goosebox will not affect the frame warranty. A gooseneck adapter will. I have a friend who bought an XLR with a gooseneck adapter installed by the selling dealer. He now uses a Goosebox. I helped him install it.
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Old 03-16-2016, 02:41 PM   #10
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Gooseneck Mount - Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection

I have the Aluminum one and it's about $630 on Amazon. My truck already had a pop up brand gooseneck in the bed.
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Old 03-16-2016, 03:06 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidg View Post
Check with Lippert about their warranty. The Goosebox will not affect the frame warranty. A gooseneck adapter will. I have a friend who bought an XLR with a gooseneck adapter installed by the selling dealer. He now uses a Goosebox. I helped him install it.
That's what I plan to do. I'll let the dealer put the hitch in the bed and my son and I will change out the pin box. My trailer is 40' long, make a difference?
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Old 03-16-2016, 03:12 PM   #12
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One small point. Must, if not all, states


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Old 03-16-2016, 03:13 PM   #13
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Let's try this again, all the way to the end.

Most, if not all states, require safety chains on gooseneck hitched.


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Old 03-16-2016, 04:19 PM   #14
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The Andersen hitch is a fifth wheel hitch and does not require chains. That's straight from the manufacturer.
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Old 03-16-2016, 04:32 PM   #15
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You can install a B&W hide-a-ball in your truck then put the Reese Goosebox on and you are done! Goosebox is apporived by Lippert and does not void the warranty. I went this route for the same reasons as you.

It has air suspension and makes it smooth as silk with no clunking around like a pin box hitch.

Goosebox:


This is the one installed on our fiver. It has a max pin weight of 3200lbs as well.
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Old 03-16-2016, 04:39 PM   #16
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B&W Turnoverball Hitch (under bed gooseneck) and their Companion hitch for me.

Completely empty bed when you're done. And the hitch comes out in 2 manageable pieces.

http://www.learntorv.com/2013/05/b-t...ion-hitch.html
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Old 03-16-2016, 04:47 PM   #17
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^^^^^This
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Old 03-16-2016, 08:38 PM   #18
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[QUOTE=Dogbone;1132476]Oak Level, Thank you for your reply. I didn't ask about the warranty, but I will. I always towed with a 5th wheel hitch, teamster 17 years plus all my other 5'vers. The installer just brought up the thought of the gooseneck, with the air ride built in. It's a lot cheaper, but I never towed with a gooseneck before. I'm leery about towing 15,000 lb trailer on a ball anyway.
Getting old and hitch removal going to be problem for me. Just wanted to get some incite on the two. I am leaning toward the 5th wheel hitch.

The weight is not a problem. The goose neck ball is rated higher than most if not all the fifth wheel plates. I have not seen one rated higher. The gooseneck is rated at 30,000 lbs and a 7500 lb vertical load. The only complaint I have with the gooseneck hookup is having to climb into the bed to hook up. I am going the other way and purchasing a B&w companion hitch as soon as I can afford it.


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Old 03-16-2016, 09:37 PM   #19
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T, at the end of the day, you have to be comfortable with your equipment. The Companion is a fine fiver hitch. A friend of ours on the deer lease has one and loves it, but he's under 40. One of the reasons I went with the Goosebox is that I'm getting older with not the best back in the world and the fifth hitch was getting heavy, and I needed a place out of the weather to store it. Things made of steel here in Louisiana tend to begin rusting at an early age.
Good luck whichever way you decide is right for you.
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Old 03-16-2016, 09:48 PM   #20
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... but he's under 40. One of the reasons I went with the Goosebox is that I'm getting older with not the best back in the world and the fifth hitch was getting heavy...
(I don't ask this with any attitude or aggression- truly curious.)

Being over 40 with a bad back, isn't it a PITA to have to climb into the bed to connect the safety chains?

I'd either have to lay/wiggle into the bed from the tailgate or climb painfully over the dually hips to hook them up.
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