Standard hitch vs. gooseneck hitch

I've been following threads like this as we plan on upgrading to a fifth wheel, and really want to make the best choice for a hitch. The above Keystone letter refers to the "Anderson Goose Neck Adapter". No such thing on their website. They offer the "Ranch Hitch Adapter", which appears to be a goose neck adapter, and the "Anderson Ultimate Hitch" Which is a hitch and not an adapter. So what is the above letter referring to? I just don't yet know enough about fifth wheel hitches.

Here is the Keystone Memo:

MEMORANDUM
To: All Keystone Dealers
From: Keystone Customer Service
Date: March 1, 2021
Re: WARRANTY COVERAGE RELATED TO DAMAGE
CAUSED BY GOOSE NECK ADAPTERS

As you all know, Keystone fifth wheels come equipped with a pin box system designed to be used with a
conventional fifth wheel hitch system. Sometimes customers use goose neck adapters with the
conventional systems. Before Keystone would consider covering under its limited warranty any damage
to a fifth wheel caused by or associated with a goose neck adapter, the adapter would need to have
been approved by Keystone. Otherwise, the “unauthorized” attachment, in this case the goose neck
adapter, would cause an exclusion from warranty coverage.
There are various brands of goose neck adapters in the industry, none of which have ever been
“authorized” or “approved for use” by Keystone, except for the Reese Goose Box and the Anderson
Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection Goose Neck Adapter. Over the past couple of years we have noticed an
increase in the number of frame failures and sidewall damage on fifth wheels that use the Anderson
Goose Neck Adapter.
Lippert Components is the leading frame supplier in the RV Industry and has the expertise to evaluate
the use of goose neck adapters and the effect of their use on a fifth wheel. We approached LCI and
were informed that it has not, and it will not, honor or pay any warranty claims for damage to the front
end frame/structure or any parts or components of any fifth wheel, when a fifth wheel is being used
with any goose neck adapter, with the exception of the “Reese Goose Box” (having gone through
extensive suitability testing by Reese and LCI). LCI informed us that this policy and warranty exclusion,
except for the Reese Goose Box, applies to all brand fifth wheels currently being sold the in RV
Industry today, not just Keystone.
In light of the position being taken by LCI with all fifth wheel brands in the industry and Keystone’s
further evaluation of the effects of a goose neck adapter on a fifth wheel, Anderson Goose Neck
Adapters are no longer authorized or approved for use on Keystone, Dutchmen or CrossRoads products.
This decision is not a commentary or negative statement regarding the Anderson brand or the quality of
the brand. And, this does not mean that an Anderson Goose Neck Adapter cannot be used with a
Keystone product. Rather, we are simply stating that if Anderson Adapter is used by a customer with a
Keystone fifth wheel and later damage or loss occurs to the fifth wheel as a result of using the Anderson
Adapter, Keystone will not warrant the same or cover the cost of any such damage or loss.
We want to give you some runway to adjust to our updated policy on Anderson Goose Neck Adapters.
Therefore, should a dealer/customer encounter a failure on any Keystone, Dutchmen or CrossRoads
product which is thought to be affected by the use of the Anderson Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection
Goose Neck Adapters installed prior to March 15, 2021, follow the normal process to receive warranty
consideration for those claims.
Any Anderson Goose Neck Adapters installed after March 15, 2021, will not be eligible for warranty
consideration. Proof of the date of the Anderson installation will be required as part of any claim
submission.
For additional assistance, contact a Customer Service team:
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Zinger

cummins2014 wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
Yeah...lots of fake news in social media.....and rv websites in general mostly pushed by those that never use the product being discussed or other brand fan boyz, and specifically mfg voiding their trailers frame warranty because a certain brand 5th wheel hitch is used.

PullRite has the same style hitch as a Andersen and nothing was said about its use voiding a rv trailers frame warranty. I would think Lippert would say all brands of Andersen type hitches and not just one brand.

There has been a long lengthy discussion about this warranty thing with the Andersen over on the Montana Owners Forum. Many on there tow with the Andersen . I have no concerns about the frame on mine, as said this is the second fifth wheel I have used the Andersen .

You are correct the Pullrite is the same exact hitch, with never a mention . Said it along ,most if not all the negative comments come from those that have never towed an inch with the Andersen . Bottom line IMO its the only way to go on towing a fifth wheel, once you have towed with one you will realize that.

...not to mention over at the Grand Design forum where lots of Solitude owners (the equivalent of Montana) are going to Andersen. Just pop it out of your bed and put it in the basement of your fiver if you like.

But like anything else, the Andersen is just one choice in a field of many. All of them work.

Michelle.S wrote:
The Andersen is a "Ball and Coupler Hitch" and it's Lippert who manufactures a majority of frames for most MFRs that has come out with a memo to MRFs that they will no longer cover Frame failures if an Andersen or real Goose Neck Adapter has been used.

Great; can you get us all a copy of that memo?

Refer also to the Andersen Multi Million Dollar Warranty posted prior.

JIMNLIN wrote:
Yeah...lots of fake news in social media.....and rv websites in general mostly pushed by those that never use the product being discussed or other brand fan boyz, and specifically mfg voiding their trailers frame warranty because a certain brand 5th wheel hitch is used.

PullRite has the same style hitch as a Andersen and nothing was said about its use voiding a rv trailers frame warranty. I would think Lippert would say all brands of Andersen type hitches and not just one brand.

There has been a long lengthy discussion about this warranty thing with the Andersen over on the Montana Owners Forum. Many on there tow with the Andersen . I have no concerns about the frame on mine, as said this is the second fifth wheel I have used the Andersen .

You are correct the Pullrite is the same exact hitch, with never a mention . Said it along ,most if not all the negative comments come from those that have never towed an inch with the Andersen . Bottom line IMO its the only way to go on towing a fifth wheel, once you have towed with one you will realize that.

Yeah...lots of fake news in social media.....and rv websites in general mostly pushed by those that never use the product being discussed or other brand fan boyz, and specifically mfg voiding their trailers frame warranty because a certain brand 5th wheel hitch is used.

PullRite has the same style hitch as a Andersen and nothing was said about its use voiding a rv trailers frame warranty. I would think Lippert would say all brands of Andersen type hitches and not just one brand.

Michelle.S wrote:
The Andersen is a "Ball and Coupler Hitch" and it's Lippert who manufactures a majority of frames for most MFRs that has come out with a memo to MRFs that they will no longer cover Frame failures if an Andersen or real Goose Neck Adapter has been used.

Well they need excuses for the amount of failures they have , which one do they use when the frame comes apart on a conventional hitch , as said before read many many frame failures , and as far as the ones I’ve read about , they were never blamed on an Andersen.

The Andersen is a "Ball and Coupler Hitch" and it's Lippert who manufactures a majority of frames for most MFRs that has come out with a memo to MRFs that they will no longer cover Frame failures if an Andersen or real Goose Neck Adapter has been used.

work2much wrote:
Happy with our goose box. No more heavy hitch in the bed and the air bag and shocks make for a nice ride. The only downside is it's a little harder to line up hitching but adding a stripe of yellow tape in the center of the bed and on the face of the hitch does the trick if you ave a bed view cargo camera.

The Goosebox is a great way to go if you already have a true gooseneck hitch in the bed of your truck.

Thermoguy wrote:
Why use a hitch that could or might cause the trailer frame to fail? Seems like you are playing Russian roulette. If I know one things about companies, they will do anything to get you to buy their product and everything to not pay a claim. So, if the frame bends and cracks, it's on you. I think I read even the Goosebox is only a warranty for 2 years. What do you do after that?

Stick with a real 5th wheel hitch. If you have a ball hitch, get one that works with that like the B&W Companion.

Anyone who makes that statement does not understand the difference between a true gooseneck hitch and the Andersen Fifth Wheel Hitch. They're making a judgment on something they have never used. If you want to know about an Andersen, ask an Andersen hitch user.

As I said in another thread and will say again; THE ANDERSEN IS NOT A GOOSENECK HITCH! ANDERSEN GOT APPROVAL FROM THE DOT AS A FIFTH WHEEL HITCH!

First; How can an Andersen cause your frame to fail? The forces at the pin are the same as a conventional fifth wheel hitch.

Second; you must be referring to the hundreds of warranty claims made by Andersen hitch users for damaged frames. Oh, my bad, there hasn't been a single one with over 30,000 Andresen hitches in use.

Here's your answer from the Andersen website:

"A few RV/Trailer Frame manufacturers have said (or implied) that they will void the warranty on their 5th Wheel (or frame) if an adapter is used for hooking up.

Officially, that is illegal. According to the FTC’s Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act they can only void the warranty if the adapter actually CAUSES damage, not simply if it is USED. Additionally they have to PROVE the damage was caused by the adapter.

Our solution:

For the Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection, if they won't cover it, please submit a claim to customerservice@anderseninc.com. We stand behind our product and with the Ultimate Connection we will cover warranties up to $5,000,000. For more info regarding this coverage, see our supplemental warranty."

B&W, Curt, Pullrite, and others all make great fifth wheel hitches and they all work. Some of us just want a different solution that's much easier to use and more convenient to take in and out of the bed of the truck.