Which Hitch? 5th Wheel or Goose Neck?

I bought my truck used with a goose neck hitch already installed. I didn't want to take a chance on the extra stress the goose neck would put on the frame so I switched it out for a 5th wheel hitch. Goose neck might have been ok but I didn't want to chance it.

Hitch is easier to hook than a gooseneck

valhalla360 wrote:

Standard CYA answer. Bottom line is if they decide the adapter was a cause, then you are SOL for warranty repairs. That's a pretty clear answer to me. They aren't willing to say it's OK, so good chance it's not designed for it.

From a legal standpoint, if such a position is not expressed in the warranty document that accompanies the purchase, then its not legally binding.

That would be like buying a car and sending an email 6 months later to ask if paint peeling off the roof is covered and some do-what who happens to be responding to the email tells you that it isn't covered. Excluding extenuating circumstances, you can't change the terms of a warranty after purchase without proper compensation.

WTP-GC wrote:

Why does Lippert allow someone so incompetent to respond to critical warranty related questions? First, he claims that he cannot affirmatively state it would void your warranty, but then he says Lippert won't be able to "assist". What exactly does that mean? He states that "if" the adapter causes damage, then you'd be out of luck. And do I read correctly that he's stating you can use the Reese Goose Box in conjunction with the Andersen UH??? Sure, if you had a lowered truck and a high riding 5er, that might actually work. Otherwise, you'll be so nose high you'd be dragging the rear bumper.

That entire correspondence with Lippert is just confusing and doesn't answer anything. Hooray for ambiguity!

Standard CYA answer. Bottom line is if they decide the adapter was a cause, then you are SOL for warranty repairs. That's a pretty clear answer to me. They aren't willing to say it's OK, so good chance it's not designed for it.

ToddD wrote:

So I emailed Lippert Customer Service to put this issue to rest:

Me: Looking at purchasing a new Jayco 377RLBH and am wondering if the Andersen Ultimate hitch will void my Lippert chassis warranty.


Lippert: I would not state that this would void your warranty, however LCI does not advise the use of any extensions or adapters to be used on the king pin of our pin boxes. If this is used and causes any damage to your coach LCI will not be able to assist on the issue. Now on the other hand if you use the Reese Goose box with this Anderson hitch this would be acceptable as we have tested this Goose box hitch on our units and works well on our chassis.


Me: The Andersen Ultimate hitch does not extend the box at all, but it does use an adapter a few inches tall that converts the pin to a ball receiver.

Since the hitch point remains essentially at the same height as a 5th wheel, would there be any grounds for warranty denial should I experience frame damage using the Andersen Ultimate?


Lippert: Like I have stated. If you are using any adapters or extensions on the pin box and this causes any damage to the pin box or chassis LCI would not be able to assist on the repair.


So that seems to settle that. I guess I'm looking at the Reese Goose Box.

Why does Lippert allow someone so incompetent to respond to critical warranty related questions? First, he claims that he cannot affirmatively state it would void your warranty, but then he says Lippert won't be able to "assist". What exactly does that mean? He states that "if" the adapter causes damage, then you'd be out of luck. And do I read correctly that he's stating you can use the Reese Goose Box in conjunction with the Andersen UH??? Sure, if you had a lowered truck and a high riding 5er, that might actually work. Otherwise, you'll be so nose high you'd be dragging the rear bumper.

That entire correspondence with Lippert is just confusing and doesn't answer anything. Hooray for ambiguity!

mhardin wrote:

Artum Snowbird wrote:
If you tell us what truck you have, engine, gears, tires and what the weight of your fifth wheel is it might help.

Out of curiosity, how would that help one choose between fifth wheel hitch and goose neck hitch?

LOL, I know right? That line of questioning has become standard on this forum for almost any query.
"My microwave display isn't working correctly..."
~well first we need to know what kind of truck you have and how much pin weight your rig is...

Having never owner a brand new rig, I'm curious to know what the frame warranty period is for most rigs. 1 year, 2 years? The OP didn't specify if their rig was new or used. So the warranty may or may not even matter. Anytime a GN adapter ever gets brought up, there's always negative comments toward them. However, you rarely (if at all) ever hear a confirmed case of where a GN adapter actually caused an issue. Lots of speculations sometimes, but rarely any confirmation.

But, considering that a "good" GN adapter ain't cheap, why not just skip straight to the Andersen UH or other traditional hitch that connects to the GN ball? That still leaves you with a clean, flat bed.

Well, there was old Prowler Lynx fifth wheels that length but as others have said, lift and fifth wheel hitches create all kinds of leveling problems.

BucknMindy wrote:

Artum Snowbird wrote:
If you tell us what truck you have, engine, gears, tires and what the weight of your fifth wheel is it might help.

2014 Silverado 5.3, 6" lift with 35 12.50's towing a 22' prowler dry weight is 4300lbs

Uh, a 22' long 5th wheel? Sounds like a tow behind travel trailer?

Your 6" lift would cause all sorts of complications with a gooseneck/5er anyway...

Artum Snowbird wrote:
If you tell us what truck you have, engine, gears, tires and what the weight of your fifth wheel is it might help.

2014 Silverado 5.3, 6" lift with 35 12.50's towing a 22' prowler dry weight is 4300lbs

We never used a Gooseneck, so our opinion is null and void about the issue. We have a "Reese" 5th wheel hitch, but it can be removed when not being used, one thing hubby found out... It ain't light It took him and a neighbor to remove and replace it. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!