Use a gooseneck adapter in pulling a fifth wheel?

The photos above pretty well tell the story to any one with a brain.

The Reese Goose Box is no different than a regular GN adapter...just has a little damping.

Ken

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

laknox wrote:

12lightsacrossthebay wrote:
Hello Friends, we are in process of upgrading from 23' Thor Scamper TT to a fifth wheel to go cross-country. We are newbies with just 1 year of trailering experience. Our TV is 2009 GMC 2500HD Duramax, (40k miles) K&N air Intake and EGT Gauge. full fifth wheel accessories. 9200 GVWR. 3.73 rear gear ratio. Looking at ~ 30' unit. Any advantage to gooseneck attachment other than being able to use the truck bed when unhooked? Thanks kindly for advice regarding this question. Carl & Peggy

A lot of mfrs =expressly= void a warranty if a GN adapter is used. Lippert =will= warrant =some= frames if a Reese Goosebox is used, though. You need to check with the mfr, and get the answer IN WRITING!

Lyle

What he said - especially ditto on the emphasis!...;)

Do *NOT* accept a salesperson or dealer's "OK" as gospel - check with
the 5th wheel manufacturer and ask for the verification in writing..;)

~

I'll leave it to you to decide if Lippert's acceptance of the Reese Goose Box is due to technical merit or the almighty dollar. Hint: The Goose Box does NOT repeal the laws of physics.

Press Release

GOSHEN, Ind., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lippert Components, Inc., a subsidiary of Drew Industries Incorporated (NYSE: DW) and a leading supplier of components for the RV industry, announced today that it has been designated the exclusive supplier to the RV industry of Cequent Performance Products' innovative new patent pending Reese® "Goose Box™" adaptor for gooseneck hitches.

Rusty

laknox wrote:

12lightsacrossthebay wrote:
Hello Friends, we are in process of upgrading from 23' Thor Scamper TT to a fifth wheel to go cross-country. We are newbies with just 1 year of trailering experience. Our TV is 2009 GMC 2500HD Duramax, (40k miles) K&N air Intake and EGT Gauge. full fifth wheel accessories. 9200 GVWR. 3.73 rear gear ratio. Looking at ~ 30' unit. Any advantage to gooseneck attachment other than being able to use the truck bed when unhooked? Thanks kindly for advice regarding this question. Carl & Peggy

A lot of mfrs =expressly= void a warranty if a GN adapter is used. Lippert =will= warrant =some= frames if a Reese Goosebox is used, though. You need to check with the mfr, and get the answer IN WRITING!

Lyle

What he said - especially ditto on the emphasis!...;)

Do *NOT* accept a salesperson or dealer's "OK" as gospel - check with
the 5th wheel manufacturer and ask for the verification in writing..;)

~

rhagfo wrote:

Dayle1 wrote:
The Andersen Ultimate may be a good compromise in your case. All other gooseneck setups, besides putting more stress on the trailer frame are also difficult to hookup since the driver cannot see the floor mount ball. The Ultimate elevates the ball mount, but you still have to align the ball to the trailer pretty close, both front-to-back and side-to-side.

But nothing beats a true fifth wheel hitch for ease of hookup, get it within about 1 inch side-to-side and back under the pin. So if the truck already has a gooseneck setup, then a good choice is the B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch. If the truck has no hitch setup and you want a clean bed, then there are multiple fifth wheel hitches with underbed mounting that provides a clean bed once the hitch is removed.

As a newbie, you won't experience one of the big benefits of fifth wheel towing unless you have a true fifth wheel hitch.

Good advice, I would never put a Goose-neck adapter on a standard 5th Wheel. Many have without issues, but I took vector Algebra in collage and understand too much about rotational forces.

This is about a 34' 5er with a GN adapter, not a lot of strength, and a lot of leverage already in the extended pin box! GVWR of the 5er likely 14,000#



This is the GN hitch on our 2 horse slant load trailer GVWR 10,000#. Do you notice a difference in inherent strength.

hard to argue with these pics... thanks for posting Russ.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

A few random comments based on research I did before I bought the Andersen.

No.1: Highland Open Range uses Lippert frames and ships with a pin box that is interchangeable for either std Fifth or gooseneck. I asked for a copy of the Lippert approval for the goose swap. In short, Lippert requires extra gussett welds on the frame to support the goose option.

No.2: Grand Design considers the Andersen to introduce no more stress than a std. Fifth hitch and officially approves use of the Andersen.

I have documentation to support both these statements. In the end, I chose the Andersen for my Wildcat.

Those pictures say it all. Way too much stress on the 5vr pin assembly adapting a gooseneck. We'll stay with the normal fifth wheel setup. Thanks for all the helpful comments. Much appreciated.

Dumoldles wrote:
I have about the same tow vehicle setup that you have and I use the Andersen Ultimate hitch. I'm very satisfied with it. I tow a Big Horn 5ver and I'm sure that Heartland would not have allowed my dealer to use this hitch unless they approved of the Andersen Ultimate.

Dumboldles

It's because the top of the ball and the top of a FW hitch are on nearly the same plane, so you don't get the extra stresses that a GN adapter can produce.

Lyle

I have about the same tow vehicle setup that you have and I use the Andersen Ultimate hitch. I'm very satisfied with it. I tow a Big Horn 5ver and I'm sure that Heartland would not have allowed my dealer to use this hitch unless they approved of the Andersen Ultimate.

Dumboldles

Dayle1 wrote:
The Andersen Ultimate may be a good compromise in your case. All other gooseneck setups, besides putting more stress on the trailer frame are also difficult to hookup since the driver cannot see the floor mount ball. The Ultimate elevates the ball mount, but you still have to align the ball to the trailer pretty close, both front-to-back and side-to-side.

But nothing beats a true fifth wheel hitch for ease of hookup, get it within about 1 inch side-to-side and back under the pin. So if the truck already has a gooseneck setup, then a good choice is the B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch. If the truck has no hitch setup and you want a clean bed, then there are multiple fifth wheel hitches with underbed mounting that provides a clean bed once the hitch is removed.

As a newbie, you won't experience one of the big benefits of fifth wheel towing unless you have a true fifth wheel hitch.

Good advice, I would never put a Goose-neck adapter on a standard 5th Wheel. Many have without issues, but I took vector Algebra in collage and understand too much about rotational forces.

This is about a 34' 5er with a GN adapter, not a lot of strength, and a lot of leverage already in the extended pin box! GVWR of the 5er likely 14,000#



This is the GN hitch on our 2 horse slant load trailer GVWR 10,000#. Do you notice a difference in inherent strength.

The Andersen Ultimate may be a good compromise in your case. All other gooseneck setups, besides putting more stress on the trailer frame are also difficult to hookup since the driver cannot see the floor mount ball. The Ultimate elevates the ball mount, but you still have to align the ball to the trailer pretty close, both front-to-back and side-to-side.

But nothing beats a true fifth wheel hitch for ease of hookup, get it within about 1 inch side-to-side and back under the pin. So if the truck already has a gooseneck setup, then a good choice is the B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch. If the truck has no hitch setup and you want a clean bed, then there are multiple fifth wheel hitches with underbed mounting that provides a clean bed once the hitch is removed.

As a newbie, you won't experience one of the big benefits of fifth wheel towing unless you have a true fifth wheel hitch.