Most cost Effective/Safest 5th wheel. to Gooseneck

[WBraico]

Ok Gang, I just upgraded from a 2nd gen 3500 to a 3rd gen that has the H&W turn over ball in the bed. I've eliminated the hokie adapters or Andersons. I'm down to getting a Curt X5 adapter and still using my 200+ lb. Hitch or maybe a Companion #3500 at just under 200 lbs. Or the Demco # DM 8550045 5th wheel adapter at around 150lbs. Rated at 21K . I like the fact that it has 3 height adjustments which might come in handy since my new 2500 is 2WD and 5" lower than my 2nd Gen.
Whats your thoughts? For a 29ft. Toyhauler I might pull 2 times a year.
Thanks
Walt

 

[GAmes]

What difference does it make how often you pull it? Does the manufacturer of your RV warrantee it with a gooseneck adapter? Kinda funny, I have a gooseneck to 5th wheel adapter on my deckover flatbed.

 

[BarryG]

Well if you have a B&W hide a ball gooseneck in the bed already I would go for the B&W companion. It also has 3 height adjustments iirc and you also have two options I believe so that you can offset again iirc. I am probably a bit biased as I hav been using the b&w gooseneck and a companion for 20 years have had zero issues using either the goose or the companion

 

[AH64ID]

Either a Reese goosebox or the B&W Companion. Those two are the your best options.

 

[WBraico]

Yes it's a B&W turnover, sorry I wrote H&W . There's actually a handful of them for sale online. I thought I looked at the specs but didn't see a height adjustment.

 

[SnoKing]

Yes it's a B&W turnover, sorry I wrote H&W . There's actually a handful of them for sale online. I thought I looked at the specs but didn't see a height adjustment.

If you are referring to the companion it has three heights and four positions front to back. Between the highest position and lowering the pin box on the trailer, you should be fine.

 

[Brian Sullivan]

I have the Reese goosebox works great. The only one that keeps your trailers frame warranty intact

 

[HookMeUp]

I have the Reese goosebox works great. The only one that keeps your trailers frame warranty intact

According to who? Reese or the trailer manufacturer?

 

[Brian Sullivan]

According to who? Reese or the trailer manufacturer

Both Lippert and Reese

 

[bcbender]

I have the B&W in my 2020 RAM and had a turnover ball (Pull rite?) in my 04, hands down I love the Goosebox over the std fifthwheel, no chucking, banging, bumping... and since I don't have to hoist that heavy hitch out every time I want to switch to my equip trailer; or no trailer. My only regret with the Reese Goosebox is that I didn't buy it day one!

 

[WBraico]

Right on. Good advise. I wonder why trailer manufacturers don't put them on as the standard? Must be a downside somewhere?

 

[JR]

Probably cost. Easier to throw on a cheap pin box and let the owner pony up for the hitch of his choice.

FWIW I'm also partial to B&W. They have the best GN and 5er hitches Ive seen. I have the Companion for my 5er. Probably the only other thing I would consider is the Goose Box but not enough to purchase one at this point.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I really like this combo.

 

[DHayden]

If you havent seen this thread yet:

Reese Goose Box installed on Toy Hauler (Mega Cab with 75 Gallon Aux Tank) | Turbo Diesel Register

 

[WBraico]

Nice Set up !

 

[bcbender]

Goose box hands down...... Gen Y makes one also, but LCI only is on record as allowing the Reese goosebox. After seeing how thin an flimsy the stock pin box was on my 44' (15.5K) 5er, I would not put one of the bolt on king pin adapters, it would likely rip that plate right out of the pin box before it damaged the frame IMO.

 

[Don-T]

I have a Goosebox on my 5th wheel camper. It replaced a Trail Air and Companion hitch. To me the ride and handling are about the same. I did the change because I need to have the bed floor available when I am not camping. The Companion hitch, even when I take the head off, is too heavy for me to remove and install. My back is not what it used to be. Now all I have to do is pull the ball, and the safety chain anchors out.

 

[WBraico]

Yes! I like that meathod.

 

[CharlesHoward]

I hope your Goosebox serves you better than mine!
My Reese Goosebox lasted just less than a year!
Very Bad Pothole on I-10 in west Texas (65 MPH) ended up susequently bending the moving part as it did not prevent the front frame from cracking and growing worse over about 700 miles letting my Keystone Montana Lippert Frame Fiver come down on the truck bed. REESE refused to replace the Goosebox under warranty OR compensate me for the repairs. WHY NOT???
Fortunately USAA insurance covered all but my $1k deductible and I went back to the "Star Performance Gooseneck adapter". That was 3 weeks in a campground for repairs...
I didn't like the Goosebox (early edition?) as the airbag usually lost so much air on almost every tow that I had to refill it via the very SLOW needle valve. What if I didn't have an onboard air compressor??? And Reese instructions stated you should grease the coupler through the grease zerk before every tow! Way too much of a hassle.

Besides greasing the ball maybe every other tow, the Star Performance adapter has 6 Zerks to grease every 2K miles (once or twice a season!) and its glider motion is much appreciated.

 

[WBraico]

Well the goosebox sounded like a good idea, but for the cost of one and the short distance I pull my 30ft toy hauler I just went with the Curt X5 adapter plate that lays down on the bed. Then I still have to split my Reese into 2 pieces to be able to lift it up into the bed and attach it to the X5s rails. Bigger problem will be this newer 2500 is a 2wd and sits 4" lower than my 3500 4x4 did. So I'm looking at all the different expensive ways to get those 4" of height back lol.