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

[DHayden]

Got in the Goose Box for my Dutchmen Voltage. I had a Trail Air pin box which I had no issues with but I wanted to put the 75 gallon aux tank in and free up some weight and bed space by dumping the 5th wheel. The Goose Box is a heavy sucker, well about the same as the Trail Air was, but most of the weight felt like is was on one end.

My son and I got it swapped out with no problems. The gen2 Goose box is nice, has holes to mount the chains and another set to hang them when they arent being used. It rode very nice, no chucking and the airbag and shocks I dare say was better than the trail air. Most likely because of no chucking at all.

I snapped a couple pics, sorry they are a little dark but just snapped them while I was checking turn ability and clearance to the tank. I had pre measured everything but you never know until everything is in place!

As you can see, plenty of clearance between the Goose Box and the fuel tank, I have right at 6 inches of bed clearance which I may get a ball with extra height if I think its necessary later.
I can almost turn 90deg and this is obviously a Megacab short bed. In the pics I still had 3 inches of clearance but I was satisfied knowing I could turn as far as I did.

Theres a double picture but it wont let me remove it.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Well, with 75 gallons of fuel onboard you sure didn't lose any weight with the conversion!
You could have used a 60 gallon tank like I have in mine and not had to convert the pinbox.
Or, RDS would make a custom tank to your specs that would hold 70 gallons and still had 5th wheel clearance.
I was going to do that myself but didn't want to wait for them to build me a tank.

 

[DHayden]

I didnt swap it just to fit the tank. I got the 75 gallon tank because i could fit it after the swap, not because of it. I have more bed room and I saved a few hundred pounds no matter how you look at it without that monstrosity in the bed of my truck.

 

[bcbender]

I put a goose box on my Sandpiper to get rid of the fifthwheel hitch and stick only to the turnover ball. Hands down the best hitch I have ever had, no chucking, no bouncing, nothing smooth as butter.

 

[GBBrown]

I’ve read where goose neck ball set-ups put a different strain on the framing structure of RV 5th wheels unlike a gooseneck equipment trailer or a livestock trailer that are framed for a gooseneck. I would prefer a gooseneck ball in the bed for more room.

 

[bcbender]

I’ve read where goose neck ball set-ups put a different strain on the framing structure of RV 5th wheels unlike a gooseneck equipment trailer or a livestock trailer that are framed for a gooseneck. I would prefer a gooseneck ball in the bed for more room.

Yes, its a simple force balance equation and by adding some of the "adapters" that are out there you add a moment load higher than the pin box would normally see. This may be fine for lighter smaller trailers but the big girls could see potential problems. The Reese Goose Box is the only one that replaces the entire pin box and is designed to account for the offset by moving the pivot point lower. Add to that the fact the trailer MFG & Lippert components sell it and it will not void the frame warranty and it has built in air ride it was a no brainer.. My only regret is that I didn't buy it sooner. I put the 20K on my trailer, it is a well built unit and significantly beefier than the 16k pinbox I took off (1/4 plate vs 1/8 plate)

 

[TMyers]

I already had the B&W Turnover ball in my truck. I had the B&W Companion Slider attached to it. It did great hauling my 5th wheel. Only problem was it took up 60% of my bed. I found a used 16K Goosebox and bought it. It was 2 years old and only removed because of a Trade-In. I put it on my 5th Wheel and got one of the 4" offset balls from B&W.

There will never be another 5th Wheel hitch in my truck! Reese's Goosebox is the way to go. Much better ride and my bed is clear.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I can se why you like it but don’t see how it can be better than the Companion.

 

[TMyers]

I can se why you like it but don’t see how it can be better than the Companion.

I didn't dislike the Companion at all. Very solid and much easier to connect to the camper. Only disliked how much room it took up in my bed. The Goosebox is a softer ride.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I don’t get the “softer ride” either.

seems they should be the same. Both pivot with no slop.

 

[DHayden]

They are two different things. Your comparing a hitch to a pin box (basically). The goosebox has an airbag and 2 shocks inside which sits on a ball with basically zero play.
The companion hitch is great, but any 5th wheel hitch is going to have "some" play inherent in the basic design.

 

[Jim W]

I have a question since I have a Mega Cab also. In your photos you show the truck and trailer at max angle of turning correct? This is on a nice flat piece of black top a parking lot, correct? What was the distance between the "C" pillar (rear of cab) and the trailer, did you measure this distance? The reason I am asking is did you do this experiment with the trailer rotating the driver side corner up as the trailer rear axles on the passenger side are dropping due to an uneven campground road?

Being that I have nailed my cab once when I forgot to move my manual sliding hitch with an attached trailer that had 88DEG corners advertise for turning. This was due to a very tight campground road with a very uneven road surface, as I was pulling the unit and not even backing up. I have since switch to a DEMCO AUTO GLIDE Hitch which is great for my needs.

I am just saying everyone that I have had discussion with about the Reese Goose Pin Box have all said the same thing it is great and will not hit the cab when turning! But they have never shown me this maneuver when turning the truck and trailer on uneven surfaces how much clearance they have.

 

[Cummins12V98]

They are two different things. Your comparing a hitch to a pin box (basically). The goosebox has an airbag and 2 shocks inside which sits on a ball with basically zero play.
The companion hitch is great, but any 5th wheel hitch is going to have "some" play inherent in the basic design.

Pic below is good as it gets IMHO. Front to back absorption and up and down absorption. I would wager the "slop" in the gooseneck connection is no more or less than the Companion that is near nothing. The picture shown will not void the frame warranty as many gooseneck adapters will with the additional stress placed on the pin box frame support.

I have nothing against the gooseneck setups but they are not perfect either.

 

[bcbender]

agreed... turning is not an issue in my case as I have a LB. This is one of those love it or not debates, both have merits / demerits.. All I can say it I have no more chucking, bouncing, banging..etc with the goose box.. No warranty issues with LCI and dont have to take the heavy hitch out to pull my equip trailer or go to Lowes for plywood.

 

[Wiredawg]

Pic below is good as it gets IMHO. Front to back absorption and up and down absorption. I would wager the "slop" in the gooseneck connection is no more or less than the Companion that is near nothing. The picture shown will not void the frame warranty as many gooseneck adapters will with the additional stress placed on the pin box frame support.

I have nothing against the gooseneck setups but they are not perfect either.

View attachment 126595

Ron, It's kind of a mute point for us... When I searched the Internet, the MAX gooseneck conversion I could find is 20KLbs and I'm at 21KLbs and if I recall you are 22KLbs. You know me, I dont fudge on ratings. I'm more than happy with my Companion, and I have loads of storage space with bed side storage compartments. Plus, comparing connecting GN and 5th Wheel, 5th wheel way easier for me.

Not knocking your GN setup, happy it works for you.

Cheers, Ron



Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Got in the Goose Box for my Dutchmen Voltage. I had a Trail Air pin box which I had no issues with but I wanted to put the 75 gallon aux tank in and free up some weight and bed space by dumping the 5th wheel. The Goose Box is a heavy sucker, well about the same as the Trail Air was, but most of the weight felt like is was on one end.

My son and I got it swapped out with no problems. The gen2 Goose box is nice, has holes to mount the chains and another set to hang them when they arent being used. It rode very nice, no chucking and the airbag and shocks I dare say was better than the trail air. Most likely because of no chucking at all.

I snapped a couple pics, sorry they are a little dark but just snapped them while I was checking turn ability and clearance to the tank. I had pre measured everything but you never know until everything is in place!

As you can see, plenty of clearance between the Goose Box and the fuel tank, I have right at 6 inches of bed clearance which I may get a ball with extra height if I think its necessary later.
I can almost turn 90deg and this is obviously a Megacab short bed. In the pics I still had 3 inches of clearance but I was satisfied knowing I could turn as far as I did.

Theres a double picture but it wont let me remove it.

View attachment 125926

View attachment 125927

View attachment 125928

View attachment 125925

I was just thinking, there is a 4" extender for the GN ball that might give you a full 90' turning and give you some more clearance with the cab for backing hard into unlevel ground.

Cheers, Ron

 

[AH64ID]

I really like my Companion, but have found the lateral limits of its movement on a couple camping trips. I wonder if I would get more articulation with a goosebox.. then again the limit seems to coincide with my bed/5er contact.

 

[DHayden]

I have a question since I have a Mega Cab also. In your photos you show the truck and trailer at max angle of turning correct? This is on a nice flat piece of black top a parking lot, correct? What was the distance between the "C" pillar (rear of cab) and the trailer, did you measure this distance? The reason I am asking is did you do this experiment with the trailer rotating the driver side corner up as the trailer rear axles on the passenger side are dropping due to an uneven campground road?

Being that I have nailed my cab once when I forgot to move my manual sliding hitch with an attached trailer that had 88DEG corners advertise for turning. This was due to a very tight campground road with a very uneven road surface, as I was pulling the unit and not even backing up. I have since switch to a DEMCO AUTO GLIDE Hitch which is great for my needs.

I am just saying everyone that I have had discussion with about the Reese Goose Pin Box have all said the same thing it is great and will not hit the cab when turning! But they have never shown me this maneuver when turning the truck and trailer on uneven surfaces how much clearance they have.

All of the pictures above were taken with the truck in the exact same spot. This was a parking lot but their was a slight grade to it, nothing like an off canter RV spot.
In the pic, there is about 3 inches between cab and trailer at the closest point. I was by myself so I didnt want to try and get any closer than that. The distance was greater as you go up so if you were backing up a slight grade it would not be an issue. It was good enough to know that I could get nearly 90 deg without a spotter if I needed to.

 

[DHayden]

I was just thinking, there is a 4" extender for the GN ball that might give you a full 90' turning and give you some more clearance with the cab for backing hard into unlevel ground.

Cheers, Ron

A 4 inch extension would cure any turning concerns, however I have not seen any extension that is made for the factory hitch. Not one. I have looked and if anyone comes across one please let me know. Right now I would have to replace the factory hitch with a B&W which I wouldnt mind doing, I just can not justify the cost for the benefit at the moment.

 

[DHayden]

I really like my Companion, but have found the lateral limits of its movement on a couple camping trips. I wonder if I would get more articulation with a goosebox.. then again the limit seems to coincide with my bed/5er contact.

There is no lateral binding. The limit is definitely with the bed/5er clearance. I am at 6 inches which is what is recommended. I think I am going to get a 2 3/4 inch extra height ball from B&W and replace my trailer wheels and tires with BOAR 19.5 Rims and tires. The tire height will give me 1 1/2 to 2 inches lift on the trailer to make up for the extra lift of the ball on the truck and will keep it nice and level and give me a good 7 to 7 1/2 inches bedrail clearance (hopefully). Will also save me from costly blowouts with commercial grade tires (knock on wood).