I have had a few issues with my first one, was resolved almost immediately with a replacement. My new one swivels at the mounting point of the cable release, so it now does not stress with air in it. I never let the air out to decouple. I LOVE this hitch so much! Even with the issues ive had i will always pull with a goose box!
FYI - the goosebox directions say to release the unlocking cable once the trailer is off the ball and to attach the trailer with the lock in the locked position. The lock will open to accept the pinbox as it lowers onto the ball and give you an audible click when engaged. I left mine unlocked for about a month (with tension in the wire like in your video) and noticed that the spring in the locking mechanism was weaker.
I have this system. Your issues with the ball lock release. I operate mine standing at my trailer jack control panel. A little para cord tied to existing handle with a carabiner on the pull end makes for easy. operation outside the truck.
I am also using the20k goosebox on my 350 dually to pull my 16k lb. Toy hauler. Love it but my air bag does leak. I have read some post that people have taken off the pressure release valve and just monitored their air pressure with a manual gauge instead. I will probably do the same
Plumb a conventional airbag wireless compressor into the goosebox with a qd fitting. Set the pressure desired and go. Compressor monitors and maintains the bag. When done. Air down the bag and disconnect the line.
As a trucker I can say 21 years now if you have airbags eventually they will leak of course your not going thru the abuse of trucking however it’s will happen not to worry changing airbags is usually an easy thing should be inexpensive
I have had mine for a month no leaks, no problem. We just came across I-10 from Florida into Houston and boy did the road have some very bad sections through Louisiana but I like how the Reese hitch handles it. Like it was stated, it is a little tricky at first getting used to lining up the hitch with the ball but really not a problem after a few times. I ordered mine and had the dealer install the hitch. In the beginning he tried to change my mind and this was five months ago and by the time I picked my unit up he said he had put eight on new fifth wheels ( while trying to change my mind the product manager said he might put on one or two on a year) and I wondered if your videos had something to with others decision to opt for the gooseneck hitch. Thank you very much for your well put together videos they have been extremely helpful.
We have had nothing but trouble with our goose box. We're on the third check valve and on last trip, we had to stop every hundred miles or so to air it up. Unit is at dealership now to remove it. I'm going back to the companion setup.
We love our 20K Goosebox. I installed the bed camera but it has now stopped working so I have to figure out why. I can't recommend the Goosebox enough; it does everything I wanted it to do.
Love the idea of the Goosebox, only one problem. Some of our 5th wheels are at or just above 20k in loaded weight. Doesn't really seem safe to have a pinbox maxed out. I have heard and seen a new GenY pinbox replacement that is similar but uses torsion instead of airbag and shocks. It is rated at 25k. Have you heard of it or can you get your hands on one and review it for us? Love your channel and we trust your unbiased reviews!
One thing great about the goosebox is the off road capability. I use my Arctic Fox 5th wheel on mountain roads that would bind up a 5th wheel hitch. I also use a 5" offset ball that gives extra room between the truck box, and even more important an extra 5" between the tailgate and trailer when hitching up. I put my chains on the front of the goosebox and they are only about 16" long, and that is where the spring hooks are on my truck. I also am very happy with the goosebox. I bought the 16,000lb one as my trailer weighs about 12,000lbs, Love the quiet smooth ride and the clean truck bed. I like the chains, gives you a second line of defense. The only hitch I have seen fail personally, was a 5th wheel hitch. Brand new Ford and Trailer came apart right on the only red light in Nephi. I helped him jack it back up on the truck. Yea after that I don't mind the 10 seconds it takes me to hook up the chains.
Purchased the Reese goose box when I purchased our 2017 Puma 25RKS. All my help r all gone and trying to disassemble a fifth wheel hitch alone is work. My bed of my truck is always available; towing the RV with my HD2500, gas engine works great also. I have experienced some air loss to the air bag when in storage.
This review was very helpful. I recently purchased a 5th Wheel and a new F350 Dually. I wasn't excited about putting a 250 lb hitch into the back of my truck and hauling it around everywhere as we sight see in our travels. The Anderson hitch looked tempting, but, I wasn't too thrilled about reports of the hitch chafing the bed-liner off the truck bed. So, I found the Reese Goose Box and your first video on it. I am going to be replacing my Lippert Pinbox with the 20k Reese Goose Box. Everything I have read says that the Goose Box pulls 5th Wheels with ease and comfort while eliminating all manner of issues associated with pulling a 5th Wheel.
BB while I have no doubt the Goosebox is all that I've heard, mostly great things, I do own a Anderson hitch for almost a year now and quite honestly it's the best hitch I have ever owned. I have not (thankfully) experienced any bed chaffing on my Rhino liner. Not so much as a mark. Unless someone were to install the Anderson hitch incorrectly I really don't see how it actually could chafe the bed.
@@Lilfarmrboy I have a spray in bed liner and also the perfect outline of my Anderson frame. At least I know exactly where to place it before tightening down.
AirBag Loss, keep in mind, If you don't have a auto hight adjustment like on the axles temperature, air pressure, and altitude will change the air pressure in your hitch as well as your tires. I noticed this when I was driving many years ago. I kept taking the truck in for air leaks. Turned out as infrequent as the leaks were weather temperature was the big factor. If your tires need air most likely the airbags follow suit. Hope this helps. Mark/Waco
About the cable being tight. I found that you dont have to have it so tight, you can loosen the stopper and move it back a little and it will still release off the ball.
How about a similar video on the long term use of your Air Lift airbags. Any issues over time with leaks, compressor failure, cold weather issues, etc)? I was set to buy a set, then I saw the Roadmaster Active Suspension video and now I’m undecided. It’s for a 3/4 diesel pulling a 34ft fifth wheel.
Both would be pretty effective for what you're looking for. I've had no issues with the Airlift system other than the module that controls the bags with the remote was installed a little too far back and I have range issues. I'm going to move it about 4' forward on the frame rail.
I really like my goose box now. Mine ended up having a leaky pressure relief valve that was rubbing on the goose box frame because of the way it was orientated from production. I removed it, installed a Tee and just added pressure gauge. "Its alot easier to monitor for leaks now" I run it between 40psi and 45psi on the 2,750lbs tongue weight trailer and everything seems to be great. I want to do more testing and measuring but I don't feel the green yellow sticker indacator for ride height on the air bag is 100% accurate on the side because even since day one at max pressure I was almost past the yellow mark indacating it needed more air . I also had to adjust the collar on the release cable to eliminate the problem you described in the release position.
I have to agree that the sticker isn't correct. I also would need to fill the bag to about 65psi to get the green sticker to show. I run mine around 45-50psi.
I installed my 20k Reese goosebox a couple of months ago and finally got to use it a couple of times last month. Would never go back to a traditional fifth wheel hitch. It is totally quiet. no clunking or clanking. Air pressure has not been a problem. Have a SWB F350 and have no clearance issues. Also have a Titan Travel Treker 50 gallon fuel tank at the front of the bed with no clearance issues.
Would it be possible to install one of the sensors for a TPMS like Tire Minder onto the valve stem for the Goose Box's air bag? If that would be doable it'd be a great way to keep tabs on the hitch's air pressure.
Nice video. I've watched all of your videos. I had the Reese Goosebox installed on my new Arctic Fox, 29-5T fifth wheel, which I started full time rving. I also have the Ford 450. I installed the camera you suggested which is very helpful. I haven't had problems with tension on the release. I'll have to monitor the pressure on the air bag.
I am not sure if someone asked this but do you feel that having a single point of failure versus the traditional mount for a fifth wheel makes you apprehensive of this? Seems a lot of stress in a very small area instead of the distribution of stress. Just asking as I am going to purchase a fifth wheel soon and wondering about this.
Great follow up BTBRV! I have a new 16K Goose Box headed my way for my 28 RE Laredo. I was able to get it for $846.00 total with free shipping this past Friday. I thought it was a good deal. I am using a gooseneck adapter right now but I hope this new goose box will eliminate some of the chucking that I currently have.
Very informative! Thanks! I have been towing goose necks since the mid 1970s! I have been reluctant to go 5th Wheel because of the in the bed hitch requirement! This provides me with a viable alternative.
It's amazing you have had that hitch 6 months already, just seemed like yesterday. I have a F-350 dually that's only job is towing the 5th wheel, and I have a F-250 daily driver so I just leave the hitch in the truck, but I did buy a cover for it. What RV park is that???
For the unlocking cable, I think I’d fabricate a pulley assembly mounted horizontal so that’s its reachable from the side of the truck. I’d also change the bolt where the cable attaches so the cable isn’t clamped tight. If there’s space inside the pin box, I’d reverse the fasteners, re-torque to factory specifications, then use a torque stripe product. Torque Stripe is similar to the arrows installed on lug nuts to show the lugs aren’t loose. Shows positively that the fastener hasn’t loosened up with a quick visual inspection.
Honestly, the negatives of this setup seem to outweigh the benefits. Unless you *really* need the extra space in the bed, I don't think the goosebox makes much sense.
Is your truck a short bed or long bed. My question is can this be used reliably with a short bed 3500 Ram and still have clearance for 90 degree turns?
Is one safer than the other? I'd give up space in the back of the truck for add'l safety. I know a lot of friends who made a hinged plate to cover the ball so the whole truck bed could be used.
What happens with this setup when you have a short bed and a slider fifthwheel and with this you loose your ability to slide the unit back for tight turns. Any way to fix that problem!
What’s the solar panel on the goose box for? I’m having my 5th wheel delivered in a week and I’m getting all the info and ideas I can use and this looks like a good idea but I can’t tell what it’s used for. Also what do you think of adding peel and stick solar panels to the roof of a 5th wheel? Be advised mine that’s coming is an older ‘07 Raptor. Not these new ones that have the connection already installed.
I just bought this same goosebox for my camper but I also ordered an airlift wireless one compressor system that I am going to use for it so if the valve on the goosebox does purge any then the compressor will auto turn on to always maintain the pressure I need it to be at
Yep, I was thinking the same thing. I have a 10 sensor TPMS and I use two of them for spare tires. I'll just have to reprogram the alarm values and give it a try when my new Goose Box arrives or, I may end up buying a separate motorcycle TPMS and plugging the monitor into the dash power port.
So the air can leak out on a trip and then I pull into a drive way and then i can damage my truck because the trailer dropped? Hummm I don't know about this product?
Big Truck Big RV ok good to know I watch while on the road love your channel oh from one handyman to another RU-vid cloghog I make no money off of that but as a homeowner and hopefully an rv er one day that coupled with a 1.4 gpm power washer can clean the hoses as well as unclog things I’m just a trucker but a handy nerd when I get home anyway keep up the good videos
Question BTBRV, did you lift up the front end of the Goosebox after the bolts and nuts were installed to take the slack out before tightening and torquing the bolts? I used a floor jack and a 3' 2"x4" board to apply some pressure and simulate being connected to the goose ball on my truck before tightening & torquing.
This was only solution to my 2012 mega cab. Due to having a bw hitch already and a fuel tank/toolbox combo the rails an bw companion would not work. So I got the bw offset ball an boom it works great. It feels so much more sturdy than a fifth wheel. Kinda like when I pull a true gooseneck. It’s kinda a pain to line up by yourself but I’m gonna get the camera.
3:28 Is that a friction cap to put on the ball when connected to the goosebox? If so, where can I get one? I have a gooseneck trailer and want to have an alternative to using grease.
How many 5th wheels are stolen a year? I only ask because a good friend played a joke on me and bought what he thought was " the best HD had" . RU-vid, 15 minutes and a shim I had circumvented his lock.
Your cable must have the stop in the wrong spot...you should not have a problem disengaging the cable regardless of the amount of air in the airbag. The collar stop on the cable is adjustable, secured in place by a set screw. I would move it towards the handle a 1/4" or so and see if that fixes your problem.
It also improves brake stability. Take your 5th and slam your trailer brakes only, then slam a goose. 5th will dive your ass, goose slows you down straight. The closer you are to your rear axle the more stable you will be. And of course the articulation in a campground, meaning open up more spaces and easier to hook up on uneven parking areas.
Thanks for the video. Good review. I have also had this same goosebox ... mine since July of this year. I had seen your original video and followed your lead. The only comment I have is that - in this most recent video - you had the cable in the unlocked = taut - position. If you check out the "manual", you will see that they recommend that you leave the cable loose - in the locked position/slack - when not hitched... unless I am mistaken.
this of your topic but i am purchasing my first fifth wheel camper in the spring and i have questions about what hitch to use i have seen your review of the anderson hitch but i am wondering if you have done a review of the blue ox super ride 6200
When I bought my Heartland Bighorn, the Reese Goosebox was one of two choices I considered for the 2015 F-350 SD DRW. The other one was the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection. Did you ever had a chance to test the Andersen Hitch? I would really like to know your Opinion. Regards, Manny
I notice most trucks have a different tow ratings between fifth wheel and gooseneck. Does this act like a gooseneck for weight purposes, or is it still considered a fifthwheel.
When I bought my Heartland Bighorn, the Reese Goosebox was one of two choices I considered for the 2015 F-350 SD DRW. The other one was the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection. Did you ever had a chance to test the Andersen Hitch? I would really like to know your Opinion. Regards, Manny
Thanks for the follow up. Hey, any chance I can buy one of your old B&W hitches for my 450??? I thought it was great that they sent you another one when you complained about your first one. Have a great holiday season.
Yes, we pull a Grand Design 310gk with a 2018 F350 6.5' bed and can't get close to 90 degree turn. I'm still glad we got the goose pin. It works great without a large slider 5th wheel hitch in the truck bed. I'm thinking about the possibility of getting an offset ball. These seem to be typically offset by 4".
Dave Czarnecki hey bud did you end up getting the offset?how has it worked out? I’m Wanting to run this set up on a 18 f250 with b and w turn over and 4” offset
@@daveczarnecki7671 hey Dave I got a grand design momentum 350 c class toy hauler and I tow with a 19 f350 cc short bed and love this hitch my RV dealership said I could put my toolbox back on it is 17 inch wide but I don't believe then been looking at 12 wide and 2 inch tall on bed rails and I think it will clean easy
@@bobstewart9365 I couldn't find an offset puck system ball. But I dont think it would help anyway. Long story short, I took a string and a level to simulate my turning radios 4" further back. What I found was that my 5th wheel would still come in contact with my rear window (instead of my window post). I figured I would need a 12" offset for no contact to occur. Being careful works for me. I have over 5,000 miles on "IRV" and haven't needed a 90 degree turn yet. At times like these I do regret not purchasing an 8' bed. Good luck!
Nice video. Maybe a tab in front of the locking lever and another tab on the lever it self to install a padlock. Or just a tab with a 90 degree bend that the lever would rest behind in its locked position, that way the lever itself could have a hole drilled to line up with the 90 degree tab for the lock. Hope this makes sense.
I watched your video I liked it up to a point I have a Toyota you need to make a video of the receiver part of the hitch and what you had to do to manufacture the receiver part make a video that please
I have looked around and the maximum weight I could find for this product is 20,000 lbs. With some 5th wheels approaching 30,000 lbs, what is the best option?
The large majority of 5th wheels weight between 12,000lbs - 18,000lbs GVWR. I recommend a 5th wheel hitch and a Diesel Dually Truck for 20,000lbs and over.
You arent doing it right! You shouldn't have any pressure on your cable. I replied to your original video... you shouldn't need let any air out of bag. Id be happy to help or discuss it with you. I even loosened up the nut on the pivot point on the cable to make it easier. I also adjusted the little stop nut on the cable to make it work better being I adjusted the cable length. I can easily release my cable from the rear of the truck. The airbag has a pressure relief valve that self regulates while going down the road and hard stops. I've hardly ever have to add air to mine... it stays around 50psi usually. You and I have the exact same camper basically. Mine is a 2018 Phoenix by Shasta... its made by Coachman in the same plant they make the Chaparral.
I can see that the Reese Goosebox does have some nice features, I could not use it because my tow vehicle is a short box F-350 Crew Cab and would not have the clearance when turning as I am afforded with my Auto-Slide system. Something I will keep in mind if/when I upgrade my tow vehicle. Thanks for the unbiased feedback.
Any update on the air bag leaking? I pulled my camper from storage to my house in order to get ready to take out for the weekend. Long story short... after a few hours I checked the level and it was empty! I aired it back up and will check in a bit. It’s hooked up to my truck in the driveway.
After doing some research, I have learned that a gooseneck setup can put added stress on the frame of the fifth wheel. Is this true? or is that only when using a gooseneck adapter? I like the idea of not having a fifth wheel hitch in my truck. I currently use an Anderson system so I already have a BW turnover ball. please advise on the added frame stress issue. Thanks
If I'm not mistaken Big Truck Big Rv has said the same thing in the past, has he changed his mind? I for one would really like to know what different manufacturers of 5th wheels have to say on this subject.
