Questions from a Fifth Wheel Newbie!

[ctodd111]

Originally Posted by TomArmstrong

I have the B&W Gooseneck pin hitch and can tell you- even in 2 pieces it's heavy.
I highly recommend getting a mobile table lift to remove or put any hitch in the truck bed. It will become your back's best friend.

Thank you for this information! I had no idea such a thing existed. Game changer for us for sure.

[Kzneft]

Sorry, but not a fan of the Anderson hitches. When I am pulling 10,000 lbs+ I am not concerned if my hitch is "lightweight". Just the opposite, I care about if it's heavy duty. I normally don't pull my hitch off my truck bed anyway. I use the BW Companion and I know it weights a lot, which is what I want. Maybe Anderson has a better hitch now, seeing they are generation #3??? In the past some of those hitches failed in emergency situations, hence maybe the GenIII now. Just my two cents.

[TomArmstrong]

Originally Posted by ctodd111

Thank you for this information! I had no idea such a thing existed. Game changer for us for sure.

I used to do a bit of racing and I used this to remove engines/transmissions etc… But its biggest payoff is getting things in and out of the truck. This is a Northern Tool 1000 lb lift. Plus it’s handy to lift things up so you don’t have to bend over.

[dutchmensport]

If you are looking for a good Fifth Wheel hitch, with a total weight of less than 100 pounds, but actually separates into 3, very easy, removable sections with weight of less than 33 pounds each, then check into the Demo Recon fifth wheel hitch.

I've been using a no-frills, standard Demco Recon hitch since we purchased new our current fifth wheel (41 feet long), and it's performed great. Removing from the bed of the truck is very easy for one person. The head lifts off, the main shaft lifts off, the foot (or bed) lifts off. It's all held together with pins, is easy to adjust the height, and .... did I say, one person (like us old farts) can easily remove it from the bed of the truck.

Goose Neck ball mount, click here

Fifth wheel hitches, click here.

[vampress_me]

Originally Posted by sourdough

As Rob mentioned, the Gen Y will void the frame warranty on a new trailer with a Lippert frame as I recall. It falls into the "kingpin" adapter category. The other similar "adapter" that is approved by Lippert, because they own the company, is the Reese Goose Box. Some members own it and seem to be happy from what I've seen. The other full bodied 5th wheel hitches that weigh from 200-300 lbs. are plentiful.....if you are strong bodied or have a tractor/A frame w/winch etc. to pull it out they may be what you want....

Danny, I’m not trying to stir the pot, but has anyone checked whether Keystone will not honor warranty with a GenY hitch? I remember reading Keystone specifically stated this with the Andersen, but I don’t remember seeing anything from Keystone with regard to the GenY. I don’t have a dog in the fight anymore since we have an Alliance product. But, I just got some frame repair work done by Alliance at their factory (broken welds) and there was not a peep mentioned about us having a GenY on the fifth wheel. So, I’m just curious if Keystone really does say the same about the GenY as they do the Andersen since the Andersen has its own weird hitch wedge (or something) setup while a GenY just uses the gooseball in the truck bed without any add on pieces to make it work. And, after using our GenY I absolutely love it. It’s interesting to watch in the rear view mirror while going over bumps and seeing the truck’s tailgate bounce up and down while the fifth wheel stays steady and smooth.

[Conyers]

I use the Reese Goosebox on my 5th wheel. All you need is the ball in the bed of the truck. No additional hitch weight in the bed. IT works very well.

[chuckster57]

The frame warranty issue is Lippert, not keystone. When I was at a grand designs dealer it was the same.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by vampress_me

Danny, I’m not trying to stir the pot, but has anyone checked whether Keystone will not honor warranty with a GenY hitch? I remember reading Keystone specifically stated this with the Andersen, but I don’t remember seeing anything from Keystone with regard to the GenY. I don’t have a dog in the fight anymore since we have an Alliance product. But, I just got some frame repair work done by Alliance at their factory (broken welds) and there was not a peep mentioned about us having a GenY on the fifth wheel. So, I’m just curious if Keystone really does say the same about the GenY as they do the Andersen since the Andersen has its own weird hitch wedge (or something) setup while a GenY just uses the gooseball in the truck bed without any add on pieces to make it work. And, after using our GenY I absolutely love it. It’s interesting to watch in the rear view mirror while going over bumps and seeing the truck’s tailgate bounce up and down while the fifth wheel stays steady and smooth.

Not stirring the pot - I said IIRC. I'm sure that is the case/what I was told but can try to verify again since things seem to change every day in the RV world. It might be a couple of days or next week since we are covered up here. In the mean time here's a link to a thread where John includes the Keystone/Lippert memo. Note that the memo say ANY goose neck adapter (which is what the Gen Y is) is excluded from the warranty other than the Reese Goose Box. The Gen Y is a pin box gooseneck adapter. The Andersen has the adapter attached to pin to modify it to a gooseneck connection. The Andersen was specified because as the beginning of the letter states, the Andersen had specifically be approved in writing prior - the rest of the statement applies to any other adapters on the market (the conversation is coming back a bit). The letter is very clear but I'll see what I have. John attached the memo is post 5.

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...nty#post533837

[TLScout]

We have a 2023 Cougar 23MLE--the same model you are interested in. We haul ours with a Gas engine (6.2L) 2022 Ford SRW F-250 4x4 and have no problems at all. My GVWR is 10,000 lbs and my truck payload capacity is 3,222 lbs. Towing capacity with my engine is 12,500 lbs. All of these are less than your Ford F-350 SRW with the 7.3L.


Here are the CAT scale readings & calculations the last time I weighed for a trip--we were packed for a long trip and had a full tank of fresh water (grey/black were empty).


1st Weigh (Truck & Trailer)
Steer axle: 4180
Drive axle: 5020
Trailer axle: 7860
Gross Weight: 17060


2nd Weigh (Truck Only)
Steer axle: 4180
Drive axle: 3640

Trailer axle: 0

Gross Weight: 7820


Running the calculations on the above gives actual trailer and pin weights as follows:
Truck Gross Vehicle Weight: 9200 lbs
Truck Gross Axle Weight (Front): 4180
Truck Gross Axle Weight (Rear): 5020
Towing Weight: 9240
Truck payload: 2,422
Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight: 9,240
Trailer Axle Weight: 3930
Trailer payload: 1,710
Trailer Tongue/Pin Weight: 1,380 (15%)
Combined Weight Rating: 17,060


All of the above are within the truck and trailer weight ratings. In fact--I still have 800 lbs of truck payload and 600 lbs of trailer payload if needed (I don't--and won't push it either)


Bottom Line--You'll be good to go if you get that trailer. We love ours!!!
--- Tom

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by vampress_me

Danny, I’m not trying to stir the pot, but has anyone checked whether Keystone will not honor warranty with a GenY hitch? I remember reading Keystone specifically stated this with the Andersen, but I don’t remember seeing anything from Keystone with regard to the GenY. I don’t have a dog in the fight anymore since we have an Alliance product. But, I just got some frame repair work done by Alliance at their factory (broken welds) and there was not a peep mentioned about us having a GenY on the fifth wheel. So, I’m just curious if Keystone really does say the same about the GenY as they do the Andersen since the Andersen has its own weird hitch wedge (or something) setup while a GenY just uses the gooseball in the truck bed without any add on pieces to make it work. And, after using our GenY I absolutely love it. It’s interesting to watch in the rear view mirror while going over bumps and seeing the truck’s tailgate bounce up and down while the fifth wheel stays steady and smooth.

I could not find the correspondence I received on the warranty issues with a Gen Y (I file stuff on the "computer" and sometimes have no idea where it went) so contacted Lippert again. Their response is the same as I remember and is below - note that the only unit not excluded from the warranty using a Gen Y is one model of Brinkley...but they had to throw in the Reese Goose Box as acceptable ;

Good afternoon Danny

The Reese Goose Box is an acceptable aftermarket replacement for LCI pin boxes. When installed properly, this does not void the Lippert Limited Frame Warranty.

The Gen Y pinbox is approved for the Brinkley Model G units only. Lippert and Brinkley engineers worked together for this approval. If the Gen Y is used on any other model or unit it would not be an approved aftermarket installation.