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Old 04-16-2017, 03:47 AM   #1
Jobsi
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Gooseneck or fifth wheel

I will be taking delivery of my impact 311 fifth wheel in a couple of weeks
My truck already has the b&w turnoverball installed

Should I buy the fifth wheel companion slider
That goes with the hide away

Or should I switch the trailer over to the Reese goose box and just use the ball in my truck

Pros and con of both ?
Is there Added Stress on the truck or trailer with goose?
Which has better ride quality?


This is my first fifth wheel so I am still learning any help is appreciated

My truck is a 15 F250 6.7 short box
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Old 04-16-2017, 04:08 AM   #2
TheTynman
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I just purchased a new 2016 Alpine. My truck is a 2015 Ford F350 Long Bed Dually with the 6.7, and had the same question as you do. Everyone I talked to said, where the gooseneck is great for horse trailers, it's not good for 5th wheels. They said it adds too much stress to the trailer.
I went with the B&W Companion Hitch and love it!
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Old 04-16-2017, 04:18 AM   #3
Jobsi
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I heard that to that it would add stress to the trailer
the Reese goose box has air ride built into it I wonder if that makes a difference
Do you leave your companion in your bed ? Or take it in an out ?
I daily drive my truck and need the bed so I would be pulling it in and out just seems like it would be a pain to do
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Old 04-16-2017, 04:28 AM   #4
TheTynman
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I have a Flex-Air Pin Box, which may help for the stress issue. I just purchased mine 3 weeks ago and the dealer installed it the hitch. I do plan to leave the hitch installed except when I need to haul sheets of plywood. The hitch weighs over 100 lbs so taking it in and out frequently could be a pain but they say it's an easy install.
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Old 04-16-2017, 04:35 AM   #5
kfxgreenie
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http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...=27873&page=22

Go to the following thread and look at post 213 specifically. The Goosebox is approved by Lippert as the only Gooseneck "pinbox". I personally use an Andersen over a B&W turnover and like the performance and weight saving features, and the fact I can have my bed clean without literally breaking my back (fused L2-S1). On that note the Andersen is controversial and I will leave it at that. If you like the idear do your own research look at the design and read USER reviews. I will leave that at that. The Goosebox is the better solution that is "manufacture approved" leaves the bed clean always, and still gives you weight savings as well, it will just leave your wallet a little lighter, but it is not to bad IMO.
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Old 04-16-2017, 04:36 AM   #6
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Jon, I wouldn't add any more weight to your pickup bed than what is in there right now. You are already well beyond the capacity of that 250 and wouldn't want to add to your situation. Stick with your B&W, add a Goosebox and at least ponder a one ton to haul that trailer.
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Old 04-16-2017, 05:31 AM   #7
Jobsi
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Yes weight is a real issue for me I am pushing the truck to its max when it's loaded and anywhere I can save a few lbs I plan on doing so
I do plan on at least upgrading to f350 leaf springs and possible air bags if I have any leveling issues
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Old 04-16-2017, 05:41 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobsi View Post
Yes weight is a real issue for me I am pushing the truck to its max when it's loaded and anywhere I can save a few lbs I plan on doing so
I do plan on at least upgrading to f350 leaf springs and possible air bags if I have any leveling issues
You might want to spend a few minutes and take advantage of one of those "free first consultations" with a lawyer and have a conversation with your insurance agent. Explain to them exactly what you plan to do and get their advice on what part of your assets you might be putting at risk by towing with a truck not "certified by the manufacturer for the load".....

If you check the 2015 build sheet for your specific truck you'll probably find that the springs on it are already "F350 part numbers" and you may, if you have the camper package, already have the "F350 overload springs". Upgrading the physical components won't change the "certified rating" on the payload placed there by the manufacturer. That's the reason for getting with your insurance agent and/or a lawyer, to ward off any potential for being sued if "grandma runs into your truck and her lawyer finds out about your overloaded towing"....
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Old 04-16-2017, 06:06 AM   #9
Jobsi
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My truck does have the camper package
According to fords site it can handle 15,100 for fifth/gooseneck
The trailer weighs dry 11,300 dry
I know that's unloaded and when loaded I will
Be right around the limits of my truck .I just want to be as safe as possible but I don't see why this truck can't handle this


Upgrading to another truck is not an option for me at this time
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Old 04-16-2017, 06:19 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobsi View Post
My truck does have the camper package
According to fords site it can handle 15,100 for fifth/gooseneck
The trailer weighs dry 11,300 dry
I know that's unloaded and when loaded I will
Be right around the limits of my truck .I just want to be as safe as possible but I don't see why this truck can't handle this


Upgrading to another truck is not an option for me at this time
It isn't about what it can pull... it is about what it can carry....

Go look at the stickers on the door... They'll tell the legal load your truck can carry... After that go talk to your attorney and insurance carrier...

Edit... here are the stickers from my F250 which is closer to what you have...
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Old 04-16-2017, 06:27 AM   #11
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So everybody is entitled to their own opinion so here is mine. I have the B&W turnover and have used it on my 5th wheel. I have found that the flex is non-existant and the cap of the 5th wheel took all of the burden. The screws on the underside of the camper, by the box all came loose and were "tipped" to the side because the cap took all of the stress. The top of the cap, by the roof had also flexed to a serious point. Besides it was a bit more difficult to hook up because of the preciseness of the 2 5/16 ball to land on when hooking up.
I have purchased the B&W Companion it is pulls a lot nicer and I have not found any stress on the cap besides to hook it up is a lot easier.
It may be a bit of a hassle to take the hitch out when you need your truck but I feel it is worth it.
My opinion being is to use a 5th wheel plate, no matter the brand than a gooseneck. The stock trailers have a different design to take more of the stress.
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Old 04-16-2017, 07:12 AM   #12
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In my past life on the farm I have pulled gooseneck stock and grain trailers many miles so I have a fair idea of how to hook one up . However, since have been pulling the fiver, we use the fifth wheel hitch for one main reason. We have been from Calif to Fla to New England and back several times and I have seen very few gooseneck RV setups. The few I have seen always seem to have a great deal of difficulty hooking up because the ball has to be exactly in the right place to fit the hitch. I can hook up and be 40 miles down the road in the time it takes to hook up their gooseneck. We watched a neighbor spend over an hour trying to hook his up. He had a camera in the bed of the truck that should have showed him where he needed to be but it didn't seem to help much. A spotter would be a little better but not much. Having a truck bed empty for the very few times I need it when traveling is certainly not worth the hassle of trying to hook up the gooseneck.
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Old 04-16-2017, 08:29 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobsi View Post
I will be taking delivery of my impact 311 fifth wheel in a couple of weeks
My truck already has the b&w turnoverball installed

Should I buy the fifth wheel companion slider
That goes with the hide away

Or should I switch the trailer over to the Reese goose box and just use the ball in my truck

Pros and con of both ?
Is there Added Stress on the truck or trailer with goose?
Which has better ride quality?


This is my first fifth wheel so I am still learning any help is appreciated

My truck is a 15 F250 6.7 short box
http://andersenhitches.com/Products/...k-version.aspx

This is called the gooseneck version because it uses the gooseneck ball in the bed. It is not a gooseneck hitch.
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Old 05-17-2017, 11:27 AM   #14
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I am going into my 4th year using a GooseBox. I won't have anything else.

Once I learned what to watch in my review mirror, hooking up is easier than a ball hitch on a TT. I can do it myself although it helps when the DW tells me when to stop backing up. By myself I can be hooked up in 1 to 2 minutes.

The GooseBox has an airbag and 2 shocks. There's an indicator on the side when filling air.
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