Just joined the Reese Goosebox club

[432bartman]

I just got done installing the 20K Reese Goosebox and can't wait for the first trip with it in a couple of weeks. Overall, the installation went very smooth even though this thing weighs 230lbs. With help from my neighbor getting it into the back of my truck, and using the thick cardboard it comes shipped in to place it on was the only time I needed any help. It balances out standing up and I used a small jack stand to level it out. I bought it through Amazon, along with the safety chain kit and the steel spacer plates.

For those who have one of these. When in storage are you suppose to let the air out of it or just keep it filled?

[bleedmichigan]

I keep some air in ours usually just 5-10 lbs

[432bartman]

Originally Posted by bleedmichigan

I keep some air in ours usually just 5-10 lbs

Thank you.

[BB_TX]

Not a Goosebox but I had a 5th Airborne air ride pin box and always just left the air bag inflated. It would very slowly lose some air over the course of the year. I would sometimes have to add a few pounds of air after a couple months. Never could figure out where the air was leaking as the loss was so slow. Keep an eye on yours to make sure it stays at the proper pressure.

[432bartman]

Just had my first tow of about 15 miles returning my trailer to the indoor storage facility. I love the new set-up. I thought my Anderson hitch was great, and this one is clearly even better. Between the airbags on my truck and the one on the hitch, it is definitely smoother and seems to float over bad expansion joints, railroad tracks and potholes. If anybody is on the fence about getting one, you'll not be disappointed.

[jsb5717]

Do you find that the back of the truck is a little closer to the trailer? What kind of clearance do you have with the tailgate down?

[Mike4956]

Originally Posted by jsb5717

Do you find that the back of the truck is a little closer to the trailer? What kind of clearance do you have with the tailgate down?

I have a 2016 short bed ram that looks like yours. I started using a 4 inch offset ball, now it sits 1 1/2 inch higher, and much better turning radius with better clearance when the tail gait is down. Well worth the money.

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by Mike4956

I have a 2016 short bed ram that looks like yours. I started using a 4 inch offset ball, now it sits 1 1/2 inch higher, and much better turning radius with better clearance when the tail gait is down. Well worth the money.

Mike since you stated that you went with a 4" offset ball, does this indeed mean that your fiver sat closer to your truck cab with a GooseBox vice your original fifth wheel hitch?
Thanks

[Mike4956]

Originally Posted by Lee-CI

Mike since you stated that you went with a 4" offset ball, does this indeed mean that your fiver sat closer to your truck cab with a GooseBox vice your original fifth wheel hitch?
Thanks

When I picked up the RV (first 5th wheel), I switched the hitch in the parking lot. So, I never tried the original hitch. After studying up on the hitch, I thought my backing skills wouldn't need the extra "comfort zone" between the fiver and the cab. But after some uncomfortable backing up and even turning going forward, I wanted to try the offset hitch. It makes a big difference with my comfort, the added 1 1/2 inch height was a bonus.

[Lee-CI]

Thanks - appreciate it. I understand the "comfort zone", especially with the SB truck. Same here. This isn't my first fiver, but it was a couple decades ago since pulling semi regularly. More experience pulling GN trailers than I care to admit. The GooseBox setup looks extremely appealing. Just trying to decide if the bang-for-the-buck is worth it. I have a tractor with a front end loader, so the install doesn't concern me.

[432bartman]

Originally Posted by jsb5717

Do you find that the back of the truck is a little closer to the trailer? What kind of clearance do you have with the tailgate down?

Jeff, it does sit closer. When in position, my tailgate down is within 10" of the trailer. My turning radius seems pretty good though, as I had to do some tight cornering when backing into position at my storage facility.

[jsb5717]

Originally Posted by 432bartman

Jeff, it does sit closer. When in position, my tailgate down is within 10" of the trailer. My turning radius seems pretty good though, as I had to do some tight cornering when backing into position at my storage facility.

Thanks, that does sound about right. With my Andersen I have a little more room than that. But as long as you can maneuver back there, and finish get hooked up without having to put up the tailgate, then it's all good.

[mlh]

Originally Posted by BB_TX

Not a Goosebox but I had a 5th Airborne air ride pin box and always just left the air bag inflated. It would very slowly lose some air over the course of the year. I would sometimes have to add a few pounds of air after a couple months. Never could figure out where the air was leaking as the loss was so slow. Keep an eye on yours to make sure it stays at the proper pressure.

Air can and will leak through solid steel. I used to work in the traveling wave tube industry, radar jammers for the military. If steel is cut across grain, yes steel has grain, it will leak air. These traveling wave tubes had a near perfect vacuum pulled on then and they would leak. So it’s no surprise rubber would leak a little air.
Lynwood

[mchurch314]

I leave air in the bag during storage. I never considered emptying it (maybe I should have). Mine is 4 years old and haven't had an issue. Love the ride I get with this upgrade, I often forget I'm pulling a 14k pound trailer. The only negative I see is it's a bit harder to hookup the truck to a Goosebox, you have little room for error.

[RRman]

Good Luck!
I hope they've improved the design since I got one about a year after they came out as I had to air up the bag after almost every tow as the "Pressure Relief" valve would frequently let air out..
And refilling the bag was a pain through the bicycle size air valve (too slow and glad I had an onboard air compressor).
Do they still recommend greasing the coupler through the Zerk for every tow?
Sadly mine failed to protect my RV and was bent (the moving part against the sides) along with a front frame fracture within less than a year of installation and Reese would NOT provide a new one (not that I wanted one).
Fortunately the Fiver Front Frame was rebuilt more strongly and I had a 20K Pinbox installed with a return to the "Star Performance Hitch" with glider movement.

[jwengermt]

We installed ours about 6 months ago and love it. The manufacturer says you should let all the air out at least once per year. Other than that you can leave it inflated. I have been letting the air out when i park it for any length of time. I had same issue with install and did the same as you. Neighbor helped and so did the cardboard. Also use the 4" extension ball as we have a 6' 6" bed. Can't quite make 90 degrees, but it's close. Enjoy. We've put about 1800 miles on it so far.

[Lee-CI]

@RRman sorry to hear you had some serious problems with your hitch and fiver frame. Not trying to hijack the OP's thread, but what year and model was / is your rig for reference?
Thanks and happy camping

[Coronabob]

We love ours. We went from a trailaire to the goose box. No more chucking etc. so easy to disconnect and store. Never let air out and haven't had to add any in 6 months or more.

[Rider]

https://www.thedieselgarage.com/thre...-say-no.70978/

[bleedmichigan]

Originally Posted by Rider

https://www.thedieselgarage.com/thre...-say-no.70978/

The Goosebox isn’t a gooseneck adapter it’s a replacement pin box approved by lippert and keystone. It does nothing to add stress to the frame of the RV.