Hooking Up a Gooseneck
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 996
Likes: 132
From: Oklahoma
You will want about 6 to 7 inches clearance between the bed rails and the fifth wheel. You will also want it to sit as level as possible when hooked up. All this is variable based on the truck height, fifth wheel height, pin weight, deflection of your truck when hooked up, etc. Your pin box will have may 3 different sets of mounting holes so the Goosebox can be raised or lowered to get the right height or a taller or shorter ball can do the same thing. It could be a combination of both so it's hard to say what you will need. If you have the dealer install it they will figure it out. There may be a locking ball but I don't know of any. I have a bed cover on my truck and with the locking tailgate it is fairly secure.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 339
Likes: 25
Thanks guys! Despite reading a lot online over the last few years, it helps to get first hand knowledge from people driving exact same model truck.
Yes, I am aware that I want the trailer to be as level as possible, and read a lot about the stress on rear axle and tires blowing up. That's why I am asking all these questions now. Problem is that if we end up buying used from private party, we will not have dealer installed hitch to make sure everything works well together. That's another reason I want to be 100% sure I get the right parts, so I can make adjustments as appropriate later.
It seems to me the taller ball recommended here allows for more adjustments with our tall trucks, and the handle is a nice bonus, so I will likely go with that.
Yes, I am aware that I want the trailer to be as level as possible, and read a lot about the stress on rear axle and tires blowing up. That's why I am asking all these questions now. Problem is that if we end up buying used from private party, we will not have dealer installed hitch to make sure everything works well together. That's another reason I want to be 100% sure I get the right parts, so I can make adjustments as appropriate later.
It seems to me the taller ball recommended here allows for more adjustments with our tall trucks, and the handle is a nice bonus, so I will likely go with that.
New User
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
You'll need to balance bed clearance and overall height of your camper.
As you raise the rig up to provide bed rail clearance, you need to check what your overall height is.
In my case, the best I could achieve is 6.5" bed rail clearance and I am right at the legal limit of 13' 6".
Unfortunately, because of the tailgate "spoiler", you lose an inch there, so I have 5.5" of clearance at the tailgate.
I haven't run into issues where the rails hit the rig, but I'd like another inch to be comfortable.
Depending on your pinbox wings, you can mix and match the installed height of the Goose Box by choosing different sets of bolt holes, and then couple that with different height goose ball to dial it in. Goose ***** are fixed height, not adjustable.
The Reese standard height ball was too low for me, so I stayed with the B&W.
Also beware that unless you can get the rig much higher off the bed rails, you may run into interference issues as you approach 90 degrees. I can't go full 90 degrees without my Goose Box hitting the bed rail covers. Another reason I would have liked to ride higher.
Also, avoid running the camper too much "nose high" as that can accelerate rear tire wear and drive their operating temp up, possibly exposing them to blowout. A TPMS system is highly recommended to keep tabs on them, anyway.
No lock on the *****. When I didn't have a tonneau to lower when uncoupled, I removed the ball. That would have been a show stopper if stolen.
As you raise the rig up to provide bed rail clearance, you need to check what your overall height is.
In my case, the best I could achieve is 6.5" bed rail clearance and I am right at the legal limit of 13' 6".
Unfortunately, because of the tailgate "spoiler", you lose an inch there, so I have 5.5" of clearance at the tailgate.
I haven't run into issues where the rails hit the rig, but I'd like another inch to be comfortable.
Depending on your pinbox wings, you can mix and match the installed height of the Goose Box by choosing different sets of bolt holes, and then couple that with different height goose ball to dial it in. Goose ***** are fixed height, not adjustable.
The Reese standard height ball was too low for me, so I stayed with the B&W.
Also beware that unless you can get the rig much higher off the bed rails, you may run into interference issues as you approach 90 degrees. I can't go full 90 degrees without my Goose Box hitting the bed rail covers. Another reason I would have liked to ride higher.
Also, avoid running the camper too much "nose high" as that can accelerate rear tire wear and drive their operating temp up, possibly exposing them to blowout. A TPMS system is highly recommended to keep tabs on them, anyway.
No lock on the *****. When I didn't have a tonneau to lower when uncoupled, I removed the ball. That would have been a show stopper if stolen.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 50
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Thanks guys for your replies, really appreciate it! Just learned something new - I had no idea the ball is height adjustable, I thought they are all the same. I am almost afraid to ask more questions, as they must come across as totally stupid to those of you that have towed for decades. I will try anyway as this forum has been invaluable to me in selecting and buying my new truck.
The 5th wheel we are planning to buy is Grand Design 337RLS. We are shopping used ones, but will buy new if we cannot find what we want. It's 35 feet long and 14K lbs fully loaded. I confirmed with GD that GB will not void their warranty. My truck is 2019 F350 STX CCLB SRW with factory puck system. I know this truck sits high, higher even than above mentioned F450. Given that, and to keep the recommended bed rail clearance, is the B&W ball still recommended, or is there even taller ball I would need to purchase?
Also, do these ***** come with some sort of lock when installed in the bed to prevent theft?
Thanks for your patience!
The 5th wheel we are planning to buy is Grand Design 337RLS. We are shopping used ones, but will buy new if we cannot find what we want. It's 35 feet long and 14K lbs fully loaded. I confirmed with GD that GB will not void their warranty. My truck is 2019 F350 STX CCLB SRW with factory puck system. I know this truck sits high, higher even than above mentioned F450. Given that, and to keep the recommended bed rail clearance, is the B&W ball still recommended, or is there even taller ball I would need to purchase?
Also, do these ***** come with some sort of lock when installed in the bed to prevent theft?
Thanks for your patience!
I bring this up only to point out another factor in the equation. If you can drop the bed height it gives you another place to adjust to get the rig towing level, and give you plenty of bed clearance.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 996
Likes: 132
From: Oklahoma
My Goosebox is ordered. Now I'm trying to talk myself into getting the B&W ball kit. I'm thinking setting it up one time with the taller ball, with the added benefit of having a really well designed ball, might be the best way to go vs setting it up with the shorter Reese ball, deciding I need/want the B&W and then starting over on the pin box adjustments. Fortunately the Gen 2 Goosebox added what appears to be an additional 2 or 3 inches height to the mounting wings so adjusting for height should be easier.
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bwbarnes
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