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Old 07-29-2020, 08:16 AM   #1
BradP
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Hitch

HI, My wife and I have pulled the plug and have decided to go full time in our 2020 40ft 3855BR Montana.

I'm having trouble deciding what kind of hitch to get on my Chevy 3500 dually. I have towed with a 5th wheel hitch before but the RV dealer is recommending a goose neck with an Anderson Hitch. I have done some research and it seems both would work. So I have come to ask the more experienced. Which would be better Goose Neck Hitch or 5th Wheel??

Last question I just thought off should I get four wheel drive in my new truck?
 
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Old 07-29-2020, 08:23 AM   #2
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You might as well have asked what kind of truck to use. The Anderson is a good hitch from all reports, but Pullrite makes a similar one that's stronger. The main advantage of both of these is they don't weigh much and they are easy to remove. That said I use a Pullrite Super Glide and love it, but you'd need a small lift to get it out of there.
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Old 07-29-2020, 08:36 AM   #3
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Yes, the Andersen works great and is very manageable. I haven't used the Pullrite 2600 but by all accounts that would be a good choice as well.

It's hard to go wrong with any viable hitch. With a long bed you won't need to be at all concerned with turning clearance so pick what works best for you.
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Old 07-29-2020, 09:14 AM   #4
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I think if I was going to use the Goose Ball, I would just change King Pin box to the Reese Goose Box and be done with it, nothing to pull our of the TV and store.
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Old 07-29-2020, 09:32 AM   #5
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A small point, but with my Anderson I can see the ball through the back window which makes lining up easy. Don’t know if you would be able to see the Goose Box.
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Old 07-29-2020, 09:57 AM   #6
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The Goosebox is far superior for a goose ball application. After unhitching, there's nothing in the bed except a small 2-5/16" ball and chain loops. The new generation of the Goosebox worked out the flaws of the previous. I've had both and have no complaints about the new one. It tows smooth with the airbag and dual shock in the coupler.

And yes, get a 4x4.

I'm not going to get into the issues I have with the Anderson.
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Old 07-29-2020, 11:07 AM   #7
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Before you go with any kind of Goosebox or Gooseneck hitch make sure about your frame warranty. Some wont cover a warranty with those stile hitch. As far as truck 4 x 4 is the best way to go you never know when you mite need it. Big 5er's even in wet fields I had to use it.
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Old 07-29-2020, 11:24 AM   #8
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Before you go with any kind of Goosebox or Gooseneck hitch make sure about your frame warranty. Some wont cover a warranty with those style hitch.

I'm already convinced Keystone denies most claims and passes everything onto their vendors anyway. The few warranty claims I did file I had to go to the vendors directly to get resolution when the dealer received a denial from Keystone.
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Old 07-29-2020, 11:32 AM   #9
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I'm already convinced Keystone denies most claims and passes everything onto their vendors anyway. The few warranty claims I did file I had to go to the vendors directly to get resolution when the dealer received a denial from Keystone.
Lippert is who makes the frame for Keystone and they do a good job if you have any problems. It's not unusual for any dealer to do that.
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Old 07-29-2020, 11:40 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BradP View Post
HI, My wife and I have pulled the plug and have decided to go full time in our 2020 40ft 3855BR Montana.

I'm having trouble deciding what kind of hitch to get on my Chevy 3500 dually. I have towed with a 5th wheel hitch before but the RV dealer is recommending a goose neck with an Anderson Hitch. I have done some research and it seems both would work. So I have come to ask the more experienced. Which would be better Goose Neck Hitch or 5th Wheel??

Last question I just thought off should I get four wheel drive in my new truck?
Welcome to the forum. Hope you have many years of health and safe travels. I have the Hensley TS-3 air-bag hitch. The rv floats on the bed and takes away the shock and you have 0 chucking. I have no experience with the gooseneck so won't comment on that. As for as 4wd, The vast majority of rv'ers have them. I have had to use mine twice. Once pulling in and out of a rv spot in Gillette Wy. on account of snow and once in Branson Mo. on account i needed the low range of the 4wd to back up a steep road into my rv spot. You may not can think of a situation where you may need it but there is a few out there. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Safe Travels.
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Old 07-29-2020, 11:45 AM   #11
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Lippert is who makes the frame for Keystone and they do a good job if you have any problems. It's not unusual for any dealer to do that.
Right. That's who I had to call for my issue (leaky hydraulic slide cylinder) in the 13th month. Lippert covered it. Keystone said they'd honor it, but ultimately said it's a Lippert issue. I had to call and start a claim directly so the dealer could do the repair. Lippert hasn't had any issues with the Goosebox on their frames in the past. Keystone, on the other hand, doesn't like any modifications to anything on their trailers. I called the customer service line and that was their stance.
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Old 07-29-2020, 12:16 PM   #12
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Have the Curt gooseneck with an Anderson hitch. I really love the weight of it (40lbs.), the ease in which to install and remove, and it tows very nice & quiet.
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Old 07-29-2020, 01:41 PM   #13
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on the hitch
I have a b&w companion slider which attaches to a b&w turnover ball. I really like the open box when not in use but removing it from the pickup is a chore (to heavy). Getting to a clear box when not using and easy to install / remove would be the holy grail. If I didn't require a slider (mega cab with 6ft box) I would have gone Anderson.

on 4x4
If you ever need 4x4 and you don't have it; it really sucks. All mine are 4x4 but the feature is used (ND/MN winters mostly).
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Old 07-29-2020, 09:48 PM   #14
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Welcome to the forum. Yes, I would go 4x4 and is it a LB or a SB?
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Old 07-30-2020, 08:58 AM   #15
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Trailer saver BD 3 hitch.
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Old 07-30-2020, 10:09 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick View Post
You might as well have asked what kind of truck to use. The Anderson is a good hitch from all reports, but Pullrite makes a similar one that's stronger. The main advantage of both of these is they don't weigh much and they are easy to remove. That said I use a Pullrite Super Glide and love it, but you'd need a small lift to get it out of there.

Checking the specs on both, not sure we could come to the conclusion one is stronger then the other. Yes Pullrite has 5,000 pin weight capacity verses 4,500 for Andersen. Both have two means of connection ,single point gooseneck ,and four point standard rail.

The Andersen gooseneck has 24,000 capacity ,the standard rail connection has 20,000. Pullrite has 20,000 both versions. Couldn't go wrong with either, but claiming one is stronger then the other to me would be impossible to determine, if used within their ratings.
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Old 07-30-2020, 02:14 PM   #17
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I am happy with my B & W Companion puck style hitch, 25,000 lbs.

Happy and safe roads to you.

Tom Marty
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Old 07-30-2020, 02:32 PM   #18
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The Reese Goosebox has been approved by Lippert for use on their frames.

The Andersen and Pullrite are not really gooseneck. Yes they use a ball hitch, but don’t have the long lever arm of a gooseneck hitch. Don’t know Lippert’s position on them. But being ball mount you are supposed to use safety chains for any of the three.

4x4? Will you be towing in winter? Going off road? Camping in campgrounds with dirt or sand sites? Daily driver in winter conditions? Then yes. Always “camping” at parks with concrete, paved, or gravel sites, and no winter driving then 4x4 is a matter of what do you want. But finding a choice of trucks in higher trim levels in 4x2 is typically not easy.

I have 4x4 but have never once needed it when towing. But except for one park where sites are hard packed native soil that does not get soft with rain, we have always been in parks with at least gravel sites.
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Old 07-30-2020, 03:08 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by BB_TX View Post
The Reese Goosebox has been approved by Lippert for use on their frames.

This is the only part that concerns me about this (jump to the part about Keystone engineering their own frames @ 5:35)


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Old 07-30-2020, 05:22 PM   #20
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This is the only part that concerns me about this (jump to the part about Keystone engineering their own frames @ 5:35)
.........
I think that has pretty much always been the case, not just Keystone. Lippert builds the frames according to the manufacturer design specifications. Only the manufacturer knows what they want.
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