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Old 02-28-2020, 11:06 AM   #1
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Reese Goosebox on a 5.0

I am new to the community and I don’t even have a truck and trailer yet.
I have my eyes on the 5.0 and have not yet decided on a truck.
I have seen many videos on YouTube about the Goosebox by Reese and I am curious if that can be fitted onto the 5.0.
I have trailered with gooseneck trailers when I worked on a farm and I prefer the stability over rear bumper towing.
I know there extensive debates about the stress these adapters put on the trailer, but the Goosebox addresses those issues.
I don’t want the fifth wheel setup because of that massive hunk of metal that I have to put in the bed.
With tho gooseneck , it’s just the ball and it’s removable so I have a completely usable bed when I’m not towing.
I would appreciate any input from you folks.
Thinking about a Tundra as a tow vehicle.
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Old 02-28-2020, 11:15 AM   #2
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Big hunk of metal.🤔 How about this?
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Old 02-28-2020, 11:27 AM   #3
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Thank you
Yes I’ve seen these and it seems like a great solution.
I am hoping to use the Goosebox if I can because the whole setup is really slick.
So I’m hoping to find out if changing the trailer part is possible.. Does the Goosebox. Fit the bolt pattern of the trailer.
Thanks for sharing your photos. It is a very viable option.
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Old 02-28-2020, 11:34 AM   #4
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Just another possibility for you to consider. I use a Demco Recon hitch. Mine is rail mounted but it also comes in a version that mounts to a gooseneck ball. Unlike most conventional fifth wheel hitches that have a big heavy A-frame base, the Recon has a pyramid shaped base which really minimizes the amount of space it takes up in the bed, and also makes it much lighter - 94 pounds.
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Old 02-28-2020, 11:53 AM   #5
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Thanks!!!
I would like to post a photo from my phone but - I’m not so great st this stuff.
Anybody can help me?
The tab above requires the photo to have a url.
I don’t post photos anywhere so it doesn’t have a url.
I must sound like an idiot .
I don’t Facebook or any of that stuff.
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Old 02-28-2020, 12:00 PM   #6
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Old 02-28-2020, 12:11 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
Thanks!!!
I would like to post a photo from my phone but - I’m not so great st this stuff.
Anybody can help me?
The menu bar at the top of the message box will have a paper clip icon for attachments. Click on that and it will bring up a new box - "manage attachments". Click on the "Choose file" button and it will let you navigate to your photo file and select it. Then click on the "upload files" button and wait for a message that they have been uploaded. You can then close that box and your photo file will be attached to your message.
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Old 02-28-2020, 12:13 PM   #8
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Thanks!!
I did go that route but maybe I screwed up.
I will try again.
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Old 02-28-2020, 12:17 PM   #9
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Here is a photo of the Goosebox setup.
Trying to find out if this will fit the 5.0
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Old 02-28-2020, 12:34 PM   #10
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I would think that Escape would be in a better position to determine what, if any, changes can be made to their 5th wheel set up......
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Old 02-28-2020, 01:40 PM   #11
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Thanks
I thought that maybe they monitored this forum or even moderated them.
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Old 02-28-2020, 01:49 PM   #12
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No, Escape Trailers is not affiliated with the forum, other than being a commercial member. There is no ownership involvement what ever. They do read/post sometimes but if you need anything it is always best to go direct to them.
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Old 02-28-2020, 02:07 PM   #13
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Ok Thanks
I made a call and sent an email
Will wait to hear from them.
Thanks all for your replies.
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Old 03-01-2020, 01:07 AM   #14
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This came up recently, in 5.0 TA: Anderson Ultimate Gooseneck or Ranch Hitch Adapter? I corresponded with Karl Kenny (President of Escape), and he confirmed that he was unaware of the previous issues which led to Escape's prohibition of pin box extensions such as the Andersen Ranch Hitch Adapter and Reese Goose Box. I provided background information, and as of late October 2019 he was planning to do some investigation; I am not aware of an update since then.
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Old 03-01-2020, 09:01 AM   #15
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Thanks
I must emphasize, this is not a pin box extension.
It is a completely engineered unit designed and I believe OEM approved unit.
It is designed To replace the entire pin box and work with a frame mounted ball.
The ball is mounted on the frame and there is a cutout in the bed.
I am trying to determine if the bolt pattern for the Goosebox will match up the the mounting point on the trailer.
I am waiting to hear back from escape. So far no answer.
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Old 03-01-2020, 11:02 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
Thanks
I must emphasize, this is not a pin box extension.
It is a completely engineered unit designed and I believe OEM approved unit.
It is designed To replace the entire pin box and work with a frame mounted ball.
The ball is mounted on the frame and there is a cutout in the bed.
I am trying to determine if the bolt pattern for the Goosebox will match up the the mounting point on the trailer.
I am waiting to hear back from escape. So far no answer.

I'd love to hear what you find out from ETI. Please post what they say.
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Old 03-01-2020, 11:42 AM   #17
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If it helps you any in the meantime to evaluate compatibility, here's a photo of the standard 5.0TA kingpin bracket. The side plate is 7" x 14", 5/8" bolt holes, 2-1/2" vertical spacing between rows of holes and 4-1/2" horizontal spacing between columns of holes. The distance between the two side plates is 12-1/4".
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Old 03-01-2020, 02:08 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
I must emphasize, this is not a pin box extension.
It is not an add-on adapter, but it most certainly does extend the pin box vertically, which is the potential problem. Extending the pin box is an essential part of the design, because that's what enables it to couple to a ball at truck bed height level, rather than at the higher level of a conventional fifth-wheel (or the Andersen Ultimate).

Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
It is a completely engineered unit designed and I believe OEM approved unit.
"Completely engineered" doesn't mean anything, but I do understand that it is professionally designed. It is approved by Lippert for use with their pin boxes and frames, but the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) of an Escape trailer is Escape Trailer Industries (ETI); Reese cannot speak for ETI, and there probably isn't even anyone working for Reese who has heard of Escape, let alone analyzed an Escape frame design.

Again, this was discussed in the previous thread for which I provided a link. Nothing has changed in this situation in the few months since that discussion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
It is designed To replace the entire pin box and work with a frame mounted ball.
The ball is mounted on the frame and there is a cutout in the bed.
I think everyone who is interested in this product knows how it works, which again has been repeatedly discussed. And it doesn't replace the entire pin box, just the lower portion: the pin box has an upper portion (or "wings") which is welded to the trailer frame, and a lower portion which bolts to that in one of two positions to provide a bit of height adjustment.

Several Escape 5.0TA owners use a bed-mounted "gooseneck" ball to tow their trailers... but by using that ball to anchor an Andersen Ultimate hitch, not by extending the pin box down to that ball.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
I am trying to determine if the bolt pattern for the Goosebox will match up the the mounting point on the trailer.
Yes, Escape is currently using a Lippert pin box (apparently Lippert's model 1716), and a version of the Reese Goose Box is available which bolts up to the upper part of that Lippert pin box... just as discussed in the previous threads.
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Old 03-01-2020, 02:14 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 84Zulu View Post
I know there extensive debates about the stress these adapters put on the trailer, but the Goosebox addresses those issues.
The Goose Box contains an air spring for shock absorption, but otherwise does not in any way address those stresses, because the coupling point is still at the end of a longer lever arm than with the original fifth-wheel hitch. Again, we've been through this in multiple previous discussions, including the one which I linked earlier.
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Old 03-01-2020, 08:30 PM   #20
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Thank you David for the photo and the measurements!
Brian I apologize if you are having to repeat yourself.
I had looked for threads about this but apparently I missed them and therefore sought to find answers.
I will check the links.
I will add that I understand that the length change is the issue but I do believe that the air cushion is part of that designed to remove the shock loads on the trailer frame.
Not just a shock absorber. It actually removes the bucking that can occur with goosenecks.
The Reese box has had great success on larger heavier goosenecks so I was hoping it would be viable.
I’m no expert just hopeful .
Thank all
I am still waiting to hear back from Escspe.
I may have to introduce Reese to the 5.0 if someone has not done so already

Thanks for everyone’s input.
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