Reese Goose Box Failure and Problems (Gen 1 vs Gen 2 Review)
No matter what industry there is, there is always someone trying to invent the next great mousetrap. The RV industry is no exception as companies strive to solve RV or 5th wheel issues. They just do not always work out right in the beginning.
One of the problems that come with this invention is that it leaks air. By the time your traveling day is over, all the air could be gone and all you had for your money was a rough ride. There is supposed to be a kit that solves this problem.
To learn more about the Goose Box and its failures just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about to see if this 5th wheel hitch alternative is for you or not.
Reese Goose Box Problems 101
What is a Goosebox?
This invention is a 5th wheel hitch replacement pin box. It is supposed to replace the Lippert pin box and does the same job. You can pull your 5th wheel trailer with a Goose Neck hitch once you add this hitch to your trailer.
The difference is that the Goose Box uses air to help keep the trailer up higher and pull easier. Its weight capacity is 16,000 and 20,000 pounds with a pin weight maximum of 3200 and 4000 pounds.
What makes it popular is that it is supposed to be the only gooseneck hitch that does not add stress to your trailer frame. The company is supposed to make up to 10 different hitches for one vehicle.
That is a lot of choices when you have an expensive trailer to haul. But this hitch alternative still has a lot of problems the company needs to solve.
Common Reese Goose Box Problems
For some trailers, the bolt holes will not match up on the wing set. Reese told the customer to drill 2 new holes on the hitch to solve the problem. Once installed, it would hit a toolbox and the corners had to be shaved for clearance.
But the main common problem most owners seem to have is the air pressure release valve. No matter what owners have done, it seems that this is the weakest link.
On the first generation of this hitch option, Reese told an owner to ignore the indicator and just go by air pressure. No problems from that point on. The bad pressure valves were seen more often in generation one than two.
That is about it for problems that we could find. Most were individual issues which only a few were mentioned here.
Reese Goose Box Losing Air Pressure
This seems to be the most common of all complaints, as we just mentioned. The Schader air valve was the issue for the first generation while the second generation experienced far fewer air pressure valve failures.
Many owners either covered this valve up or removed it. That seemed to have solved their problem with losing air during the traveling time. This kit- Goosebox the Air System Service kit part # RP86007 is supposed to solve the air pressure relief valve issue.
Having read different owners, this seems to be the only negative these owners have spoken about. Most love the hitch and said they did not have any problems with it.
Their attitude is backed by Lippert as this is the only gooseneck hitch that will not void their warranty protection. Lippert will cover damage caused by this hitch but not Anderson’s or any other brand.
Reese Goose Box Failure
According to one source, Reese has claimed that it has never had a failure reported concerning their hitch. But if you have a problem with the hitch Reese may not cover the damage cost if the break or other problem did not occur according to their provisions.
In other words, you are going to pay out of pocket if Reese decides arbitrarily the damage did not occur in the accepted manner. The reports we are seeing are that everyone loves this alternative hitch.
There have been no failures reported that we were able to find. As we said, Lippert only guarantees this brand of hitch. They will cover any damage to their frame if you have this hitch on your 5th wheel trailer.
It might take more research to find a failure report. There are just too many people who love this hitch that may overwhelm or hide negative reports.
Reese Goose Box Reviews
At this moment, Amazon has one 2-star review. That is in comparison to 5 5-star reviews. Those positive reviews matched up with what other owners were saying. They all loved the hitch and thought it was the next best thing to sliced bread.
Everyone is reporting having no problems with using the hitch and they used their 2, 3, and more years of ownership experience as evidence for their perspective.
It is hard to review a product when just about everyone says good things about it. The Goose Box is the only alternative gooseneck hitch that Lippert will guarantee. Anderson does not get this treatment. Reese must have made a very good product.
Some owners who have had a bad experience, and we found 1, did not recommend this product to anyone. He did not say it was junk or avoid it at all costs. He just related his experience and made his recommendation.
If there were any more complaints about this hitch, those complaints focused on the Schrader valve and not the hitch. That was the weakest link in this product and Reese cannot take the blame for that failure.
Reese Goose Box Dimensions
Reese goose box gen 1 vs gen 2The only dimensions we found on the Reese website were the shipping dimensions. They are listed at 18.5" x 46" x 17.25" That was for the 94716 model. It also weighs roughly 170 pounds and is able to withstand 3200 pounds on the pin.
The 94720 measures for shipping, 20.375" x 47.25" x 19.5" and it weighs 225 pounds, with a pin weight capacity of 4000 pounds. According to their website, “World’s first OE approved gooseneck adapter, Endorsed by Lippert Components, Inc. for their frame systems”
That means that they must be doing something right to be held in such high regard. The air pressure relief valve is supposed to prevent overfilling.
It is something you have to watch as the airbag, like a tire or balloon, can only hold so much air before it pops. You will find a limited lifetime warranty attached to both products.
Reese Goose Box Gen 2 Problems
To be honest, no one differentiates between generation 1 and generation 2 Goose Boxes. The complaints have all been generic and it is hard to say which one they are talking about.
Even the reviews we have seen do not mention which version they are reviewing. Anyone who does mention this option is like the reviewers we read and referred to earlier. They just love it and they have had no problems with their model.
Even the Reese website does not distinguish between generations 1 and 2. They just show two models and describe the strong points of both. The technology used to create this product is said to be state of the art.
You know you are getting something that is strong, durable, and should last a long time. The towing capacity is large. With the ability to tow 16,000 or 20,000 pounds, you know you have a hitch that will safely tow your trailer wherever you want to go.
If we were to say anything bad about this model is that look to the air pressure relief valve or intake valve as the problem areas.
Are Safety Chains Required With a Reese Goose Box?
This will depend on the state or local laws on whether you are required to have safety chains attached to this hitch. You would have to check with your local DOT offices to see what they require.
Every state will have different regulations on this issue. Then if the state does not require them, a given city or county may. It is hard to say until you check with them.
With that said, it is always a good idea to have safety chains in place when you are traveling. It only takes between 10 and 20 seconds to attach them so being safe is not a problem or time-consuming.
We know that the hitch does provide places to attach those chains so Reese is just one step ahead and making sure their hitches accommodate local or state laws. The onus is on you to check on the rules and regulations so you know where you stand when you travel.
Will a Reese Goose Box Work With a Short Bed Truck
Before we answer this question, you need to realize that the Goose Box option is designed to replace specific Lippert pin box models. This is not a one size fits all gooseneck hitch.
That means that you have to match the part numbers with the hitch number you want to replace. If you do that, then you should have enough clearance in your short bed truck.
If you use the 94720 model then you should not have any trouble with clearance. You will not get any extra clearance room but you are not supposed to lose any either.
But, if you are currently using a sliding hitch with your truck, then the Goose Box is not going to be any help to you. it is not a better option than the hitch you already have installed.
The hitch part numbers the 94716 replaces are the Lippert 1621, 1716, 0719 and the 94720 replaces Lippert 1621, 1716, and 0719. No difference in what hitches they replace.
How Much Air To Put in The Reese Goose Box
Like most things in the RV world, the proper air pressure will vary by trailer model. There may be some similarities between trailers but most will not have the same air pressure.
On average, the best air pressure level to have is between 35 and 40 psi. It is possible to go to the maximum level which is 50 psi but you should double-check first to see if that is a safe level to use.
Be careful when someone is talking about marks and their color. The green mark is supposed to be on the older Goose Box models. Reese may have changed it to a black mark on their newer models.
Some owners have a problem moving the mark or indicator to let them know how much air is inside the airbag. With all of that said, the 35 to 40 psi is supposed to be the starting operation air pressure level.
Once you install the air pressure can be customized to fit your riding preferences. You can add more or go less. It all depends on how you want to ride.
The key is to not go past 50 psi. If you do, you run the risk of blowing the airbag. This has happened to some owners. You can test out your ride at different levels to see which is the best level for you.
How do You Put Air In a Reese's Goose Box?
Here are the instructions straight from the Goose Box manual:
1. Perform the hitching procedure before adjusting suspension air pressure, with the trailer loaded.
2. With trailer hitched to truck and landing gear / jacks retracted, add air to the air bag fill valve shown in figures 12 and 13.
When filling the system, you must push the air valve into the hard stop to allow the system to take air (approximately 0.25”)
3. Fill until the Goosebox is at its nominal position (seen in the air inflation indicator) (figure 14)
4. It may be helpful to put tow vehicle in neutral to allow the unit to find its natural position. Then apply brake.
5. Recheck Air Inflation Indicator / inflate to desired ride comfort position.
6. The Goosebox is equipped with an automatic air relief valve. If you try to over inflate the bag, the relief valve will pop,
releasing air
If you have lost, misplaced, or had the manual destroyed for some reason, just go to this link to see a new one. It can be downloaded or printed out whichever method you prefer.
Finding Used Reese Goose Box For Sale
The first place you can buy them at is the company’s website. The 94716 is selling for just over $2300 and the 94720 is selling for a little over $2600. There is a secure checkout on their website and you have lots of information to fill out before you pay.
Or if you want to get a good deal, head on over to the e-trailer website and you can get at least one of them for just over $1600 for the 94720 and just over 41400 for the 94716 models.
We are not sure how long that sale will last
How To Install a Reese Gooseneck Hitch
The manual uses diagrams, for the most part, to describe how to install their hitch. You can find those diagrams on pages 2 to 6 and we already linked to the manual above. Here are the hitching instructions:
Hitching:
1. Use only with 2 5/16” dia. Gooseball.
2. Ensure coupler handle is in the locked position and not limited by the pull cable. (Figure 10)
3. Lower coupler onto gooseneck ball. Handle will open, then snap shut.
4. Make certain handle has returned forward and is in the locked position before towing
The unhitching instructions are as follows:
Unhitching:
1. Using pull cable, pull handle back and hook cable stop onto the bracket. (Figure 11) Handle should be in the
Un-Locked position.
2. Note: If necessary you can adjust the cable stop by loosening the small set screw (Allen wrench size is 0.05”),
moving cable stop, and then retightening.
3. Raise trailer off of gooseball, then release cable. (Figure 10)
4. Ensure latch remains in locked position.
Notice that both instructions refer you to the diagram on the same page. The air filling instructions are on page 7 of that manual.
Some Final Words
Gooseneck hitches seem to be the preferred hitch for most 5th wheel haulers. They love it so much that they refuse to go back to the standard 5th wheel hitch. The Goose Box options seem to have cemented that attitude in place.
We read only one person who disliked the Goose Box option and would not use it again. The majority of owners love the hitch once it is installed and inflated to their preferred air levels.
Since Lippert endorses this hitch, it is something worth looking into for your 5th wheel trailer. You are covered by their warranty if you make the switch.
