Now What?

[sgtstriker]

Hi Folks, I have owned a 38' gasser for years, and finally tired of fixing it, so, I bought a new truck and a used travel trailer. I enjoy the trailer, and the availability of the truck each time I go somewhere, BUT... At 69 years old, with a bad back and shoulder, lifting that 62 pound hitch and the 22 pound each sway bars is more than I want to continue to have to do. So, I have recently been looking into the Reese goosebox hitches because my truck came setup for 5th wheel or gooseneck hitches. My preference would be a travel trailer at 30 feet or under with a goosebox hitch so that I don't have to deal with installing/removing a 5th wheel hitch, and have some truck bed left... Any thoughts or suggestions?

[code2e]

Since you have a truck and a trailer you like. I would suggest you might consider addressing the heavy hitch issue. An idea I would suggest is a motorcycle jack. Not expensive, rolls on it's own wheels and provides a storage cart for the hitch.

Just roll the jack under the hitch, jack up to touch it, pull the pin and roll jack & hitch out. No lifting. Reverse to install.

The best deal I found was free shipping for $82 from www.pisknok.com.

[CamperLifer]

That jack won't roll on soft ground with weight on it with those little caster wheels.

[NevadaNick]

Anderson hitch would do the job and not be a weight issue with either your current trlr or a fifth wheel.

[code2e]

Originally Posted by CamperLifer

That jack won't roll on soft ground with weight on it with those little caster wheels.

I relied on the OP's avatar picture of trailer parked on concrete slab. No mention was made of soft ground in post.

[sgtstriker]

I may have found the answer....


https://sacramento.craigslist.org/rv...534818039.html

[scenic route]

Like the one-piece front cap... good looking 5'er.

[sgtstriker]

I checked out the little 5'er with the Reese Goose Box today. All was looking pretty good - until - the last area I was inspecting was the bedroom, thus far I was pretty impressed. I was using a flashlight to check roof seams for leaks and all looked good. Then I happened to drag the light across the little shelf area alongside the bed and saw what looked like a puddle. I went to the shelf and put my hand into a pretty good sized puddle of water. (We had rain the day prior). I was surprised, as was the seller. No obvious source was found, although I did go up on the roof and found a recent small application of Dicor. The Dicor spot was a distance from the puddle, so who knows how much of the roof structure has been soaked... As we all know, water is the enemy of any RV...
This option is eliminated.... My quest continues.... Oh well....

[hohenwald48]

There are several hitch set ups that don't require lifting either the hitch head or spring bars.

At 74, I still don't have any trouble with the lifting. I'm sure that will change at some point and I'll have to seek a plan B too.

Sent from my SM-S127DL using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

[Ray,IN]

Many states require safety chains when using a gooseneck ball. Consider climbing into the truck bed, under the trailer overshot, to fasten safety chains to the hitch frame every time you hitch up a gooseneck.