Which Reese Goose Box or Gen-Y 5th Wheel to Gooseneck For Grand Design Solitude 369RL

Updated 12/30/2025 | Published 10/15/2024

Products Featured in This Question

Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box - Lippert 1621/1621HD - 30K GTW - 4.5K TW

(319)

$1799.95

Safety Chain with 2 Hooks for Gen-Y 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box - 84" Long - 26,000 lbs

(262)

$100.95

Question:

I'm about to purchase a 2024 GMC 3500HD Denali with an 8 foot bed. I own a 2015 Grand Design Solitude 369RL. Im looking at changing the pin box to a Reese 20k Goose box to utilize the gooseneck hitch built into the bed. Picture attached. Im also including pictures of the current pin box which is a Trailair. Hopefully stickers provide enough information for you. Is there a way to verify I have adequate clearance over the bed of the truck with this goose box and adequate turning radius? Are there other options that are available?

asked by: Don S

2024 GMC Sierra 3500
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Trailair Pin Box
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Trailair Pin Box Sticker
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Expert Reply:

Hi Don,

Thanks for all that info, and I was able to confirm with Lippert that you have the Trailair with the Lippert 1621 bolt pattern, and since you asked for options I'll give both:

- Reese Goose Box 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Air Ride Coupler Adapter # RP85FR

- Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box # GY38FR

Our customers really like both of these, so you can't go wrong with either, though just for ease of use I do like the Gen-Y. It gives you shock absorption like the Goose Box, but since it doesn't have an air bag, you don't have to do any maintenance with it.

You won't have an issue with turning clearance when using either, though I can't say for certain regarding the height, so what I've done is add the dimensions of both so you can compare the heights.

The only other thing to keep in mind is you'll need safety chains with either, the Reese Safety Chain Kit # RP49151 for the Goose Box or Gen-Y Safety Chain # GY49GR for the Gen-Y.

expert reply by: Kyle S

Dimensions of Goose Box RP85FR
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Dimensions of Gen-Y Hitch GY38FR
(click to enlarge)

Jesse M.

12/22/2025

Hey Don, how did things turn out with the Reese Goose Box and your Denali’s bed clearance? Were you able to get the height comparison sorted between the Reese and the Gen-Y options? Your update could make it easier for others setting up a similar truck and trailer combo.

Don S.

12/23/2025

We ended buying the Reese based on information provided. Probably the biggest deciding factor was hearing there were still concerns about the Gen-Y not being approved by Grand Design. Clearance wasn’t an issue. Our driveway has a shallow swale next to it and while the fifth wheel dipped going across the swale it never came close to hitting the truck. Did several trips between April and October with the longest being a month long. We had mixed emotions on the Reese. We found ourselves constantly having to adjust the airbag to get a smooth ride. If you had the mark dead center it was a comfortable ride. Very little chucking or bounce. Under inflated or over inflated was another story. I checked inflation every morning and at lunch. Tried to make adjustments as needed. Some of the interstates especially in northern Kentucky and Indiana beat us up. Really bad roads so we weren’t sure if it was the hitch, the roads or a combination of both. Having to crawl into the bed to make adjustments became a pain. We bought a new fifth wheel end of October and made the decision to go with the Gen-Y. Grand Design has approved it now or at least for the model we bought. We’ve done two short trips so far and the ride seems to be about the same as the Reese when the setup was just right. It’s my understanding the ride should improve as we break it in. Again, biggest thing to me is not having to crawl into the bed to inflate anything. I’ll have to admit the Gen-Y seems to be beefier but I do like the locking mechanism of the Reese better

Jesse M.

12/30/2025

@DonS Thanks a ton for taking the time to write all that up, Don. That’s exactly the kind of real-world feedback that helps people make sense of these pin box choices. I really appreciate you walking through the clearance side of it, the air pressure adjustments on the Reese, and how the ride compared on different roads. That’s all stuff you just don’t learn from a spec sheet. Your point about having to crawl into the bed to dial in air pressure is a big one, and it makes sense why the Gen-Y ended up being the better long-term fit for you, especially now that Grand Design has approved it. Thanks again for sharing your experience and comparisons. This is really helpful info for anyone on the fence between these two options. Have a great new year!