5th Wheel hitch

[BIGNASTY]

Any thought on 5th wheel hitches

Our plan on the AF trailer is to drive my BIL's 1ton Dodge down to So Ca and sell our property there. We have contacted AF and they have given us a list AF dealerships, we have contacted the dealerships and they have models that we havent seen yet. BIL's Dodge has a 5th wheel hitch in it, I dont want to take OUR 3/4 ton Dodge just in case the WIFE decides she wants a large trailer then we dont have to drill a bunch of unwanted holes in the bed of my 3/4 ton Dodge to tow it home. If a large trailer is what she wants!!! it will be towed with the International. On the other hand I still would like a smaller 5th wheel trailer that we can get into Nat Parks with, not many if any parks that we have been to can take a 35ft trailer IN THE PARK.

I have been looking at Hitches would a air bag hitch be WAY OVER KILL on a smaller trailer or would the difference even be noticable with a lighter pin weight? And what company would you suggest and why.

Thanks
BIG

 

[BSeyler]

Big,



I don't think you can go wrong with a B&W. http://www.turnoverball.com/ According to their dealer locator, there are about a dozen dealers in Missoula and you should be able to look at their gooseneck hitch and the 5th wheel companion hitch. The nice thing about a B&W gooseneck hitch is that you can turn the ball over and use your pickup without some crummy rails tearing feed sacks and just generally being in the way.



Bud

 

[RVTRKN]

B&W made my flat bed and I ordered it with a companion 5th wheel hitch. When I bought my AF I thought I was going to need an Airborne pin box. After the trip from Oregon where I bought it, I was happy with just the stock pin box and saved lots of money. The hitch keeps a nice tight grip and I don't feel any slack, so why waist good money.

 

[wyosteve]

I'll '3rd' the B & W Companion. It's perfect for me at least. I pull goosenecks about 50% of the time and use the 5th wheel the other portion. Takes about 10 mins. to install or remove.

 

[Jim W]

Big,
I am using a Reese slider hitch on my truck. Both of my TV vehicles were short bed trucks therefore I needed a slider hitch. The only time I need the slider is to maneuver in camp grounds and backing into my drive way but I digress from the issues.

Reese makes a very good hitch and I like the locking jaws over a sliding bar that some hitch manufactures use to retain the king pin in the hitch. If you study the design of the locking jaws you will see that there are multiple points of contact. Where as a sliding bar will have in theory only one point of contact, a straight line contacting a circle (the king pin) will only intersect at one point. Thus over time the straight bar wear the king pin or the bar down at that point of contact.
The air bag hitch would be great for ride comfort when towing with the trailer this would be my first approach if I was starting over now. If the cost is too high or the hitch is not available at time of purchase of the trailer then look at either a Trailair King Pin box, a Demco-Glide king pin or a Mor/ryde king pin unit. These all help with the fore-aft chucking and some of the up down motion of the trailer.

When you buy the trailer have the hitch included in the sale after you have negotiated the purchase price of the trailer to close the deal. When I purchased my last 5er we had reached a selling price that we both agreed on but I hesitated in signing the contract to buy. The dealer principal asked what it would take to close the deal. I said I wasn't sure yet and need some time to think the purchase price over. So my wife and I discussed the deal that day and got back to dealer and said we would buy the unit if they provide the three slide toppers and installed at no additional cost, they agreed.

So you can negotiate with them to add the hitch cost into the selling price if you want.

Jim W.

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

B&W + Companion =

I'll '3rd' the B & W Companion. It's perfect for me at least. I pull goosenecks about 50% of the time and use the 5th wheel the other portion. Takes about 10 mins. to install or remove.

I'll 4th or 5th it!! 10 min?? BTW... Try 3 IF you take your time... :-laf:-laf



I have one for my 39' TH and LOVE IT!! None of the 'jerky' feeling when starting off, going over bridges, or stopping that you would normally feel while towing a GN of any kind!.

 

[JJPage]

I cannot use my sliding Reese with my shortbed ,my 5vr has an extended pinbox, cannot maneuver in the rear position without the pinbox contacting tailgate and bed rails. Plus, I also am aging, can no longer pick the slider off the bed by myself, it's heavy.
I vote for the B&W Companion.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Big,

I am using a Reese slider hitch on my truck. Both of my TV vehicles were short bed trucks therefore I needed a slider hitch. The only time I need the slider is to maneuver in camp grounds and backing into my drive way but I digress from the issues.



Reese makes a very good hitch and I like the locking jaws over a sliding bar that some hitch manufactures use to retain the king pin in the hitch. If you study the design of the locking jaws you will see that there are multiple points of contact. Where as a sliding bar will have in theory only one point of contact, a straight line contacting a circle (the king pin) will only intersect at one point. Thus over time the straight bar wear the king pin or the bar down at that point of contact.

The air bag hitch would be great for ride comfort when towing with the trailer this would be my first approach if I was starting over now. If the cost is too high or the hitch is not available at time of purchase of the trailer then look at either a Trailair King Pin box, a Demco-Glide king pin or a Mor/ryde king pin unit. These all help with the fore-aft chucking and some of the up down motion of the trailer.



When you buy the trailer have the hitch included in the sale after you have negotiated the purchase price of the trailer to close the deal. When I purchased my last 5er we had reached a selling price that we both agreed on but I hesitated in signing the contract to buy. The dealer principal asked what it would take to close the deal. I said I wasn’t sure yet and need some time to think the purchase price over. So my wife and I discussed the deal that day and got back to dealer and said we would buy the unit if they provide the three slide toppers and installed at no additional cost, they agreed.



So you can negotiate with them to add the hitch cost into the selling price if you want.



Jim W.

Jim Thanks for the view

I had a grip on the addition of the 5th wheel hitch to close the deal. I to like the idea of the locking jaws (more like a Holland 5th wheel on a class 8) I thank you for you opinion on the air bag hitch I would like to get one and I know that the hitches are for a certain weight trailer but just in case we get a smaller trailer I didnt know if it would still make as much difference having the air bag hitch. Slide toppers are not even an option if what ever we get doesn't have them and they wont install them good buy. My TT had them our BIL's did not and it seemed like he went thru some slide seals that could have been avoided if he did. I have never pulled a 5th wheel trailer with this type of hitch in a PICK UP before, I have a goose-neck stock trailer when its hooked up THERE IS NO SLACK of any kind and with 8 animals and tack in it the ride of the truck is exceptional (I do have airbags on the truck)It will be interesting to see the difference of the two.



Thanks again Jim

BIG