5th Wheel Hitch Help

[lawdog1]

I am leaning toward swapping from bumper pull to a 5th wheel camper (my first) and need some 5th wheel hitch advice please. I have a 2500 QC 6’4” bed, so I am likely looking a slide hitch or maybe a Reese Sidewinder? Unfortunately, I dont have the factory 5th wheel prep and I want to be able to take out the hitch to use the bed...so removable and reasonable weight is important and ideas on the best mounting option would be appreciated.

Trailer is 11K GTW, 1.5K pin weight...so 15/16K hitch should more than enough. I am a weekend camper, not full time. Thank you for passing on recommendations and lessons learned.

 

[DHayden]

I would look at a Demco auto slide hitch. I have a slide hitch, I was going to sell it and buy a Demco (and may still) but with my 5th wheel I can make a 90deg turn without hitting my cab (without sliding). I would still rather have an auto slide. Dont want to have to think about sliding, or get into a pickle and not be able to slide or forget too.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Pucks are easy to install.

Go with a B&W slider you will thank me.

 

[AH64ID]

1.5K pin on a 11K 5er seems a bit light.


But I 2nd going with B&W. Either add the pucks and use a RVK3670 or get a GNRK1384 and RVK3405.

 

[pwr2tow]

I use the Reese goosebox. I have a degenerative back, shoulders, and bad hips. The only thing I have to lift in and out of the box of my truck is a 3lb gooseneck ball. Don't have to change hitches when towing gooseneck trailers.

The only downside is you have to be a little more precise getting over the ball. Third brake light bed camera works great for this.

 

[Jim W]

X2 on the Demco Auto Glid Hitch. I had a Reeese manual slider for 10 years and changed out to the Demco Gild last year. My Demco fits the standard bed rails that I used with my Reese slider hitch.

What I like about the Demco Glid is the jaws have no slop with the king pin and the joint is tight. When using the Demco Glid with a Trailair pin box you do not even feel the trailer behind you.

Just my $0.02

 

[Coal Black]

B&W slider.
U.S.A. made and trouble free.

 

[Cummins12V98]

IMHO there is zero reason to have bed rails these days.

 

[amauri]

I was in the same boat as the OP, wanted a 11k max 5th trailer to tow with my 2018 2500 CC 6'4" CTD.
Payload is reduced with the Cummins, so I wanted to keep the weight down as much as possible.

The 5th wheel trailer we chose came with a Reese Revolution pin box, so I chose the Curt A16 non slider hitch with factory pucks mount.

My truck did not have the factory installed mounting system, so I bought the kit and installed it myself.
Here's a link on how to install it and get the holes drilled perfectly on center:
https://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/...64-factory-fifth-wheel-puck-installation.html
The kit is p/n 82213980, installation was not difficult and I did not have to lift the bed (nor loosen the bolts).
Install instructions attached.

The Curt A16 works very well and I especially like the color code indicator that tells you the hitch is fully engaged or not.

The B&W or Denco hitches are tops, but I didn't need the extra capacity nor 100-lbs extra weight compared to the Curt A16.

 

[Jim W]

IMHO there is zero reason to have bed rails these days.

If you have an older truck and or a truck ordered without the factory puck system what are you to do? Adding bed rails I believe would be cheaper than buying a new truck just to get the factory puck system!

 

[amauri]

That's true if you have an older truck, but if you have a newer truck, installing the kit yourself is not expensive.
Cost me $230 for the parts.

 

[lawdog1]

I appreciate all of the responses, I got some research to do. AH64ID, trailer is a Reflection 28BH. I used factory provided weight #’s but rounded (1,595 pin, 10,995).

 

[JR]

If I had an older truck knowing what I know now Id have a B&W RVK3405 or 3500. They are pricey but the quality is second to none and once removed provides for a clear bed. I had bed rails on my 98 and hated them. everything collects around them, stone, wood chips when hauling firewood, you name it. Hard to slide stuff in without dinging the rails. It was just a bad set up for me.

Ive got a RVK3405 but only because I happened across one for sale locally that was in new condition, I was actually leaning towards a non slider. Im not sure a slider is really needed provided you have an extended pin box on your 5th. I used my slider the first few times in a campground but didn't use it the last two times out. The extended pin box really allows for a tight corner even with a short bed.

 

[AH64ID]

I appreciate all of the responses, I got some research to do. AH64ID, trailer is a Reflection 28BH. I used factory provided weight #’s but rounded (1,595 pin, 10,995).

Pin will be as shipped, no water/clothes/propane/etc, and GVWR is max.

If you’re at 10,995 your pin should be between 2200-2750.

Looks like empty is only 17% pin weight, which is a hair on the light side.

 

[Cummins12V98]

If you have an older truck and or a truck ordered without the factory puck system what are you to do? Adding bed rails I believe would be cheaper than buying a new truck just to get the factory puck system!

My point was “these days”.

The pucks are cheap and easy to install on a newer truck leaving the bed clear. Or even a gooseneck hitch.

I had front to back rails on my 98 with a RBW hitch. They SUCKED being in construction. A friend told me about B&W’s gooseneck hitch and Companion hitch that attached to it leaving the bed clear. I took his advice and have been more than happy with B&W products since.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I appreciate all of the responses, I got some research to do. AH64ID, trailer is a Reflection 28BH. I used factory provided weight #’s but rounded (1,595 pin, 10,995).

Figure 20% of RV gross rating for pin weight. That is realistic! NEVER use dry weights.

 

[Newsa]

I use the Reese goosebox. I have a degenerative back, shoulders, and bad hips. The only thing I have to lift in and out of the box of my truck is a 3lb gooseneck ball. Don't have to change hitches when towing gooseneck trailers.

The only downside is you have to be a little more precise getting over the ball. Third brake light bed camera works great for this.

How many years/miles have you used the Reese goosebox? Have you noticed any extra stress on the 5th wheel trailer?

I have a unagoose gooseneck hitch which nobody makes an adapter for.

 

[pwr2tow]

How many years/miles have you used the Reese goosebox? Have you noticed any extra stress on the 5th wheel trailer?

I have a unagoose gooseneck hitch which nobody makes an adapter for.

2 years and approximately 8,000 miles. Have not noticed or see any adverse effects on trailer or frame area where it connects to the pin box. I'll post the specs of my toyhauler. The specs are off a bit since my toyhauler has two 45 gallon black tanks and two 45 gallon grey water tanks. I know the pin weight is more than 2300lbs too. How much more, don't know. Two grey and one black tank sit in front of trailer axles and one black tank behind. The fresh water tank also sits in front of axles. I hardly travel with more than 1/2 a tank of fresh water and always if possible drain black and grey tanks before traveling.

 

[pwr2tow]

How many years/miles have you used the Reese goosebox? Have you noticed any extra stress on the 5th wheel trailer?

I have a unagoose gooseneck hitch which nobody makes an adapter for.

Although I have never personally seen one of your adaptors harm anything, and I live in agriculture country and have seen plenty of people use them.
This picture is from a mud pit 4x4 and 4 wheeler weekend where the guys camper was sunk in mud up to the axles. I would have just left it until it dried out but to each their own.

 

[grabinov]

Hey guys can the pucks be added to a 2014? I'm currently running a Superglide slider (which works perfectly after 13 years I'll add - used to be on my '04, now my 2014) mounted to a set of rails that I put in the bed. I've never like the look. Can I convert to pucks now?