5th wheel

[PLaFrombois]

Is there a 5th wheel that can be removed from the bed when not towing? I'd like to use the to haul supplies when not pulling a trailer.

Thanks

Paul

 

[RustyJC]

Check out the B&W turnoverball gooseneck and companion RV (5th wheel) hitch HERE.



Rusty

 

[Duluth Diesel]

www.renegademanufacturing.com



They have the Diamond Hitch. I just loaded their website, and for some reason the link to the Diamond Hitch is down. Try later or give them a call.

I have this hitch and love it. Most turn-over ball hitches have hardware underneath to release the ball, like a level you pull from the wheel well. Those mechanisms tend to rust and lock-up when exposed to winter road salt, if this is an issue where you are.



I paid 370 bucks delivered to my door. Bolts right to existing frame holes - no drilling or welding on the frame. Installed it myself in my yard in about two hours, and it really shouldn't have taken me that long. Used a 4-inch hole saw from Menards to cut the bed, and following their instructions it turned out great.



Also, my neighbor hauls cars commercially for the Minnesota Auto Auctions. Although he runs PSD's, he is now putting this hitch in all his new trucks after seeing mine.



The ball is stainless. The rest of the hitch assembly comes primed. I installed it with just the primer on, and them shot it with rubberized undercoating.



PM me your email address if you would like pictures.

 

[PLaFrombois]

Duluth Diesel, I sent you a PM. Where in Duluth are you? I've crossed the bridge a number of times when I was going to UW-Superior. Of course, that was a long time ago. For graduation, my friends parents took us out for dinner, and I think it was called Grandmas in Canal Park. Good food.

Paul

 

[klenger]

All of them can be easly removed. The difference are what is left in the bed with the hitch removed. I have a DrawTite/Reese. With the hitch removed, only the rails remain. They stick up about 1".

 

[mgonske]

Some models of the Pull-Rite hitches (like my SuperGlide 16k) leave a clean bed with only four 2-inch holes in the sheet metal (the hitch rails attach with pins through those holes to the hitch frame below).

 

[Jetson]

Valley Industries makes an underbed 5th wheel hitch with the rails under the bed. The hitch attaches through 4 two inch holes in the bed. When it is removed, you plug in the rubber covers and no rails are left in the bed. This hitch is marketed under several names, Redline, Husky, Valley... I have had one a little over a year with no problems. Do a google search for underbed 5th wheel hitch, and you'll find several types.

Here is one online source :http://www.bobstravelcenter.com/cat...or_1999-2003_gm__1999-2003_ford_f_1916715.htm

 

[Duluth Diesel]

After giving it some thought, I'd like to add that using the Diamond Hitch with the Magnum Coupler may not considered a desirable setup for some people.



I haul MOSTLY goosenecks, but the Magnum Coupler gives me the option, and leaves my bed completely flat (no rails sticking up even an inch). But, as I've heard, some hardcore 5th wheelers don't like gooseneck adaptors.



Any comments?

 

[RustyJC]

Try a search on "gooseneck adapters" here and on iRV2.com. Some people report that they haven't had problems. Others have had the 5th wheel pin box start to tear away from the frame. The problem is that 5th wheel frames aren't designed for the long lever arm (and resultant higher torques) of the gooseneck adapter and, therefore, don't have the heavy cross sections and gusseting of a gooseneck trailer frame. Some 5th wheel manufacturers will custom-build a frame to utilize a gooseneck adapter, but I don't know of any manufacturer that allows the use of the gooseneck adapter with a stock 5th wheel frame.



Rusty