fifth wheel hitch

[Peter Dunn]

I am thinking of trading in my 248tb Coachmen Travel Trailer on a new fifth wheel and I have no idea what hitch to get for my truck. I have a 2001 Quad cad short bed 4x4. There are so many. I know I need one that slides aft and foreward so I don't destroy my cab when I'm backing up. The other question is I ordered my truck with the extra helper springs so I know there is a tsb on lowering the rear end but I really don't want the dealer to do that. They can't even put the exhaust manifold retention straps on in the right spots. Any help would be greatley appreciated. Peter Dunn

 

[KenHokie]

Peter,



I towed a 25' fifth wheel for two years with my old 2000, 2500 quad cab short bed with a non slider RBW 15K hitch. My fifth wheel has an extended pin box and is 8' wide. I agree that, yes, it is possible to hit the back of the quad cab with the front corner of the fifth wheel but you have to be almost to the point of trying to make a 90 deg turn to do so. I have put the trailer in some tight spots without a problem. But I do constantly watch how close the trailer is getting to the cab while backing and if they get too close for comfort, I just pull forward and back in at less of an angle. One reason this works is that my trailer is 8' wide. If it were a wide body at 8-1/2' then I would say that a sliding hitch would be required. As for the rear of the truck being to high, you can have the axles flipped on the fifth wheel. Doing so will raise the trailer by 4 or 5". I had this done to my trailer and it brought it just level with my truck. I have towed both 25' travel trailers and 25' fifth wheels. The handling difference is like night and day. Once you tow a fifth wheel you'll never go back to pulling a regular trailer.

 

[jbone]

Just a suggestion, look at the 5th wheel you are thinking about, most of the guys don't have an ajustable pin length, but I know for a fact my Prowler does--might save you either time or money swaping axle to bottom of spring----as you can see I have one of the highest models of these trucks and my Prowler adjusted right up to the right height... ... ... ... ... ... ... R, J. B.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Take a look at the Superglide from Pullrite. It automatically slides to the correct position as you turn. Great company and excellent quality product. It is pricey but then so is body work to your truck and/or trailer if you happen to forget about the clearance as you are backing into that strange campsite one dark and dreary night.



FWIW. Casey

 

[fritzbo29]

Peter - I have a 2001 2wd SB ETH with a Reese 16K manual slider hitch. It works fine, I lube it every once in a while, but still have not had to use it with our 30' moblie scout. It does have a slightly extended pin, but nothing huge. I have 'almost' smacked the cab when jacknifed pulling into a space with a bunch of goofballs honking to get by. It really is good to know you have it if you need it. This time of year if you bought a 5th wheel you could probably get the dealer to throw it in. Thats what we did in September. I don't really know about the levelling. I put air bags on my rear and don't really even need them.



Hope this helps some

Fritz

 

[n7gxz]

Peter,



The helper springs (overloads) are not increasing the rearend to be high. If you look under your truck you will see that the overload springs are not in contact with the spring pads and that all of the springs sit on top of the axle so you will gain nothing by removing the overloads. If you have the TSB done you will loose the overload springs. If you want the rearend lowered go to a local spring shop and have them put in a shorter spacer block between the axle and the main springs.



Kevin

 

[Dean Upson]

I'd go with the PullRite because it's automatic and I like the clamping system of the hitch. You do not have to drill or weld the frame with the PullRite.



Dean

 

[Peter Dunn]

Thanks for all the info guys. Everybody keeps telling me that once I switch to a fifth wheel I won't go back to a travel trailer.

 

[ImagesThatSing]

"(Thanks for all the info guys. Everybody keeps telling me that once I switch to a fifth wheel I won't go back to a travel trailer. )"



We will be purchasing a new travel trailer or 5th wheel next year to pull behind our 03. I am very interested (since I have never pulled a 5th wheel) what the benefits are and how they so strongly overwhelm the benefits of a travel trailer. Could somone please enlighten us. We would appreciate it for our research and preparation before buying.



We now pull a 30# with a super slide, but will be looking at something around the 10K to 12. 5K size, and using it quite a lot. (we currently camp every weekend for 6 months at a time, so quite a lot is really quite a lot).



Thank You

 

[mgonske]

Peter,



I have the PullRite SuperGlide on my '03, but on my '98 (same configuration as yours--3" longer bed than the '03) I had a hitch that didn't slide, and it was never a problem (I did have an extended pin-box on the trailer, though--if your pin-box is under the nose of the trailer, you'll need the slider).



I had the axles flipped on the trailer to make it high enough to clear the truck, then lowered the pin-box to its lowest adjustment to add margin. When I eventually upgraded the trailer tires, I gained trailer height as well (see other threads on trailer tires).



I had to spend the money for the slider on the '03; I don't think you *have to* on your '01.

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by GSevison

"(Thanks for all the info guys. Everybody keeps telling me that once I switch to a fifth wheel I won't go back to a travel trailer. )"



We will be purchasing a new travel trailer or 5th wheel next year to pull behind our 03. I am very interested (since I have never pulled a 5th wheel) what the benefits are and how they so strongly overwhelm the benefits of a travel trailer. Could somone please enlighten us.

Seriously, the best thing you could do is to find someone who will let you test drive his truck/5ver combination. Notice the stability when passing trucks, driving into a gusty crosswind or quartering wind, etc. Now, do a quick simulated emergency lane change - notice the lack of whip or sway? This is because the 5th wheel is transferring its forces almost directly over the rear axle, not 4' or 5' behind the axle as is the case with a WD receiver hitch. Sure, you could spend the bucks for a Hensley Arrow that geometrically simulates a 5th wheel, but why not just get the real thing?



Of course, there's always the comparison of the length as well - measure a 30' TT from the front bumper of the truck to the rear of the trailer and compare that measurement to a 30' 5ver. This dramatically shorter length certainly has its benefits.



Granted, one loses much of the cargo-carrying capability of the truck bed when towing a 5ver, but (at least IMHO) that's one of the only disadvantages.



We've had one "bumper pull" RV and two 5vers. At least for us, I'd never go back to the conventional TT by choice.



Rusty

 

[ImagesThatSing]

Thank You Rusty for a very succinct, well communicated response. That is great, welcome, valuable information.



Regards,

 

[mgonske]

Ron & Jodi,



You can probably find others much closer to you, but I'll be in Leadville with my 5er the first week of August. Your truck sounds like a twin to mine, so I'd be happy to let you give it a try. Actually, I'll be through Denver the second week of April, too, but I'll only have the Jeep on the flatbed for that trip (in fact, I just found out about the RMTDR dyno day in Castle Rock on Apr 5th--I might break down and come out a little early to attend that with a friend (with another twin truck) from Boulder).

 

[ImagesThatSing]

What a kind offer Mg,



I think the explanation above has convinced me that we should be looking in the direction of a 5th wheel.



What a fine, and informed group of folks.



We are most greatful.

 

[Dean Upson]

Fifth Wheel

GSevison,



You won't regret getting the fiver over the TT. The handling characteristics and ease of hitching up and unhitching alone are enough to convince one to go that way. Good luck.



Dean

 

[Shooter]

If you go with a Valley or Reese 5th wheel the slider is about a $100. add on . How much is your collision deductible if you do not have the option and are in a tight fuel stop and need it ?



JMHO



I have one, and have only had to positively, absolutely, no other option: had to use it once in a Montana fuel stop.



It might be less costly not to have it now but the cost down the road for cab and trailer repair will far out strip the initial cost saving.

You will have 70k+$ invested in your rig why try and go cheap on the hitch??

You don't use $4. 00Fram oil filters do you??



Have fun shopping.

 

[Wolfgang]

I have a Montana with a triple slide and did not have to do anything to the trailer or truck. I think you will find that with an extended pin and slider hitch. (if I could afford $2000 for the pull rite I would get it but my Reese works fine) You will be very happy. Most of the trailers with slides sit high because of the slide. I pulled both a TT and a 5er and will never go back