Hitch Reccomendations

[Dkevdog]

We are getting a used 5er soon, and I want to be prepared with a hitch and controller. The trailer is to be in the range of a 30' 10k lbs, so I'm assuming that a 15k hitch should do it. The prices of two main brands (Husky & Reese) I've looked at seem similar, so is there any reason why one seems to be better than the other? Or should I look at other brands? I checked the price on the Air Ride and that's just not gonna happen right now !!



Kev

 

[RustyJC]

Kev,



Although we have a Reese for our current 3500, I'm looking at the B&W turnover gooseneck with the 18,000 lb. rated companion 5th wheel hitch for our new 2002. I don't know if I'll be able to do business with this company, however - I've been e-mailing them for pricing and product selection information for a week and can't even get a response from them so that I can place an order. Guess they don't want/need my money. If I don't hear from them, I'll probably go with a Reese again.



Rusty

 

[Deezal Man]

Rusty,



Just my opinion, but not everyone relies or checks on e-mail as much as we do. Many of these companies pay for a website... but don't actually have computers.



Why wouldn't you use the old fashioned thingy called the telephone??



Here's the toll free number: 800. 248. 6564

 

[RustyJC]

Deezal Man,



Because I'm a hard-headed ole West Texas boy! They list an e-mail address for inquiries, I used it, and I expected them to answer it. Heck, I've even used the alternate e-mail address they listed with no better luck! If they ain't a-gonna look at the blasted inbox, why do they ask potential customers to contact 'em via e-mail?



Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

Check www.hijacker.com Double pivot

 

[Shooter]

I like my Reese 15k, 4 way slider. I have never had to slide it ( sb ) I think because of the shor wheel base and tight turning radius of the truck I dont need to jack knife into stalls. But the 4 way isa necessity if you pull off on sholders and get off road. It does not bind the pin when truck and trailer are not on the same plane. Allows you to hook and un hook any where.

my $. 02

Valley also makes a good hitch that is equivalent to Reese.

 

[SnoKing]

Check www.hijacker.com Double pivot

 

[SnoKing]

I really like the way the Hijacker locks the PIN. I large flat bar is connected to the handle. When locked the bar slides behind the PIN, so if the handle is in, it is locked, no questions. Also you can put a pad lock (3" long lock) on the handle. I also first put the break away cable over the handle, then insert the retainer pin. Works great. Snow King

 

[Batman]

Dkevdog

I work with someone that has a Husky, I'm not impressed at all with how it operates. I have an RBW dual-articulating on my 3500. I tow 10,500 lbs. Installation was easy, has a total of 6 pins to remove head and mount and you have use of entire bed 9with the exception of the mounting rails). HTH

George

 

[SA Law]

RustyJC





i just had the turnover ball installed in my truck





price for the turnover ball is $355 shipped to your door via ups. . took two days for mine to get here. . i havent had to use it yet, but it looks good so far. . the combination 5th wheel hitch will run you approx 550-600, and requires the turnover ball to have been installed first. . it uses the same hole and takes less than five minutes to install. . if you have any questions or wanna see how it looks and pulls gimme a holler and we can meet up... im gonna be in granbury on friday and half of saturday visiting barry so if ur close stop by

 

[RustyJC]

SA Law,



Are you gonna be going home via I-35 Saturday afternoon? We're going over to the Hill Country RV Resort (Ruelke Rd. exit on the south side of New Braunfels) Saturday for some vacation - we'll probably be arriving there around noon. If you have some time, stop by - I'd really like to see the installation.



Actually, I've been to the B&W website and downloaded the installation instructions for both the turnover gooseneck and the companion 5th wheel. The only thing that looks a little "squirrely" to me is that all that is holding the 5th wheel hitch in the truck is one vertical bolt and 2 u-bolts!



Rusty

 

[Dkevdog]

Brian- I'll be curious to hear how that hitch handles that trailer you're looking at. As you already know we are looking at the same boat !!



I contacted Barry but haven't heard back- good luck Friday and keep us posted!!



Kev

 

[Gunny]

You have gotten some good advice here on this thread, and this is a good thread for those among us that tow. There is another really good hitch out there and it is becoming much more popular as time goes by. Batman made reference to it, it is the " RBW Lil Rocker". This is a dual articulating hitch that really does work well on or off road. The price is in line with the Reese or the Husky and it certainly is at least there equal. Good luck Shopping, Gunny

 

[CPH]

I aggree with Batman. I have an RBW rated at 15K. I like the fact that when you remove it the mounting rails are only about 1/2 of an inch high and run front to back in the bed. A lot of other hitches like Reese have the rails run across the bed and they are over an inch high. This may not sound bad, but when you try to load something and need it flat to slide in or out of the bed, your out of luck.



Charlie

 

[Batman]

Charlie

Do you have the Lil Rocker? or another model. I have the Lil Rocker, installed it in Feb. this year. The mounting rails on mine go across the bed Sounds like your setup is much easier to load stuff into the bed when you remove the hitch.

George

 

[Dkevdog]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll definitely have to give the lil rocker a look, I do construction and my bed is rather important to me. I'm hoping to get one this weekend. While we're on the subject, what about brake controllers?



Kev

 

[Ram4Sam]

I also have a Lil' Rocker and it works great. It's a good hitch.



Batman, the hitch that CPH mentioned is probably one from a few years back. I had one in my 92 Dodge and the hitch rails were definetly more convienient lengthwise in the bed. But, it was twice the size and real heavy. It was a backbreaker to take it in and out. I left it in the 92 when I sold it and got the Lil' Rocker in my new truck. My back appreciates it!



Sam

 

[RustyJC]

Kev,



I've been using the Tekonsha Sentinel. It's an inertial controller that varies the output to the trailer brakes as a function of the deceleration rate of the truck. Much better than the old single output controllers like the Reese Brakeman I that we first used. I believe the Sentinel has been replaced by the Prodigy as Tekonsha's top-of-the-line inertial controller.



Based on a lot of users raving about how well they work, I've ordered a Jordan Ultima controller for the new truck. This is a true proportional controller that uses a cable attached to the brake pedal arm - it varies output to the trailer brakes as a function of brake pedal position. The people that have them swear by them... . I guess I'll see if they're right when we get the new truck rigged out and start towing the 5ver!



Rusty

 

[Batman]

Ram4Sam

Thank you for the clarification on the RBW. Side note: I really like how you can remove the Lil Rocker in two pieces, or one, depending on how the back feels.

George

 

[CPH]

Batman,

No I don't have the Lil' rocker. Mine is just a standard RBW. It does not articulate. My dad has the same hitch in his furd. It is rated at 15 or 20k I can't remember(it's been painted twice)mine came with my Terry when I bought it new in 1990. The head is real heavy and there is no way you could bend it or lose the rig. The mount the head sits on is light and slides in the rails in the bed. My dad has had his longer than that. He got his when he bought his first Teton in 88 or 89. It is not fancy but I do like the fact that when you take it out all you have is the low rails the mount slides into.



Charlie