Suggestions for 5th wheel hitch

[gtoli]

Howdy all,

The wife and I have decided to trade up from the travel trailer to a 5th wheel. I'm looking for input from members with experience as to choosing the best hitch for my 1 ton, crew cab, short bed.

The 5vers we're looking at are new or newer used and all have the cut down front corners to reduce the chance of hitting the cab but I am still a little concerned.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Gene

 

[Camperman]

I have a Reese hitch set up. Many schools of thought on what you ask. If I owned a short bed truck, I really look into getting a slider type hitch. Many say you don't need it. Just takes one time of the corner of a 5er coming into contact with the back of the truck cab. Lots of knowledgeable folks here. I give you credit asking first, instead of getting it, then asking. Best wishes, & happy RVing.

 

[RustyJC]

Having used them since 2001, I'm partial to the B&W Companion 5th wheel hitches. If you're going to be using the B&W Turnoverball gooseneck hitch for a clean bed, I'd recommend the Companion Slider. If you're going to be using Reese-type (industry standard) rails, I'd suggest the B&W Patriot Slider.

Rusty

 

[Jim W]

I also agree with the slider hitch. B & W makes a slider hitch that will fit on standard rails. This is a 18K rated hitch and retails for around $799 plus rails.

I have an older version of the Reese slider hitch and have used this on two different trucks with three different 5er's but if I was buying today I would get the B & W Patriot Slider hitch.

 

[SnoKing]

You can read and see picture of what I did in the thread starting around post #71.

If you are not going to have a front box in the bed you can mostly get by with the B&W RVK3600. I wanted my big box, so I went with the RVK3270 and Demco picture frame, which I think is a lot better than the Reese one, however it cost a little more. You will see in this other thread that I can hoist the whole hitch out as a single piece. With the Reese you can not unlatch it from the pucks with the hitch on it. Demco/Hijacker and B&W are the only ones still made in America.

I really think I am going to like the B&W head latch setup. Pretty fool proof.

If you go ask this question RV.net the Andersen fans will pounce on you claiming that is the only way to go. Some of us do not think so!!!!

SNOKING

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/253025-New-Snoking-Laramie/page5

 

[RustyJC]

If you are not going to have a front box in the bed you can mostly get by with the B&W RVK3600. I wanted my big box, so I went with the RVK3270 and Demco picture frame, which I think is a lot better than the Reese one, however it cost a little more. You will see in this other thread that I can hoist the whole hitch out as a single piece. With the Reese you can not unlatch it from the pucks with the hitch on it. Demco/Hijacker and B&W are the only ones still made in America.

According to the OP's signature, his truck is a 2010 and won't have the factory-installed pucks, so he's looking at either the Turnoverball gooseneck/Companion Slider 5th wheel hitch combo or the rails and the Patriot 5th wheel hitch if he goes with a B&W slider.

Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

According to the OP's signature, his truck is a 2010 and won't have the factory-installed pucks, so he's looking at either the Turnoverball gooseneck/Companion Slider 5th wheel hitch combo or the rails and the Patriot 5th wheel hitch if he goes with a B&W slider.

Rusty

No puck no luck! SNOKING

 

[RustyJC]

No puck no luck! SNOKING

Oh, I dunno about that. Some of us manage to struggle by somehow without them.

Rusty

 

[Larry Willard]

With a short bed I feel you need a slider hitch. I have been using the same Reese hitch in 4 Rams now towing over 250000 miles with no problems. If I were to buy a new hitch it would be the B&W that mounts directly in the pucks, but I don't care for the turn over ball companion. I only tow with an 8' bed so can't really make a recommendation on which slider to use.

 

[gtoli]

Thanks for the advice! I'm leaning toward the B&W RVK3270.

 

[PDM]

PullRite super-glide 24K ISR http://www.pullrite.com/sites/pullrite/files/mkt.2300.ct_.141201.pdf
18" of Automatic Slide [the most automatic slide travel, 24K model only]
18-1/2” Height

 

[MLee]

Its your choice but that is why the rounded nose on the newer trailers were developed. I'd go to some camp grounds and drive through and see what is in there and ask questions of the owners if the slider is needed.
My neighbor had a mega cab and bought the slider, found he did not need it. Now those beds (mega cab) are shorter than the regular short bed. The rounded nose does help.
My penny's worth

 

[PDM]

Cut down corners help, but 102"/2 is still 51". Unless you provide enough clearance, you still cannot turn 90 degrees with some of these trailers in a short bed truck.

[width/2]+clearance <= [cab-to-pin]+hitch travel

If your pin cannot move far enough away from your cab, you cannot turn 90 degrees. Don't forget many hitches mount the pin ~4" forward of the axle.

 

[gtoli]

PullRite super-glide 24K ISR http://www.pullrite.com/sites/pullrite/files/mkt.2300.ct_.141201.pdf
18" of Automatic Slide [the most automatic slide travel, 24K model only]
18-1/2” Height

Thank you, I will also look into this hitch as well.

I'm open to using any brand, as long as it is good quality and up to the task.

 

[gtoli]

Does anyone have any comments or concerns regarding a Curt Q20 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ R20 Slider - Dual Jaw - 20,000 lbs?

 

[SnoKing]

Have a family member who handles Curt hitches and I could have gotten one for a good price. I called Curt and talked to them about being made offshore and they acknowledged all their hitch are no longer manufactured in North America. So I went with B&W after looking at it and Demco/Hijacker. Did get Demco picture frame.

The in bed 7 wire trailer wiring kit i bought from my RAM dealer came in a Curt box with RAM P/N. Snoking

 

[surfbeetle]

My truck was originally a long bed regular cab, I added a sleeper cab and the bed became a 6 foot bed. This was fine with my old fifth wheel after adding a slider hitch but the pin was extended out past the leading edge of the nose of the fifth wheel. With my current trailer, the pinbox is an extended box but the pin does not extend past the leading edge of the trailer. I ended up getting a sidewinder pin box that has a rotating turret at the rear of the pinbox. This allowed me to make a tighter turn with the sliding hitch in the forward position and I can jack knife the trailer when the hitch is slid back. Hope that bit of info helps you.

 

[MLee]

Cut down corners help, but 102"/2 is still 51". Unless you provide enough clearance, you still cannot turn 90 degrees with some of these trailers in a short bed truck.

[width/2]+clearance <= [cab-to-pin]+hitch travel

If your pin cannot move far enough away from your cab, you cannot turn 90 degrees. Don't forget many hitches mount the pin ~4" forward of the axle.

I have yet to see anyone park a 5th wheel using a 90* angle. #1 there is to much strain on the tires, #2 strain on the landing gears. you want all these parts to be relaxed. If you are turning that tight, you should re-evaluate your circumstances, tires don't like this kind of abuse.
Most hitches are 1-2" front of the differential. never seen one 4" ahead.
just my penny's worth

 

[gtoli]

O.K. Found a deal where I can get an 18K lbs. B&W Patriot Slider for $749 total and the standard Reese 10 bolt rail kit for $118 for a total of $867. 18K is overkill for my rig wich rated for a 14K max trailer, but I would rather have a little extra in the hitch. Thoughts?

 

[RustyJC]

You probably won't find a 5th wheel hitch with the features you want along with quality that's rated less than 16K. Personally, I wouldn't consider an 18K rated 5th wheel hitch overkill - that rating is really at the small end of the spectrum.

Rusty