5th Wheel Hitches > I am So Confused!

[lovegolf44]

Any comments about a light weight fifth wheel hitch? With the hitch weight I'm looking at I need to save on my payload number.

If you want to save PL, single point hitches are lighter. I have this little gem (https://www.pullrite.com/3900_HIW), it's pretty light (120lbs). PullRite makes another single point that's incredibly light at 64lbs ( https://www.pullrite.com/2600). Both are rated at 24K and 20K respectively.

 

[BigDaveTX]

If you want to save PL, single point hitches are lighter. I have this little gem (https://www.pullrite.com/3900_HIW), it's pretty light (120lbs). PullRite makes another single point that's incredibly light at 64lbs ( https://www.pullrite.com/2600). Both are rated at 24K and 20K respectively.

Thanks for the info. I guess my hitch question has sailed, the dealer installed the Pullrite (at 200#) so that's that for now. I liked the single point concept but the dealer wouldn't install one.

 

[lovegolf44]

Thanks for the info. I guess my hitch question has sailed, the dealer installed the Pullrite (at 200#) so that's that for now. I liked the single point concept but the dealer wouldn't install one.

Odd. Oh well, the PullRites are very good; I think you'll be happy with it.

 

[lkoliver]

OK… I know I am late to the party but would like to know if anyone else is running the same set up as me and how they have theirs???? I have the Andersen Ultimate Hitch that I was running in my 2017 Ram 2500 Short Bed. My fifth wheel is a 42’ 6” 2018 Forest River Salem Hemisphere 356QB. Today I traded my truck and got a 2021 Ram Tradesman Diesel Crew Can with the long (8 foot) bed. I know the hitch still goes in the truck the same way, but I am not sure if the red couple should still be to the front on my fifth wheel, or if I need to rotate it 180 degrees to the rear of the pin? Was hoping someone might have some insight.

 

[gimmie11s]

With the 8’ bed you can arrange the coupler so the pin is further forward into the bed of the truck. You’ll still be able to make 90*+ turns with it arranged that way using the 8’ bed.

 

[RV_Goose]

OK… I know I am late to the party but would like to know if anyone else is running the same set up as me and how they have theirs???? I have the Andersen Ultimate Hitch that I was running in my 2017 Ram 2500 Short Bed. My fifth wheel is a 42’ 6” 2018 Forest River Salem Hemisphere 356QB. Today I traded my truck and got a 2021 Ram Tradesman Diesel Crew Can with the long (8 foot) bed. I know the hitch still goes in the truck the same way, but I am not sure if the red couple should still be to the front on my fifth wheel, or if I need to rotate it 180 degrees to the rear of the pin? Was hoping someone might have some insight.

Might want to check the pin weight and the Anderson hitch rating on a trailer that big. From my reading, Anderson only goes up to 4500 pin weight.

 

[jetlag]

This topic will generate TONS of different opinions (and already has) so really the homework is kind of up to you OP.

Im an Anderson Hitch guy and probably always will be. I actually have 2 of them. An aluminum one that i installed into my puck-equipped 2016 Ram 2500 short bed and also a steel one that is installed into traditional 5th rails that are in the bed of my 1999 2nd gen Dodge Ram.

They both work fantastic and ive never had an issue. They tow smooooooooooooooooooooth. No 5th jaw clanking, chucking or noise.

You can adjust the Anderson so that the coupler positions the trailer a few inches rearward allowing you to make darn near 90* turns. I had it set up like this on my 2016 2500 short bed and it was awesome.

Here is the install pdf.... lots of good info here.

3930 - 3200 Ultimate RM Installation 12 pg_7-2020_low res

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I should also mention they are about 1/2 the price of a traditional 5th hitch! I believe i paid $750 for mine. Easy to install and lightweight.

This is good to hear as I have a brand new AUH sitting in the garage to go in our new 3500 SRW long bed, and will pull a Jayco Pinnacle. Initially I was drawn to it by the weight saving and ease of install. Then you read all these horror stories, and each time the same story gets recycled so many times it gets worse and worse. The hitch is rated higher than most of the traditional hitches, 24K pounds, and weighs in at around 40 pounds. I have a long bed, so no turning issues. I wanted ease of install/remove, and weight saving as my RV is heavy.

 

[roegs]

We just purchased a Grand Design Solitude 2930rl. Did the tow home (~50 miles) last week using an Andersen hitch. Weight was a big factor in my decision for the Andersen. In my case, the GVWR for my truck is 11,800 lbs. I don't want to start a weight police discussion but my desire was to stay within the factory weight specs. We purchased our 5th wheel used from private party so there were a few items in the basement that the previous owner threw in. CAT scale GVWR weight with fuel, my wife and I along with the Solitude connected was 11,200. Pin weight was approximately 2500 lbs. I was very happy with the weights.

I now want to do a little tuning with the Andersen. Ball height was in the middle for our tow home - I'll drop it 1 inch lower for our next tow as the 5th wheel was slightly high. Right now I have the Andersen red adapter installed with the funnel towards the rear (behind the pin). This pulls the 5th wheel closer to the truck cab, but also gives me good pin box to (truck) side rail clearance during turns. I may try spinning the adapter around to get more 5th wheel to truck cab clearance. I found the attached Andersen article below. Just doing the 1 tow, I find myself pretty paranoid about turns and having the 5th wheel (this particular model is a wide body) hitting the cab. The guy that wrote this did an excellent job and I'll use his process for measuring clearances.

https://weekendrvadventures.com/andersen-hitch-review/

 

[jetlag]

We just purchased a Grand Design Solitude 2930rl. Did the tow home (~50 miles) last week using an Andersen hitch. Weight was a big factor in my decision for the Andersen. In my case, the GVWR for my truck is 11,800 lbs. I don't want to start a weight police discussion but my desire was to stay within the factory weight specs. We purchased our 5th wheel used from private party so there were a few items in the basement that the previous owner threw in. CAT scale GVWR weight with fuel, my wife and I along with the Solitude connected was 11,200. Pin weight was approximately 2500 lbs. I was very happy with the weights.

I now want to do a little tuning with the Andersen. Ball height was in the middle for our tow home - I'll drop it 1 inch lower for our next tow as the 5th wheel was slightly high. Right now I have the Andersen red adapter installed with the funnel towards the rear (behind the pin). This pulls the 5th wheel closer to the truck cab, but also gives me good pin box to (truck) side rail clearance during turns. I may try spinning the adapter around to get more 5th wheel to truck cab clearance. I found the attached Andersen article below. Just doing the 1 tow, I find myself pretty paranoid about turns and having the 5th wheel (this particular model is a wide body) hitting the cab. The guy that wrote this did an excellent job and I'll use his process for measuring clearances.

https://weekendrvadventures.com/andersen-hitch-review/

Excellent. We will be doing out initial pull with a 5th wheel ever as well as the Andersen hitch next month, so I will follow your progress intently. I have the long bed truck and a GVWR for the truck of 12,300 Pounds, and I hope truck to trailer clearance will not be a problem. Bought the long bed for the additional payload thinking I might need it, and now glad I did. Truck, wife and I and 2 10 pound puppies and a pin around 3-3100 pounds should still give me 5-600 pounds leeway. Thanks for posting

 

[gimmie11s]

Excellent. We will be doing out initial pull with a 5th wheel ever as well as the Andersen hitch next month, so I will follow your progress intently. I have the long bed truck and a GVWR for the truck of 12,300 Pounds, and I hope truck to trailer clearance will not be a problem. Bought the long bed for the additional payload thinking I might need it, and now glad I did. Truck, wife and I and 2 10 pound puppies and a pin around 3-3100 pounds should still give me 5-600 pounds leeway. Thanks for posting

You'll have 0 issues with turning with the long bed and the Anderson.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Excellent. We will be doing out initial pull with a 5th wheel ever as well as the Andersen hitch next month, so I will follow your progress intently. I have the long bed truck and a GVWR for the truck of 12,300 Pounds, and I hope truck to trailer clearance will not be a problem. Bought the long bed for the additional payload thinking I might need it, and now glad I did. Truck, wife and I and 2 10 pound puppies and a pin around 3-3100 pounds should still give me 5-600 pounds leeway. Thanks for posting

Long bed wont have turning issues unless you have a cross bed tool box or similar

 

[jetlag]

You'll have 0 issues with turning with the long bed and the Anderson.

Long bed wont have turning issues unless you have a cross bed tool box or similar

Thank you both, and no, I will have a clean bed. Hopefully I can mount with the king pin adapter forward and maintain decent clearance with the truck sides.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Thank you both, and no, I will have a clean bed. Hopefully I can mount with the king pin adapter forward and maintain decent clearance with the truck sides.

Keep it center thats where it rides best in my experience

 

[jetlag]

Keep it center thats where it rides best in my experience

Sorry, do you mean the adjustable hitch pin?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Sorry, do you mean the adjustable hitch pin?

No i am saying don't put the hitch forward in the box keep it over the axle, unless you mean something else when you say king pin adapter

 

[jetlag]

No i am saying don't put the hitch forward in the box keep it over the axle, unless you mean something else when you say king pin adapter

Ok I understand. The King Pin adapter with the Andersen can be turned two different ways for cab and side rail clearance, specially in short bed trucks, and thought you might be referring to that. Thanks

 

[jetlag]

New truck finally arrived last week, and today I installed the AUH for fit. Pretty simple once I figured out the Andersen goose ball. It and the safety pin were not making friends to start with. Now we pick up our Pinnacle 36FBTS early August in VA.

 

[jetlag]

OK… I know I am late to the party but would like to know if anyone else is running the same set up as me and how they have theirs???? I have the Andersen Ultimate Hitch that I was running in my 2017 Ram 2500 Short Bed. My fifth wheel is a 42’ 6” 2018 Forest River Salem Hemisphere 356QB. Today I traded my truck and got a 2021 Ram Tradesman Diesel Crew Can with the long (8 foot) bed. I know the hitch still goes in the truck the same way, but I am not sure if the red couple should still be to the front on my fifth wheel, or if I need to rotate it 180 degrees to the rear of the pin? Was hoping someone might have some insight.

Sorry, I am late to this thread. I pull a 2021 Jayco Pinnacle 36FBTS with a 2021 Ram 3500 SRW and 8' bed. Dealer didn't even look at all the measurements I had taken. he wanted the hitch over the axle, and he turned it backwards. It pulls fantastic and never have to worry about cab clearance

 

[jetlag]

And I had to adjust the hitch to the lowest setting as dealer said it was riding a bit high on the middle setting. It rides about 6" from the rails now.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Sorry, I am late to this thread. I pull a 2021 Jayco Pinnacle 36FBTS with a 2021 Ram 3500 SRW and 8' bed. Dealer didn't even look at all the measurements I had taken. he wanted the hitch over the axle, and he turned it backwards. It pulls fantastic and never have to worry about cab clearance

That offset is useless for a long bed