5th Wheel Hitches > I am So Confused!

[gimmie11s]

I have the exact opposite opinion.

The pullrite slider in my megacab gives me one less thing to worry about when dealing with tight turns parking the trailer at the storage unit.

Have you towed with the Anderson?

 

[BAT3500]

Have you towed with the Anderson?

nope. Rv dealer tried to sell me one but i didnt bite. My storage slot is 90 degrees to the road so my turn is rather sharp. I highly doubt i would be able to make the swing with a fixed hitch. My trailer kingpin is correctly centered over the truck axle as best i tell. Per the tracks in the slider grease the hitch moves back roughly 6" when i make this turn. Considered moving my hitch forward by one hole in the mount so I got out specifically to look at cab clearance the last time i parked the trailer in the unit. I only had roughly about same the 6" clearance with the cab at what i think was the maximum turn angle. Eventually i figure i would kiss the cab with a fixed hitch but at the very least i would have to watch cab clearance carefully. I am already busy enough trying to get the trailer in proper position without hitting something..

 

[gimmie11s]

Options are a good thing for the consumer. It's good to know that whatever direction someone wants to go, there is likely a good solution out there.

 

[RV_Goose]

nope. Rv dealer tried to sell me one but i didnt bite. My storage slot is 90 degrees to the road so my turn is rather sharp. I highly doubt i would be able to make the swing with a fixed hitch. My trailer kingpin is correctly centered over the truck axle as best i tell. Per the tracks in the slider grease the hitch moves back roughly 6" when i make this turn. Considered moving my hitch forward by one hole in the mount so I got out specifically to look at cab clearance the last time i parked the trailer in the unit. I only had roughly about same the 6" clearance with the cab at what i think was the maximum turn angle. Eventually i figure i would kiss the cab with a fixed hitch but at the very least i would have to watch cab clearance carefully. I am already busy enough trying to get the trailer in proper position without hitting something..

I've been told that if I have to turn 90 degrees I apparently do not know how to handle a trailer. I have yet to have any one of those folks follow me to my spots. I had a slider on my 2500 SB. Very glad to have it!

 

[BigDaveTX]

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.

 

[gimmie11s]

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.

Anderson.

I have one (two actually) and love it. Great unit, 0 complaints.

 

[BigDaveTX]

I've researched it and it looks good. I checking if there are other options. I'm definitely leaning toward Anderson.

 

[Bozo]

I've been told that if I have to turn 90 degrees I apparently do not know how to handle a trailer. I have yet to have any one of those folks follow me to my spots. I had a slider on my 2500 SB. Very glad to have it!

Same here........and they have never seen some of the spots that I had to put a 53’ van trailer into.

 

[Whatatruck]

I am in the same boat and an RV owner myself but hopefully soon will make the move to fifth wheel now that I have the bigger truck. I’ve been researching hitches for four years now and I’m amazed at how opinions are all over the map.

I’ll distill it down to what I’ve found:

B&W companion Is top-of-the-line and you can’t go wrong. The only part that I (and many others) don’t like is it is freaking heavy especially if I want the slider version due to my short bed and how much of the bed it will take up because I will have to leave it in due to the ridiculously heavy weight. However that thing is built like a tank. After this I would put my trust in the full steel Curt units as once again they are built like tanks and they only fail when you fail to lock the king pin properly.

Anderson and the other models of super light tripod hitches. While they look like a cool idea they scare the crap out of me. Kind of like a CP4 pump, tons of people don’t have any problems with it but if you do, you have major problems. I don’t want to end up being an accidental statistic. I’ve seen enough images of accidents where it broke and that was enough for me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an image of a proper full steel fifth wheel hitch where the king pin has managed to break it and go straight into the cab (but hey I haven’t been looking for one either). I bought a 3500 so that I don’t need a super light hitch.

Reese goose box 2.0. This is probably the way I will go. As long as you have a Lippert frame for your trailer they will not void the warranty if you use this hitch on the trailer. The nice part is you just use a goose ball in your bed which takes up zero space and is very easily removable. Everything I’ve read about this hitch has been amazing lots of video reviews lots of foreign reviews people can’t get enough of it because they don’t have a monstrous fifth wheel hitch in their bed. Waze safe also just released a goose ball with the scale built-in.

—

However if I was towing a triple axle monster toy hauler fully loaded I’d probably stick with the B&W companion for peace of mind. But then I would have to trade for a Dually with a long box.

—

Currently we own a Grand Desig Imagine 2800 BH which is quite light for our new truck (so this season should be a freaking joke towing wise) but we are looking at a Grand Design Momentum 353G when we can afford it. The problem is this new truck cost as much (almost more) as my mortgage and now I have no money for a trailer... 1st world problems eh!

—-

The automatic sliding hitch is strangely I only recently discovered I don’t know why it didn’t show up in searches more often. Possibly because I didn’t realize it was an automatic slider. They definitely have my interest and will keep an ion them if whatever trailer I buy needs more clearance on the cab but again it’s going to eat my truck bed and weigh a ton to take it out. The goose box with goose ball is just the cats pajamas.

Cheers
Tim

May I inquire to what your truck payment is? My 2500 is costing me a mint and I’m just curious to know how far off I am in relation to others.

 

[Bozo]

Just one arm and one leg is all.

 

[Nuke1]

Just installed the hitch in my 2021 Tradesman 6.4L. Same Curt 16A that I have had for 6-7 years and this is the 3rd truck it's been in. I got a smokin deal on this truck and the only option it didn't have that I kind of wanted was the gooseneck/5th wheel prep - puck system. Wasn't a huge deal to me because I have installed the custom frame brackets and rails from Curt on my two previous trucks - 1 ford and 1 chevy. I can say that the brackets for the Ram were by far the easiest to install. Install took little over an hour in the garage with the help of my 11 year old. I've never had a slider and I guess i've never seen the need for one where I go. I pull a 36' Coachman Chaparral that weighs in at a little over 11K fully loaded, pin weight is a shade over 1500 lbs. So far the truck seems to handle this with ease but I've only towed it a total of about 45 miles to a local campground. Heading out for a couple hour trip on Wednesday evening so i'll get a chance to really see what I think. The link below are the custom frame brackets from Curt. Rails are pretty much universal. If you look the brackets up on Amazon they say they do not fit the 2021 but that is incorrect. They fit and are a very simple install especially if you drop the spare tire and remove the heat shield. I'll post some pictures Wednesday before we head out.
And no, the bed is not all scratched up already, truck has just a tick over 1100 miles on it.
My wife took the truck to the grocery store and decided to haul home two leaking bags of flour and then thought she would be nice and sweep it out with a broom. I actually took this picture to have a reminder for her...

Custom 5th Wheel Brackets, Select Ram 2500 (Except with 5th Wheel Prep Package)

When you purchase a 5th wheel trailer hitch, you expect it to be capable of towing your RV, flatbed or whatever other 5th wheel trailer you own. While a 5th wheel hitch does offer an impressive amount of towing strength, it cannot get far without the proper installation equipment. Engineered for...

www.curtmfg.com

 

[Nick]

I will stick with my Hensly BD 3 air ride trailer saver . 11 years no problems . They are heavy and expensive but worth it IMHO.

 

[raven_dt]

I pulled my 5th wheel with my short box 1500hd and GMC 2500hd short boxes 6.5' I have never had any issues. My father pulls a 42' big horn with a Ford 6.7 shortbox. I know guys had to have sliders with 5.5' boxes. Am I missing something with the Ram 3500 SB CC that all of a sudden I must have a slider to tow? Sorry This is my first Ram and I'm just wondering If I'm missing something.

The Ford SD short boxes are 5" longer than the Ram HD short boxes, giving you a few additional inches of clearance. Sliders on a 1/2 ton with limited payload???

 

[Dunner]

The Ford SD short boxes are 5" longer than the Ram HD short boxes, giving you a few additional inches of clearance. Sliders on a 1/2 ton with limited payload???

yeah guys pull(ed) small 5th wheels with gmc/chev 1/2 ton crews with the short box (5.5/5.8'). My last two trucks had 6.5' box (GMC) and I never had any issues. The Ram is like 1.2" shorter than that I bought an adapter for the hitch I had and Im going to tow with it. If for some strange reason it looks like its gonna be too close Ill buy a slider I guess.

 

[Dunner]

 

[Bozo]

yeah guys pull(ed) small 5th wheels with gmc/chev 1/2 ton crews with the short box (5.5/5.8'). My last two trucks had 6.5' box (GMC) and I never had any issues. The Ram is like 1.2" shorter than that I bought an adapter for the hitch I had and Im going to tow with it. If for some strange reason it looks like its gonna be too close Ill buy a slider I guess.

Good luck and best wishes. Be careful.

 

[Nuke1]

Just installed the hitch in my 2021 Tradesman 6.4L. Same Curt 16A that I have had for 6-7 years and this is the 3rd truck it's been in. I got a smokin deal on this truck and the only option it didn't have that I kind of wanted was the gooseneck/5th wheel prep - puck system. Wasn't a huge deal to me because I have installed the custom frame brackets and rails from Curt on my two previous trucks - 1 ford and 1 chevy. I can say that the brackets for the Ram were by far the easiest to install. Install took little over an hour in the garage with the help of my 11 year old. I've never had a slider and I guess i've never seen the need for one where I go. I pull a 36' Coachman Chaparral that weighs in at a little over 11K fully loaded, pin weight is a shade over 1500 lbs. So far the truck seems to handle this with ease but I've only towed it a total of about 45 miles to a local campground. Heading out for a couple hour trip on Wednesday evening so i'll get a chance to really see what I think. The link below are the custom frame brackets from Curt. Rails are pretty much universal. If you look the brackets up on Amazon they say they do not fit the 2021 but that is incorrect. They fit and are a very simple install especially if you drop the spare tire and remove the heat shield. I'll post some pictures Wednesday before we head out.
And no, the bed is not all scratched up already, truck has just a tick over 1100 miles on it.
My wife took the truck to the grocery store and decided to haul home two leaking bags of flour and then thought she would be nice and sweep it out with a broom. I actually took this picture to have a reminder for her...

Custom 5th Wheel Brackets, Select Ram 2500 (Except with 5th Wheel Prep Package)

When you purchase a 5th wheel trailer hitch, you expect it to be capable of towing your RV, flatbed or whatever other 5th wheel trailer you own. While a 5th wheel hitch does offer an impressive amount of towing strength, it cannot get far without the proper installation equipment. Engineered for...

www.curtmfg.com

 

[Nuke1]

 

[1FstGPa]

I decided on the B&W Companion slider. So...I almost hate to admit this, after starting this thread, but I am a newbie so here it goes. I used the slide option once in my front yard. Didn't need to, but I wanted to see how it worked. The three times, I had the FW out, it's been locked over the axle of the short bed. I've been in some "Fairly" tight turns - greater than 45 degrees - using this hitch and it showed the edge of our Rockwood FW about 18" from the cab of the truck. Had it been a square nose FW, I believe, the front edge might..."Might"...had hit the cab. Might? Personally, I am glad I have that slide option is available to me, but if I don't use that option I watch my cab and the FW like a hawk!

 

[BigDaveTX]

Just finished my first week with my Keystone Cougar 316RLS and Pullrite Superglide. Like others mentioned, payload is the big limitation so with pin weight, hitch weight, and passenger weight, I need a hitch that is as light as possible. Only about 120 miles for a shake down trip and I couldn't be more pleased with the way the diesel pulls and the slider hitch helps. I have to admit not a lot of maneuvering but, as far as I can tell, the slider worked great. As others have said, my tightest maneuvering is getting into the storage space (at least so far).