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Auto slide or sidewinder

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joeycamp

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Soon to arrive 3500 short bed with 5th wheel prep. Also arriving is an East to West Tandara 286RL-OK. Believe it has a Rhino pin box. Torn between Demco auto slide or Reese sidewinder.

I really want to lean towards the sidewinder but there is not much info or many videos on it other than what Reese puts out.

Biggest drawback with the Demco is the weight. Really would like some feedback on the sidewinder or similar. And what hitch to use with the sidewinder.
 
I have towed a few with the side winder they are great to tow and work well they can be a pain to pin up if you cant take a straight run at them but otherwise they are great. If i was to buy a shortbox i would buy the sidewinder or turning point pin box over any slider anyday
 
I used a Sidewinder on a 12k 5th wheel for a few years and did not have any issues.
Some 5th wheel hitches are not compatible with a rotating type pin box, ck on that when choosing a hitch.
 
The Sidewinder pinbox has to be straight in relation to the 5th hitch in order for easy/correct engagement and locking.
But the truck and trailer do not have to be straight with each other. You can manually rotate the pin box angle to match the angle of the truck/trailer before you back up and engage.
 
joeycamp said:
I believe one or both of auto slider I looked at has to hook straight on. If I was to choose slider would be an auto one.
Click to expand...
My slider is not an auto style. I just have to reach into bed and unlock it, hold the trailer brakes and pull forward slowly. It will lock into the rear position automatically. If I remember right, the Demco autoslide has an device (locking plate) that attaches to the kingpin, which then requires you to be straight to to both hook up and unhitch. I could be wrong about this though. When I was researching hitches, I think that was one of the limitations I wasn't crazy about.
 
amauri said:
The Sidewinder pinbox has to be straight in relation to the 5th hitch in order for easy/correct engagement and locking.
But the truck and trailer do not have to be straight with each other. You can manually rotate the pin box angle to match the angle of the truck/trailer before you back up and engage.
Click to expand...
That would have been nice to know! Dealer didn't mention that.
 
joeycamp said:
I believe one or both of auto slider I looked at has to hook straight on. If I was to choose slider would be an auto one.
Click to expand...

That is true for all the Auto slider type hitches I've seen.
For a manual slider there is no need to align the truck & trailer perfectly straight, hook up and you would with a fixed type hitch.
 
amauri said:
The Sidewinder pinbox has to be straight in relation to the 5th hitch in order for easy/correct engagement and locking.
But the truck and trailer do not have to be straight with each other. You can manually rotate the pin box angle to match the angle of the truck/trailer before you back up and engage.
Click to expand...
Most hitches work with the sidewinder you may have to purchase a different wedge depending on your hitch though
 
You'd be surprised at how many don't.

For example.... the Curt A-series is compatible with a sidewinder, but the Curt Q-series that RAM used to sell as an option is not.
They look almost identical until you start reading the spec sheet.
What RAM sells now is the A-series, you can tell by the release handle.
 
If i were to pair the sidewinder with something like a B&W Companion I believe it weighs over 200lbs. Even taken apart the base I believe is 130. I can barely get my predator generator in the back of the truck at 100lbs and the truck I have now is lower than the one I have on order.

So this defeats my purpose of the weight issue might as well get a Demco Auto slide.

Any other suggestions on a hitch to pair with?
 
Years ago when I was looking for a hitch to mount on a short bed RAM (factory mount pucks), I chose the Curt A16.
The A16 was the lightest at 165 lbs total and would easily split into two parts that can be lifted by the average size person.

That combination served us well for several years on our trailer with a Sidewinder pinbox.
 
joeycamp said:
If i were to pair the sidewinder with something like a B&W Companion I believe it weighs over 200lbs. Even taken apart the base I believe is 130. I can barely get my predator generator in the back of the truck at 100lbs and the truck I have now is lower than the one I have on order.

So this defeats my purpose of the weight issue might as well get a Demco Auto slide.

Any other suggestions on a hitch to pair with?
Click to expand...
Buy a chain hoist (electric or manual) or use an engine hoist to pull heavy stuff out. You can even get an in-bed hoist that works well for relatively light loads like these. I mounted an electric hoist to use to pull my hitch out and it makes a world of difference. You can also use your trailer to lift the hitch out and either leave it on your trailer or slide a cart underneath and lower the hitch onto the cart. Lots of options here, but I understand some or all may not meet your need.
 
amauri said:
Years ago when I was looking for a hitch to mount on a short bed RAM (factory mount pucks), I chose the Curt A16.
The A16 was the lightest at 165 lbs total and would easily split into two parts that can be lifted by the average size person.

That combination served us well for several years on our trailer with a Sidewinder pinbox.
Click to expand...
This sounds like a good combo. Did camper come with the sidewinder?
 
amauri said:
You'd be surprised at how many don't.

For example.... the Curt A-series is compatible with a sidewinder, but the Curt Q-series that RAM used to sell as an option is not.
They look almost identical until you start reading the spec sheet.
What RAM sells now is the A-series, you can tell by the release handle.
Click to expand...
Just reading a note on etrailer the regular sidewinder says not to use with Curt Q or A but the airborne sidewinder says only not to use with Curt Q
 
amauri said:
You'd be surprised at how many don't.

For example.... the Curt A-series is compatible with a sidewinder, but the Curt Q-series that RAM used to sell as an option is not.
They look almost identical until you start reading the spec sheet.
What RAM sells now is the A-series, you can tell by the release handle.
Click to expand...

The Ram 20K is a Q-series.

The ram 30K is an A-series.

Unless they've changed this past year.

Don't know what the h*ll they were thinking.
 
joeycamp said:
Just reading a note on etrailer the regular sidewinder says not to use with Curt Q or A but the airborne sidewinder says only not to use with Curt Q
Click to expand...
I used the Reese 5th Airborne Sidewinder for a while.
Mine may have been an isolated case but it is not a good design IMO.
I discovered two significant cracks on that pin box while inspecting it... trying to find the cause of creaking noises it started making on the way home from a trip.

Sent photos of the cracks to Reese and replaced it under warranty.
The new one they sent me was warped, so I sent it back and asked for a Goosebox in place of the 5th Airborn Sidewinder (my new 3500 is a long bed).
 

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