Best 5th wheel hitches

[Homebrew]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

I don't have your money to buy a new one, so I found a way to do what I need to do....I have an 8' bed, but need to carry a trike (scooter) also...I've got a platform that uses the top of bed rails, from side to side, behind cab......in order to save the scooter fender and tire/wheel, I lower the pass side of platform into bed and pick-up more turn'n clearance..... then with auto-slider, makes life much simpler.....and, I can get the unit out of the bed, by myself, if required. Hitch was under $500. due to already hav'n rails.

Great price! My set up new was under $700. The auto was over $1000 and filled the bed of my short bed DRW.
I can store a back up sewage tank between the cab and the hitch and a extra large cooler between the hitch and the tail gate.
I can not get my hitch out without assistance unless I have winch/ come along.
I don't need tools to remove mine. Pull 4 pins, turn 4 levers and the bed is completely empty.

Some people use there trailer to lift there hitch out of the truck and lower it onto another vehicle. I have not tried this yet.


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[JJ XLR Thunderbolt]

I love the B&W set up as I pull other 5th wheel AG trailers (flatbed, enclosed car hauler & livestock). I can pop out the turnover ball and drop my Companion Slider right in n go. You will want a slider if you have the short box and a big fronted 5th wheel TT..as others have said, they are a little speedy up front but very well built and easy to switch when you need to....

[Homebrew]

Originally Posted by JJ XLR Thunderbolt

I love the B&W set up as I pull other 5th wheel AG trailers (flatbed, enclosed car hauler & livestock). I can pop out the turnover ball and drop my Companion Slider right in n go. You will want a slider if you have the short box and a big fronted 5th wheel TT..as others have said, they are a little speedy up front but very well built and easy to switch when you need to....

No slider needed with a short bed and thunderbolt.


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[MightyMike]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

No slider needed with a short bed and thunderbolt.


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Well that's completely false. The way I have to turn mine to get into my driveway needs the clearance every time. Everyone's situation is different, so never generalize.

[Homebrew]

Originally Posted by MightyMike

Well that's completely false. The way I have to turn mine to get into my driveway needs the clearance every time. Everyone's situation is different, so never generalize.

I should have said 2014 thunderbolts and up.


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[alayton]

Originally Posted by JJ XLR Thunderbolt

I love the B&W set up as I pull other 5th wheel AG trailers (flatbed, enclosed car hauler & livestock). I can pop out the turnover ball and drop my Companion Slider right in n go. You will want a slider if you have the short box and a big fronted 5th wheel TT..as others have said, they are a little speedy up front but very well built and easy to switch when you need to....

I pull different trailers also. I converted my big trailers from gooseneck to 5th wheel.
The B&W none slider is ok but I wouldn't own a manual slider from them unless they have made them where they actually work in the last year.
I tried 3 before going to the Demco auto slide .

[JJ XLR Thunderbolt]

Well I do have a 2015 sliding companion that does work well as far as I can tell...what was the general issue you were having with your 3 tries?

and I do have a 2015 XLR and would have had to have cab repair if not for the slider a time or two in tight spots....just saying. And the other guy is right, look things over and see what is needed we are not all in the same situations all of the time and generalities sometimes cause for a greater discussion. Happy camping to you all.

[MightyMike]

Yup, mines a 2012 with the radiused corners and no way it would ever clear. Always had short bed trucks and when we first decided to go 5th wheeling I decided I didn't want to mess with getting out of the truck to slide a hitch. Already had the hitch, so every truck since is a shortie

[alayton]

Originally Posted by JJ XLR Thunderbolt

Well I do have a 2015 sliding companion that does work well as far as I can tell...what was the general issue you were having with your 3 tries?

and I do have a 2015 XLR and would have had to have cab repair if not for the slider a time or two in tight spots....just saying. And the other guy is right, look things over and see what is needed we are not all in the same situations all of the time and generalities sometimes cause for a greater discussion. Happy camping to you all.

I had 2 B&W sliders installed at Truck Toys . Nether one would stay in the locked position when I got out of the truck and pulled the Handel back.
They took the second one out refunded my money and said they weren't going to install another one
I called B&W and they sent me one and I installed it. No luck it did the same thing the Handel wouldn't stay locked back.
B&W ask me to send th a video of it and I did. They gave me my money back and paid for return shipping.
I then bought the Demco Hijacker and couldn't be more satisfied
I had to take my B&W turnover ball assembly out to install the hijacker and I kept it if I ever go back to a gooseneck I will re install it.

[itat]

I asked eTrailer.com about a 5th wheel hitch in the 5-1/2 ft box on my F-150. They said a slider wouldn't work because it still doesn't get the front cap of the 5er far enough back. They said the only option with a box under 6 ft is a Sidewinder pin box.

[alayton]

Wow! That is a short bed. My set up is with an F250 with a 6.5 bed.

[bob caldwell]

My lawn tractor has a longer bed..

[itat]

Makes me laugh when members talk about a 6.5 ft box being a "short bed".

I bought it to pull a TT, not a 5er, but when we were ready to move on from the Roo I considered a 5er. The previous owner used it to pull a small 5er and left the rails in it...and a small dent in the cab on the passenger side!

[bob caldwell]

Just more turn'n clearance!

[alayton]

Originally Posted by itat

Makes me laugh when members talk about a 6.5 ft box being a "short bed".

I bought it to pull a TT, not a 5er, but when we were ready to move on from the Roo I considered a 5er. The previous owner used it to pull a small 5er and left the rails in it...and a small dent in the cab on the passenger side!

A 6.5' is a short bed for a f250.
I don't see many trucks with a shorter bed.

[Santa-Fe R R]

First post by first time rver, is the Reese pro series # 99-0059 compatible with the sidewinder pin on the new Rockwood 8288wsa?

[Junior25k]

4th gen ram 2500 here. I went with a hijacker auto slide. I use the above the bed rails. Took about a couple hours to install the rails.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Junior25k

4th gen ram 2500 here. I went with a hijacker auto slide. I use the above the bed rails. Took about a couple hours to install the rails.

How much does the sucker weight?

[Junior25k]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

How much does the sucker weight?

About 220# I think. Definitely a heavy sucker.