Shopping For a 5th Wheel

[Anders]

I am on my second HiJacker auto slide hitch. The first one we bought in 2010-2011. We had to get a new one after we had a wrestling match with a logging truck.

The 18K autoslide is awesome. I can be at 90-degree turn and still have 2 inches to spare to the cab. It is fairly pricey but super good. Demco also gives awesome service.

They were both under bed mount. Now that we got a new truck with factory airbags, the under bed mount does not work/fit. Had to get a conversion kit and make it above bed mount. Still works fine, turn 4 pins and it is out of the box.

The drawback is that you have to be fairly straightforward to the trailer to unhook and hook up. Never been an issue for us, but something to keep in mind.

Good luck

[Ray Deason]

I have had three;the 4th is a BMW and is worth the cost. Each hitch the first time. The others took several times to match trailer with hitch an had to be perfect. No more. And it will do the weight you have. It gives me a short radius turn, also for sharp turns.

[Herk7769]

So, I would wait to see what kind of pin box is coming with the camper.

Flagstaff/Rockwood ships standard with the Reese Revolution hitch which works "as is" (move two bolts) with short bed trucks because the pivot point is under the camper and not in the bed.

The advantage is you still have almost all of your bed to store stuff because the pin box itself DOES NOT MOVE.

You can even disconnect and reconnect at a 90 degree angle!
Try THAT with my 200 pound Pullrite 3300 autoslide!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndIZi4HApX0

You can use a MUCH lighter STANDARD 5th wheel hitch in the bed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-0ofipIjg0

Herk

[cstreu1026]

It will come with either a basic pin box or a Rotoflex. At this point I'm considering 3 options.

1. Andersen Ultimate Hitch
2. Pullrite Superglide
3. Reese hitch with the Sidewinder pin box

The weight of the Andersen makes it super attractive and I can't really find any downsides other than a couple people who had issues.

[merrykalia]

Originally Posted by cstreu1026

1. Andersen Ultimate Hitch
The weight of the Andersen makes it super attractive and I can't really find any downsides other than a couple people who had issues.

That's why we went with it. Our 11 year old daughter usually installs the hitch into our truck before we hook up. Dad gave her a thorough lesson on installing and he supervised. She has done it several times now and really doesn't need supervision, but we feel like we should since she's only 11.

[RubyRed]

Originally Posted by Life is great

Im pondering upgrading to a 5er as well and I am considering the Anderson Hitch with 4" offset ball to get it back as far as possible, anybody have thoughts on that with the combo he has mentioned?

Check the Blue Ox SuperRide. 6200
Installs on a gooseneck ball. I considered the Anderson, visited a RV dealer and viewed the kingpin adapter. Check all features of the Blue Ox. complete rap/close around the kingpin, no lubeplate, shocks, 11" setback if needed.

[vicetoy]

Off subject but I have to ask, the Cedar Creek 36CK2 is beautiful! Notice the GVWR is 16,525#, how does the 2500 Denali handle it?

[rskeans]

Originally Posted by vicetoy

Off subject but I have to ask, the Cedar Creek 36CK2 is beautiful! Notice the GVWR is 16,525#, how does the 2500 Denali handle it?

I haven't had your setup, but have owned several 5vers. My concern would be the pin weight on a 2500. You should figure 3300 lbs pin weight. That seems alot for a 2500. Something to check into.

[Tall frog]

Originally Posted by vicetoy

Off subject but I have to ask, the Cedar Creek 36CK2 is beautiful! Notice the GVWR is 16,525#, how does the 2500 Denali handle it?

when we hooked the 5th wheel up the first time the truck settled about 2" , the front fender height went up about 1". After I filled the air bags up to 65lb the rear was at the same height before hooking up the 5th wheel and the front was back to within 1/2" of factory. The ONLY difference between a 2500 and a 3500 sw is an overload spring leaf. We have traveled about 5,000 miles since March when we bought the CC36CK2 and all has been great even in some cross winds. would a dully do better, maybe with the added 2 rear tires but we feel just fine towing this combo.

[Tall frog]

Originally Posted by rskeans

I haven't had your setup, but have owned several 5vers. My concern would be the pin weight on a 2500. You should figure 3300 lbs pin weight. That seems alot for a 2500. Something to check into.

I have a scale that I used to get a weight of the pin in my truck loaded ready for a trip and it was 2,700-2,800 lb. a 3500 with my Denali pkg is about 3,200lb load cpt. so with the air bags replacing the extra spring leaf the truck is very level and not a strain on any running components, as confirmed by a GM Midwest truck division executive, comparing the 2500 to a 3500 sw