Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-20-2016, 03:57 PM   #21
Senior Member
 
drelec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Medina, OH
Posts: 118
I use the B&W Companion in my 2010 F150, works great. Like that it is removable to give flat bed with no rails. Comes apart in too pieces to reduce weight. Like that it has 5 degree side to side movement on hydraulic cylinder. Tows our 8000 lb Crusader 270RET with no issues, no clunking, etc.

I have been considering an Anderson Aluminum Ultimate 5th Wheel hitch which weighs only 35 lbs! I getting older and lifting the approximately 70 pound base of the Companion hitch may become a problem in a few years. The Anderson connects to the gooseneck hitch and uses a ball to connect to the trailer. There is an adapter on the trailer pin. Not sure how easy it is to hook up using the ball. The Companion is easy because you back into hitch pin using hitch plate to guide. Look like you have to line up ball on Anderson and then lower trailer, so backing to align might be more time consuming.

Good luck with your new toys!
drelec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2016, 04:35 PM   #22
Senior Member
 
sfsgm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 426
I have an F-350 SRW with the gooseneck hitch. I didn't add anything else to it other than that. No messing around with a bed rail mounted hitch. Slip he 2 5/8 inch ball into the "hole (receiver) in the truck bed and that's it. Period. Easy to backup even without a camera (I can generally get it done in four adjustments of less).

Just make sure that your fifth wheel can handle to change in load or you may start to find stress cracks in the front cap.
__________________
2016 Nike Take Down Wrestling Shoes
42 ft square Dollamur high school wrestling mat
sfsgm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2016, 04:56 PM   #23
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by rocrider50 View Post
Normally yes, but the 2017 really upped axles and tires and give you a true SAE 20,600. No DRW needed, moved up from 15,100 to 20,600 with major upgrades. DRW went to 31,700!!!! All the new 5th wheels I am looking at say no slider needed up to 90 degrees, is that enough? GVWR is 11,500.


With 11,500 GVWR, you're still up against a wall for pin weight.
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2016, 05:34 PM   #24
Senior Gold Member
 
rthomaslyons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 213
Quote:
Originally Posted by rocrider50 View Post
Just ordered a 2017 F350 4x4 diesel with all the new camera goodies (360 camera, rear trailer camera, etc.) and the 5th wheel prep package. Now rated 20,600 5th wheel tow rating for SRW (wow I know right!). Selling the 29hfs and moving up to a big 5th wheel. Looking through the Spartan, XLR, Cyclone and haven't decided yet (thoughts?). But want to find out recommendations on the right 5th wheel hitch. REESE is sold buy Ford to go with their prep package, or are there better recommendations? OK, let me have it, what is the best out there, don't want to leave any hitch choices unexplored?
Good for you. The good thing to know is, when the time is right you can move smaller in the future as I have done. Many of the nicer and older campgrounds can't handle a trailer or 5th wheel beyond 30'. Bigger may not always be better. Try and get in or out of a newer shopping centre for example.
__________________
rthomaslyons
2019 Sunseeker 3010 DSF
rthomaslyons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2016, 05:50 PM   #25
Senior Member
 
NMWildcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
Quote:
Originally Posted by 325BH View Post
With 11,500 GVWR, you're still up against a wall for pin weight.
These type of weight comments always crack me up. If you follow all the supposed weight rules we would all being pulling 20' rigs with semi tractors. My 5ver GVWR is 12155, dry weight 10k. The only time it comes close to squatting my 2500 level is when the back of my truck is full of fire wood, fuel cans, 30 gallons of water, and the 5ver. I'm thinking his 350 will be fine with whichever of the popular 5vers he picks😁
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
NMWildcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2016, 08:08 PM   #26
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 34
I have a 2016 F350 DRW with the factory hitch prep. I have a 11500 Sandpiper. I am using a 20,000 Curt hitch. I searched a lot on Ebay before I purchased the hitches. I purchased 2 hitches one for me and one for a friend about 3wks apart. One would have retailed at $1900.00 and the other $2200.00. I gave $507.00 for one and $517.00 for the other. Both was drop shipped from Curt. I have two other friends with Reese Hitches and I like them too but the $$$$$$$$$ was the selling point. I started to by 2 or 3 more to resale for the price. Shop and compare go and look at all you can before buying one.
cotton65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2016, 08:12 AM   #27
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CT
Posts: 365
Quote:
Originally Posted by rocrider50 View Post
Normally yes, but the 2017 really upped axles and tires and give you a true SAE 20,600. No DRW needed, moved up from 15,100 to 20,600 with major upgrades. DRW went to 31,700!!!! All the new 5th wheels I am looking at say no slider needed up to 90 degrees, is that enough? GVWR is 11,500.

Yeah sure, and half ton towable too!

But to answer your question, if you can get 90 degrees then you could do without the slider.
__________________
2015 Ram 3500 CC SRW SB 6.7 Cummins
2015 Sabre 36QBOK-7

Nights Camped, 2015: 23, 2016: 27, 2017: 29, 2018: 22, 2019: 29
mikeysotp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2016, 08:24 AM   #28
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 820
Of the models you listed, I'd say XLR all the way. Many XLRs have a lighter pin weight as well. I've heard good stuff about Spartans for the most part but I'd stay away from Cyclone. I've heard so many negatives about them, its amazing. I had one a few years ago and it was by far, the worst camper we've ever owned and dealing with Heartland made it even worse.

As for the hitch, I personally like the Reese that Ford sells. Its rated at 26,500 lbs. and although its a little pricey, if you get it with the truck, its covered under the Ford warranty. I believe if you buy an extended warranty, it falls under that, too.

I've had two of the Reese hitches for the Ford puck system and they've been flawless.
KFX450RXC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2016, 08:27 AM   #29
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 820
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat View Post
These type of weight comments always crack me up. If you follow all the supposed weight rules we would all being pulling 20' rigs with semi tractors. My 5ver GVWR is 12155, dry weight 10k. The only time it comes close to squatting my 2500 level is when the back of my truck is full of fire wood, fuel cans, 30 gallons of water, and the 5ver. I'm thinking his 350 will be fine with whichever of the popular 5vers he picks😁
Well said.
KFX450RXC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2016, 09:43 AM   #30
Senior Member
 
grhodes50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 2,618
Quote:
Originally Posted by cotton65 View Post
I have a 2016 F350 DRW with the factory hitch prep. I have a 11500 Sandpiper. I am using a 20,000 Curt hitch. I searched a lot on Ebay before I purchased the hitches. I purchased 2 hitches one for me and one for a friend about 3wks apart. One would have retailed at $1900.00 and the other $2200.00. I gave $507.00 for one and $517.00 for the other. Both was drop shipped from Curt. I have two other friends with Reese Hitches and I like them too but the $$$$$$$$$ was the selling point. I started to by 2 or 3 more to resale for the price. Shop and compare go and look at all you can before buying one.
Recently purchased our first 5'er and didn't know much about the different hitches. My salesman showed me the Curt 16K hitch and it's features....fully articulating head, jaws that fully encircle the king pin, the easy way to tell if your locked in, etc...
I paid $630 for the hitch which included the installation and the 7 pin hook up installed inside the bed.
I've only pulled the 5'er approx. 200 miles, but so far I have no complaints with the hitch.
grhodes50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2016, 02:20 PM   #31
Junior Member
 
Hermes1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat View Post
These type of weight comments always crack me up. If you follow all the supposed weight rules we would all being pulling 20' rigs with semi tractors. My 5ver GVWR is 12155, dry weight 10k. The only time it comes close to squatting my 2500 level is when the back of my truck is full of fire wood, fuel cans, 30 gallons of water, and the 5ver. I'm thinking his 350 will be fine with whichever of the popular 5vers he picks��
Funny but quite an exaggeration. Just because you can does not mean you should. There are risks to exceeding either payload capacity and tow capacity and often times people fail to consider the payload capacity. I think the point folks are making here is for the OP to consider these factors.
__________________
Regards, Bruce
Current TT: Northwood Snow River 246RKS
2015 Ram 3500 DRW Cummins Diesel w/AISIN Tranny
Hermes1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2016, 03:39 PM   #32
Senior Member
 
iowaborn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 328
Send a message via AIM to iowaborn
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAClend View Post
If your prep package includes a gooseneck receiver then I would suggest looking at the B&W Companion hitch. The hitch mounts into the gooseneck receiver thereby eliminating the need for bed-mounted rails.
I have the 20K B&W installed in my F250 with the factory puck system, so no bed rails are required. It is quite eash to remove if I need to haul something. I have the 6 3/4 foot bed and have yet to encounter a problem with truck cab clearance on sharp turns. The B&W was much cheaper, American made and I liked the build design much better than the Reese
__________________
2013 F-250 CrewCab 6.7 PowerStroke 4X4
2017 Silverback 33RK
iowaborn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
5th wheel, wheel

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:58 AM.