5th wheel hitch

[Herk7769]

For those who hate the ugly holes in their bed when the Superrails are removed:

Ford Pickup Part Number 17D754 Rear Bumper Hitch Cover for just about any model year standard style will cover the bed hole and snap into the removable mount socket.

This tip came from a "Scott," a Pullrite tech who is just happens to be our local area rep. Awesome dude I met at a local RV show who talked me through my install in 2008.

[fast murray]

Do all you b&w guys have the hidden hitch? For the money of installing a turnover ball that I would never use I thought this looked like a good option:

B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch - On Sale Now!

[MillerTime]

I have had the turnover balls in my trucks for years pulling goosenecks. Plus I don't know anybody around with a 5th wheel hitch, but everybody has turnover balls, so if I ever breakdown I can use my top on someone elses truck.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by fast murray

Do all you b&w guys have the hidden hitch? For the money of installing a turnover ball that I would never use I thought this looked like a good option:

B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch - On Sale Now!

That is the hitch another site I frequent has pointed me to. I'm seriuosly considering that one vs Reese 15k.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by fast murray

Do all you b&w guys have the hidden hitch? For the money of installing a turnover ball that I would never use I thought this looked like a good option:

B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch - On Sale Now!

I didn't want rails in my truck. I like that the hidden hitch gave me a completely empty truck bed at the end of the day.

[Crusader]

Looking at the Reese 15K…anyone using one….

[WEMig]

I have an older 15K with no pivot. Works fine with my Crusader. No need for a slider and I have a swb F250.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I didn't want rails in my truck. I like that the hidden hitch gave me a completely empty truck bed at the end of the day.

Emptier than this?

[MillerTime]

The other good thing bout b&w, no holes are ever drilled in the frame. Holes void any manuf. warranty, and weakens the frame, and have not to date seen anything but the turnover/ companion that complied with this.
Ps. You are also not supose to weld on or on some makes even heat the frame for more than 2 minutes at 1200-1300°

[rabraz]

Originally Posted by Crusader

I have a new F150 FX4 Super cab 6.5 bed. I am looking for a “no slide” 5th wheel hitch. I had a pullrite superglide 12K hitch and hated it. Was looking at the Reese 15K standard hitch. I have a Primetime 270ret Crusader 5th wheel. I should have no problem clearing the cab of the truck with the 5th wheel. I have talked to three other people with the same trailer/truck set up. One was the owner of a RV dealership. He said that he has never used a slide hitch , and has always had a 6.6 bed. He was the one that recommended the Reese 15K hitch.

Hey Crusader. What was it about the superglide you did not like? I just installed a 4100 Superglide but have not picked up my trailer yet so I have never pulled with it. In fact this will be my first fiver and I am a bit nervous about it all. I am curious what I need to be looking out for. Everyone I know tells me I'll never go back to a bumper pull once I hook on to my new trailer.
Thanks

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by rabraz

Hey Crusader. What was it about the superglide you did not like? I just installed a 4100 Superglide but have not picked up my trailer yet so I have never pulled with it. In fact this will be my first fiver and I am a bit nervous about it all. I am curious what I need to be looking out for. Everyone I know tells me I'll never go back to a bumper pull once I hook on to my new trailer.
Thanks

No worries. You will love your hitch and camper.

[rabraz]

Originally Posted by WEMig

I have an older 15K with no pivot. Works fine with my Crusader. No need for a slider and I have a swb F250.

Hey WEMig.
How does your 6.2 handle your trailer? You fairly comfortable towing the load? Have you pulled across a scale while loaded just to see where the weight was sitting?? One last one, you say you do not feel you need a slider, have you measured the trailer distance from the cab after putting it into what you considered the tightest turn or backing you make? I ask because I have a headache rack and low profile tool box and I am trying to determine if I can keep those items or if I need to get rid of them to insure I do not damage my new rig.
Thanks for the info.

[WEMig]

Originally Posted by rabraz

Hey WEMig.
How does your 6.2 handle your trailer? You fairly comfortable towing the load? Have you pulled across a scale while loaded just to see where the weight was sitting?? One last one, you say you do not feel you need a slider, have you measured the trailer distance from the cab after putting it into what you considered the tightest turn or backing you make? I ask because I have a headache rack and low profile tool box and I am trying to determine if I can keep those items or if I need to get rid of them to insure I do not damage my new rig.
Thanks for the info.

The 6.2 handles it very well. I had a 2002 7.3L diesel and the 6.2 is very comparable power wise. I live in Louisiana, so I don't tackle extreme hills often. I'm very satisfied with it coming from a diesel.

I've weighed at a scale and my Crusader comes in at 11,400 with a pin weight of 2300. Truck loaded for camping has available 2240 lbs; putting me about 60 lbs over my cargo capacity. That gives me 20% pin weight. I do need to install either air bags or tembrens since my 4x4 has a bit of sag with that weight. In your set up, I would invest in a slider or remove the headache rack. You may have issues turning on uneven surfaces where the trailer nose would tend to tilt towards the cab. I'm pretty comfortable with the clearance I have turning and backing.

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by rabraz

Hey Crusader. What was it about the superglide you did not like? I just installed a 4100 Superglide but have not picked up my trailer yet so I have never pulled with it. In fact this will be my first fiver and I am a bit nervous about it all. I am curious what I need to be looking out for. Everyone I know tells me I'll never go back to a bumper pull once I hook on to my new trailer.
Thanks

Rabraz, welcome to the 5ver club. This is also my first fifth wheel. You will love pulling the fifth wheel. The first think I noticed was, no dancing RV trailer, when a semi-truck passes you. I must say, It is a new game, when it comes to backing it into a camp site. It defiantly pivots different.
What I most hate about my superglide hitch, is the jerking action as you go into and out of turns. It gives you a feel ,like as if, the trailer is coming off the truck. The truck cab jerks, and you see the trailer sliding back. I always have a loose feel in the RV king pin and the throat of the hitch. That loose feel is noticeable at starts and stops. I have adjusted that king pin “free play” several times, but its still there. I have been told by other 5vers, that “fee play” is common with fifth wheel hitches. The hitch its self is just so massive. Don’t get me wrong, the hitch has served me well. Its just not my kind of hitch.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Emptier than this?

Slightly yes and slightly no. :-) I only have one 4" hole that's filled with the upside down gooseneck ball. But, I also have the 2 gooseneck safety chain u-bolts that are flush with the high ribs of the bed.

You uninstalls took process sounds like more work, but given the rarity of removing the hitch, I doubt that it matters. (Plus, the written word always sounds like more work- I bet I'd claim the same if I wrote my steps!)

I didn't realize that there were hitch installs with rails that came out that easily. Is that standard for the hitch? Or was the truck ordered with a 5th wheel prep? (aka, would the same setup and removal work on a Dodge?)

Thanks for the info. Neat to see the options.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Crusader

What I most hate about my superglide hitch, is the jerking action as you go into and out of turns. It gives you a feel ,like as if, the trailer is coming off the truck. The truck cab jerks, and you see the trailer sliding back. I always have a loose feel in the RV king pin and the throat of the hitch. That loose feel is noticeable at starts and stops. I have adjusted that king pin “free play” several times, but its still there. I have been told by other 5vers, that “fee play” is common with fifth wheel hitches. The hitch its self is just so massive. Don’t get me wrong, the hitch has served me well. Its just not my kind of hitch.

The new hitch with the nylon/kevlar slide collar is very quiet. They are working on an "upgrade" to older hitches but have run into issues with "fit" and some adjustment is needed with most older hitches.

Here is what the new one looks like.

[Crusader]

Herk..............This is my hitch......she's a bigEEEE............

[rabraz]

Originally Posted by WEMig

The 6.2 handles it very well. I had a 2002 7.3L diesel and the 6.2 is very comparable power wise. I live in Louisiana, so I don't tackle extreme hills often. I'm very satisfied with it coming from a diesel.

I've weighed at a scale and my Crusader comes in at 11,400 with a pin weight of 2300. Truck loaded for camping has available 2240 lbs; putting me about 60 lbs over my cargo capacity. That gives me 20% pin weight. I do need to install either air bags or tembrens since my 4x4 has a bit of sag with that weight. In your set up, I would invest in a slider or remove the headache rack. You may have issues turning on uneven surfaces where the trailer nose would tend to tilt towards the cab. I'm pretty comfortable with the clearance I have turning and backing.

I pretty much have the same truck and had a bit of a sag when hitched to my 282txr loaded for a long weekend. About 6klbs. I installed a set of super springs and am really impressed with the difference. Great price for a suspension upgrade. I dont hardly notice the load back there now.
Thanks for your input on the truck. Its good to have first hand info.