Need Advice on 5th Wheel

[wicked1]

I have a new F350 and it has the Ford factory kit installed but I need the rails and 5th wheel to install?

I have the 6&3/4 bed do I need a slider? Or can I just install a 16K hitch?

I am looking at Anderson, Reese, and Curt.

Any suggestions on pros and cons?

[ependydad]

Does it have the 4 pucks? If so, you can find hitches that attach directly to them.

Hitch-wise, I'm partial to B&W hitches for non-slider/non-air ride hitches. For sliders, an automatic slider would be my preference - though, watching a friend hitch up and it being finicky would lead me back to the manual B&W slider.

Slider vs. no-slider is hotly debated and you won't get a clear answer. There is the school of thought that you just need driver skill to avoid needing it and the other school of thought, "I'd rather have it and not need it". These two factions war like kittens vs. leprechauns.

[B and B]

Pucks. I would go Reese. The Ford under bed system is the Reese system. I have it and works well.

[donniedu]

Do you need a slider hitch? No. But the first time you take the back window out making a tight maneuver you will surely wish you had one!

[Electra glide]

Check out my signature and I think I have pics of my set up also. I don't use a slider and have been just fine. A lot of the newer campers have a more rounded "nose" which helps with making tight turns.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

Originally Posted by Electra glide

Check out my signature and I think I have pics of my set up also. I don't use a slider and have been just fine. A lot of the newer campers have a more rounded "nose" which helps with making tight turns.

Wow, I like that Vengeance toy haulers, however, my '16 2500 Crew Cab standard box can't tow any of them

[Electra glide]

Originally Posted by bagged123

Wow, I like that Vengeance toy haulers, however, my '16 2500 Crew Cab standard box can't tow any of them

Just curious why? Mine does just fine with the 320A.

[RollingDownTheHighway]

It can only tow 13,9 at the 5th and 13k at the bumper, GM is now using the new SAE tow ratings which has a lower tow rating for all GM trucks. As of from now the 3500's can tow 179 at the 5th.

GMC 2500
http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gmc/...ml#capacities1

GMC 3500
http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gmc/...ml#capacities1

[Electra glide]

I'm camping next weekend and there is a CAT scale on the way. I will try and stop to weigh mine. I don't have the generator in mine. I may not have my Harley in it since this will just be a short weekend trip.

[Harkerr]

Auto slider is my choice. I have a Pull Rite. Works great

[NMWildcat]

Before you spend lots of $$$ on a slider and then have to put up with the frustration (manual or auto) please check out the Reese Sidewinder. I've had them on my last 2 rigs. I can turn 90 degrees+ with my shortbed and never worry. I don't have to worry about sliding anything and it's cheaper!

This is my last one that includes the air ride package (worth it):

Reese - 5th Airborne Sidewinder

Good luck!

[CaptnJohn]

I have the Reese 16K slider on my F250 short bed. Never used it but SHOULD HAVE once. Two dimples in the cab prove it. My 2016 5er nose is the new style with the nose rounded.

[CWSWine]

I have owned two different 5th wheel hitches.

One was a Reese 16k with slide bar instead of jaws to hold the pin. It was freebe from the dealer and probably the cheapest one the had. It was terrible with chucking and didn't hold the pin tight and had lots slop when starting and stopping. Hated it.

The other one is B&W non slider and it is much better than the Reese I had. Jaws hold the pin tight with zero chucking when slop starting and stopping. So far I have not come close to hitting the back window (knock on wood) but it could happen if we are not careful.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by B and B

Pucks. I would go Reese. The Ford under bed system is the Reese system. I have it and works well.

Yes I have the Pucks? I originally thought Reese but then read up and talked to some ppl about Curt and Anderson, I like both but swaying to Curt Slider?

[TandSH]

We have the factory prep kit in our short bed F-250 and use the Reese Elite 18K compatible hitch. We also have a Revolution pin box (OEM installed, same as after market Sidewinder). Left the pin box locked up for the first few months and didn't think I would need the feature until I scared myself. You can make a big jacking turn and it looks good until the clearance very suddenly closes with just a few more degrees of turn. It comes quite unexpectedly!!

The Reese hitch is a 2 piece design using 2 pins that secure/release the skid plate and jaw assembly making it more manageable to remove or install. Quick and easy one time adjustment in your truck to eliminate chucking, etc. It's wide funnel does require the use of theavailable SWW-01 wedge instead of the "universal" wedge that comes with the pin box. Towing behavior is nicer with the pin box activated, and the 5er also tracks closer to your TV track so you don't have to make quite as wide of a turn for curb clearance. It also frees up more of the box space for cargo.

Give the system a good look, I think you might like it.

[jerky]

I have a curt 20k fixed hitch, I don't have the factory underbed system but they're prolly orientated in the same spot, with the corners cut on the trailer and the natural length I don't think I'm ever gonna be turned far enough to contact. My wife watched it in a parking lot and it turned past 80 degrees, I'm happy with that. First hitch but really like the curt


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[JohnF]

Originally Posted by wicked1

Yes I have the Pucks? I originally thought Reese but then read up and talked to some ppl about Curt and Anderson, I like both but swaying to Curt Slider?

I have the Demco Hijacker which is a slider and drops into the Ford pucks. So far, so good.

[Elkhounds]

I have the prep kit on my F-350 but went with the Andersen Ultimate Aluminum hitch. Connects to the factory goose neck and worked great bringing the Columbus home. I'll have a real good idea in about 2 months as we have a 5k trip planned.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by Elkhounds

I have the prep kit on my F-350 but went with the Andersen Ultimate Aluminum hitch. Connects to the factory goose neck and worked great bringing the Columbus home. I'll have a real good idea in about 2 months as we have a 5k trip planned.

This is the one I am swaying towards because I don't have a lot of space to store the heavy Hitch and adds less weight to my Payload. I have the WDH Anderson now and love the way this works, but I am seeing more ppl with them.

[DocGTO]

Originally Posted by donniedu

Do you need a slider hitch? No. But the first time you take the back window out making a tight maneuver you will surely wish you had one!

True, unless his fiver is a V nose or it is designed for a regular bed length.

Mine is a V nose and I can go over 90 without any issues. Now, my old car trailer will kill a window real quick unless I throw in the 4 inch rear offset on that goose...