New 5th Wheel Looking for Hitch Advice

[FrankH35]

My wife and I are considering an upgrade in the next several months from our larger travel trailer to the Jayco 29.5 BHDS Fifth Wheel. We've never had a fifth wheel before and are interested in people who have experience towing a camper similar to this with a truck similar to ours--Ram 2500 with the 6.5 bed. Our tow capacity is 14,300 pounds and we have just over 3k in payload.

Can anyone give advice on what to look for in a hitch system? My truck is already fifth wheel prepped, but other than that I don' t know what features I should look for in a hitch system. We would like something as simple as possible to hitch and unhitch. Our bed is the short bed as well. When we priced a camper at our dealer they seemed almost as clueless as us. They quoted us a manual slider B&W hitch and a Demco Recon no slider which was significantly cheaper. Anyone have experience with either of these or is there another one you would recommend? I just want to get a jump on this and gain some knowledge before we start seriously considering the purchase. Any advice would be appreciated. If I haven't given you enough info to give me an informed opinion, please let me know what else you need to know.

[aceinspp]

I've have had several kinds of hitches how ever my last one was a Anderson hitch and I really liked it. Its also easy tor remove if you want to haul things in the truck if you go to Lowes or HD. it only weights 35#. I had the same truck with 6.5 bed and I had the 6.4 gas engine. I had the rear camera in the roof rear stop light worked good for hooking up 5er. Good luck on your search. Later RJD

[RobbieH]

Someone here the other day stated that the Anderson hitch voided their warranty. Be sure you check into this before you go that route. One of my friends has a Grand Design and uses the Anderson hitch, and I really like it, but you want to make sure it's not going to damage your unit or take it out of warranty.

[Mr. Dan]

The Andersen hitch did not void my original warranty nor my extended service contract. For the ESC, I had to prove I WAS USING the Andersen Ultimate Connection and not the Andersen Ranchhand which is a gooseneck tube down to the turnover ball — this to get the hitch pin frame rebuilt under warranty.

[tomkatb]

Had the Anderson for 6 years. We like it.

[RobbieH]

That's good to know. The thread that was up the other day did not say which Andersen they had. My friend's is the one that's a pyramid frame that attaches to the gooseneck ball, not a gooseneck conversion to the turnover ball. I've seen that setup too, another friend has that on his trailer since all his other work trailers are goosenecks, and I've seen the articles that talk about this being a bad idea. It's good to know that the frame/pyramid type isn't a problem, it's a lot easier to deal with than the heavy 5er plate.

[mmartin_tdc]

I too use the Anderson in my Ram 2500 with the 6'4" bed. With my 5th wheel, I can get to about 75 degree angle backing up before I am about 2" from hitting the cab with the trailer. Pulling forward, it will not hit the cab, so only backing up I could have an issue. I pulled this set up on a 4500 mile trip to AR and back to CA, zero issues or near misses.

[FrankH35]

Appreciate everyone's replies. I had seen that Anderson hitch and found it appealing due to the weight and ease of taking it in and out. Any ballpark idea of what it would cost compared to the others I was offered? I realize some places are higher than others, but the difference in price on the two I offered was 2500 installed on the B&W and 1250 on the Demco. Would this typically fall somewhere in one of those ranges?

[tomkatb]

Our truck had no factory hitch.

My son installed the B&W turnover ball in an hour.

Installing the Anderson hitch takes a few minutes with a torque wrench which you should carry onboard.

The adapter to the fiver takes a half hour to install.

Cost for the hitch is roughly $1100.

B&W makes a nice one for the ball mount. 0 to install. Not as flexiible as the Anderson.

[KSH]

I put a gooseneck ball in my 2500, swapped out the unit on the 5th wheel. Best thing I've ever done. Nothing heavy in the truck. Simple swap to gooseneck on the 5th wheel. I've got over 20k miles dragging my unit around. Call these guys
https://genyhitch.com/product/execut...latch-coupler/

People will tell you all kinds of nonesense reasons to not do it, none of them have run it.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by mmartin_tdc

I too use the Anderson in my Ram 2500 with the 6'4" bed. With my 5th wheel, I can get to about 75 degree angle backing up before I am about 2" from hitting the cab with the trailer. Pulling forward, it will not hit the cab, so only backing up I could have an issue. I pulled this set up on a 4500 mile trip to AR and back to CA, zero issues or near misses.

I Had a newer 5er a Phoenix by FR I was able to do 90 degrees with out hitting the cab of the truck. Look at what the 5er you are looking at and see what the clearance you may have. Later RJD

[NMWildcat]

Anderson is one of the lightest and cheapest options for fifth wheel hitches. BUT, do your home work first. Folks either love them, hate them, or don't understand them.

I have run across many RVers using them, including 2 close friends we travel with frequently. One kept his 2 years and then got rid of it, the other still uses it. Both wound up with dents in their bed, mainly where the back of the frame rests. Both had to continually re-torque attachment bolts on trips. Both had problems with the frame rotating while traveling. From talking with other folks, these seem fairly common. I have noticed that folks with lighter fifth wheels seem happier with the Anderson than those with heavy RVs. Anderson does not have an air ride option.

Personally, I would not use an Anderson, just from watching my friends who do. I love my Sidewinder with air ride for my 6.5' bed. I also like the Reese Goosebox with air ride which gives you the best of all worlds and leaves your bed free. Of course they are more expensive, but worth it in in my experience. Air ride is wonderful! These hitches also are misunderstood by folks who have no experience with them, as is the Anderson.

Do your research, see which option offers you the most benefits for your RV, type of camping, and specific needs (like towing/hitching comfort). Good luck!!!

[corn18]

Uh, the GenY has the lightest in bed weight: a 5 lbs gooseball. I will always use a GenY for my 5er. All upsides, no downside. Use an offset gooseball for a 6.5 ft bed.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by corn18

Uh, the GenY has the lightest in bed weight: a 5 lbs gooseball. I will always use a GenY for my 5er. All upsides, no downside. Use an offset gooseball for a 6.5 ft bed.

True. Same as in-bed weight for the Goosebox. I seriously looked at Gen-Y when thinking about a new truck/hitch.

The Goosebox has more clearance between truck and trailer. I do not want to lose any clearance when the tailgate is down, or at the siderails.

The Goosebox shock absorber system is adjustable to your particular truck and trailer via the airbag. The Gen-Y has no shock absorbing adjustment for pin weight. One size fits all shock absorption system.

Just my observations when trying to decide which one I liked better.

[Mr. Dan]

If you are searching for AndersEn hitch information, spell it the way Andersen does.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

True. Same as in-bed weight for the Goosebox. I seriously looked at Gen-Y when thinking about a new truck/hitch.

The Goosebox has more clearance between truck and trailer. I do not want to lose any clearance when the tailgate is down, or at the siderails.

The Goosebox shock absorber system is adjustable to your particular truck and trailer via the airbag. The Gen-Y has no shock absorbing adjustment for pin weight. One size fits all shock absorption system.

Just my observations when trying to decide which one I liked better.

If I had the Reese Goosebox, it would also be my favorite.

[darrellr]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

The Gen-Y has no shock absorbing adjustment for pin weight. One size fits all shock absorption system.

Your first statement is true. The second statement is not. You buy the appropriate Gen-Y hitched for your pin weight. So it does have a range such that it is not a one-size fits all.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by darrellr

Your first statement is true. The second statement is not. You buy the appropriate Gen-Y hitched for your pin weight. So it does have a range such that it is not a one-size fits all.

Your statement is partially true. There are different weight ranges for the hitch, as there are on most hitches.

BUT, once you select your weight range, there is no adjustment on the Gen-Y for changing conditions or preference. The airbags on air ride systems provide great adjustability so you are not stuck with the preset/static suspension system as the Gen-Y has.

Being used to airbag systems, I much prefer being able to adjust to differing RV load weights during trips.

[darrellr]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Your statement is partially true. There are different weight ranges for the hitch, as there are on most hitches.

BUT, once you select your weight range, there is no adjustment on the Gen-Y for changing conditions or preference. The airbags on air ride systems provide great adjustability so you are not stuck with the preset/static suspension system as the Gen-Y has.

Being used to airbag systems, I much prefer being able to adjust to differing RV load weights during trips.

After previously having a Trail Air with an air bag, I find NOT having one to be one less thing to worry about. And having used both, there is no comparison to the GenY, even ride comfort. Plus I already have airbags on my truck - why do I need another .

[Tall frog]

Originally Posted by RobbieH

Someone here the other day stated that the Anderson hitch voided their warranty. Be sure you check into this before you go that route. One of my friends has a Grand Design and uses the Anderson hitch, and I really like it, but you want to make sure it's not going to damage your unit or take it out of warranty.

We have an Anderson hitch and it WILL NOT void any frame warranty. It is one of the simplest to unhitch and hitch up. No need to break check after hitching.
It does take up more bed space than some but it is easy and light to remove. A slider will alow you to make tighter turns but in my opinion if you have to make a turn that tight you may cause suspension damage.