Shopping For a 5th Wheel

[CaptnJohn]

Wow! Towing a 5er for years with a SB 350. Went with the B&W Patriot. An 18K manual only needed 3 times. No noise, made in the US with US made steel. Great warranty and CS but figure to never need either. Lift a lever to engage or disengage. Nothing special needed on the trailer or truck.

[primo20]

i just upgraded my bumper pull to a fifth wheel and don't have the 5th wheel prep. TV is a 2017 ram 2500 6.5 bed. i went with the B&W slider 20k. AWESOME hitch. yes its manual to pull the 12 inch slide, but was very easy. a very light handle to pull, then back in teh TV, apply trailer brakes, and inch forward/backward depending on engage/disengage slide position.

it is a two piece unit and weight 250 pounds. so light weight, and since i connect to the bed through the gooseneck hitch point in the bed, there are no permanent rails in the bed...when the hitch is removed, and its easy to do based on being two piece and total weight of 250 pounds i still have full use of my bed.

[Tall frog]

Originally Posted by cstreu1026

We are upgrading from our travel trailer to a fifth wheel. I am towing with a 2016 F350 crew cab short bed diesel. I am trying to decide on a hitch and have a few questions.

I am looking at auto sliding hitches to make life with the short bed easier. So far I've found the Pullrite Superglide and Demco Hijacker. Are there any others out there?

My truck didn't come with the factory 5th wheel prep but the dealer can install the equipment for $1050. Is it worth the money to have the factory equipment?

The fifth wheel we've pretty much decided on is a Sandpiper 372LOK. The dry weight is 12903 and pin weight is 2474. Is a 16K hitch enough?

Are there any things I am overlooking?

we just up to a CC36ck2 and use the Andersen ultima hitch works great easy to unhitch and hitch even at an angle. no testing the connection after hooking up.the hitch is only 35-40 lb and is rated up to 24,000. I asked a lot of questions and did a lot of research before buying and am VERY happy with it no problems with up to 80+ degree turns we have a 6'8" bed.

[HESN22]

We have a pull rite and love it ... my husband did a lot of research before he decided .... we are pulling a Columbus Compass 377MB with a F250 gas, short box ... hitch works perfectly.

[merrykalia]

We have a 2018 Sandpiper 372LOK and a 2017 Ford F-350 DRW 4X4. We went with the Anderson and not regretted going that way. We did have a 16K slider, but we were not too sure of it with this heavy of a fifth wheel. We swapped it out and could not believe how easy it is to put in/out of the truck, the difference in towing with no noise or chucking.

You are welcome to PM me with any questions. We have spent 91 nights in it this year and still really like it.

[Rivasiuk]

Consider installing a Reese gooseneck king pin on your fiver. Check out on you tube, Big Truck Big rv. You will be able to hook up much easier and no added weight in your truck except for a goose ball connection.

[DRogers]

Originally Posted by larrytbm

Not really, the attachment point is still directly over the truck axle. It is the pivot point that moves rearward. And since the Sidewinder length is matched to the most popular fixed pin boxes, then weight on the truck remains the same.

Maybe what I said was not clear, yes the weight is still on the truck, but simple math and physics says the further you move a load away from the point of support (in this case where the sidewinder attaches to the truck) the more torque you apply to the attachment point and weight you shift aft. Not to say the weight isn't still on the truck, just it's not all being applied to the truck directly over the axle. (some of the weight or a percentage depending on how far back you shift the load from the attachment point is applying downward force behind the axle)


Now if you do match the length of the fixed pin box to the sidewinder you are correct the weight distribution remains the same, but during my investigation all sidewinders increased that distance for my application as such it shifted the weight further back.

[Rivasiuk]

Why would Reese bring out this new gooseneck conection for fivers endorsed by Lippert. The hitch is adjustable for height and front and back. If you have the payload and the ability to take a 150 lbs hitch in and out of your truck go for it. You also may want to look at the Andersen Ultimate 5th connection. I use this and it works flawless and easy to install and remove. Just need a goose ball to conection.

[lesptr]

I won’t say what hitch to get, but will say not to spend over a grand for the Ford fifth wheel prep. Have the B&W turnover ball installed. It only set me back $600.

(I too, use the Andersen Ultimate.)

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by lesptr

I won’t say what hitch to get, but will say not to spend over a grand for the Ford fifth wheel prep. Have the B&W turnover ball installed. It only set me back $600.

(I too, use the Andersen Ultimate.)

I can probably second that. Not so much a specific ball, since I don't have experience with it, but I can say that when shopping for my hitch, there are limited choices for 'Ford Factory Prep' compatible ones. Seems to be the same across the board, as the Big-3 have all gone slightly different with their pucks, meaning there's no universal fit. Going with a Gooseball connection should broaden your options for a hitch.

[andymil]

With the Sidewinder the weight is still applied directly over the axle, but moving the pin further away from the pin box will increase the pin weight. The weight the truck sees is not moved back but it is increased.

[tomkatb]

In my case I needed minimum weight for my Ram short bed.

My son installed the B&W removable ball. Took several hours. Easy.

Bought the Anderson Ultimate.

For my Cedar Creek Hathaway which does not have an extreme shaped nose I have the ability to turn nearly 90 degrees. Farther than prudent. You stress the frame and scuff the tires. Have done it.

One should know that you can hit the cab with any hitch if you mess up.

I have the offset ball to,use should I decide to reverse the Anderson adapter.

I thought this thru thoroughly. It is very complicated. If it appears easy you are wrong. I am an engineer.

If weight were no concern I think one of the sidewinder types would be best. And a cheap hitch. I thought B&W was a good company. Like their stuff. Not cheap.

A slider is a good plan if used.

[CaptnJohn]

Remember when you get a different hitch you are stuck if you want to help someone move their 5er or if you need help. Tow company may not be able to help much either. Wedges and etc are often model specific

[CCSILVERBACKBJANDA]

I have 2016 F 250 SB with a slider hitch and have never needed it. My Silverback cap is notched and can get right at 90 degrees without an issue.

[Tall frog]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Remember when you get a different hitch you are stuck if you want to help someone move their 5er or if you need help. Tow company may not be able to help much either. Wedges and etc are often model specific

As for my 5th wheel having the Andersen hitch, it would take less than 5 min to remove the adapter from the king pin or if helping some by moving their 5th wheel 5 min toremove my adapter and the same to install it over their king pin.

[rskeans]

X2 If I remember correctly the adapter uses 1/4" allen bolts. Very easy to remove or attach adapter.

[itat]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Remember when you get a different hitch you are stuck if you want to help someone move their 5er or if you need help. Tow company may not be able to help much either. Wedges and etc are often model specific

Originally Posted by Tall frog

As for my 5th wheel having the Andersen hitch, it would take less than 5 min to remove the adapter from the king pin or if helping some by moving their 5th wheel 5 min toremove my adapter and the same to install it over their king pin.

Agree with Tall frog about the Andersen hitch. And concerning wedges, I assume you’re referring to the Reese Revolution/Sidewinder pinbox which can be locked out with a couple bolts.

So neither alternative would prevent you from getting or giving help.

[muddyrode]

we have a sandpiper 35 ROK tow with a 3500 Duramax 8 foot bed. and i went with the pull rite super lite and could not be happier

the hitch is lite enough to take out of the bed by myself
and hooking up is a breeze

[Dave Sparks]

I saw your question about a fifth wheel hitch. We pull a 2017 Columbus 384rd we are just over 42 ft an appropriate 15000 lbs. king ranch 6' 6" bed f 250 super duty.after a lot of searching we went with the demco 18 k hijacker auto slide an couldn't be more pleased an your price is about right. We had to test it several times in June on some rds in tennessee.worked super. Also if you call demco with a question or need help they will walk you thru it step by step an in no hurry to make sure you understand.i have called them several times they were great.they stand by their product hard to find these days .Dave Sparks

[desuhu]

Originally Posted by cstreu1026

We are upgrading from our travel trailer to a fifth wheel. I am towing with a 2016 F350 crew cab short bed diesel. I am trying to decide on a hitch and have a few questions.

I am looking at auto sliding hitches to make life with the short bed easier. So far I've found the Pullrite Superglide and Demco Hijacker. Are there any others out there?

My truck didn't come with the factory 5th wheel prep but the dealer can install the equipment for $1050. Is it worth the money to have the factory equipment?

The fifth wheel we've pretty much decided on is a Sandpiper 372LOK. The dry weight is 12903 and pin weight is 2474. Is a 16K hitch enough?

Are there any things I am overlooking?

We have a pullrite and have been perfectly satisfied with it. You definitely want the automatic sliding hitch.