5th Wheel hitch to reduce chucking/bucking

[RubyRed]

I’m new to 5th wheel and have enjoyed all the benefits of no white knuckle trailer wags. The wags are gone but the bumps and tugs appeared. I have 16 Columbus F340RKC; F250 CC, 2x4, short bed, Reese Select Plus 20K Slider sq tube hitch; replaced the pin box with LIPP Flex Air to try to eliminate the bumping and bounce, some call chucking, that occur with all small dips/bumps in the road. I am investigating replacing the hitch to help reduce/elim the chucking. Options I’ve read about in Trailer Life and Google search are interesting but sales orientated. Any opinions/comments on Hensley BDR3 Trailer Saver Air Ride, or Blue Ox BXR 7200 Super Ride, or B&W Companion w/slide, or for trailer - Roadmaster Comfort Ride Shock Absorbers, or any other that may help would be appreciated. Do you have one and how much did it help?

[stephndudb]

Our Reese chucked much more than our Curt does.

[mwdilday]

I have a Reese and have no issues. Also have an Air Ride pin box.

[hbillsmith]

The combo I use is the Andersen Ultimate with a MorRyde 1621 Rubber Pin Box. Tows very well and only feel slight chucking in very extreme road conditions. Chucking from bridge expansion joints and poorly paved roads are a thing of the past for me.

[RandyN]

I use an Air Ride Hitch and love it. I have used it for over 15 years on a 33 foot Cardinal and currently on a 32 foot Columbus. it works with a shock absorber and an air bag to smooth out the bumps and chucking. Not cheap, but well worth the ride improvement. Every once in a while I will forget to top off the air pressure in the air bag and we know it as soon as we start driving, it's that noticeable. I tired to attach a picture so I hope it comes thru.

[changing it up a bit]

I will give you my experience in towing the last 20000 miles. I am towing a Cardinal Estate, 3500 swd, air lift 7500 air bags b&w companion hitch, and mor ride pin box. I have been over some bad roads in California, Oklahoma, and Indiana.
I have to tell you this combination allows the trailer and the truck to navigate any thing that has been thrown at me so far. No chucking, no white knuckles, and and a very relaxed ride.

[OldCoot]

My Reese chucked and I found out the legs were not held down with the hitch pins tight against the bed channels. I added 0.075" thick steel shims under all 4 legs and stopped the problem.

[MilCop4523]

We are using the Flex Air Trail Air system from e-trailer.com

Canadian price was $2,300 plus our 15% sales taxes in NB.

We decided to get it last fall from the states and it was on sale.

with the 30% exchange from Canadian to American it was $1,200 Canadian.
Too good a price to pass up to eliminate the Riding a pony sensation which was exhausting for DW and I.

we actually installed it ourselves but upgraded the bolts adding 4 extra ones and used Grade 8 hardware.
the Flex Air Trail Air adds an extra shock limiting pad over and above the Trail air system.
https://www.etrailer.com/comparison....2&pc2=LC158778

no issues now

[Jack350]

Andersen x2. Going into year 4. No chucking.

[Bama Rambler]

The difference between the Curt I had and the Andersen that I have now is night and day. The Curt chucked on bridges and rough road. The Andersen does not.

There's very little bucking with the Andersen even on really bad roads.

[chaps2018]

X4 Andersen. Easy to hitch/unhitch, more flexibility when unhitching at an angle, light, easy to remove and easy to install.

Andersen Hitches 3220 | Aluminum Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection 2 | Gooseneck Version | Weighs Only 35 lbs | ONE PERSON Install or Removal in Less Than 5 Minutes! | SMOOTH RIDE - MORE SWIVEL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XY6MQM2..._RMVfBbQ09X0RW

[Murbella7]

Originally Posted by RubyRed

I’m new to 5th wheel and have enjoyed all the benefits of no white knuckle trailer wags. The wags are gone but the bumps and tugs appeared. I have 16 Columbus F340RKC; F250 CC, 2x4, short bed, Reese Select Plus 20K Slider sq tube hitch; replaced the pin box with LIPP Flex Air to try to eliminate the bumping and bounce, some call chucking, that occur with all small dips/bumps in the road. I am investigating replacing the hitch to help reduce/elim the chucking. Options I’ve read about in Trailer Life and Google search are interesting but sales orientated. Any opinions/comments on Hensley BDR3 Trailer Saver Air Ride, or Blue Ox BXR 7200 Super Ride, or B&W Companion w/slide, or for trailer - Roadmaster Comfort Ride Shock Absorbers, or any other that may help would be appreciated. Do you have one and how much did it help?

I have a 5.5 ton (loaded) 31 foot Heritage Glen with a Trailair pinbox and a Reese R20 hitch (non-slider) on my Silverado 2500HD. I have never had any 'chucking' whatever that is, and never had a bad ride with the rig. The airbag pin box helps to smooth the ride for the 5'er and evens out the rough bumps between the two vehicles, provided I remember to pump it up before we take off.

[sanmarco]

Hi, Having quite a bit of experience in heavy vehicle transport engineering, it appears that this is a characteristic common to short wheel bases. The position of the turntable may allow the weight to throw forward when going over a bump which would allow the rear axle to kick.It would be interesting to know your truck front and rear axle unladen weights compared to the same axle weights with the trailer hitched. The measurement of the king pin position forward of the rea axle would also be required.

[RubyRed]

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

The difference between the Curt I had and the Andersen that I have now is night and day. The Curt chucked on bridges and rough road. The Andersen does not.

There's very little bucking with the Andersen even on really bad roads.

Do you have a short bed? Need a slide for back-in turns? Direction of the ball/pin adapter for cab/trailer clearance ?

[Bama Rambler]

I have a short bed, and the Curt was a slider, but I never used it so when I went with the Andersen I didn't worry about it.

The base is set in the bed with the ball rear of the gooseneck ball and the pin adapter is set with the ball receiver forward of the pin.

[RubyRed]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

We are using the Flex Air Trail Air system from e-trailer.com

Canadian price was $2,300 plus our 15% sales taxes in NB.

We decided to get it last fall from the states and it was on sale.

with the 30% exchange from Canadian to American it was $1,200 Canadian.
Too good a price to pass up to eliminate the Riding a pony sensation which was exhausting for DW and I.

we actually installed it ourselves but upgraded the bolts adding 4 extra ones and used Grade 8 hardware.
the Flex Air Trail Air adds an extra shock limiting pad over and above the Trail air system.
https://www.etrailer.com/comparison....2&pc2=LC158778

no issues now

Thanks.
Got my Flex Air from etrailer also and installed it with my neighbor's help, saved $400 over dealer price.

[robbiels7]

I have a Reese goosebox and a blue ox diamond gooseneck in a 6.5 bed GMC and it is great. Smooth ride and I have my bed! I have not been even close to making contact at all. Note that my silverback has short bed cut outs in the cap.

[RubyRed]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

My Reese chucked and I found out the legs were not held down with the hitch pins tight against the bed channels. I added 0.075" thick steel shims under all 4 legs and stopped the problem.

Sounds like you have the factory in bed puck system. I have the Reese 30035 standard rail kit and hitch rails and they are all bolted tight. The only things that may give any wiggle/ loose are the slide and the hitch head and they seem solid.
Various hitch descriptions mention closure around the pin, so that sounds like an important issue, one arm vs 2 arm closure and how tight. The Andersen Ultimate gooseneck sounds like it may take that factor out. More study and comments may help clear this up.

[RubyRed]

Originally Posted by robbiels7

I have a Reese goosebox and a blue ox diamond gooseneck in a 6.5 bed GMC and it is great. Smooth ride and I have my bed! I have not been even close to making contact at all. Note that my silverback has short bed cut outs in the cap.

Is the Blue Ox diamond a slider like the BXR Super Ride? Do you have issue with cab/tlr contact?

[robbiels7]

Originally Posted by RubyRed

Is the Blue Ox diamond a slider like the BXR Super Ride? Do you have issue with cab/tlr contact?

No contact at all it is fixed. It's a gooseneck Reese has the only approved gooseneck pin box.