New truck, new hitch questions

[Misterpiano]

Hi All,

I have a 2022 Reflection 150 series 295RL. I towed it this year with a 2016 Ford F250 extra cab with a 6-3/4' bed, using a Demco Recon 21K hitch that was mounted on bed rails. Last week I traded that truck for a 2020 F350 crew cab with an 8' bed. The new truck has the 5th wheel prep package installed by Ford. I want to get a puck mounted hitch, right now I am leaning on the B&W Companion 20k for the Ford OEM system.

My questions and concerns are about the ride height, and bed rail clearance. I have seen mentioned in the past that the 150 series were geared more to 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. Right now my trailer is put away for the winter (we live in Western Mass) so I am just planing on what I will do when the spring comes. I also will be installing a Retrax tonneau cover, that will add about 3/4" to the top of the bed side rails.

Is there anyone out there pulling with the same trailer and truck? What hitch do you use and have you had any issues? Thanks!

[traveldawg]

Didn't you like the way the Demco latched? I think it is a much better system than B&W uses and have never understood the attraction to B&W's latch system. The Demco is so much more easier to see latch and confirm it is latched with a wrap-around jaw and another bar behind the jaw.

I guess that was my Demco plug. I had a slider but now have a gooseneck.

The bit about "...150 series were geared more to 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks..." is more of a sales thing so GD can sell to folks with less than a 1 ton truck. It will work fine on a 1 ton too though. Don'g get caught up in marketing hype.

As for rail clearance I seem to noice that folks with Retrax covers have more bed rail issues than others. Apparently their rail is taller than some; I'm not sure if it protrudes into the bed more than others. Compare it to something like a Roll-n-Lock (my personal favorite).

[Misterpiano]

I had no issues with the Demco hitch, it is what the dealer installed when I bought the Reflection. I am going to contact Demco to see if I could buy a puck mount base and reuse the head that I have now. I could also but a puck mounted rail system adapter and use the hitch I have, but is much larger and heavier that what I am looking at.

I had a Retrax XR Pro cover on the F250. It had the built in T-slots for mounting accessories. I am planning on the MX series for this truck, the rails are not quite as high because it does not have the T slots.

Thanks for your input!

[Castlerock]

I'm pulling a 260RD with a 2022 F-350 using a Curt A16 hitch with the factory puck system. The top of the bed rails are at 58.5" and I have 6" clearance between the rails and the bottom of the trailer. I also have a Roll-N-Lock tonneau which sits maybe 1/4" above the bed rails. Haven't have had any issues with this setup.

Plan on using the same combo when I pick up my '23 295RL.

[Misterpiano]

So after doing some more research, I found Demco 21K side rails on etrailer.com and ordered those. I can use my current saddle and head, I never had an issue with the Demco hitch. So it ran me about $424 to change out the Demco so that I can use it with the Ford factory 5th wheel prep package. That saves me about $800 over going with the Companion.

I was on the 295RL Facebook group, people have responded there that they have no issues with clearance towing with a F350.

Thanks!

[dryfly]

The bit about "...150 series were geared more to 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks..." is more of a sales thing so GD can sell to folks with less than a 1 ton truck. It will work fine on a 1 ton too though. Don'g get caught up in marketing hype.

As for rail clearance I seem to noice that folks with Retrax covers have more bed rail issues than others. Apparently their rail is taller than some; I'm not sure if it protrudes into the bed more than others. Compare it to something like a Roll-n-Lock (my personal favorite).

I think @Misterpiano was referring to issues of bed rail clearance with the 1/2 ton trucks vs. the 3/4 and 1 ton. I've wondered about this myself, as I tow with an older 3/4 ton that sets much lower than newer models. My trailer sets perfectly level but it's hard to imagine how you can accomplish this with the newer trucks that set much higher.

[Castlerock]

I think that the hitch makes a difference.

I've towed a 260RD with both a F-150 and a F-350 using the same Curt A16 hitch. Although the F-350 sits higher than the F-150 I was able to adjust the height of the hitch to accommodate the taller truck and maintain 6" of clearance between the top of the bed rails and the bottom of the trailer and stay level.

I thought that there might be an issue with the clearance between the bumper and the trailer as the Ford 3/4- and 1-ton trucks have a longer overhang than the 1/2 ton do, but haven't experienced any problems to date.

[Castlerock]

For reference, here is the same trailer hooked to the different trucks.

[powerscol]

Hi All,

I have a 2022 Reflection 150 series 295RL. I towed it this year with a 2016 Ford F250 extra cab with a 6-3/4' bed, using a Demco Recon 21K hitch that was mounted on bed rails. Last week I traded that truck for a 2020 F350 crew cab with an 8' bed. The new truck has the 5th wheel prep package installed by Ford. I want to get a puck mounted hitch, right now I am leaning on the B&W Companion 20k for the Ford OEM system.

My questions and concerns are about the ride height, and bed rail clearance. I have seen mentioned in the past that the 150 series were geared more to 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. Right now my trailer is put away for the winter (we live in Western Mass) so I am just planing on what I will do when the spring comes. I also will be installing a Retrax tonneau cover, that will add about 3/4" to the top of the bed side rails.

Is there anyone out there pulling with the same trailer and truck? What hitch do you use and have you had any issues? Thanks!

I have a 2022 F350 long bed and use the B&W 25K OEM companion and love it for towing my Reflection 220RK. Yes the hitch is overkill, but I might want to move up in trailer size some day. The only difference between the 20K and the 25K is the head support arms. It is the best hitch I have ever owned in my 45 years of towing. Whats fantastic about it is in unlevel camp sites you can drive out of it even if the jaws don't open (make sure it is fully unlocked). No binding. It is also noiseless, even driving to Alaska on those horrendous roads.

Hope this helps

PS It is the only USA made 5th wheel hitch and thier customer service is great - they answer phones.

On edit I also have the Retrax Pro rolling bed cover and have 7" of clearance, and the hitch head fits under the cover when closed.

[Whitexc]

Looking at the Companion for my Ram and our new 298BH. I like what I'm reading here. Thanks.