Bit the Bullet and ordered the Curt Crosswing

SGT ROC

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Mar 10, 2019
Messages
1,735
Location
N Central PA
After looking at all of the videos and reading most of the posts on the subject, I ordered one. I currently have the Curt A16, which I like, but at times it gives me fits trying to latch it. I keep it lubed and test it but it still is an issue at times. The Crosswing looks, and sounds, like it will not have those issues at all. Very simple and effective design. I have looked for significant downsides and can find none. The A16 has some chucking and just plain sloppiness and noise that is bothersome. Another downside is it weighs 200#. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid hitch overall - very well made. Lastly, in the 5 years I have had the slider I have never needed it. I used it twice, once just to check it out. The second time was a huge mistake. Backing into my driveway, which pitches down from the road some. I decided the slider would maybe help, even though I had been in and out of the driveway several times previous. It tore the heck out of my tailgate when deployed, something I never expected - lesson learned.... With the approximate 5" offset on the Crosswing and my 6' 8" bed - should never have an issue. Looking forward to a good result and welcome any comments.
 
After looking at all of the videos and reading most of the posts on the subject, I ordered one. I currently have the Curt A16, which I like, but at times it gives me fits trying to latch it. I keep it lubed and test it but it still is an issue at times. The Crosswing looks, and sounds, like it will not have those issues at all. Very simple and effective design. I have looked for significant downsides and can find none. The A16 has some chucking and just plain sloppiness and noise that is bothersome. Another downside is it weighs 200#. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid hitch overall - very well made. Lastly, in the 5 years I have had the slider I have never needed it. I used it twice, once just to check it out. The second time was a huge mistake. Backing into my driveway, which pitches down from the road some. I decided the slider would maybe help, even though I had been in and out of the driveway several times previous. It tore the heck out of my tailgate when deployed, something I never expected - lesson learned.... With the approximate 5" offset on the Crosswing and my 6' 8" bed - should never have an issue. Looking forward to a good result and welcome any comments.

Keep us all posted. Did you get the rail version or gooseneck?
 
Keep us all posted. Did you get the rail version or gooseneck?

Will do, and Rail Version. My first trip won't be till June 20th. Just a short one about 1.5 hours south but a good test as it has some pretty rough bouncy mountainy, roads.
 
Got the Crosswing Yesterday via Amazon and UPS. I will say that Curt did an excellent job in the packaging. I decided to go the route of setting it to the height of my slider hitch. In the lowest position it appeared to be 3/4 inch low to the slider. In the middle position it seemed to be 1.25" higher. I elected the higher position. Mounted it in the truck, and with my oldest grandson helping, got everything torqued down and ready to test (300Ft# really stresses a 1/2 drive breaker bar w/Cheater pipe, and the person trying to hold back pressure). Did a test fit and measurement.... Two inches too high. The day was getting long in the tooth so I elected to make adjustments today (actually we did lower the Crosswing to the lowest setting last night 'cause I was not going to Torque it myself today - some people have to work to support us retired folk...). Anyway, remeasured it today and it still looked quite high - till I remembered that the truck is not quite level in front of the campers home. Took measurements down from both sides and decided to put the slider in and measure it. Had to remove the piece on the Kingpin to do that. I backed in and lowered down to put the weight on the truck, checked the measurements on both sides. They were within .250" (lower) of the measurements when the Crosswing was connected and lowered. While I went through more than I anticipated, the extra hour was worth the effort. Now I know I am at Least .250" higher than the slider, which had the rig level when towing. I am hoping the towing and turning experience is as good as the hitching and unhitching is! First trip is June!
 
Got the Crosswing Yesterday via Amazon and UPS. I will say that Curt did an excellent job in the packaging. I decided to go the route of setting it to the height of my slider hitch. In the lowest position it appeared to be 3/4 inch low to the slider. In the middle position it seemed to be 1.25" higher. I elected the higher position. Mounted it in the truck, and with my oldest grandson helping, got everything torqued down and ready to test (300Ft# really stresses a 1/2 drive breaker bar w/Cheater pipe, and the person trying to hold back pressure). Did a test fit and measurement.... Two inches too high. The day was getting long in the tooth so I elected to make adjustments today (actually we did lower the Crosswing to the lowest setting last night 'cause I was not going to Torque it myself today - some people have to work to support us retired folk...). Anyway, remeasured it today and it still looked quite high - till I remembered that the truck is not quite level in front of the campers home. Took measurements down from both sides and decided to put the slider in and measure it. Had to remove the piece on the Kingpin to do that. I backed in and lowered down to put the weight on the truck, checked the measurements on both sides. They were within .250" (lower) of the measurements when the Crosswing was connected and lowered. While I went through more than I anticipated, the extra hour was worth the effort. Now I know I am at Least .250" higher than the slider, which had the rig level when towing. I am hoping the towing and turning experience is as good as the hitching and unhitching is! First trip is June!

I think you will like the Crosswing. I like ours and it is easier to get in and out of the truck. I have towed for several thousand miles and so far so good. I also agree with your assessment that it is a pain to torque to 300 ft-lbs, especially when the bolt spins. That is the only thing that I complained to Curt about. They seem to think that the torque loading is high enough so that the bolt doesn't spin.

Rob
 
I think you will like the Crosswing. I like ours and it is easier to get in and out of the truck. I have towed for several thousand miles and so far so good. I also agree with your assessment that it is a pain to torque to 300 ft-lbs, especially when the bolt spins. That is the only thing that I complained to Curt about. They seem to think that the torque loading is high enough so that the bolt doesn't spin.

Rob

Well, no matter what, the bolt spins. We had to take the upper half of my floor jack handle and use it as a cheater. Even then it was a lot for my grandson, or my much smaller son, holding it. I think I'm going to like it. A lot less finicky to hook up and unhook. I also truly believe it will be much less noisy and smoother in stops and starts. As for weight - the slider was 150# to 180# plus. This one I can pick from the floor up to the truck bed, no issue. Now I guess the overhead electric winch will be used for Deer hanging only, or at least not the slider.
 
As an update, we took the camper out for a Joy Ride/Test run yesterday. It was only about 6 miles round trip - one mile to town, two miles through town to a rather large unoccupied parking lot at the east end of town. My driveway is very steep when leaving the house, going from fairly flat to a steep grade and a sweeping left turn. You then enter the highway (two lane) No issues at all. The highway on the south side of my property is pretty smooth, so no issues there. Not so on the east end of town. The road is absolutely horrible from digging up water lines, sewer lines and patches missing showing the Brick bedding the road was laid on. Great test for the hitch. It performed flawlessly. No Catch up from the slop in the slider when slowing down and stopping, same with starting out. Super easy to hook up and unhook, and you absolutely know your hooked up with the draw bar/pin - as someone else stated - no pull test needed. I was always uneasy with the initial pull when departing - no longer an issue. No rattles or banging. The real test will be the first camping trip. It's only about 45 miles, but on narrow mountain (PA Mountains) roads that, like most of America these days, are not well maintained.
So far it's everything I heard it was and then some.... Couldn't be happier.
 

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