Full Time Hitch

[Spoonman]

I am as green as they git. Thank you all for your replies and advise.

We are full timers and have been since Nov 15'. We just got our tow vehicle a couple weeks ago and now I'm ready for a proper hitch and I've gotten several opinions regarding what's best. As a Full Timer and once we hit the road we'll most likely be moving every 13-14 weeks. The gent who did our first pull HIGHLY recommended B&W 18k. He also pulls for a living. To me that is worth writing down on account that it works daily. Safety First, I just want the right hitch. Anywho, details and questions below.

Tow Vehicle: 2016 Ram Truck 3500 6.7 liter Cummins. 5th wheel prepared by Ram
Trailer: 2015 Grand Design 357BHS

Is the B&W 18k all people say?

I can't seem to be able to confirm but because it was the 5th wheel prep was done by dodge, I've been told that I need a specific B&W hitch for proper fitment.. is this true?

Has anyone used the Anderson? They pushed them pretty hard at the RV dealership.. So much so, it seemed disingenuous.

 

[SWJewellTN]

I have the Anderson hitch but I've only pulled my new trailer a handful of times so far. What appealed to me was that it was light enough to easily remove so that I have the full use of the bed of my truck, and that it was less likely to bind on uneven surfaces. That being said, what I have since discovered is that backing the truck up to match the ball with the kingpin block's hole is quite a challenge - particularly when doing it without any outside help. Others on this forum drew my attention to this hitch http://www.pullrite.com/products/is...ustry-standard-rails/isr-series-superlite-20k which is rated at 20,000 lbs, flips the ball to the kingpin side, and adds a funnel to the hitch which would appear to make it a lot easier to hitch up. If I were buying I'd lean towards that.

 

[zac808]

Andersen aluminum here. It is a very stout product for its 37lbs. I like that I can see the ball in hitch qhen connecting. Lots of GD folks are running Andersens. One with over 20,000 miles of towing with it.

Cent frum my sell phone so pleeze excuse my spelling and grahmar.

 

[huntr70]

B&W makes a Companion hitch that fits into the RAM puck system.

Is your truck a longbed or shortbed?

If it is a shortbed, you may want to look into a sliding hitch, to clear the trailer and cab in tight turns.

 

[RamGunner]

Complete list of everything that goes into the Ram 5th Wheel Prep: http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

My recommendation: B&W RVK3600 rated for 25K http://www.ramgunner.com/rvk3600.html

 

[bertschb]

I went with the Hensley BD3 air hitch. It's not cheap but it's supposed to eliminate most of the shock transmitted from the tow vehicle to the 5th wheel (and visa-versa). Should provide a very smooth ride. I'll find out this weekend when I use it for the first time.

 

[Spoonman]

B&W makes a Companion hitch that fits into the RAM puck system.

Is your truck a longbed or shortbed?

If it is a shortbed, you may want to look into a sliding hitch, to clear the trailer and cab in tight turns.

It's a shortbed.

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[Spoonman]

I have the Anderson hitch but I've only pulled my new trailer a handful of times so far. What appealed to me was that it was light enough to easily remove so that I have the full use of the bed of my truck, and that it was less likely to bind on uneven surfaces. That being said, what I have since discovered is that backing the truck up to match the ball with the kingpin block's hole is quite a challenge - particularly when doing it without any outside help. Others on this forum drew my attention to this hitch http://www.pullrite.com/products/is...ustry-standard-rails/isr-series-superlite-20k which is rated at 20,000 lbs, flips the ball to the kingpin side, and adds a funnel to the hitch which would appear to make it a lot easier to hitch up. If I were buying I'd lean towards that.

Thank you, I'll check out your link and add this hitch to my research list.

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[Spoonman]

Complete list of everything that goes into the Ram 5th Wheel Prep: http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

My recommendation: B&W RVK3600 rated for 25K http://www.ramgunner.com/rvk3600.html

Thank you. I will check your links, I really am leaning towards B&W at the moment; good or bad, mostly based on the recommendation of a daily user of the product. Research continues.

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[Spoonman]

I went with the Hensley BD3 air hitch. It's not cheap but it's supposed to eliminate most of the shock transmitted from the tow vehicle to the 5th wheel (and visa-versa). Should provide a very smooth ride. I'll find out this weekend when I use it for the first time.

Oh. I look forward to hearing of your experience. Thank you.

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[Kar and Heather]

With a RAM short bed you will need to be careful in tight turning situations as you will likely only get ~ 70 degrees of turning radius with a fixed hitch. I originally wanted to go with the B&W Companion 3600 as well since I have the 5th wheel prep package and simply for B&W's quality and ease of installation and removal. However, I routinely get into some pretty tight places (storing at my parents and when out hunting) that require tighter turning so I opted to go went with a Demco Hijacker Autoslide and can get a full 90 degrees out of my setup. If you're careful and plan out your turns well in advance of becoming committed I'm sure you will be fine with the B&W.

 

[Spoonman]

Complete list of everything that goes into the Ram 5th Wheel Prep: http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

My recommendation: B&W RVK3600 rated for 25K http://www.ramgunner.com/rvk3600.html

Excellent articles! Thank you sir.

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[Spoonman]

With a RAM short bed you will need to be careful in tight turning situations as you will likely only get ~ 70 degrees of turning radius with a fixed hitch. I originally wanted to go with the B&W Companion 3600 as well since I have the 5th wheel prep package and simply for B&W's quality and ease of installation and removal. However, I routinely get into some pretty tight places (storing at my parents and when out hunting) that require tighter turning so I opted to go went with a Demco Hijacker Autoslide and can get a full 90 degrees out of my setup. If you're careful and plan out your turns well in advance of becoming committed I'm sure you will be fine with the B&W.

Which make and model do you use? Also, is yours installed under or over bed?

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[Kar and Heather]

We have the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 21K (it was the only autoslide I could find rated above my trailers GVWR). http://www.demco-products.com/rv-towing-products/hijacker/autoslide/21k-above-bed-mountI have it mounted into Demco's above the bed rail system which attaches to the factory puck mounts. I'm very happy with the setup.

 

[SWJewellTN]

I have a RAM 2500 short bed and I have no problems with the Anderson hitch. Every service tech that I spoke to said the sliding hitches are bad in that the teeth break shortening the life of the hitch. Every one of them advised NOT to get a sliding hitch.

 

[Spoonman]

We have the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 21K (it was the only autoslide I could find rated above my trailers GVWR). http://www.demco-products.com/rv-towing-products/hijacker/autoslide/21k-above-bed-mountI have it mounted into Demco's above the bed rail system which attaches to the factory puck mounts. I'm very happy with the setup.

Thank you for the link.

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[Spoonman]

I have a RAM 2500 short bed and I have no problems with the Anderson hitch. Every service tech that I spoke to said the sliding hitches are bad in that the teeth break shortening the life of the hitch. Every one of them advised NOT to get a sliding hitch.

The slide hitches do seem to remedy the full turn/clearance issues one may encounter but I'm hearing a lot of the same, some anecdotal, some first hand.

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[Canyonlight]

I have a RAM 2500 short bed and I have no problems with the Anderson hitch. Every service tech that I spoke to said the sliding hitches are bad in that the teeth break shortening the life of the hitch. Every one of them advised NOT to get a sliding hitch.

Jewell--which slider hitches use "teeth ?" I am not familiar with other sliders designs as we have a Superglide (no teeth) and it works very well.

Dan

 

[Dave and Monica]

As Dan mentioned, never heard of sliders with teeth. The manual sliders have a roller set-up on round or square tubes with a mechanical stop at either position. The knock against them may be mechanical looseness from the extra moving parts that can be felt when towing and that they need to be exercised regularly to keep them from seizing up.

Dave

 

[Kar and Heather]

Jewell--which slider hitches use "teeth ?" I am not familiar with other sliders designs as we have a Superglide (no teeth) and it works very well.

Dan

The auto sliders have teeth to control the rearward movement as you turn and to bring the hitch back forward as you straighten out.