How many use the turning point feature?

Turning Point User

We just purchased a 290BH & a small part of the decision was based on the fact that it has the turning point pin box since we have a 6.75’ bed. During my research for a hitch I decided on the Blue Ox slider since it can be removed easily due to breaking it down into multiple pieces plus it’s supposed to ride great due to the internal springs. Now that I’ve put the deal together at the dealership & had them include the hitch as a part of the deal I finally read the fine print on the part# 7200 version that mounts on the ISR rails, it states that it can’t be used with any pin box that rotates. I saw the warning on the part# 6200 that mounts to a gooseball so I specifically went with the ISR version ASSUMING that it would be ok. To be sure I called Blue Ox & unfortunately it can not be used with the turning point. I neglected to ask them if it’s still safe to use as long as I keep the turning point feature locked out so I will have to call back tomorrow before I assume anything else.

I was pretty excited thinking that I could try to turning point vs using a slider to see which I prefer but now I’m not sure if I can keep the Blue Ox. So at this point I’m thinking I either have to make a decision to go with another hitch or if it’s still possible use the Blue Ox without the turning point feature. How many who purchase a 150 Series are using the turning point? I’m not sure where to go from here so any thoughts are appreciated.

We use the turning point with it set to swivel, I have also used it in the locked position. There was no noticeable difference so we'll keep using in the swivel position. We have been using to over 2 years now and love it.

The hitch we use is a Curt A16, with a Curt Wedge
Mark
 
Gotta ask why?

Thanks to all, super encouraging to see actual users happy with the turning point. Unfortunately as much as I want to use the Blue Ox it looks like I’ll need a different hitch to use the turning point. Now I need to find something that works with a wedge that is light & easy to remove, the dealership is covering my hitch up to $2000.
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Hello, Everyone

I’ve been running my GD 260RD with the turning point locked out, a Pull-rite automatic slider hitch, and the Lippert supplied wedge (properly adjusted and torqued) for a year. After 10,000 miles and dozens of connects/disconnects, everything works great. I’ve made a point of studying all aspects of this pinbox system, and don’t understand why any conventional hitch won’t work, properly configured?
Just curious, I’ve owned businesses vehicle related, for many years - and consider the hitch the most critical aspect of 5th wheel RVing. Thanks in advance for your time.

Sorry - upon further review I see. The Blue Ox is a gooseneck design, not a conventional hitch.

So next question-what is the advantage/application for a gooseneck? I’ve always wondered?
Gary
 
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Hello, Everyone

I’ve been running my GD 260RD with the turning point locked out, a Pull-rite automatic slider hitch, and the Lippert supplied wedge (properly adjusted and torqued) for a year. After 10,000 miles and dozens of connects/disconnects, everything works great. I’ve made a point of studying all aspects of this pinbox system, and don’t understand why any conventional hitch won’t work, properly configured?
Just curious, I’ve owned businesses vehicle related, for many years - and consider the hitch the most critical aspect of 5th wheel RVing. Thanks in advance for your time.

Sorry - upon further review I see. The Blue Ox is a gooseneck design, not a conventional hitch.

So next question-what is the advantage/application for a gooseneck? I’ve always wondered?
Gary

Gary,

This is a very old thread, so I'm not sure how many of the original participants are still around (the person you quoted hasn't been on the forum since May, 2021). That said, a true gooseneck setup is a bad idea for fifth wheel RVs. The frame on the front end of a fifth wheel RV is not designed nor built to handle the torque forces of a true gooseneck adapter. There are some more modern, dampened gooseneck-style systems (such as the Lippert Goose Box and Gen Y) that change this formula, though. In addition, I'm not sure the Turning Point can be switched out for anything else.

The reason many people go with a Goose Box, etc., is to regain their truck bed more easily when not towing (no fifth wheel hitch to remove).

Rob
 
I towed a 295RL for three seasons. One thing to keep in mind is that the Turning Point needs to checked and re-greased each season. Personally, I did not care for the Turning Point. No matter what I tried I could never get it to sit right in the hitch. It would slap back and forth in the hitch going around tighter curves like exit ramps. It was a bit unnerving to feel that clunk. I quickly made a decision to keep it in the "locked" position. As others have mentioned, didn't miss it. I seldom had a situation where I felt I needed that feature. Subsequently we made a decision to downsize to a smaller "tow behind".
 
Just had the dealer order a B&W Companion for my Ford with the puck set up. Picking a hitch was almost as agonizing as picking a camper!

Good choice. I changed to the B&W from a Reese hitch. It was a vast improvement. I have a Reese Airborne Sidewinder pinbox, (works similar to the turning point). Even though both pinbox and hitch were Reese products they were not good together. The single locking jaw design of the Reese hitch allowed the pin to move side to side even with the locking wedge installed as tightly as possible. This causes significant "clunking" from side to side when I changed from a left to a right curve or vice versa on the highway. (Major pucker factor) The B&W grips the pin tightly between two jaws and completely eliminates this problem.
I also love the sidewinder/turning point feature. Others say you don't need it. That's true ... until you do. I towed with a short box for years with no problem until one day I had to turn around at a dead end road. I turned into the only available driveway and backed out onto the street in the opposite direction. It didn't feel like that tight a turn, but because the driveway sloped up from the street my trailer came closer to the cab than usual as I made the backing turn. Dented the cab which was an expensive repair. Even though I didn't damage the back glass it had to be replaced in order to repair the cab dent.
I have two other friends who have had similar unfortunate experiences. No worries with my sidewinder pinbox. I can turn to a complete 90 degree angle even though my 310GK is wider than most 5ers.
 
Good choice. I changed to the B&W from a Reese hitch. It was a vast improvement. I have a Reese Airborne Sidewinder pinbox, (works similar to the turning point). Even though both pinbox and hitch were Reese products they were not good together. The single locking jaw design of the Reese hitch allowed the pin to move side to side even with the locking wedge installed as tightly as possible. This causes significant "clunking" from side to side when I changed from a left to a right curve or vice versa on the highway. (Major pucker factor) The B&W grips the pin tightly between two jaws and completely eliminates this problem.
I also love the sidewinder/turning point feature. Others say you don't need it. That's true ... until you do. I towed with a short box for years with no problem until one day I had to turn around at a dead end road. I turned into the only available driveway and backed out onto the street in the opposite direction. It didn't feel like that tight a turn, but because the driveway sloped up from the street my trailer came closer to the cab than usual as I made the backing turn. Dented the cab which was an expensive repair. Even though I didn't damage the back glass it had to be replaced in order to repair the cab dent.
I have two other friends who have had similar unfortunate experiences. No worries with my sidewinder pinbox. I can turn to a complete 90 degree angle even though my 310GK is wider than most 5ers.

Wow, I could almost just quote your whole post as being mine, except the truck damage. I run the regular Sidewinder, and this season switched from the Reese hitch (M5), to the B&W Companion, so much better of a ride and a lot less noise. Lots of side to side on the Reese, and it was not unlatching easily. Reese did step up to the plate and replaced the head under warranty, but I still went with the B&W.

My driveway is approximately a 7* uphill from the road, and due to the road being small, I usually end up with about a 60* turn(ish) backing in. What people do not realize, is with the trailer going uphill, and your truck on level ground, the nose of the trailer comes down, the part that is not scalloped back. I wouldn't need the Sidewinder if I was on level ground all the time.
 
I don’t know where to ask this question, so I thought I would ask it here. Do the new 100 series have the Turning Point pin box? I watched some videos of the 22RK and it looks like it has a fixed pin box. Is GDRV getting away from the Turning Point hitch?
 
We use the turning point hitch with a Curtis bolt in 5th wheel and wedge on a 2022Ford Super cab long bed. By moving the pivot point from over the axle to almost the tailgate, can now back this bus up. I have pulled and backed up 30ft TT with the truck no issues... But with the standard configuration of a 5th wheel hitch pivoting over the rear axle, could not find enough real estate in my driveway to swing the truck front end backing in a s shape drive. So we love it. P.s. still pulls 5vr no sway better than all my previous TT.
 
Guzinta (Neil and Sheila),
Over your 23 years, can I ask you which slider hitch you favor? I'm new to 5ers (Class C prior) and am trying to research which hitch is best. I have a 33' GD with a Curt Turing Point, but it seems you (and others) have never used the TP functionality (or in 23 years only used once). Any more information for me for a 6.5 bed?
Thank you,
Tim
Recreational Raskels
Fairbanks, Alaska
 
Curt Wedge

If you do use it, the wedge is the key, make sure it does not have too much play, the lippert wedge it too loose with the curt A16 HITCH, so we used the curt wedge
Mark

Could you please tell me the model number of that CURT Wedge you have been using with your Turning Point hitch? I can't fine one that fits my A16?

I really appreciate your help.

Mark
 


Sorry if I confused people, I’m using the stock Lippert wedge that came with the GD Reflection 150. I adjusted its position VERY CAREFULLY by hitching the truck/trailer, ensuring the two were perfectly aligned, and then driving the wedge into my Pull-Rite with firm hammer taps, then locked it down to 200 ft lbs torque (as recommended). Been working perfectly, hitches/unhitches better than the Pull-Rite capture plate ever did. 20k miles, probably a hundred connects without issues. And, BTW, no close calls at all between my short bed p/u and the 5er. Never even close, even off banked and close 90 degrees. We go some exotic places. FWIW, I was told Lippert designed their wedge after the Pull-Rite design.
 

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