PullRite Super Lite 5th Wheel system

[Rick&Judy]

Hello Everyone: New to the Forum and have a lot to learn about 5th wheels
My wife and I ordered our Reflection 303RLS which is our first 5th wheel after having a TT. I have been looking at the new Pullrite Super Lite inverted goose neck system that they came out with recently. The people at Colerain seem to like the system and recommending it. I called Pullrite talked to a Rep. and asked a ton of questions but could not find any obvious problems. There is a large benefit to the fact they weigh only between 50 and 60Lbs. Does anyone have any experience with this unit.

 

[dloase]

Sorry cant help with that one, but welcome to the forum Rick and Judy. Congratulations on your 303.

 

[Mikes145]

If I had a long bed truck, I would try one. I'm looking at purchasing a Pullrite Superglide soon. I just wish I could find an 18K somewhere used.

 

[minnow101]

I'm looking at the SuperLite as well as I'm the process of getting a new truck. Haven't found anyone doing a search of all the RV forums that has one yet. I liked the Andersen too but the Pullrite design looks like it would easier to hitch up compared to the Andersen.

 

[RGMutchler]

I have had a gooseneck system on several trailers but I abandoned it due to Lippert's taking a stand that they would not necessarily warrant the frame if I used the goose neck systems on my 303. I think the only one Lippert approves of is the Reese system. FYI

 

[Kar and Heather]

I have had a gooseneck system on several trailers but I abandoned it due to Lippert's taking a stand that they would not necessarily warrant the frame if I used the goose neck systems on my 303. I think the only one Lippert approves of is the Reese system. FYI

You are correct, Lippert will allow the use of the Reese Goose Box without effecting your warranty. My dealer tried one on my trailer for my setup before I decided to go with the Hijacker Autoslide.

 

[Rick&Judy]

thanks all for the replies:
I ended up sending Grand Design customer service Department an e-mail asking if the PullRite Superlite hitch was covered under their structural warranty for Lippert systems and they sent me a reply stating that it was not and the only goose neck style hitch that was approved was the reese style goose neck pin box replacement. Thanks RGMutchler for the heads up! I also sent a copy of the e-mail from Grand Design to the sales department where I ordered my Reflection from that told me it was covered under the 5th wheel warranty. The Sales department responded and said they are going to check into it. WOW close one thanks for the help.

 

[Cate&Rob]

I was wondering what Lippert would think of this. (I probably could have guessed).
From an engineering perspective, this concept looks good . . . but you have to wonder why Pullrite would not go to the chassis manufacturers ahead of time and present/prove their case.
I was also wondering about safety chains. Many jurisdictions require these with a "ball and cup" connection. Even if you turn it upside down, it is still a ball in a cup. No mention of this, one way or the other, (that I could find) on their website.
I do think this will eventually become a viable hitch alternative . . . but it would seem that the hitch manufacturer could have removed a lot of roadblocks ahead of their launch.

Rob

 

[Rick&Judy]

Totally agree you would think they would have been a little more pro active with Lippert approval. The PullRite Rep I talked to said they have been working on this system for over a year and they currently can not make them fast enough for the customer demand. O'well looks like I will be carrying around a couple hundred pound hitch. Things could be a lot worse I get to go camping.

Rick

 

[Dave and Monica]

Totally agree you would think they would have been a little more pro active with Lippert approval.

I wouldn't be surprised if the LCI approval involves money in some way.

Dave

 

[minnow101]

It's not surprising at all that Lippert would not support this product since Lippert and Reese are partners. Lippert might even have some ownership stake with Reese.

Someone please correct me, but isn't the warranty on the frame from Lippert just 1 year?

I believe Anderson who makes a similar designed hitch as this Pullrite has their own warranty on frame damage. And it would be worth a call to Pullrite to see what they say about this.

From everything I've read about Lippert and their lack of support on just about every thing they manufacturer, I personally wouldn't let there dire warnings stop me from considering the Pullrite or the Anderson. A few years back, Lippert had many a pin box fail from faulty welds and there were many a report from fellow RV'ers that Lippert would not stand behind their product leaving the owners to fix the frames on their own dime. I haven't read about any such frame faults in the past couple of years so hopefully Lippert hired better welders.

I have not seen one report of a frame failure of either the hitch or the pin box from anyone using the Anderson and there are a lot of naysayers out there who would be trumpeting loud and clear any whiff of a problem. On the contrary, those with the Anderson have had nothing but great reports. The least of which is money saved from chiropractic services since one is no longer trying to hump a 250 lb. mound of steel out of the bed of the truck.

 

[gordofuchs]

A few years back, Lippert had many a pin box fail from faulty welds and there were many a report from fellow RV'ers that Lippert would not stand behind their product leaving the owners to fix the frames on their own dime. I haven't read about any such frame faults in the past couple of years so hopefully Lippert hired better welders.

Not to change the context of the thread but has anyone looked underneath their frames at the welding joints ? Some of them should be inspected periodically, the critical ones especially, like those for the spring brackets.

Gord Fuchs

 

[johndeerefarmer]

Neither the Anderson or the Pullrite are gooseneck hitches. A gooseneck hitch has a long neck- the one on my flatbed is probably 5' long. This long neck could put undue strain on the lightweight frames that they use in RV's. Since neither of these hitches have that I don't see why they would be an issue unless as was stated it's the all might dollar

 

[minnow101]

I agree. The weight of the pin is still in the same position as a traditional hitch. IMO, Lippert whose in bed with Reese, has made a decision that anyone that wants to deviate from the standard fifth wheel hitch setup will be strongly encouraged to keep the money flowing to Lippert with the purchase of the Reese Goosebox.

 

[RamGunner]

I'm waiting to see Anderson make a pinbox with their adapter built into it, and have it "type-accepted" by the various manufacturers.

 

[RGMutchler]

I agree that these ball hitches that raise the ball to the height of the hitch box are not the classic goose neck. I can see that the leverage and forces on the gooseneck adapters I had on my other trailers and on the GD for a while are different than the standard 5th wheel. It looks to me as if the new style only differ in the coupler on a ball rather than the hitch plate and jaws. I think Lippert and Reese have a deal and Lippert isn't going to do anything that assists any other manufacturer. I don't like the concept of the Reese Goose. If you have a problem on the road the adapters I use to use and the Anderson and Pullright are easily removed to allow any vehicle with a standard 5th wheel hitch to tow your trailer. I have yet to see an RV service place that could tow a goose neck ball type equipped trailer. The Reese set up requires the removal of the hitch box and it's replacement with a standard hitch box which is next to impossible in a road side break down situation.
I personally really liked my goose necks since my farm trailers are goose neck and it only required one hitch in the back of my truck. Additionally, prior to the 5th wheel hitches that had lateral rotation the forces on the truck frame where pretty sever when going through swales or dips that were not 90degrees to the direction of travel. The goose neck hitch eliminates this and makes coupling and un-coupling in uneven terrain possible.
I used a goose neck adapter on a Coachman and three Jayco's over the years and I checked with each manufacturer and neither had an issue with the adapter. I think all those frames where made by Dexter. I wonder if Lippert, who now seems to control many facets of RV supply, has built their frames to the razor edge of being able to hander the forces the frame has to undergo. I relate this to the cheap grease they use on their wheel bearings in assembly and their admission that when they repack bearings they use the old thick red wheel bearing greases that we all know from the past. I think that it is possible that Lippert seems to have cut corners to the point that they have gained the majority of the business at the possible expense of the equipment we now buy.

 

[Namlehse]

The thing that gets me about the new Pullrite is the slide and drop when it's not exactly on the hole. That just looks like a nasty drop for that much weight.. Seems like that would break things quicker than even a goosneck adapter. It's the equivalent of failing a pull test every time you're not exactly lined up, a good two to four inch drop back onto the landing gear or the truck.

 

[Cate&Rob]

The thing that gets me about the new Pullrite is the slide and drop when it's not exactly on the hole. That just looks like a nasty drop for that much weight.. Seems like that would break things quicker than even a goosneck adapter. It's the equivalent of failing a pull test every time you're not exactly lined up, a good two to four inch drop back onto the landing gear or the truck.

Hmmm . . . Namlehse, that's a really significant observation/concern.
A completely different engagement action than the "lift and shift" of a standard hitch, if you are not lined up perfectly.

Rob

 

[johndeerefarmer]

First of all you aren't dropping it. You are lowing the ball towards the hole with your landing gear. If you are slightly misaligned the ball will press against the funnel and then go into the hole as you continue to lower it. This isn't a new design. The coupler on my 25' gooseneck flatbed trailer has the same design- except of course the ball is in the bed and the funnel is on the trailer.

 

[minnow101]

Yes ^^^ Exactly right. You are lowering the trailer onto the ball. As we all know the motors on the landing jacks move at the speed of molasses on a cold Canadian morning, so there's no dropping or slamming anything.