Purchased new 278bh. Hitch setup suggestions?

ardvark16

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2020
Messages
268
Hi. I just bought a Reflection 278bh 150 series. Comes with the turning point pin. I have a 2019 ram 2500 gas with no puck system. What hitch setup do you people recommend with this pinbox? I don’t want sway. I’ll lock it out if need be. I just want to do this once and have a nice ride. No chucking or swaying. Thanks.
 
Hi. I just bought a Reflection 278bh 150 series. Comes with the turning point pin. I have a 2019 ram 2500 gas with no puck system. What hitch setup do you people recommend with this pinbox? I don’t want sway. I’ll lock it out if need be. I just want to do this once and have a nice ride. No chucking or swaying. Thanks.

Well, you can see from my signature what I'm currently doing; the Turning Point wedge that comes with the setup is made specifically for a PullRite hitch (that's directly from Grand Design and PullRite) although it will work with other hitches. However, I find I don't need the extra turning room and it definitely pulls better when it's windy when locked out. It's also easier to hitch and unhitch without the wedge. And no bearing maintenance is a plus too. If I was starting over and knew I wasn't going to use the wedge I would have purchased an Anderson or B&W hitch.
 
Hi. I just bought a Reflection 278bh 150 series. Comes with the turning point pin. I have a 2019 ram 2500 gas with no puck system. What hitch setup do you people recommend with this pinbox? I don’t want sway. I’ll lock it out if need be. I just want to do this once and have a nice ride. No chucking or swaying. Thanks.

Using universal rails btw.
 
So you wouldn’t bother with a sliding hitch either? I was thinking of just getting an auto slider and locking it out. Seems like a lot of people don’t love the turning point. How does the 3/4 ton handle the 5er? I have a very similar situation.
 
Also. Side note. Do you have ac in the bedroom? If so is it better? If not. Am I going to need it or will a max air fan work? There are currently no a/c units available so I got one with no bedroom ac.
 
So you wouldn’t bother with a sliding hitch either? I was thinking of just getting an auto slider and locking it out. Seems like a lot of people don’t love the turning point. How does the 3/4 ton handle the 5er? I have a very similar situation.

Plenty of truck for these models. Actually pulls better with more loaded on the pin than normal. These 5ers are plenty pin light for their height. I would definitely not waste money on a slider. I've used my RV a lot and have yet to need anything extra, beyond a fixed hitch, to get into campsites.
 
Also. Side note. Do you have ac in the bedroom? If so is it better? If not. Am I going to need it or will a max air fan work? There are currently no a/c units available so I got one with no bedroom ac.

Funny you should ask; these units definitely need two ACs I have all the parts coming in the mail as we speak for the second AC install for the bedroom.
 
Also. Side note. Do you have ac in the bedroom? If so is it better? If not. Am I going to need it or will a max air fan work? There are currently no a/c units available so I got one with no bedroom ac.

In fact, I went with another mach 15 (15k) unit.
 
The dealer might include the sliding hitch as part of the deal. If they do I guess I can either take it or work in a second ac unit. I hope you enjoy yours. This is our first 5er and last rv for a long time. Hopefully not too much of an adjustment backing it into spots. But either way you are saying to lock out that pin, right?
 
The dealer might include the sliding hitch as part of the deal. If they do I guess I can either take it or work in a second ac unit. I hope you enjoy yours. This is our first 5er and last rv for a long time. Hopefully not too much of an adjustment backing it into spots. But either way you are saying to lock out that pin, right?

Another AC unit would be a score. If you want to use your coach in the warmer months it's a must have. One isn't adequate. Yes. Our unit has been locked out for 6 months. Lots of little trips and several big pulls as well. The bunk house rigs are great. When backing up I simply look for the key hole latch on the battery compartment door, from there I know how far I can turn without hitting anything. Even hard turns have plenty of room left. In fact, the Turning Point pin will hit the bed of the truck before the RV would hit anyway so I can watch that too. Congrats regardless. Btw, get a TPMS for your tires, inexpensive, but an absolute must for knowing tire status. Cheers!
 
A second battery is also bare minimum on an RV this size too. One isn't enough. If they're aren't biting for bigger items being thrown in then get a second battery thrown in.
 
They are getting back to me on a price for the second unit. I’m not sure how hard it is to install it myself. It gets installed into the ducts. Looking at probably 1500 or so. Is this a job that I can just do? I am good mechanically. I’m not sure about how hard it is to get it on the roof and make sure it doesn’t leak. They also offered either a reese or a pullrite non slider 1500 installed. I’m getting a price on the b&w too.
 
They are getting back to me on a price for the second unit. I’m not sure how hard it is to install it myself. It gets installed into the ducts. Looking at probably 1500 or so. Is this a job that I can just do? I am good mechanically. I’m not sure about how hard it is to get it on the roof and make sure it doesn’t leak. They also offered either a reese or a pullrite non slider 1500 installed. I’m getting a price on the b&w too.

It's pre-wired for thermostat and ducted already so yes. The AC is around 90lbs with a pull from the top (rope) and push going up the ladder the rails will guide it. That's one method. The AC sits on a gasket, you simply tighten with a bracket from inside the coach. Wires are all there waiting to be used. There's youtube videos available too.
 
It's pre-wired for thermostat and ducted already so yes. The AC is around 90lbs with a pull from the top (rope) and push going up the ladder the rails will guide it. That's one method. The AC sits on a gasket, you simply tighten with a bracket from inside the coach. Wires are all there waiting to be used. There's youtube videos available too.

According to PullRite and Grand Design a PullRite 2100 20k is the minimum size hitch if using the Turning Point with wedge because of torsional loads.
 
Keep in mind there are people who like the Turning Point and choose to use it. You may have to experiment yourself to find out which you like most, so get the right size hitch. Call PullRite to confirm the right size. I did. My dealership tried to give me the 16k.
 
Wow. That’s really great info. What model ac did you get? I’ll do it myself if that’s the case. I installed mine in my house.
 
Wow. That’s really great info. What model ac did you get? I’ll do it myself if that’s the case. I installed mine in my house.

I used the same one already installed a Mach 15 it's a 15k unit; I like to train in the heat so camping in the summer is fun for me. PPL has them on sale right now for about $663 plus around $100 freight. I got the thermostat from ebay and the chill grill for the interior from camping world. Much easier to install then a home unit.
 
How much higher will the rig be with that unit? I wanted to keep it at the stock height. Looks like low profile units are backordered all over.
 
How much higher will the rig be with that unit? I wanted to keep it at the stock height. Looks like low profile units are backordered all over.

My understanding is the unit is only 6 inches taller than a 13.5k unit (one is considered low profile the other medium profile, although I don't have two units to measure side by side to confirm). Overall height of our 5er is still shorter than many trailers out there regardless. Also, the Mach 15k is (AirXcel says themselves) specifically designed for high demand environments (i.e., heat and humidity) and we camp all year round on the west coast; Phoenix especially, so bigger is better in my case.
 

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