Towing with a F150 5.5' box and a GD 226 RK.

[Rpatzwald]

Hi folks, I have a 2018 Ford f150 with a 5.5' box. The dealer installed a B and W underbed ball mount and a Blue Ox 5th Wheel hitch. The Curt Turning Point hitch is locked out. The truck pulls the trailer fine but the articulation on the trailer when backing is only about 40 degrees. I have looked at various options. The two most plausible are;

1. Install A B and W Companion slider. It would gain me about 12" of pin room when backing. I am not sure about tailgate clearance. No one seem to know. Bad news is not sure how much more clearance it would provide and really heavy to take in and out. Probably about $1500.

2. Install a Curt Crosswing ball mount hitch with a lock out wedge. Lock the pin and unlock the Curt Turning Point. Clearance wise this is the best solution. E trailer said it won't work because of extra torque created by the pivoting pin box. Curt says it is no problem. B and W says their ball is rated for 30000 lbs but have not tested the set up so won't commit.

The other option is to replace the entire set up with a new underbed mount. I haven't priced that option yet but I am sure the labor to get the old underbed mount and bolts fished out and install the new one won't be cheap.

An Anderson would provide about 9" of additional room. I calculated that at about 55 degrees of rotation. I don't think that is enough but maybe someone can weigh in.

Thanks in advance. I should have started here and not the dealer! LOL.......my fault for believing people.

 

[DougW9876]

I had a slider on one of my rigs several years ago. Pain in the butt. They are heavy and I had to get out to pull the release every timeIi needed to engage it. I have never seen a Crosswing other than in pictures, and the pictures did not impress me much.

I have a Reese 16K with the wedge and use the turning point and it works very nicely. Perhaps there is a 5th wheel hitch that can be used on the ball mount, it looks like Demco makes one, but I have never looked into them. Someone who knows what they are talking about will come along soon with advice I am sure.

 

[trailrydr]

We towed our Reflection 150 295RL 5er with our '13 F150 6.2 SB SCREW and a inexpensive Reese 16k hitch with Reese under bed mounts and bed rails with the Turning Point pinbox unlocked for 3 yrs. Had plenty of room between down tailgate and front of compartment (approx 15" of clearance - enough to walk behind while hitched). And, had no cab/RV issues with making any turns - however, never got near 90 degrees (or had to for that matter). Also ended up with 7" of bed clearance and was able to use our Jack Rabbit roll back cover over the hitch.

Same here... never used a gooseball mount.