Community Forums

WesC · 01-17-2016, 01:41 PM

Seeking advice.
Buying a new F350 Diesel, 8' bed. Should I get the Factory installed 5th Wheel Prep Package and 5th Wheel Reese Hitch? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Also, If I buy an aftermarket 5th wheel hitch, will the installer need the factory "5th Wheel Prep Package" from ford, or will they removed it and use their hardware.
Last question, what the best 5th wheel hitch on the market?

Please help!!

Thanks, Wes

Tractor Guy · 01-17-2016, 02:27 PM

I would say yes, get the factory prep. I bought the RAM with factory prep and it literally took me 20 minutes to install my B&W hitch. I looked at Curt and other brands of hitches, they all look like they work about the same. I don't see any hitch installer "taking out" the factory package. At $400 option for the RAM I certainly thought it was worth it. You can pull your hitch out and have a completely open bed, no rails to contend with. I think the Ford is pretty much the same.

jpharley · 01-17-2016, 02:28 PM

Can't speak for the Ford but we have a Ram with the factory puck system and we elected to get our own hitch that fit in the puck system. We bought a B&W Companion. There are probably several different types of hitches that will utilize the factory puck system for a Ford.

Ranger Smith · 01-17-2016, 03:47 PM

We got the factory puck system but went with a Curt hitch. Much better than the bed rail type.

Bamaman · 01-17-2016, 04:35 PM

Get the puck option, but go get your own hitch to put in it. Ford wants a fortune for their OEM hitch.

I'm also a B&W Companion person.

IC2 · 01-18-2016, 11:00 AM

Absolutely get that 5th wheel option!! A B&W hitch here as well. In or out - 10 minutes on a slow day with a coffee break included

JohnH12 · 01-19-2016, 06:28 AM

We just traded our 5th wheel for a class At and sold the F350 Dually with an 8 ft bed. The truck had the Ford puck system and the Ford 25K hitch.
I definitely recommend the puck system. You don't lose any bed space when the hitch is removed and the hitch weighs a lot less than others so it's a one person, 10 minute job to install or remove.
The only thing I didn't care for was the factory puck covers. They were a loose fit so didn't stay in place. There is an aftermarket cover system that is installed with an Allen key. The set is about $130 but they stay in place.
I would look at a non Ford hitch though. The Ford hitch is pricy.