Community Forums

CecilD · 01-29-2020, 11:44 AM

Google the Blue Ox Super Ride hitch and check it out. It comes apart in pieces for easy install and removal. It articulates forward and rearward for your short bed. Plus, it has rubber air springs for a softer ride. Can be used with industry standard rails or a gooseneck ball.

My hitch weighs 300#. Fortunately, I store my trailer on my property. When I am through for the season, I use the trailer's landing gear to lift the hitch out of the rails, and pull the truck away. I then lower the hitch onto a Harbor Freight 500# hydraulic table, remove it from the kingpin and roll it into the garage for the winter. Easy peasy. Don't lift anything.

On the install end in the Spring, I roll the hitch out, use the hydraulic table to jack it up and reinstall on the kingpin. It is a pain to align the rail slots and the legs on the hitch as you have to jockey the truck around. My wife always helps, wouldn't want to do it four times a year. Maybe an in bed camera would help. Another member suggested lowering the hitch onto the rails and placing it into the slots with a pry bar. Haven't tried that yet.

I wouldn't let hitch install issues keep you from enjoying a fifth wheel. Since you are starting from scratch, I would recommend an air or cushioned style hitch over a solid joint hitch. You will be happy you did in the long run.

tuffr2 · 01-29-2020, 11:53 AM

Not a funny story but I was younger and took out my 5th wheel hitch myself I also put it in myself. 6 years later I needed help.

Since I bought / sold my 5th wheel there has been many attempts to use a gooseneck ball. I am not one with all the new ball mounts but I do know that not every 5th wheel can be towed with a ball because it puts more stress on 5th wheel frame. I do not know which 5th wheels can use the gooseneck ball.

I would not try to use the gooseneck ball on a heavy 5th wheel and probably not on mid sized 5th wheel either. I think the lighter the 5th wheel the better for use with a gooseneck ball.

There are people that swear by the gooseneck ball but not sure where, what and how they are towing. If you look at a gooseneck trailer they have re-inforcement built into the hitch area.

I will be watching are reading this thread to learn more about a various set-ups.

Good luck.

aknavy · 01-29-2020, 01:00 PM

I've had three hitches - Andersen, Reese Goosebox, and Trailer Saver.

Under 20k pounds on the fiver - Reese is great. Great ride, clean bed, easy hookup, and no dropping your fiver.

Over 20k pounds - Trailer Saver. Great ride, very stout. Takes two people to move. Can leave on the pinbox and lift out of truck, have not tried yet.

JDT · 01-29-2020, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Not a funny story but I was younger and took out my 5th wheel hitch myself I also put it in myself. 6 years later I needed help.

Since I bought / sold my 5th wheel there has been many attempts to use a gooseneck ball. I am not one with all the new ball mounts but I do know that not every 5th wheel can be towed with a ball because it puts more stress on 5th wheel frame. I do not know which 5th wheels can use the gooseneck ball.

I would not try to use the gooseneck ball on a heavy 5th wheel and probably not on mid sized 5th wheel either. I think the lighter the 5th wheel the better for use with a gooseneck ball.

There are people that swear by the gooseneck ball but not sure where, what and how they are towing. If you look at a gooseneck trailer they have re-inforcement built into the hitch area.

I will be watching are reading this thread to learn more about a various set-ups.

Good luck.

Kind of a repeat from my earlier comments, sorry, but I'm sure it is common knowledge by now that Lippert approves the use of the Reese Goose Box on their frames. I know there is some Lippert pin box numbers which it is made to fit. My understanding is this type of hitch is much more gentle on the frame than a goose neck conversion. Gen-Y also makes a goose neck hitch that replaces the pin similar to the Goose Box but uses a torsion system for the cushioned ride. It was being tested by New Horizons as a possible option for their fifth wheels, which are super heavy. That was a couple of weeks ago and I've been watching for an update but haven't seen anything.

As I said earlier I'm going with a 20K Goose Box for mine. It weighs 16,300 total loaded with about 3100 hitch weight. I don't have a Lippert frame but I would think mine is much stronger with it being house built by Excel. It is a fully boxed frame. It has a Fabex pin box which Reese lists as compatible. Warranty considerations is certainly not an issue as Excel went bye-bye 5 years ago.

aknavy · 01-29-2020, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT

Kind of a repeat from my earlier comments, sorry, but I'm sure it is common knowledge by now that Lippert approves the use of the Reese Goose Box on their frames. I know there is some Lippert pin box numbers which it is made to fit. My understanding is this type of hitch is much more gentle on the frame than a goose neck conversion. Gen-Y also makes a goose neck hitch that replaces the pin similar to the Goose Box but uses a torsion system for the cushioned ride. It was being tested by New Horizons as a possible option for their fifth wheels, which are super heavy. That was a couple of weeks ago and I've been watching for an update but haven't seen anything.

I talked to New Horizons and they stated the GenY hitches they got for testing weren't compatible with the mounting flanges, so they have not used them.

JDT · 01-29-2020, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aknavy

I talked to New Horizons and they stated the GenY hitches they got for testing weren't compatible with the mounting flanges, so they have not used them.

Too bad. I was interested in how they did. Maybe they can get the hole pattern to match. The other issue could be the width. The Gen-Y and the Goose Box are 12" wide. My Fabex pin box is 12 1/2" wide. Fortunately Reese makes a quarter inch spacing plate with matching predrilled holes. I already have a set for my new Goose Box.

RJShiflet · 01-30-2020, 04:41 AM

I have the BW Companion 20K model and love it. It comes apart into two pieces, each weighing about 70 or 75 pounds. I'm 70 years old and can handle it without too much effort.

FrozenInTime · 01-30-2020, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlh1957

it is more concern of the king pin arm contacting the side of the truck if the 5th wheel is on unleveled ground, If it twisted one way while truck is still flat it would be close.

This is a big concern for me. These trucks keep getting taller and taller out of the factory making hitches closer to the side. I did back up on unlevel ground a couple times, have contacted the bed cover rails. When I raise the hitch to a level it won't contact, my camper looks like a rocket trying to take off... LOL Still, I like my Andersen. I do think my next hitch when I get my next camper is going to be a Reese Goosebox.

pkt219 · 01-30-2020, 10:28 PM

I have the Curt A20 and it weighs right at 200lbs. I mounted the Harbor Freight Pickup Bed Crane to load and unload the hitch. Also works great for loading my portable generator. Would recommend the bed crane of you have to load and unload heavy items by yourself.

HDGoose · 01-31-2020, 04:48 AM

I have. 6'5" bed 2500 RAM truck. I went with the pullrite hit h with 7nder bed rails and the the pin system. I can remove all from my bed and have a empty truck bed. I use a chain fall to lift it out of my truck. It 8s heavy.

I like the auto slider for my 6'5" bed. It has been useful.

Had I found the Demco Hijacker Autoslide I would have bought that one. My PullRite requires capture plates and the Demco doesn't.

Midlotexan · 01-31-2020, 05:27 PM

I have a new F350 with the ford pucks system.
I decided on a B&W Companion that mounts in the pucks.
Ours is the 18k model. 2 pieces and it is reasonably easy to get in and out.
Very smooth operation, and installation is four latches and 2 hitch pins.
We have a deck lid cover, so we have left it in 90% of the time.
Retail is about $900-1100. I found mine on Facebook marketplace, with the goose neck ball and tie down pucks for $500.

I saw many for sale, used in our area, and dumb lucked into a helluva deal.

egwilly · 01-31-2020, 05:39 PM

I use a Pullrite mounted in a long bed Superduty. Never have had to remove it since it's not a work truck. It does a fine job of hauling the 13K trailer/

It comes apart in two pieces that can be handled with two men and a small boy.

The puck mount system was too expensive for us at the time we ordered the truck from Ford, so we have the two rails.

Whip · 02-01-2020, 06:58 AM

Seems like it's doable for me and there are a number of options for hitches that could do what I'm looking for. Thanks for all the suggestions!

1960C182 · 02-02-2020, 08:27 AM

I now use a B&W 18K Patriot mounted on the Curt X-rail in my turnover gooseball. I had a Reese ( poor quality, sloppy ) and TWO models of Andersens which both crapped out on me so never another.
I would like a Goosebox but it won't fit my pinbox mount. IF I ever go to another hitch will be the Trailsaver.