Fifth wheel towing options

[Montecresto]

I’m here. I don’t have any issues hooking up with the sidewinder. At times the rotating turrant will want to stick..need to drop the hitch and grease it up so it rotated correctly. Also don’t over tighten the 4 bolts on top of the turant...if you do, it will not rotate correctly. Also make sure you get the correct wedge for the hitch you get (get the b&w over the Reese any day of the week imo)


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Cool, thank you for the information...

 

[Vikes79]

Finally got my camper.

I was mistaken. With the Wolfpack at 102 wide, I can’t quite make 90 with the AUH over the standard gooseneck mount..it’s super close. My 2017 Crossroads could, but it wasn’t 102 wide either.

I’ll be putting back on my 5” offset gooseneck ball and sliding my AUH back just to be safe.

 

[Montecresto]

Finally got my camper.

I was mistaken. With the Wolfpack at 102 wide, I can’t quite make 90 with the AUH over the standard gooseneck mount..it’s super close. My 2017 Crossroads could, but it wasn’t 102 wide either.
View attachment 128434 View attachment 128435 View attachment 128437 View attachment 128438 View attachment 128440 View attachment 128441


I’ll be putting back on my 5” offset gooseneck ball and sliding my AUH back just to be safe.

View attachment 128442 View attachment 128439

So, did you have to back up to get the truck and RV in that attitude??? Moving forward and all the way to lock, you could never get there, right?

That red apparatus connects to the king pin and then connects to a ball on the AUH??

And the AUH drops into the Ford Puck system??

 

[Bradley-Thornton]

I’m interested in how the last two, curt and pro-series work? What do those attach to?

It attaches to your normal 5th wheel bars going across. Look at the customer pics on the links.

 

[Montecresto]

It attaches to your normal 5th wheel bars going across. Look at the customer pics on the links.

Oh ok, just looked those up. That won’t work with the Ford Puck system.

 

[Montecresto]

Finally got my camper.

I was mistaken. With the Wolfpack at 102 wide, I can’t quite make 90 with the AUH over the standard gooseneck mount..it’s super close. My 2017 Crossroads could, but it wasn’t 102 wide either.
View attachment 128434 View attachment 128435 View attachment 128437 View attachment 128438 View attachment 128440 View attachment 128441


I’ll be putting back on my 5” offset gooseneck ball and sliding my AUH back just to be safe.

View attachment 128442 View attachment 128439

Are you saying that Anderson no longer makes it in steel but makes an aluminum version? Do you think the aluminum version is structural enough?

 

[Montecresto]

A goosebox and a 4” offset ball on the B&W turnover

Btw elk, does this B&W “turnover” attach to the B&W Companion?? I was looking at a picture of one and I can’t tell how it works.

 

[Vikes79]

So, did you have to back up to get the truck and RV in that attitude??? Moving forward and all the way to lock, you could never get there, right?

That red apparatus connects to the king pin and then connects to a ball on the AUH??

And the AUH drops into the Ford Puck system??

Yes I had to back to this position. I’ve never been able to do this by simply going forward and turning in a circle.

Yes the red part clamps to king pin. This is the part that I mentioned could be moved in front of the king pin or to the rear. A cable operated detent pin keeps the red socket on the ball.

This AUH is a steel gooseneck Hitch. It clamps onto the gooseneck ball of the tow vehicle. It doesn’t drop into the ford pucks, it uses the gooseneck ball.

 

[Vikes79]

Are you saying that Anderson no longer makes it in steel but makes an aluminum version? Do you think the aluminum version is structural enough?

I do not believe the steel version is made any more. I bought mine at a time when both the aluminum and steel versions were made.

I went steel as I’m a steel guy and don’t mind that my hitch is 70lbs vs 35lbs.

I did find a few sites that are still selling the steel versions.

Here is one.

Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection Steel Version 75 Pounds

 

[elkaholic]

Btw elk, does this B&W “turnover” attach to the B&W Companion?? I was looking at a picture of one and I can’t tell how it works.

The turnover ball kit is B&W’s gooseneck system. It looks like this



The Companion is B&Ws high load, top of the line fifth wheel hitch. They make a version that attaches via the receiver for the turnover ball system (which will not work for you) and OEM pick system versions - one of which will work for you. It attaches to four of the five pucks in your bed.

I believe the AUM in aluminum is adequate in strength. The weakness is the floor of the bed. The aluminum bed in my F250 crushed under the load of an emergency stop which allowed the AUM to rock back and forth which lead to permanent deformation of the AUM.


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[Vikes79]

I have seen quite a few people go with a base rail and the AUH (steel) fifth wheel adapter.


Base rail for ford pucks
Demco 5th Wheel Rail Adapter for Ford OEM 5th Wheel Towing Prep Package - 25,000 lbs Demco Accessori
Reese Elite Series Underbed Rail Adapter for Standard 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches - 20,000 lbs Reese A

Hitch

Andersen Ultimate Connection 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch System with Adapter - 20,000 lbs Andersen Fifth

You won’t dent the bed with this setup.

In this scenario, the Anderson locks into the fiver rails which rest into your pucks.

 

[Montecresto]

The turnover ball kit is B&W’s gooseneck system. It looks like this

View attachment 128477

The Companion is B&Ws high load, top of the line fifth wheel hitch. They make a version that attaches via the receiver for the turnover ball system (which will not work for you) and OEM pick system versions - one of which will work for you. It attaches to four of the five pucks in your bed.

I believe the AUM in aluminum is adequate in strength. The weakness is the floor of the bed. The aluminum bed in my F250 crushed under the load of an emergency stop which allowed the AUM to rock back and forth which lead to permanent deformation of the AUM.


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Well clearly I don’t want my bed damaged. I guess my best bet remains the sidewinder with the 20,000 B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch which works with the Ford Puck system.....

 

[Montecresto]

I have seen quite a few people go with a base rail and the AUH (steel) fifth wheel adapter.


Base rail for ford pucks
Demco 5th Wheel Rail Adapter for Ford OEM 5th Wheel Towing Prep Package - 25,000 lbs Demco Accessori
Reese Elite Series Underbed Rail Adapter for Standard 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches - 20,000 lbs Reese A

Hitch

Andersen Ultimate Connection 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch System with Adapter - 20,000 lbs Andersen Fifth

You won’t dent the bed with this setup.

In this scenario, the Anderson locks into the fiver rails which rest into your pucks.

With this system it looks like a piece has to be added under the bed?? The under bed rail adapter???

 

[gtsum2]

Well clearly I don’t want my bed damaged. I guess my best bet remains the sidewinder with the 20,000 B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch which works with the Ford Puck system.....

If you don’t want a slider and don’t want a ts3 air hitch, this is the way to go imo. I couldn’t use the airborne kingpin as the gvwr wasn’t high enough for mine..I still say if you are going to travel a good bit and if you have the payload capacity to handle it, an air ride hitch like the ts3 (or kingpin like the airborne sidewinder) is the way to go...and I love my b&w...but the roads in this country simply put a pounding on your camper frame.


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[Montecresto]

but the roads in this country simply put a pounding on your camper frame.

That’s for damn sure.....

 

[Montecresto]

If you don’t want a slider and don’t want a ts3 air hitch, this is the way to go imo.

Meaning the cushioned sidewinder and the cushioned B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch???

 

[Vikes79]

With this system it looks like a piece has to be added under the bed?? The under bed rail adapter???

You’d need the rail adapter that inserts into your puck slots, plus the AUH that drops into the rail adapter.

Everything is above bed. Each piece would be around 40lbs.

 

[Montecresto]

You’d need the rail adapter that inserts into your puck slots, plus the AUH that drops into the rail adapter.

Everything is above bed. Each piece would be around 40lbs.

Oh ok cool, it’s just called an under bed adapter..

 

[Montecresto]

I have seen quite a few people go with a base rail and the AUH (steel) fifth wheel adapter.


Base rail for ford pucks
Demco 5th Wheel Rail Adapter for Ford OEM 5th Wheel Towing Prep Package - 25,000 lbs Demco Accessori
Reese Elite Series Underbed Rail Adapter for Standard 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches - 20,000 lbs Reese A

Is this a one or the other, or are both pieces needed to use the AUH?

 

[Vikes79]

Hey Montecresto, did you ever make any changes to your hitch on your TH?

Just curious if you are still using a gooseneck adapter.

I’m seriously considering converting my Anderson ultimate hitch to a Reese goose box on the TH because I need some more bed space between the cab and the hitch for a kennel carrier.