Fifth wheel towing options

[Montecresto]

Not the best picture but can go to 90, although I’ve rarely had to. Reason I say I’d go with a long bed truck and a Hensley trailer saver hitch is if you tow a lot, the roads really put a pounding on your rig. I looked at air pinboxes, but they didn’t make an air cushioned sidewinder rated for 17k or higher

View attachment 127983

If you go with a sidewinder, you cannot go with a non puck b&w hitch as you could possibly have two points of rotation. Is also look at the updated pulleitw superglide. Reason I didn’t got with a superglide was at the time they didn’t make a puck version and you had to use a picture frame adapter which raised the hitch 2 inches....and the new trucks are already quite high


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What about a cushioned fifth wheel hitch?

 

[gtsum2]

What about a cushioned fifth wheel hitch?

Yes, if you have the payload capacity. My 3500 has 4074lbs payload. My pin weight is 3100-3300 depending if I have anything in the garage or not...so with family loaded, I’m right at max axle and gvwr. The Hensley ts3 hitch is almost double the weight of my b&w hitch...I love my b&w, but the ts3 is likely the very best hitch made imo


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[Montecresto]

Lmao @Vikes79, what happened to your rant....

 

[Montecresto]

Yes it does


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Would you please explain how?

 

[Montecresto]

So etrailer is telling me that these are the two components that are compatible with each other and with my truck and trailer. Anyone see any problems with this??

 

[elkaholic]

What model 5er do you have? What is the gross weight rating on the trailer?


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[elkaholic]

I prefer the B&W companion for Ford Puck hitch ...


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[Montecresto]

What model 5er do you have? What is the gross weight rating on the trailer?


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I have a 2019 Pack325/13 with a GVW of 14,200

 

[elkaholic]

Those will work. My momentum is 16.5K GVWR so those would be undersized for me


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[Vikes79]

Lmao @Vikes79, what happened to your rant....

I decided that pissing on the fire was not a good idea.

Several beliefs about long boxes and super expensive hitches just won’t die despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

 

[Montecresto]

Those will work. My momentum is 16.5K GVWR so those would be undersized for me


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That sidewinder I posted above gets really good reviews, but a small number of people complained of aggravation in backing in to couple requiring repeated attempts as it has to be exactly right for jaw to lock....

Any comment on that?

 

[Montecresto]

I decided that pissing on the fire was not a good idea.

Several beliefs about long boxes and super expensive hitches just won’t die despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Got it.

 

[Montecresto]

I prefer the B&W companion for Ford Puck hitch ...


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Like this?

 

[Vikes79]

Honestly just getting any sliding hitch will do the job. Can use your existing king pin box, just have to remove the gooseneck adapter.

This way you save some coin and only purchase one item.

 

[Vikes79]

Like this?

View attachment 128116

No that is not the companion.

2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty Fifth Wheel Hitch | etrailer.com

All of them in that list would drop into your puck system and are sliders. The BW companion is at the top of the list.

 

[elkaholic]

Like this?

View attachment 128116

Yes except I’d get a 20K

Companion for Ford Pucks | B&W Trailer Hitches

2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Fifth Wheel - B and W


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[elkaholic]

That sidewinder I posted above gets really good reviews, but a small number of people complained of aggravation in backing in to couple requiring repeated attempts as it has to be exactly right for jaw to lock....

Any comment on that?

Nope. Never used one


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[Montecresto]

Honestly just getting any sliding hitch will do the job. Can use your existing king pin box, just have to remove the gooseneck adapter.

This way you save some coin and only purchase one item.

Sure, but as I stated in the op, I’m no big fan of sliders. I realize that people have had success with them, I’ve seen too many guys pull in at Talladega with jacked up sliders and damage to truck and or camper. It’s like the Polaris debate....

The folks at etrailer say hands down the sidewinder with fixed hitch is preferable to the slider, and of course one might argue that’s because they’re in the business of selling these components. But I just personally have a better feeling about a fixed hitch.

Also, I appreciate all of your input in this thread as well as that of the others. It’s served to tie my brain in a knot about this subject....lmao

 

[Montecresto]

Yes except I’d get a 20K

Companion for Ford Pucks | B&W Trailer Hitches

2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty Fifth Wheel - B and W


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Right, for your GVW, but at 14.2 for me the 16K is fine, right? Also, is that hitch height adjustable and cushioned?

 

[elkaholic]

Hitch is height adjustable ...

I follow the idea that the hitch should not be the weak point. I would rather have excess capacity if the costs are similar.


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