5th wheel hitch
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Joined: Jun 2011
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5th wheel hitch
I have a 2008 F250SD with the PSD and my wife and I are starting to think about a 5th wheel camper. Just wanted to get some thoughts on who's hitch to purchase. I also want one that is easy to get in an out because I don't want to lose my bed when not towing. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I have a 2008 F250SD with the PSD and my wife and I are starting to think about a 5th wheel camper. Just wanted to get some thoughts on who's hitch to purchase. I also want one that is easy to get in an out because I don't want to lose my bed when not towing. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Me? The rails don't bother me and I just pull with a basic Reese Pro and leave it at that.
Steve
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 344
From: Breckenridge, TX
Reese if you don't mind the rails, B&W Turnover Gooseneck ball with compqanion 5ver if you're worried about a level bed. PullRite makes an automatic slider that's supposed to be pretty sweet, you'll probably want a slider anyways if you have a short bed truck,just because it's easier sometimes.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 239
Likes: 100
I'll vote for the B&W. My last truck had the Reese rails, and they were a PITA whenever I made a dump run or picked up a load of gravel. Everything gets inside of the rails making it impossible to re-install the hitch. I got tired of removing them all the time to clean them out. When I bought my current truck I sold my Reese hitch and installed the B&W. It was worth the cost to upgrade and I would never go back.
I had the regular style Reese hitch (not the Elite series) and it was built with a lot of play between the moving parts, which caused a very annoying clunk everytime I would take off or hit the brakes. The B&W is very tight and has no play at all.
Also, if you are installing the hitch yourself the B&W is way easier. For the Reese you have to drill 10 carefully positioned 1/2" holes in the bed, and then 8 more 17/32" holes through the frame, which is a whole lot of fun drilling through armor plated Ford steel. With the B&W you only have to cut a 4" hole in the bed sheet metal with a jigsaw and everything else bolts right through existing holes in the frame.
The only drawback is if you have a short bed. The B&W has no slider mechanism and you can't use an extender like the Sidewinder with it.
I had the regular style Reese hitch (not the Elite series) and it was built with a lot of play between the moving parts, which caused a very annoying clunk everytime I would take off or hit the brakes. The B&W is very tight and has no play at all.
Also, if you are installing the hitch yourself the B&W is way easier. For the Reese you have to drill 10 carefully positioned 1/2" holes in the bed, and then 8 more 17/32" holes through the frame, which is a whole lot of fun drilling through armor plated Ford steel. With the B&W you only have to cut a 4" hole in the bed sheet metal with a jigsaw and everything else bolts right through existing holes in the frame.
The only drawback is if you have a short bed. The B&W has no slider mechanism and you can't use an extender like the Sidewinder with it.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 62
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From: CT
I have the 15K SuperGlide by Pullrite and couldn't be happier. I installed this into the pre-existing bed rails that I had from my standard Reese hitch. The Reese was not a slider and I was not comfortable with the F250 and my Wildcat (previously had a Silverado and there was a bit more clearance between the cab and trailer). I installed this in February 2010, and I think the price has dropped since then, I would take a look at that.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 153
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I have the 15K SuperGlide by Pullrite and couldn't be happier. I installed this into the pre-existing bed rails that I had from my standard Reese hitch. The Reese was not a slider and I was not comfortable with the F250 and my Wildcat (previously had a Silverado and there was a bit more clearance between the cab and trailer). I installed this in February 2010, and I think the price has dropped since then, I would take a look at that.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2009
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I have a 2008 F250SD with the PSD and my wife and I are starting to think about a 5th wheel camper. Just wanted to get some thoughts on who's hitch to purchase. I also want one that is easy to get in an out because I don't want to lose my bed when not towing. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 722
Likes: 22
From: New Orleans to San Diego
I have the Husky hitch that has rails under the bed and with quick release claws you can remove the hitch with nothing exposed. Check out campingworld for reese and husky hitches as a start
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 24
From: Houston
I use the Pullrite SuperGlide with rails under the bed. It leaves the bed clear when I remove it. If I didn't need a slider I would more than likely go with the B&W Companion. There are quite a few hitches out there that don't leave rails in the bed.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,379
Likes: 1,862
From: Frederick, MD
I have a reese signature series 18K slider. It is a hidden hitch system so when removed the truck bed is flat.
I have rubber pucks that plug the holes.
It is heavy but is not a problem.
I have rubber pucks that plug the holes.
It is heavy but is not a problem.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
I've used four different brands over the last nearly 20 years. I prefer the "bar" type to the "clam-shell" (attachment to king-pin). I prefer 4 way tilt-heads to 2 way. I prefer no rails to rails (see above for why)
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