What hitches are you guys using with the hitch prep already installed. I had a slider on my old truck and hated it. Do they make some type of adapter that will give you the rails above the bed to allow you to install any hitch of your choice. I can seem to find anything like that other then the trailer saver and I believe that adapter only works with there hitches. Thanks for any help.

 

The Reese Elite series is the only series that matches up to the stock 5th wheel prep package. If I had the option of ordering my truck this is the route I would have gone too, but that wasn't in the cards.

I have not heard of an adapter to standard bed rails, but someone else may be able to offer more information.

The B&W turnover is the route I'm going. This takes the bed rails out of the equation, gives both a gooseneck and 5th platform (with the 5th hitch box option, fits in the same hole as the gooseneck), and the bed is free from obstructions when not in use. The puck idea in the stock 5th wheel prep package would be ideal, but at this point it would be more money and install time than its worth for me.

 

My truck did not come with the hitch prep package. I looked at the Reese elite system, to do on the truck, but for me it did not appear as good and functional as the B & W and was considerably more expensive. For me I currently use a gooseneck hitch as the primary hitch that I pull. I pull two different gooseneck trailers, one flat bed power dove tail, and an enclosed 24' trailer that I use for tools. It was my goal to add the fifth wheel for recreational use, and the b&w appears as a much cleaner and user friendly application in my opinion. Not that I didn't want the prep package if I had a choice to order it. But now after the fact not having it in my truck, I am not disappointed that I didn't get it from the factory.

Good luck, I am sure the Reese is a good system as well.

 

Ok well this is the hitch and adapter that I found. Not cheap but from what I hear it is awesome! I met a guy that is retired and camps full time and he has this hitch in a Dodge and says it is awesome.

http://www.trailersaver.com/products.php

 

A few years ago I drove long-haul for a car dealership, F350 DRW and a 2-car wedge trailer. I was all over the eastern half of the US. I loved it. I like traveling a lot to begin with, and I was on the road for work - even better! My personal truck at the time was a 2003 Silverado 1500 Z71. I always thought it was like jumping in to a pillow at the end of a trek compared to the work truck. I attribute a lot of the "stress" over the road to the stiffness of the rig. I distinctly remember the gooseneck slapping and jerking. Maybe most rigs don't do that, but when you essentially have a car sitting on top of a hitch and ball over the bed it tends to knock around a bit. I would love to compare the rigid hitch I had to the air ride setups like these. There's a few variations - the hitch plate, pin box, gooseneck, 5th wheel frame, or the 5th to goose air cushion adapters. I'd be curious how they all compare.

 

I put the Reese elite system in myself after I got the truck. I use the 18k fifth wheel with it. I used the b&w in my dodge before this and for my situation (fifth wheel hitch is in from Friday night until Sunday afternoon) I like the Reese much more. It would be best if you could see both in action in person.

 

I went with the Reese also. I have a long bed and got the fifth wheel prep package. I takes less than five min to put it in and take out. I think I spent $1600 on it but it is a clean setup.

 

I have the factory prep and am using a Hensley BD3 air ride hitch (pricey)
Hensley makes an adapter plate that will allow the ford under bed kit to mate with any hitch that uses standard slotted rails.

The adapter is not cheap, but it is well made.

 

I have the Factory prep and 18,000 pound Reese Elite hitch. It is easy to put in but much heavier than my prior hitch on my old truck. If weight is a issue I would probably go with another option.

 

I have the Reese Elite 18k also. I really like how quick you can pull it in and out! That said air would be great so I think I am going to get an air pin box.

 

Porthole you have the set up I am looking at! How do you like it. To be honest the price difference between the Hensley vs Reese isn't that much more considering what you spent on the truck. What did the package cost if you don't mind me asking?

 

Reese makes their own adaptor for the Elite/Ford underbed system.

Reese Rail Kit Mounting Adapter Reese Accessories and Parts RP30156

 

That's a lot cheaper than the Hensley adapter!

 

3K with a compressor, delivered.



It is about 150 cheaper, but it was not available last spring when I was researching hitches.

 

Yep....I know all too well as I have the Hensley in the bed of my F350!