Ok…I recently received my 2022 F-350 SRW Long bed Lariat Diesel. Like many I left the 5th wheel prep, and bedliner, off the order to get it done. btw..ordered 2/11/2022 and received 8/22/2022….

Now I am looking at picking up a 38’ Solitude 5th wheel and need to figure out what is best option for reasonable $ for a hitch. (Btw…in the Denver area) I have read so many posts that my head is spinning. Many need a slider for a SB but I have a LB. Some say you don’t need prep package for SRW max weight. Also…install before or after I get bedliner sprayed? I have little knowledge of any of this. So…please…those with knowledge what do you think is best?? Thanks in advance!

 

You don't need a slider on a long bed. With all you have already invested don't cheap out on your hitch.

 

I know I don’t need a slider…but I do need specific recommendations. I don’t plan on cheaping out on the hitch but that doesn’t mean unlimited budget for minimal gain.

 

Since you don't have the factory puck system, I would say have the B&W turnover installed and use their companion hitch that mounts in the gooseneck hole. I have a friend that uses that setup and likes it. He was able to find the companion hitch on Marketplace for cheap from someone who had used it a couple times then sold their fifth wheel.

Edit:

After seeing what @johnrg replied, I would probably go that way if it were me. Install a gooseneck hitch in the truck (factory or b&w turnover like I mentioned above), then install the gooseneck pin box on your fifth wheel. No heavy hitch to lift out. I have another friend that uses the Reese goose box (because it came with his fifth wheel) and he said he'll have the same thing when he gets a new one. And he's even using it in a short bed so with your long bed, it'd be even better.

 

If it were me I'd go with the Ford OEM 5th wheel/gooseneck prep package. If you're inclined to install it yourself there are some good YouTube videos that show how to do it. I think there are threads here where people have reported it's not a difficult job, you just need a few people or a hoist to lift the bed off. Alternatively you can have it installed by a dealer. Looks like Ford accessories are 20% off right now up to $1000, or you might find a good deal at your dealer or one of the Ford dealers (Fairway Ford) who sell accessories online at a discount.

After that your truck will take any of a number of hitches designed for the Ford puck system. I have the B&W companion hitch and really like it. It's heavy but you lift it in and out in 2 pieces so it's not bad. I believe Curt and Reese have similar hitches. You could also go the gooseneck route, which takes up almost no space in your bed and is much easier to take in and out. The downside to a gooseneck setup is you'd have to replace the pinbox on your 5th wheel with a Reese Goosebox, Gen-Y, or similar. You may not find a gooseneck as easy to hitch up, either, but people report a smoother towing experience since the Reese Goosebox has a built-in airbag.

Anyway, hope that helps. I'm sure others will post with more good suggestions.

 

You must be really desperate for this advice since you posted this thread twice!

Easiest thing to do is a bed rail system, but that leaves the rails in the bed all the time, they would then be in the way for loading stuff in the bed.
Next would be to use a under bed gooseneck hitch system, which would require just one large hole in the center of the bed, but would require your 5th wheel to be converted to accept the gooseneck connection.
Next option is a factory style under bed "Puck" 5th wheel hitch mounting system, this is the most expensive and most involved for install, but is what you would have gotten from Ford if you had the option on your truck.

As to the actual hitch itself, there are MANY good alternatives out there, starting at about $750.

If you wre looking to have the hitch system installed by a shop, most good RV trailer dealers can do the whole job for you and supply all parts and the hitch.

 

Ok Shred.

I have a single rear wheel long bed crew cab and a fifth wheel.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Have a B&W Turnover Ball installed in your bed complete with the electrical hook up on the side of the bed. Now you have a gooseneck ball in your bed that you can turnover and store it upside down when you want to slide things into your bed.

2. Have the pinbox on your 5th wheel replaced/upgraded with a Reese Goosebox. This does TWO things for you.
A. It gives you a little airbag in the pin of your trailer and a VERY nice additional amount of suspension for the trailer on the truck AND stops a lot of the chucking you'll feel
B. Secondly you'll have a fifth wheel that connects to your truck with a gooseneck connection rather than the 5th wheel connection. The fifth wheel connection will cause you to have to go out and buy a fifth wheel plate like the B&W Companion which is great gear, but it weights 300 pounds and takes up your whole bed

 

Oh and by the way Shred......

I still have my B&W Companion 5th wheel plate in my garage. Nice $1,000 paperweight.

With the Reese Goosebox also, since the whole set up weighs less than a regular pinbox 5th wheel pin and B&W Companion, you'll have several hundred pounds of payload freed back up for you as well.

I'll never roll any other way

 

So if you know you don't need a slider why even bring it up in the OP? What has your research come up with? Go on etrailer and do some homework for your set up.

 

I merged both threads. The other thread had zero responses.

If you can find a Ford OEM / Accessories 5th wheel / gooseneck prep kit for under $800, then that is the route that will offer the best mechanical integration with your truck frame, and will offer the most choices as far as 5th wheel hitches are concerned, including being able to choose the puck mounted version of B&W's Companion hitch, that has no contact with the bed floor in the form of skids, but instead uses the frame mounted pucks as the peripheral bearing points.

B&W is a fantastic company, that makes reliable products right here in the United States. The same cannot be said for Ford. However, the Ford underbed hitch platform structure does not present any issues when servicing the right rear shock absorber, and the puck system enables all sorts of hitch possibilities, including air ride fifth wheel hitches by TrailerSaver, such as the BD3 and BD5.

The B&W turnover ball, when turned over and stored in the pocket, can get stuck in that pocket... and it happens often enough for B&W to post an FAQ that includes various solutions to get the upside down stored ball unstuck, the most drastic of which involves unbolting the center section and hydraulically pressing it out. B&W specifically forbids heating and beating, due to heat changing the temper of the steel, and beating (as opposed to tapping) causing damage. I've encountered stuck B&W *****, and I think the most extreme solution I ever seen was someone using a shop crane to pluck the stuck the ball out after a day of soaking it with penetrating oil.

Still, the B&W system offers a 4" set back ball, and used to offer a farming implement as well as a truck rack option that fit in the socket in lieu of the ball (discontinued). But on an SRW long bed pickup, there is no scenario where one would want the ball pivot point aft of axle, so there is no need for the 4" set back ball option. As for a 3" spherical ball, I believe that both Ford and B&W offer these as options. Yet, a trailer that requires a 3" ball is likely too much trailer for an SRW.

Currently, the B&W GNRK1116 for 2017-2022 Ford Super Duty pickups runs about $700.00, so if one could obtain the Ford factory prep kit for under $800, (I've seen them advertised for $750) the Ford underbed kit would offer OEM mechanical integration with the frame and bed, combined with a much broader selection of 5th wheel hitch choices, including B&W's own famous 5th wheel hitch.

 

If you end up wanting to get the factory prep kit, I have one sitting, unopened, in my garage that I need to get rid of. I'm in Lafayette, so not too far away. I paid $660 for it (including tax) and you can have it for that.

 

These are all great recommendations, but I would add one additional option - Reese Goosebox. It will essentially keep your bed clean of hardware since the only thing you need in your bed is a gooseneck hitch ball. It will require swapping the king pin on the 5th wheel though. If it was my choice, I would go with the OEM Ford gooseneck / puck system or a B&W turnover ball as recommended above. Then put the Reese Goosebox on the 5th wheel trailer.

Edit: Also wanted to add, the Reese Goosebox is good up to 20k lbs. So if you're over that, you'll want to go with a traditional king pin hitch.

 

If the trailer he's looking at is over 20k then he has the wrong truck to tow it with!

 

Sorry for double post. I didn’t mean to.

Thanks for discussion so far.

My truck has 21,700 tow limit for gooseneck and 19,000 for 5th wheel. I’m under both by a fair amount.

so….it sounds like either the B&W turnover ball or factory prep kit? The turnover ball sounds easy when coupled with the Goosebox if I don’t want to leave a 5th wheel hitch left in the back and want easy use of whole bed between tows. What are the disadvantages of this system if under 20k. Cost is one….Goosebox is $1500-2000 vs $700-1000 5th wheel hitch(which is roughly equal to the cost of a turnover ball system). Is the ride worse? Harder to hook up?

…or factory prep and standard hitch that is sort of a pain to put in and take out of bed but cost less. Does it tow better? Or?..

Thanks again!

 

99% this!

however, I would have the factory puck system installed and use a gooseball there with the Reese goosebox.

reason? The Turnover ball is great, until you need to change rear shocks. It actually blocks the rear passenger shock from being taken off - so you have to under 6 bolts at 110lb ft along the cross member of the turnover ball and then reinstall afterwards with the help of a jack.

my shocks took me 2 additional hours to replace. My current truck is now factory puck with BW gooseball and Reese Goosebox for fifthwheel camper.