Best 5th wheel hitch

[jstadler]

Just curious which fight wheel hitch do most people like. I have one that hitches poorly after proper adjustment and is a real pain. I have a F350 with the Ford Prep in the truck 8' box.

Thanks,

John

[Last2Die]

Search the forum this has been asked many times. Lots of information here just use the search feature.

[jstadler]

I did there seems to be as many opinions as options. I was hand hoped there would be more sponsors for the B&W hitch. I need a reliable and consistent hitching hitch. It takes me 6 tires every time I try to hitch to lock up on a Demco.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by jstadler

I did there seems to be as many opinions as options. I was hand hoped there would be more sponsors for the B&W hitch. I need a reliable and consistent hitching hitch. It takes me 6 tires every time I try to hitch to lock up on a Demco.

There are a bunch of B&W fans here. Also Curt and Anderson. With a long bed a B&W is great as long as you don't want to remove it too often. It is heavy.

[Mikendebbie]

The main consideration for me was ease of removal by myself. Years ago I had one that weighed what seemed like 1 million pounds but with the help of my youngest son (who was still getting free room and board at the time) we could get the thing out. I use a Demco Recon now and I have been pleased with it. No frills but easy to install and remove and hook up/un-hook.

[jstadler]

Thanks the Demco is 225 I think you can remove the head on the B&W and make the hitch manageable to install. Thanks

[prndl]

Originally Posted by jstadler

I did there seems to be as many opinions as options. I was hand hoped there would be more sponsors for the B&W hitch. I need a reliable and consistent hitching hitch. It takes me 6 tires every time I try to hitch to lock up on a Demco.

I have a Demco Recon. I bought it because it has BOTH wrap around jaws and a sliding bar. Once hitched it will take an act of God to come loose.

I use it with a Sidewinder kingpin, I must be close to right on in the angle I come in at as I have an indexing plate for the sidewinder.

I suggest that if you are having trouble hitching you might try to have your kingpin plate slightly lower than the hitch and then have it ride up on the hitch when loading. If too high or too low you will have problems with any brand hitch.

[beeje]

Originally Posted by jstadler

I did there seems to be as many opinions as options. I was hand hoped there would be more sponsors for the B&W hitch. I need a reliable and consistent hitching hitch. It takes me 6 tires every time I try to hitch to lock up on a Demco.

My Curt Q24 hitches on the first try 100% of the time. No lever to pull before hand, set pin box slightly lower and back right on in until you hear it click. Flip over a locking tab and insert a pin, done.

And it did not cost a fortune. At the time (2015) in was like $550 delivered.

[R.S.O'Donnell]

Ford branded Reese Elite 27.5k. Bought it "new used" for $450. No complaints whatsoever.

[Garymyro]

I have a B&W and best hitch I have owned. On a 2020 GMC 3500 Denali short box.

[whitesub93]

B & W companion and Ram puck system. Works great and made in the USA !!!
That said....to each his own. Whatever keeps your cows in the pasture.

[Rick Leary]

My two cents.. I was a B&W Companion hitch fan and user for a number of years. At least until I rear ended a Jeep Wrangler at 20 MPH. My fault. But that's an interesting story for a different day. Near pristine 2001 F350 Lariet Crew Cab DRW 7.3 Pulling a 36' Heartland 5th. I believe the B&W should have faired better but the rail on either side of the hitch rolled up, front and rear, and looked like a rocking chair. The hitch damage was substantial and only a few hundred dollars less than the minor damage to the truck. I still like the B&W line.. alot.. but perhaps the companion design just wasn't robust enough for me . I have a Curt now and so far so good.

[sourdough]

This is not to resurrect the discussion about the Andersen being "not what it's cracked up to be" or "too light", just some observations.

Post 18 posts some unclear pictures of an accident involving a guy that ran into a stalled car - mistake. There are unclear pictures of some of the damage including damage to the Andersen hitch. It would be easy to then say "it's too light" or "not what it's cracked up to be" but I would say there is more to the story than what the guy that had the accident said.

If you pull up the facebook post he made with much better pictures it is clear that the ball did not shear; neither the bottom or the top. It is clear the bottom of the hitch pulled off the ball in the bed. It is also clear that the red adapter on the king pin pulled off the top ball. Hitch failure? Owner failure? There is a very robust lock pin that goes in the bottom connection, just like a Demco or other brand. There is also a locking pin that has to be activated to lock the adapter to the kingpin. A failure to do either would result in what those pictures show (actually probably the bottom pin). So hitch failure? Owner failure (after the failure to observe/stop for the stalled vehicle)? I've seen pics of accidents much worse than those facebook pics and the Andersen held so I'm going with the latter.

I do not want to start the previous conversation on these hitches, everyone likes what they like. I would just encourage folks to not jump to conclusions based on blurry pictures or any other preconceived perceptions and think through a situation. JMO

[Last2Die]

And I’m sure you will get many opinions on this thread too. Since you have one it seems your gripe now is it takes 6 tries to hitch up. Why..?

Most of us are partial to what we have so the more information you provide the better the replies.

[Last2Die]

This is off topic but when I was in SC I saw people that unhitched their heavy 5th wheel hitch buy just unsecuring from the bed and lifting it off still connected, dangling on the pin box. Safe..?

[Texan]

Originally Posted by Last2Die

This is off topic but when I was in SC I saw people that unhitched their heavy 5th wheel hitch buy just unsecuring from the bed and lifting it off still connected, dangling on the pin box. Safe..?

I have the Hensley TS-3 air-bag hitch and i believe it weighs 240 pounds. I mount it in my truck using my tractor's front end loader. Hensley recommends lifting the hitch off the truck using your hydraulic jack so i would assume it is safe but fortunately i don't have to do it that way.

[beeje]

Originally Posted by Last2Die

This is off topic but when I was in SC I saw people that unhitched their heavy 5th wheel hitch buy just unsecuring from the bed and lifting it off still connected, dangling on the pin box. Safe..?

Hey last2die, It appears the bean counters closed the other hitch thread we were involved in. I sent you a pm, don't know if you got it. But anyway, here is a pic of a Facebook post of a failed Anderson hitch. Search his name and you should find it and the story behind it.

Everyone, be aware of the (light weight) Anderson hitches in an accident/emergency situation. They are NOT what they are cracked up to be.

[masterdrago]

Originally Posted by Last2Die

This is off topic but when I was in SC I saw people that unhitched their heavy 5th wheel hitch buy just unsecuring from the bed and lifting it off still connected, dangling on the pin box. Safe..?

I emailed Lippert and they recommended to not do that. I could not imagine why 200# hanging on the hitch would cause any issues.

[Last2Die]

Originally Posted by masterdrago

I emailed Lippert and they recommended to not do that. I could not imagine why 200# hanging on the hitch would cause any issues.

Yeah I didn’t think it was a good idea lol. But there was a lot of people doing it. Personally I wouldn’t but good to know it is not recommended by the manufacturer!! Thank you for looking into it and providing the answer.

Tony

[Charlie North]

I guess I am a little surprised no one here is using any of the Air Safe hitches. We have an Omni 20. The air bags on the floating hitch base provide the best pulling experience we have had in our 12+ years dragging a 5th wheel over some of the worst US highways. Downside - the hitch is quite heavy, definitely a 2 man lift to get it in or out (we leave it in) and it is on the pricey side. Their website is https://airsafehitches.com/5th-wheel-hitch/