Lighter AutoSlide Hitch or Goose Neck - Montana Owners Club

kozzy · 10-14-2016, 01:13 PM

I currently have the Pull Rite auto slide hitch, love it!! except the weight of it , its a bigg in. SO does anyone now of a lighter model AUTO SLIDE? I know there are lighter manual sliders, I had a Reese, love that too, but that damn auto slide feature is fantastic. So looking for the same type of thing, auto slide, but lighter. I have also though of maybe converting over to a goose neck, have no experience with that though. Can I use a goose neck with a short box? Will a goose neck be just as secure as a fifth wheel hitch?

mlh · 10-14-2016, 01:36 PM

A goose neck is just secure as a fifth wheel and I would much rather have one except I don't think you can get an air ride in one and most will void your frame warranty.
Lynwood

**Rondo** · 10-14-2016, 01:53 PM

I don't recommend the gooseneck set up. If you look at the framework of a gooseneck trailer you will see just how heavy they are and how much they are reinforced for the weight put on it. If you change over to a gooseneck you MIGHT even void your warranty in the way of front framework. If you have been to the factory to tour how they units are made, you would see how they are put together but not strong enough to support the unit with a gooseneck as the pinbox. Before doing so I would contact Keystone and see if it does void the warranty. I've seen flame flex with the regular and the Mor/Ryde hitchs and the gooseneck puts even more pressure on the frame and could cause the frame flex even faster. Let us know what you come up with.

mlh · 10-14-2016, 02:12 PM

Like Ron said a goose neck puts a lot more stress on frame. They in general are longer than a fifth wheel. The farther you get from the frame the more torque you put on the steel frame. These frames are thin to make more head room up front and aren't very strong to begin with.
Lynwood

1retired06 · 10-14-2016, 02:15 PM

I would not recommend using a goose neck, some do, not us.

kozzy · 10-14-2016, 02:17 PM

Ok forget the goose neck. On to finding a lighter auto slide hitch.

mlh · 10-14-2016, 02:41 PM

I'm sorry that is above my pay grade.
Lynwood

WeBeFulltime · 10-15-2016, 02:35 AM

Not a slider but Andersen Hitches are getting great reviews.

BB_TX · 10-15-2016, 05:47 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime

Not a slider but Andersen Hitches are getting great reviews.

They definitely have. But there have also been some recent posts about them causing some bed damage. And one person posting pics of a pin box plate failure due to the way the adapter stresses the pin box. The Andersen is fairly new, so this could be that the problems are just beginning to show up.

kozzy · 10-15-2016, 09:51 AM

I def need to have a slider, I have a short box truck.
Im trying to look all over, I can find plenty of manual slide hitches, but the auto sliders are tough, and make it are so convenient...

h2ojocky · 10-18-2016, 06:32 PM

I have the Superglide auto slide and love it. It is heavy but I just mounted a cheap ATV winch from the header in my garage. Pushing the button doesn't hurt my back at all

**Rondo** · 10-18-2016, 06:45 PM

I have a short bed Chevy and have had no problems at all. I don't have an auto slide but have a manual Reese slider and actually have not used it one time since I got the 2013 Montana with the new front cap. If you are careful on your turns and don't try and make a sharp 90 you'll be fine with a manual slider. If you do need to slide the hitch, it's not a problem at all as long as you keep your rails lubed.

kozzy · 10-23-2016, 10:53 AM

Yeah I had the reese manual slide, great hitch. I got the auto slide when I had to get a higher rated hitch, and love it, just hate the weight of it.
trade off I guess.
Places we camp this year were tight for the monty, not all of them are big rig friendly, so it slides a lot...

TLightning · 10-24-2016, 09:52 AM

Agree with the others, do not get a goose neck. RVs are not built to be towed in that manner.

woodman · 10-24-2016, 05:00 PM

You didn't mention which model PullRite you have. For my short box, I chose the 16K 4100 PullRite super-glide which weighs about 180#. The 20K 4400 weighs about 215#. For most Montana 5th wheels, you really don't need a heavier hitch. The rails, pins, brackets and posts weigh between 50-85#. The glider is a game changer and one less thing to be concerned about when making short turns. I don't know if there is a lighter unit manufactured by another corp., but I would be cautious as to what their rating would be or their ease of handling turns. As you know, one of the main features is that the parts of the hitch can be detached into separate components, for easier handling, plus ours has the pins which connect to the mainframe of the truck, thus the truck box is clear of any rales once the hitch is removed. My wife assists me with getting the hitch to the truck and I take it from there. It's not easy, but I can manage with good body mechanics. As one other MOC member mentioned earlier, a winch or a pulley system overhead may ease the burden of lifting the hitch, or you could find a friend to help.

captl27 · 10-25-2016, 02:44 AM

I think the Super glide slider is a great and durable hitch I have mine since 2004. When I am finished with my fifth wheel for the season I lift it out of the truck with the hydraulics on the camper and leave it hanging on the pin and cover it. I use a strap to hold up the back end of the hitch to keep it even when I lift.

kozzy · 10-25-2016, 10:20 AM

I have the 18k model since the GVWR of my Monty is over 16k. I love the hitch. It's great. My truck has the OEM fifth wheel kit so my bed is clear when I remove the hitch. The only part I can take off is the head hich is about 40 lbs. the rest still weights about 210 lbs not counting the rail adaptor. I have heard lard peopl using the trailer hydraulics lifting it out I just don't want to leave it hanging ther. I just don't like to leave the hitch in the truck when not towing. Gets in the way. I did that this season but I'd rather leave it out. Pull rite just came out with a new hitch. Weighs 50lbs. It's basically an upside down goose neck and sleeve style supposed to be the cats ass. I'm looking into it for next season as a possible replacement. It's not a slide but by design I might not need it. Looking into it now. Only 600 bucks too. Trailer life just did a review on it this month and it got great reviews. Might be the answer I'm looking for. Much easier to hook and unhook too. No more needing to be in a perfect line. Guys check out their website. I'd love to hear what u guys think.

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