Best 5th Wheel HITCH Recommendation for Ford F-350 - Montana Owners Club

HelloFreedom.us · 05-02-2014, 06:56 AM

Hi Forum.

After getting our new-for-us Montana 3400RL last month, yesterday, we got our dream truck, a 2012 Ford F-350 Longbed SuperDuty 6.7L Diesel King Ranch.

It’s loaded up pretty good with everything EXCEPT the hitch. We saw many other trucks with hitches, mostly B&W. Many were rusty. I’m looking at this as a good opportunity to get a good hitch instead of “living with” the hitch that would have already been there.

I have heard a lot of people say Reese is a good hitch. There’s also been mention of getting a “balloon” hitch (?) and other features.

Our Montana is a 3400 and is 37’ long.

What is the Forum’s recommendation for a great fifth wheel hitch, and is Camping World a smart bet for installation?

Thanks again for your contributions.

Brett

WaltandLynne · 05-02-2014, 08:14 AM

We have a Hensley TS3 (that's a "Trailer Saver 3) hitch. It's an air ride hitch with a compressor and inside the cab controls. It's available without the compressor and controls. We had it that way first and it was just fine that way.

We almost never adjust the pressure in the air bags while driving. We are very happy with it and I think it improves the overall ride while we are hitched-up.

Good luck.

Walt

Tom S. · 05-02-2014, 08:24 AM

Anything made of steel will, at sometime, rust. Having said that, Rustoleum and some elbow grease (or an air sander if you have a compressor!) will hold rust at bay. None of the major brand of hitches will do a bad job, but some have features others don't, such as Wayne mentioned. We have a Reese Signature Series, now called the Elite Series, and it's selling point to me was two fold: everyone carries Reese Products so getting parts should they ever be needed won't be an issue, and it can literally be removed from the truck in less than a minute and leaves a nice clean bed with no rails to contend with. The most important factor when buying a hitch is to make sure it exceeds the weight of your trailer. That not only helps from a safety prospective, but later, should you upgrade trailers, you won't need another hitch.

BTW: welcome to the forum!!

JandC · 05-02-2014, 08:28 AM

I have had my Reese for a year on my 2012 F350. There are probably better ones and worse ones out there but I like the way mine works.

BB_TX · 05-02-2014, 09:28 AM

Does the truck have the factory 5th wheel/ gooseneck hitch prep? If so, there are only 3 (I think) that will fit those holes. Reese, Pullrite, and B&W.

If you do not have the factory prep then all options are open.

I have the factory prep in my '12 F350 and the Reese Elite hitch. Had Pullrite been available two years ago for the factory prep I would have bought another Pullrite. Really liked my previous Pullrite Super 5th hitch. Have had no rust issues with the current Reese or the previous Pullrite. But mine do stay covered by my tonneau cover when not in use.

jcurtis934 · 05-02-2014, 10:28 AM

Put in the Reese Elite 18K when I bought my 2012 F350. If I had ordered the truck from Ford, they would have put in the Reese Elite 25K (their std hitch). It lives out in the open and is holding up very well. It is also easy to pull off the top portion of the hitch to do maintenance and to lighten the load when you wish to remove the hitch totally from the bed. Camping World did install my hitch and they did a very good job. John

HelloFreedom.us · 05-02-2014, 11:33 AM

Much appreciation to everybody for your input so far.

Our F-350 has the stock holes drilled in for the hitch, but from the Average MPG mileage shown at 14.3, I'm guessing this never towed a fifth wheel even though it is ready for one.

JCurtis: It sounds like the Reese is a great option. Question: If it is that easy to remove, is there ever a theft danger? Can you lock them effectively?

Thank you,
Brett

Recumbent · 05-02-2014, 01:18 PM

With the holes pre drilled as was our truck the Reese is a good solution. Check with dealer to verify which brands will fit the truck pre drilled hole pattern. The air ride TS3 is probably the best hitch, but since we already had the Trail Air pen box that is found on heavier 5th wheels we got the Reese 25K as part of our trade agreement.

1retired06 · 05-02-2014, 01:21 PM

We have used a Reese 4-way for years with no problems or issues.

jlb27537 · 05-02-2014, 02:09 PM

I have had 2 Reese and now a B&W. I like the B&W better. I feel it clamps around the pin tighter. I also like the way the lever works that closes the jaws better. They have a hitch that will fit the Ford hitch prep package.

Jim

brenkco · 05-02-2014, 02:48 PM

I purchased a B&W online, had it delivered to our campsite and installed it myself. Just about as easy as Legos. I went with the B&W because it was a 20k hitch, pullrite was the same price for an 18k hitch. Reese was much more expensive.

Btw, it's easy to take out too!
Ken

mlh · 05-02-2014, 03:17 PM

B&W
Lynwood

CORattler · 05-02-2014, 03:36 PM

I'm assuming you have a long bed in which case I'd recommend a Hensley. Short bed... Superglide, hands down. Goood luck with whatever you choose.

CORattler · 05-02-2014, 03:36 PM

I'm assuming you have a long bed in which case I'd recommend a Hensley. Short bed... Superglide, hands down. Goood luck with whatever you choose.

BB_TX · 05-02-2014, 04:51 PM

Here is a picture of the Reese Elite 18K hitch before I had a spray in bed liner installed. There is a pin at each corner that drops into the factory hitch prep installed below the bed. Each pin has an arm that you turn to lock it in place. And an extension on each arm comes out thru each side at the bottom that you can put a padlock on. There is only a spring clip on mine in the picture.
You can also see the larger center hole for a gooseneck ball to drop in.

B&W hitch also fits the factory prep. As does Pullrite.

You can see how each one has the same type pins at each corner to drop into the Ford factory prep. Easy to remove and leave a flat bed.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

WeBeFulltime · 05-03-2014, 01:23 AM

Had a Reese and HATED it........banged, creaked, & popped all the time. Called it my "Rice Krispies" hitch. Got rid of it and bought a B & W. Love the B & W.

JandC · 05-03-2014, 02:16 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime

Had a Reese and HATED it........banged, creaked, & popped all the time. Called it my "Rice Krispies" hitch. Got rid of it and bought a B & W. Love the B & W.

I totally agree. Even though I trust my Reese it is loud and for awhile made me think it was coming apart. I am used to it now.

Tom S. · 05-03-2014, 06:08 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by WeBeFulltime

Had a Reese and HATED it........banged, creaked, & popped all the time. Called it my "Rice Krispies" hitch. Got rid of it and bought a B & W. Love the B & W.

Which Reese? They make a couple different models.

HelloFreedom.us · 05-03-2014, 07:23 AM

Thanks for these valuable opinions.

Many Reese and B&W recommendations.

A few non-positive "noisy" reviews on the Reese.

Nothing positive/negative for Husky or the Pullrite "Super" fifth wheel hitches other than Pullrite conforms to the Ford pre-drilled hole-set.

Camping World for some reason does not sell B&W. It was my intention to have Camping World put in the hitch since they have support nationwide.

As a complete newbie, I'm wanting to opt for the user-friendly option that will have a sure-fire way for me to know that I've done it right.

boat391 · 05-03-2014, 08:22 AM

We went with a B&W hitch with the new truck had a Reese hated the rails in the bed the B&W fits into the goose neck hole with the companion hitch on top. The companion hitch comes out in two pieces so it easy to handle you need to use a torque wrench when reinstalling but it pretty easy to do. I need my truck for many things so my hitch is in and out a lot. Hope this helps and welcome to the forums.

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