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03-01-2011, 11:15 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Newberry
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #11189
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Ford pre-installed hitch prep
Ford is offering an option for a prep kit for 5th wheel hitches where they laser cut the bed and install rails and wiring. Runs around $350. They also sell the Reese Elite hitch for $1700 to go with it but at the RV Show this weekend the Reese rep says they sell the same hitch for $800.
You seem to be limited to the Reese hitch right now unless some other manufacturers have added compatible hitches. Any thoughts on this? I have no idea what it costs to have a hitch install but I'm guessing more than $350. But then it seems to limit your options after that.
I'm in the process of upgrading my F150 to a F350 and getting a Montana to hang on it. We have a TT right now. So I am completely new at this 5ver stuff.
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03-01-2011, 12:44 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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When we traded our 97 Silverado for a 2001 I removed the rails and brackets myself and took everything to our local dealer and they installed the hitch and wired the new truck for $150 (adjust for inflation). The Silverado came with a wiring harness for a camper so all they had to do was plug into that
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03-01-2011, 01:14 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Newberry
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #11189
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Well looking around on eTrailer it seems that the rails are below the bed of the truck leaving you a flat bed when you pull the hitch off. But it seems that only the Reece Elite will fit since they designed it with a proprietary attachment system, eTrailer seems to be selling the Elite 18000 pound hitch for $1300 so I'm confused about the price.
Isn't that expensive for a hitch?
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03-01-2011, 01:25 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Newberry
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #11189
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But then I guess not, Hensley is selling and adapter kit for their TrailerSaver air hitch. There are some videos up on youtube.
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03-01-2011, 01:51 PM
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#5
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Eau Claire
Posts: 62
M.O.C. #10907
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It is true, only the Reese Elite will fit due to the design of the preparation kit. If you don't want the Reese hitch you might be better off without the prep kit is the conclusion I came to with my dealer. You do loose the 5vr plug in the bed of the truck though.
I went with the complete package warranted by Ford. Given the $$$$ I'm spending on the truck, I wanted the entire solution. I calculated I spent about $500 extra going this route, but the design is really nice. Get the dealer to show you prep setup in their book, I was impressed by the design.
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03-01-2011, 02:18 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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When we bought our first fifth wheel, the dealer sold us the hitch at cost and did the installation for free. Don't be afraid to make that be part of the deal.
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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03-02-2011, 01:02 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
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In March of 09 we had a hitch, brake controller, and plug installed in the bed. Labor for everything $200. Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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03-02-2011, 03:08 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
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On our truck, we originally had a Draw-Tite hitch that fit in the Reese rails. When we changed to the TrailerSaver hitch, it fit in the same rails without any changes. It would appear to me that if you have the Reese preparation done you would be okay. Am I missing something?
Orv
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03-02-2011, 03:16 AM
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#9
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Newberry
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #11189
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Hensley has a video up that shows a conversion kit, a snap in rack that lets you use the trailersaver. It only took a minute or so to install it so it could be removed with the hitch and you'd still get the flat truck bed.
Is the Trailersaver better than the Reese hitch? Does it eliminate the need for something like the mor ryde?
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03-02-2011, 06:53 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,783
M.O.C. #10246
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Relative to the "high" price for the Reese hitch, I think the hitch Ford provides is the 24k model vs the 18k model. Not sure of this, but I believe I saw on this forum someone got the package from Ford and it included the 24k model.
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03-02-2011, 10:49 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by agesilaus
Hensley has a video up that shows a conversion kit, a snap in rack that lets you use the trailersaver. It only took a minute or so to install it so it could be removed with the hitch and you'd still get the flat truck bed.
Is the Trailersaver better than the Reese hitch? Does it eliminate the need for something like the mor ryde?
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No hitch is "better" than any other one. The hitch that's best is the one that suits you, the owner. I can't take my TrailerSaver hitch out easily because it's too heavy and it is really torqued down to the rails. You don't need anything like the MOR/ryde for the king pin if using the TrailerSaver.
Orv
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03-02-2011, 11:23 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Grain valley
Posts: 356
M.O.C. #5098
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The hitch that Ford is providing (At a Cost) is actually stated as a 25K hitch. It looks much like the 18 and 24k hitch and I put a Blue Ox bed saver on mine that was for a a 18k or 24k hitch. Don't know what is different to increase capacity to the 25k.
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