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Old 08-09-2020, 03:37 PM   #1
jstadler
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Best 5th wheel hitch

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
 
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Old 08-09-2020, 03:49 PM   #2
Last2Die
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Search the forum this has been asked many times. Lots of information here just use the search feature.
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Old 08-09-2020, 03:54 PM   #3
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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.
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Old 08-09-2020, 04:08 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 08-09-2020, 04:21 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jstadler View Post
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.
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Old 08-09-2020, 04:34 PM   #6
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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.
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Old 08-09-2020, 04:43 PM   #7
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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..?
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Old 08-09-2020, 04:54 PM   #8
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Thanks the Demco is 225 I think you can remove the head on the B&W and make the hitch manageable to install. Thanks
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Old 08-09-2020, 05:04 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jstadler View Post
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.
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Old 08-09-2020, 10:57 PM   #10
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I was looking for info on hitch stability and found this thread. My first 5th wheeler. Had a Recon put on my short flat bed F350. Scratched the cap my first trip. Had an extended air ride pin box put on the trailer. I'm happy with the turning radius but it doesn't seem as stable as my previous bumper pull when driving in a little crosswind. Since I have a recessed ball hitch I'm wondering if an offset extended ball adapter to pin hitch would be just as stable and a lot easier to install and remove than the Recon. Anyone using one of the ball adapter style offset hitches?
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Old 08-09-2020, 11:01 PM   #11
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I second the advice from prndl. I had hook up issues with my Recon until I learned to let the hitch slightly lift the plate as I backed into the hitch pin.
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Old 08-09-2020, 11:50 PM   #12
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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.
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Old 08-10-2020, 08:08 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jstadler View Post
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.
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Old 08-10-2020, 03:44 PM   #14
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Old 08-10-2020, 04:23 PM   #15
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We have the Hensley BD-3TS
Absolutely love it!!!

The hitch the ride everything
Comes apart in 3 pieces easy removal or install and my bed cover closes right over it when we are not towing.
Plus their customer service is AMAZING
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Old 08-10-2020, 04:28 PM   #16
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We have the Hensley BD-3TS
Absolutely love it!!!

The hitch the ride everything
Comes apart in 3 pieces easy removal or install and my bed cover closes right over it when we are not towing.
Plus their customer service is AMAZING
I would love to have one of those. The previous owner of my unit towed with one. You got to have pretty deep pockets for one of those I think there are around 3 Grand
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Old 08-10-2020, 07:15 PM   #17
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Before we got our Montana we had a outback 30’ TT for 8 years and we had the Hensley arrow for it.
The camper towed like a dream no sway again loved it...so when we got the Montana we were not taking a chance on anything else

When we first towed it home we had no idea what it should feel like as our only experience was our TT...
I remember saying I don’t feel anything ...are we suppose to feel something...lol
After reading about chucking/bucking I was worried but none of it
Like I said worth every penny
When we tow it’s a pleasure we are both at ease
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Old 08-10-2020, 07:41 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by Last2Die View Post
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. Click image for larger version

Name:	20200810_204338.jpg
Views:	110
Size:	246.2 KB
ID:	6993

Everyone, be aware of the (light weight) Anderson hitches in an accident/emergency situation. They are NOT what they are cracked up to be.
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Old 08-10-2020, 09:08 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Last2Die View Post
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.
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Old 08-10-2020, 09:13 PM   #20
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Well I definitely don’t want to do a back and forth like the other post. Reading the post he hit a stalled vehicle coming around a corner. Not sure what people think would happen when all the force comes to a sudden stop. Pretty sure it would test the limits of any hitch. The hitch I have is not a gooseball hiitch. Mine sits on rails, is that stronger..? No idea, weaker ? Again no idea..? Please understand all hitches will have weak points and failure points.

My last point, get what you are comfortable with wether a standard hitch, Anderson, or pull rite. Personally for me I’m comfortable with my hitch and you may not be that’s ok, we all have insurance and the courts to sue for improperly constructed equipment. Again for my situation 3 spinal surgeries this hitch is perfect for me, 10 years ago I may of had a different answer.

Tony
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