5th wheel hitch selection help
Background:
I have not purchased a truck or a toy hauler (5th wheel) yet. I probably have about 4 more months before we purchase both of those but I am wanting to do all my research now so I know everything I need to get. I have towed several large boats, but I have never towed a 5th wheel so this will be brand new to me (lots to learn which is why im waiting a few months to buy so i can research)
I will probably buy a toy hauler around 33' - 39' that weighs less than 16,000 pounds because that is the limit of the SRW F350 truck. I am probably either looking at a Keystone fuzion, Keyston Raptor, a Spartan, or any of the Heartland models. (Not sure if you need to know that for hitch selection)
I plan on buying a 2015 F350 SRW truck (short bed). I am in sales so the truck being SRW is most important as I go in and out of downtown alot here in houston.
Rank in order of importance of what is important to me in a hitch
A) Being able to remove the hitch either by myself or with my wife. So weight might come in to play (I have no idea how much hitches weigh). But I will be removing the hitch after every camping trip.
B) Worry Free tight corners. What I mean is if I get into a hairy situation I dont want to end up damaging my truck because I turned to sharp. I want to be able to turn into potential sharp parking spots, and want to be able to get out of somewhat tight gas stations
C) Worry Free "hitch locking". I have never owned a 5th wheel, so I want to be 100% sure the 5th wheel is engaged and will not come out and hit the back of my truck
D) I dont know if this is a issue, because I have never towed a 5th wheel. But considering You have 2-3k pounds of weight in the bed of the truck (from the 5th wheel) is it possible for the 5th wheel to push down on the truck making it jump? Or possible to push and pull the truck around? I read something somewhere about some type of shocks in the hitches. I dont want to go to crazy with a hitch because I want this to be simple and easy to go camping. Plus I want to be able to remove the hitch after every trip.
Now to the questions
1) Do I need some type of slider hitch since I have a short bed truck. If so please explain why and the best hitch (keep weight in mind as I need to be able to remove this with my wife)
2) I will be ordering a new 2015 F350. Do I need to have the install the factory "5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Trailer Tow prep package" or does this need to be done aftermarket? What are the pro's and con's of going factory or aftermarket? (I was thinking factory but I want to make sure I do it right)
3) I sort of want a 2"-3" lift on the truck. Definitely nothing more than a 3" lift with medium sized tires/rims. Can I lift a truck 2-3" and still be able to tow a 5th wheel? if not i wont lift it. I didnt know if I lift it 3" if that would make the back end scrape the ground (make the 5th wheel tilt backwards) --> Remember I am a newbie so this may be a dumb question.
Ultimately, what hitch/tow prep package should I get given my above requirements?
I have not purchased a truck or a toy hauler (5th wheel) yet. I probably have about 4 more months before we purchase both of those but I am wanting to do all my research now so I know everything I need to get. I have towed several large boats, but I have never towed a 5th wheel so this will be brand new to me (lots to learn which is why im waiting a few months to buy so i can research)
I will probably buy a toy hauler around 33' - 39' that weighs less than 16,000 pounds because that is the limit of the SRW F350 truck. I am probably either looking at a Keystone fuzion, Keyston Raptor, a Spartan, or any of the Heartland models. (Not sure if you need to know that for hitch selection)
I plan on buying a 2015 F350 SRW truck (short bed). I am in sales so the truck being SRW is most important as I go in and out of downtown alot here in houston.
Rank in order of importance of what is important to me in a hitch
A) Being able to remove the hitch either by myself or with my wife. So weight might come in to play (I have no idea how much hitches weigh). But I will be removing the hitch after every camping trip.
B) Worry Free tight corners. What I mean is if I get into a hairy situation I dont want to end up damaging my truck because I turned to sharp. I want to be able to turn into potential sharp parking spots, and want to be able to get out of somewhat tight gas stations
C) Worry Free "hitch locking". I have never owned a 5th wheel, so I want to be 100% sure the 5th wheel is engaged and will not come out and hit the back of my truck
D) I dont know if this is a issue, because I have never towed a 5th wheel. But considering You have 2-3k pounds of weight in the bed of the truck (from the 5th wheel) is it possible for the 5th wheel to push down on the truck making it jump? Or possible to push and pull the truck around? I read something somewhere about some type of shocks in the hitches. I dont want to go to crazy with a hitch because I want this to be simple and easy to go camping. Plus I want to be able to remove the hitch after every trip.
Now to the questions
1) Do I need some type of slider hitch since I have a short bed truck. If so please explain why and the best hitch (keep weight in mind as I need to be able to remove this with my wife)
2) I will be ordering a new 2015 F350. Do I need to have the install the factory "5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Trailer Tow prep package" or does this need to be done aftermarket? What are the pro's and con's of going factory or aftermarket? (I was thinking factory but I want to make sure I do it right)
3) I sort of want a 2"-3" lift on the truck. Definitely nothing more than a 3" lift with medium sized tires/rims. Can I lift a truck 2-3" and still be able to tow a 5th wheel? if not i wont lift it. I didnt know if I lift it 3" if that would make the back end scrape the ground (make the 5th wheel tilt backwards) --> Remember I am a newbie so this may be a dumb question.
Ultimately, what hitch/tow prep package should I get given my above requirements?
