5th wheel/gooseneck towing prep group??

Cummins12V98 wrote:

minnow wrote:

Lost Traveller wrote:
Thanks for all the help. I looked up the B&W RVK 3600. Now my problem is that I have a short bed and I don't see that type of hitch with a slider.

While you are looking up things, be sure to research motorized chain hoists as well. You'll need one to get that thing out of your truck.

Not true, the hitch comes apart in two pcs. No problem for a (well I will let others fill in the blank).

:B:B:B

Actually the 3300 for Ford is only, head 75 lbs, base 78 lbs, pretty light wt. Ya, the 3600 base is a little more.

Jerry

My Andersen is less than 40 lbs. it's truly "the better mousetrap".

There are some folks who cannot accept anything new, even if it is demonstrably better. The RV industry and 18 wheelers don't use fifth wheel hitches because they're BETTER. They use them because by using that type of hitch, the trailer structure can be made lighter.

Here you go. Demco 6099 picture frame and B&W RVK3270 manual slider. Puts trailer load on the pucks/frame mounts.

northmeck0255 wrote:
My Andersen is less than 40 lbs. it's truly "the better mousetrap".

There are some folks who cannot accept anything new, even if it is demonstrably better. The RV industry and 18 wheelers don't use fifth wheel hitches because they're BETTER. They use them because by using that type of hitch, the trailer structure can be made lighter.

Demonstrably better is only your opinion. There are down sides that Andersen users are willing to look pass.

1. Damage to king pin adapter by service jockeies.
2. Safety Chains
3. Extra raising and lowering of trailer to hitch and unhitch.
4. Redesigns for issues occurring as more are in use.
5. No long term track record.

Plusses

1. Light weight.

Chris

Lost Traveller wrote:
Finally got tired of my 03 F250 nickel and dimeing me to death. Actually 400 and 500 dollering me to death. I bit the bullet and bought a 2016 2500 Dodge Ram Tradesman 6.7 liter diesel. It included the 5th wheel/gooseneck towing prep group. From what they told me, it is set up for me to get a fifth wheel hitch and basically drop in, bolt up and go. I previously had a gooseneck ball on my truck and adapter on my fifth wheel.
Anybody help me with what exactly I need to buy and do? Thanks in advance.
The Lost Travellers,
Bruce and Connie

As noted in this thread so far, there are a lotta great hitches out there. Unfortunately, height requirements will sometimes limit or dictate your choices.

I almost purchased a B&W for my SB Ram 3500 with the OEM 5th wheel prep group before I discovered I needed a hitch 13-14" high. To my knowledge B&W doesn't make a hitch that low.

Also, suggest measuring the distance from the rear of your king pin assembly to the rear tailgate before purchasing a slider hitch. Depending on your rig, there may not be enough distance to accommodate some slider hitches when they're "activated". My short bed truck only has 11" distance. Many sliders slide back 12".

Keep in mind the Ram picture frame adapter (OEM or Reese) is 2" high. A standard universal mount is typically 1" to 1 1/4" lower. Keep this extra height in mind if you plan to use the Ram picture frame adapter (OEM or Reese).

Lastly, depending how "scalloped" the corners are on your 5th wheel, you may or may not need a slider hitch. We've discovered our new 5th wheel tows/maneuvers in close quarters just fine with our Ram 3500 short bed without a slider hitch.

Good luck!

Me Again wrote:

northmeck0255 wrote:
My Andersen is less than 40 lbs. it's truly "the better mousetrap".

There are some folks who cannot accept anything new, even if it is demonstrably better. The RV industry and 18 wheelers don't use fifth wheel hitches because they're BETTER. They use them because by using that type of hitch, the trailer structure can be made lighter.

Demonstrably better is only your opinion. There are down sides that Andersen users are willing to look pass.

1. Damage to king pin adapter by service jockeies.
2. Safety Chains
3. Extra raising and lowering of trailer to hitch and unhitch.
4. Redesigns for issues occurring as more are in use.
5. No long term track record.

Plusses

1. Light weight.

Chris

Don't forget the "T" handle has no visible way to be locked. Or if towing heavy the bed deflection you will get with the ultimate.

Towing lighter I would have no issue with an Andersen. I tow 23K, I could only imagine what one would look like with these roads literally wanting to rip the TV from the RV.

Let's look at this from an engineering standpoint.

The "bed deflection" you speak of could only be transmitted via the frame of the hitch. The Andersen has a square base, which distributes any forces to 4 sides.

A "traditional" hitch has 2 rails. Simple logic would say that each of those two rails would be under more stress in a normal fiver hitch than any of the 4 sides on the base of an Andersen.

3000 lbs pin weight equals 1500 lbs per rail on a traditional.

3000 lbs pin weight equals 750 lbs per rail on an Andersen. Please explain how half of the force exerted would result in more damage......

If you have empirical evidence to the contrary (not opinion), then I'm all ears.

northmeck0255 wrote:
Let's look at this from an engineering standpoint.

The "bed deflection" you speak of could only be transmitted via the frame of the hitch. The Andersen has a square base, which distributes any forces to 4 sides.

A "traditional" hitch has 2 rails. Simple logic would say that each of those two rails would be under more stress in a normal fiver hitch than any of the 4 sides on the base of an Andersen.

3000 lbs pin weight equals 1500 lbs per rail on a traditional.

3000 lbs pin weight equals 750 lbs per rail on an Andersen. Please explain how half of the force exerted would result in more damage......

If you have empirical evidence to the contrary (not opinion), then I'm all ears.

Traditional rails installed correctly have brackets to the frame rails and spaces should be placed in the valleys on the topside and the ridges on the bottom side. The bed is along for a free ride.

The OP in this thread has the pucks. If he wants a light weight hitch like the Andersen then he should get a Demco 6099 picture frame and the rail mount version. Still has the heavy PF to lift out and all the other issues I noted above.

New trucks with puck systems are a FAR superior way to mount hitches. If Andersen wants to play in this arena then they should build hitches with pucks for the new generation trucks and not rely on the bed to carry the pin weight. Truck beds are getting weaker not stronger, with one company going to aluminum.

The OP in this thread clearly stated that we has the puck system and wanted to use it.

Chris

northmeck0255 wrote:
Let's look at this from an engineering standpoint.

The "bed deflection" you speak of could only be transmitted via the frame of the hitch. The Andersen has a square base, which distributes any forces to 4 sides.

A "traditional" hitch has 2 rails. Simple logic would say that each of those two rails would be under more stress in a normal fiver hitch than any of the 4 sides on the base of an Andersen.

3000 lbs pin weight equals 1500 lbs per rail on a traditional.

3000 lbs pin weight equals 750 lbs per rail on an Andersen. Please explain how half of the force exerted would result in more damage......

If you have empirical evidence to the contrary (not opinion), then I'm all ears.

Rails mount to brackets under the bed that are bolted directly to the frame, so the bed itself doesn't take on any of the load. With the Andersen gooseneck version the gooseneck ball carries the bulk of the static load, but when you start moving the rails exert pressure on the bed. Some have reported bed deflection issues with the Andersen (and B&W Companion), but I've not heard of any issues where it was a particularly big deal.

The Andersen is a great hitch and I really think my rail mount version is as good as any hitch on the market. And they're a good value. If I had factory pucks I'd give some strong consideration to getting a rail mount adapter to drop in the factory pucks and then installing the rail mount Andersen on the adapter. It would provide a solid mount to the frame and you'd get the ease of use and inherent smooth towing experience that goes along with a gooseneck setup.

You would think Andersen and Hensley would both make hitches that would directly attach to the RAM puck system. Nothin stronger to attach to. I would think B&W would make a slider that would attach to the pucks also.

The fact is the fore and aft movement of the Andersen ultimate is controlled by the truck bed. When towing HEAVY there will be bed deflection. No different than when I towed 18K with my 18K Companion in my RAM dually.