Best Hitch

FishOnOne wrote:
I would give the nod to the B&W.

WOO HOO we agree!!!

"but to say it's not necessary is misleading , and just needs to left out of the thread ."

Don't think anyone said "not necessary"

I would give the nod to the B&W.

Right near 100,000 miles on my B&W hitch. It did need a good cleaning of grease road grit but operates as good as new after that. Now on our 13 year fulltime.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Of course they ALL recommend a pull test. A pull test is no divergent than a visual test, it's a test!

My wife double checks me every time as she fully understands how the hitch works. Kinda like "did you put the butt plug in the boat" as she asks me every time before a launch.

I really don't care if people do a pull test or not. I think people should do what they feel comfortable with. Lot's of damage can be done not doing a pull test correctly.

On the same note ,no pull test as we ALL know can do a lot of damage . I agree do what you feel comfortable , but to say it's not necessary is misleading , and just needs to left out of the thread .

Of course they ALL recommend a pull test. A pull test is no divergent than a visual test, it's a test!

My wife double checks me every time as she fully understands how the hitch works. Kinda like "did you put the butt plug in the boat" as she asks me every time before a launch.

I really don't care if people do a pull test or not. I think people should do what they feel comfortable with. Lot's of damage can be done not doing a pull test correctly.

JIMNLIN wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:

op asks wrote:
best hitch ?

This is why its not a good idea to ask which hitch or any product is best on this forum.
Some B&W owners like to bash the brand another has mentioned even though the B&W owner never owned the hitch.
I'm not a Andersen user but thousands of satisfied users out here with no problems.

As another poster mentioned we have several good RV type 5th wheel hitches to choose from. B&W is just one of them.

There is no best 5th wheel hitch brand/type/style other than the one we own.

Would you use an Andersen to haul a HEAVY RV???

I'm not a hitch brand fan or hitch brand basher but as long as the heavy rv didn't exceed any hitch brands we have recommended weight specs would be fine with me.

However if the RV trailer was over 16k-18k gross I would choose a air ride hitch. Some thing the OP may want to look into if he's going to a heavy rv trailer.

I agree , and the air ride hitch may be needed for the weight you mentioned for the sake of the ride . For me if that hitch meets the weight , then I would buy it . What I wouldn't do say is tow 18K with an 18K hitch , I would prefer a 20K hitch. I went to a 15,500 GVWR fifth wheel, had a 16K hitch. didn't feel comfortable with it . Bought a new 18K .

I tow with an Andersen 20K rating ,would have no problem with 18K.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Look at the B&W it simply can't drop the 5er if the pin box and hitch are touching each other and the jaws are closed and the handle is locked. With the thick jaws it makes it easy to see of you are high hitched unlike others with thin jaws.

No need for a pull test as if you do what I just mentioned that is a visual test and good enough IMHO.

I think that is the disservice that leads to these dropped fifth wheels , it takes once ,and IMO you are not excempt to this either.

I towed several years with the Reese hitch, the one they call the Elite now. One piece 1" thick one piece wrap around jaw ,as foolproof as you say the B&W is . And yes for a long time I did a pull test ,but there were times when I got complacent , and skipped the pull test, I just knew everything was done right ,visual was done , and then there is that one time when you just think everything is right , and boom you got a fifth wheel sitting on the bed of your truck .

As you know I tow with the Andersen ,you have criticized the ability to lock the Andersen ,but in reality I can just as well forget to even lock the handle . My point as you point out there are steps to follow with the B&W to insure not dropping a fifth wheel , yup all you got to do is those steps , just DON"T forget one . IMO skipping a pull test is a recipe for disaster . I may be mistaken , but doesn't B&W recommend a pull test ?

Look at the B&W it simply can't drop the 5er if the pin box and hitch are touching each other and the jaws are closed and the handle is locked. With the thick jaws it makes it easy to see of you are high hitched unlike others with thin jaws.

No need for a pull test as if you do what I just mentioned that is a visual test and good enough IMHO.

fj12ryder wrote:
Okay, show the pictures of a failed B&W hitch. The only one I know about was involved in a roll-over accident. I've never heard of one failing when just doing hard braking or maneuvering.

How many times have they redesigned the Andersen hitch? Seems like letting your customers be your beta testers is kind of a bad idea. :)

It's been redesigned just the one time as far as I know. Yes they had a couple of them bend, but the fifth wheel remained attached , I know the one referenced there was no damage to truck, or fifth wheel . There are thousands of those Andersen hitches out there ,and more ,and more are going to them.

Do we know for sure in the other thread where he dropped the fifth wheel with a B&W that is was not a mechanical failure ??? I believe you B&W owners believe thy cannot fail ,but being in an industry where I seen all kinds of mechanical failures with machinery I know anything can break or fail .