Convert Reese Slider to Fixed

bpounds wrote:
I think you're on the right track, and I was wrong about selling the existing. The numbers don't add up.

Far cry from when I bought our first 5th wheel. We traded in a TT and the dealer wouldn't take the hitch even gave back the brackets from the tongue.

I put it on CL and started a bidding war. It was right after Katrina and people were looking to pull FEMA trailers out of the Selma staging area. Since FEMA was requiring anti sway and leveling hitches, they were in short supply.

belairbrian wrote:
When I started the post I was just trying to find out if it really was a 4 bolt conversion. Which it appears to be.

Some interesting inputs to think about.
So here's what I came up with
As to sell the whole hitch, I might get $100 for it based on others available locally so selling and buying new would be net $300+. Vs $60 to convert

Does it take up space? a little more. The left side has the extra handle and the bar from side to side under the hitch. That bar has gotten in the way of putting things in the truck before when not towing.

I split the hitch when removing so the weight might not be that different. but the slide unit is poorly balanced. Son is finishing college so I'll be doing solo from now on.

probably will go ahead and swap out to fixed.

I think you're on the right track, and I was wrong about selling the existing. The numbers don't add up.

When I started the post I was just trying to find out if it really was a 4 bolt conversion. Which it appears to be.

Some interesting inputs to think about.
So here's what I came up with
As to sell the whole hitch, I might get $100 for it based on others available locally so selling and buying new would be net $300+. Vs $60 to convert

Does it take up space? a little more. The left side has the extra handle and the bar from side to side under the hitch. That bar has gotten in the way of putting things in the truck before when not towing.

I split the hitch when removing so the weight might not be that different. but the slide unit is poorly balanced. Son is finishing college so I'll be doing solo from now on.

probably will go ahead and swap out to fixed.

bpounds wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Big question: Why?

We have the same hitch that came with our first 5er. It works fine in an 8ft bed even though we don't use the sliding mechanism.

Is there something wrong with it?

Few reasons I can think of are, the slider base takes up a lot of space, it adds a lot of weight, sometimes they add clunking, and it doesn't cost a lot to change. As someone noted above, the fixed base kit is very reasonably priced.

Mine doesn't take up any more space, weighs about the same, never heard or felt a clunk.

Are you possibly thinking of a different brand slider?

My hitch wasn't a Reese but it would break loose and not hold & stay in its locked position. It took about 20 minutes to fix. I set it where I wanted it. Turned it upside down and broke out my welder. No kit or any aftermarket stuff needed. Very simple fix and very easy to do.

If the cost of changing to a fixed base was reasonable I would also consider doing it on my Reese 16k. There is inherent movement in the slider mechanism, and now that I have a rounded cap there is no chance I will ever use the slider. I stopped lubing the mechanism years ago so I bet it wouldn't even slide without a massive jolt now.

bpounds wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Big question: Why?

We have the same hitch that came with our first 5er. It works fine in an 8ft bed even though we don't use the sliding mechanism.

Is there something wrong with it?

Few reasons I can think of are, the slider base takes up a lot of space, it adds a lot of weight, sometimes they add clunking, and it doesn't cost a lot to change. As someone noted above, the fixed base kit is very reasonably priced.

All of the above ,and maybe because he just wants to :B

valhalla360 wrote:
Big question: Why?

We have the same hitch that came with our first 5er. It works fine in an 8ft bed even though we don't use the sliding mechanism.

Is there something wrong with it?

Few reasons I can think of are, the slider base takes up a lot of space, it adds a lot of weight, sometimes they add clunking, and it doesn't cost a lot to change. As someone noted above, the fixed base kit is very reasonably priced.

valhalla360 wrote:
Big question: Why?

We have the same hitch that came with our first 5er. It works fine in an 8ft bed even though we don't use the sliding mechanism.

Is there something wrong with it?

:h Same here.

Big question: Why?

We have the same hitch that came with our first 5er. It works fine in an 8ft bed even though we don't use the sliding mechanism.

Is there something wrong with it?