Curt fifth Wheel Hitches

I am contemplating a new trailer. It has a 16,250# gross weight. My B&W Patriot is rated at 16k. I called B&W and asked if I would be pushing it if I overloaded the hitch by 250#, which in reality would probably never happen. I was told by their Customer Service dept. that it wouldn't be a problem...Yes I'm aware of the insurance ramifications and that B.S. Just sayin what they told me..

B.O.

" If you did not know the ratings, which hitch legs, and puck mounting points, pictured earlier, look the strongest to you, or the complete hitch for that matter?"

I think most people would say the B&W would tow much more than the Curt/RAM just based on looks. Biggest thing that bothers me about the Curt is the fact there are only four 1/2" bolts of questionable grade holding potentially a 25K RV. Even if they were grade 8 it would still concern me. My 21K kingpin hitch has twelve 5/8" grade 8 bolts holding it to the frame and I don't see much difference in the two conditions.

Stefonius wrote:
Just a thought... Are you really sure which end of the horse your ratings come from?

I have to say, that is pretty funny!!

I would have to believe that both Curt and B&W, or any major hitch manufacturer, would leave some room, when rating their hitches. In today's world of liability issues, no company would rate their hitch 20,000 lbs, if it would fail at 20,500.

We as consumers, can only go by a companies reputation, and our own common sense. Both Curt and B&W are major players involving hitches, towing, etc. If you did not know the ratings, which hitch legs, and puck mounting points, pictured earlier, look the strongest to you, or the complete hitch for that matter?

Jerry

Stefonius wrote:
Just a thought... Are you really sure which end of the horse your ratings come from?

:B

Just a thought... Are you really sure which end of the horse your ratings come from?

I'll bet you could find a "horse's mouth" at Reese willing to say the same thing about conservative designs. :)

I'm not saying I'd believe them. Just that everyone is willing (or should be willing) to brag about the products they produce.

azjeffh wrote:
Too bad B&W's engineers can't figure out how to design a 25K to fit Ford's fifth wheel prep :)

The problem is not B&W's design it's the ridiculous narrow spacing of the pucks. I would trust B&W's 20K puck with my 23K RV any day before I would trust the REESE that is rated for 25K.

Seriously compare the two side by side! B&W is VERY Conservative with their hitch ratings, that's from the horses mouth.

REESE is capitalizing on their "rating" asking $1,600 for their hitch and B&W is just under $1,000.

Just so I don't have to hear any "what evidence do you have to back up your claims" comments, these are my observations and opinions!!!

Too bad B&W's engineers can't figure out how to design a 25K to fit Ford's fifth wheel prep :)

jerem0621 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I personally would like to know what the grade of the 4 bolts are that hold the head to the base and the two bolts that hold the base together are if I owned one and towed heavy like I do.

Our previous conversation about this led my research to find that these are grade 5 metric equivalents. Nearly PSI for PSI.

I don't have the confidence to say they are grade 8 equivelant.

Here is a chart that should help some.

Chart

Seems that the eyeball size of the bolts are around 16 mm...

The proof load of a 16 mm 8.8 bolt is 600 MPa or 87,022.62 psi

So it has more in common with a grade 5 bolt than a grade 8 it's a little stronger than a grade 5 at 85,000 psi but no where near a grade 8 bolt at 120,000 psi...

But a grade 5 is more than strong enough for this application...

Those four bolts combine for 348,088 psi strength just in the bolts.

Thanks!

Jeremish

Thanks! Being from China what guarantee do we have that the bolts are actually what they should be.

I bet that was a sad day at the Curt Plant when they let the employees know their 5er hitches will be made in China.

boshog wrote:

spud1957 wrote:
I'll post a response from Curt to clear up the confusion.

Thank you for your recent inquiry. No, the 5th wheel hitches are built overseas. The receiver hitches are built in WI.

Best Regards,

Lyndon Cartman
Technical Services Associate

"Overseas", they carefully avoided saying China did they.

You can't discount quality just because something is made in China. It's not the place something was made, but the specifications and quality control processes that make the difference. The Chinese make all sorts of high quality items including Jet Engines, MiG fighters, etc. Many "name brand" American products have been made there too. Where you get into quality issues is when they start marketing "knock-off" products with little to no quality control.

If Curt, B&W, Andersen, Reese, etc., outsourced the manufacturing to China I would not have concerns about the quality. i wouldn't like the loss of American jobs, but that has little if nothing to do with the quality of the product.

On the other hand (I almost used "that said" :)), if I saw a chinese made hitch that looked like one of the well-known American versions but was painted some hideous color and branded "Happy's Hitches" or some such I would have serious concerns about the quality.