Dumb 5th wheel questions of the day

riven1950 wrote:
Looking at making a change to a 5th wheel from bumper pull.

When a f250 has factory 5th wheel prep can you buy any hitch or do you have to buy something from the dealer?

If the truck is on the lot and not 5th wheel prepped can the dealer do it for about the same money as FMC would charge from the factory?

Do people remove their hitches generally or just leave them in the truck all the time?

Can you have a drop in tool box, like a Kobalt from Lowes behind the cab with a 6.5 foot bed or would you need a 8 foot bed for that?

Sorry for the rookie questions but I know nothing about 5th wheelers and the FMC dealers know less than I do.

Thanks

First off, learn from my mistake, and get the F350 SRW and not the 250. Gives you way more options, especially if you want to "grow" after a few years. Second, not sure what you're wanting to store in your tool box, but consider the behind-the-wheel boxes that fit behind the wheel well and in front of the tailgate. My brother has one that's just a box where he keeps cables, straps, etc. The other one is drawers for his tools. Very handy. If you plan on loading the box heavy, that's another reason to go with the 350 since that weight comes off your available payload. You =will= need a fairly shallow, front to back, box since there just isn't a lot of room between the front of the bed and the hitch.

Since I use my truck for a lot of other stuff besides towing, my hitch comes out after I get home. I used to use a cheapo engine hoist to lift it out whole, though it does come apart and I can still lift the pieces; they're just cumbersome. Some guys use their rig to lift the hitch and leave it hanging on the king pin. Other guys have hoists, electric or manual, and some guys have tractors. Some guys rarely use their trucks for anything but towing their FW and leave the hitch in all the time.

If the truck has the factory prep, there are hitches made to go right on them. Others require a "picture frame" adapter that goes into the factory pucks and the hitch fastens to the adapter. My personal recommendation is always some flavor of the B&W Companion hitch. Excellent product with a excellent company to deal with if you have any questions or problems.

Lyle