New 5th Wheel. Anything I should get before picking it up?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
" We also got the B&W 16K Patriot rather than the Reese."

Good call, welcome to the B&W "HeavyWeight FanBoy" Club!

Thanks Cummins. Looking forward to hitchin up the first time!

MFL wrote:
Good to hear, sounds like you got a few last minute issues taken care of. Should put your mind at ease! As far as delivery, seems RVs are a little more unpredictable than cars/trucks when ordering, but hope it goes as planned. We'll be waiting for the pics some time in May.

Not sure if you have a bed cover on your truck, but a roll up, or flip style, works good with a FW hitch.

Jerry

Thanks! We're happy and excited. I do have a bed cover. It's a BakFlip. It can be flipped up to any position necessary so it should be just fine. If not, it's easy to put on and take off.

" We also got the B&W 16K Patriot rather than the Reese."

Good call, welcome to the B&W "HeavyWeight FanBoy" Club!

Good to hear, sounds like you got a few last minute issues taken care of. Should put your mind at ease! As far as delivery, seems RVs are a little more unpredictable than cars/trucks when ordering, but hope it goes as planned. We'll be waiting for the pics some time in May.

Not sure if you have a bed cover on your truck, but a roll up, or flip style, works good with a FW hitch.

Jerry

Well, we're back from the dealer. After going over the 2018 camper on the lot that was already sold, We placed the order for the Forest River Salem Hemisphere 5th wheel, Model 286RL. It will be a 2019 model (hard to believe in March of 2018 the 2019's are coming out). The only change we made to the camper itself was to the refrigerator. It comes with a 10.7cf residential fridge and we opted for the 8cf Electric/Propane fridge because we do some boondocking. We also got the B&W 16K Patriot rather than the Reese. WHen he called to order the camper, his Forest River Rep said it would be off the line on April 20th so I'm hoping that after it ships and i gets the once over by the dealer, I can get it sometime during the first week of May. We'll see!

"I want to be able to easily remove the hitch from the bed to use it for lots of other things."

I understand that statement. One of the big reasons I dumped my RBW hitch years ago and went with the B&W to have a clean bed. Unfortunately you have the rails that get in the way.

RobWNY wrote:

Weldon wrote:
Why not go to the Reese website and see what they offer in hitches. Then you can talk to your dealer about what he is installing.
Probably already mentioned but do have a 50 to 30 amp adapter. I recently arrived after dark at a campsite. The 50 amp would not work so I used my adapter and connected to a 30 amp and had power. I was happy.

Weldon, I have been to the Reese site and plan on doing just what you suggest with the dealer later this morning. Also, I have the opposite adapter (30 to 50) for when my 30 amp travel trailer had to be in a site that only had a 50 amp receptacle. Thank you for your thoughts on this. I'll be getting a new adapter in the near future and selling the one I have.

If it matters to you look to see where the REESE is made, same with CURT.

Hey Rob-

We are in the same boat, except that you are coming from a travel trailer and we are changing from a truck camper.

A month ago we were given the same choice of 5th wheel hitches. The salesman showed us the slider hitch that they would sell and install in our truck (2012 Chevy 2500 short bed). I kinda' knew about 5th wheel hitches but wanted to know much more.

I told him to hold off so I could do some research. I went home and read everything I could find. RV.net, IRV2, RVforum, etc...

I want to be able to easily remove the hitch from the bed to use it for lots of other things. And we are going to sell our TC privately so it may need to be moved or even transported to a new owner's location.

So I ordered an Andersen hitch and a pair of rails and did the install myself. I like doing much of my own vehicle work and now I really understand how these things go together. Picture-



Oh and it was half of the dealer's quote- $860 vs $1675.

Good luck!

Dave H M wrote:
After considering Weldon's post, it seems you are open minded. I have run a Reese hitch for 8 years and do not plan on switching.

Now a days there are a lot of people out there with a big budget.

I am heading from central IL to the FL panhandle next week Wednesday, and I bet i get there and back.

however, I think you need to get what fits your needs, not mine.

Have fun out there!

Dave, I am open minded and all ears when it comes to this stuff. It's all new to me so I'm like a sponge. I do trust my dealer and plan on discussing all this with him. He's a straight shooter and I consider him a friend. I know he's making money like every dealer but he likes having me as a continued customer, has never bent me over in a sale or service (if you know what I mean), knows that I see him out in restaurants etc., and wouldn't like that awkwardness. With all that being said, he's still an RV dealer so I can be stubborn on things when I need to be during a sale. We'll see how things go today! Thanks for your thoughts!

After considering Weldon's post, it seems you are open minded. I have run a Reese hitch for 8 years and do not plan on switching.

Now a days there are a lot of people out there with a big budget.

I am heading from central IL to the FL panhandle next week Wednesday, and I bet i get there and back.

however, I think you need to get what fits your needs, not mine.

Have fun out there!