This is not a which hitch is the best question.I've got a 16K Husky slider hitch that I've been using for 12 years. Since I keep my truck in the garage, it still looks pretty good, but it's obviously aging (like me). I'm wondering what the life span on these hitches are? I really can't find any points on the hitch to service.Even though I have a short bed Dodge truck, I have never once needed to engage the slider, but I've had to put up with the slop associated with it. If I bought a new hitch I'd probably go with a B&W.So I guess the question is "how long should one go without updating a hitch" ?

I don't think anyone can say "you have to update every XX years", as all hitches are not equal, or have the same care.After 12 years, and your words "put up with the slop", I would just get the new B&W that you are considering.Your Husky should still have some value, as it is a good hitch. I'd sell it, maybe getting a third, or near half the cost of a new B&W 16K Patriot. I'm guessing you have rails, and the Patriot is IMO, the best hitch out there for rails. You will have ZERO slop, and a very user friendly, well built hitch, that has a lot of ahead/back adjustment.I would not "PUT UP" with anything, that I could easily replace! I'd get that new Patriot ordered today, from etrailer, or tweety's, and sell the old one, whenever you get around to it.Jerry

I agree with Jerry 100%. He steered me toward the B&W 16K Patriot a few years ago and it has been a great hitch. I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the input. I'll certainly give it consideration. If I do make the move, the Patriot rail model would be my first choice.As far as the movement caused by the slider, it is not really that bad and would not be a cause by itself to prompt me to get a new hitch. Sure as I get a hitch with no slider I'll probably need it the next day.As an aside, one thing I will miss on the Husky is the Blue Ox Bed Saver that I put on it. I know this is a controversial thing but in my 12 years of pulling a 5th wheel it has twice saved me from dropping my trailer on the bed rails. Both times were through my negligence. And by the way, I do know the correct way to prevent this from happening. I was careless!

dryfly wrote:As an aside, one thing I will miss on the Husky is the Blue Ox Bed Saver that I put on it. I know this is a controversial thing but in my 12 years of pulling a 5th wheel it has twice saved me from dropping my trailer on the bed rails. Both times were through my negligence. And by the way, I do know the correct way to prevent this from happening. I was careless!If you have some fabricating skills and tools modify the Blue Ox to fit a new hitch. I just bought one that I thought was going to fit my hitch and the bolt holes are not positioned right so I need to drill new holes in the correct location for my hitch. Before I found it I was going to fab one from scratch.

My old '97 16K Reese manual slider looks like new and works even better than when it was new. I keep it lubed and when not in use it hangs in the tractor barn. This old hitch has been on three trucks and has pulled my different 5th wheel rv trailers and GN pin trailers. I'm a stickler for maintenance so I'm keeping this one.

New 5th wheel hitch. | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

ACZL
Explorer
Nov 10, 2020
Anderson maybe lighter, but lighter isn't always better. After owning a couple Reese hitches, switched to B&W 3 years ago. Also used Reese brackets on frame, BUT went w/ B&W brackets on truck in sig. Only thing I can say is, WISH I WENT THIS ROUTE SOONER"! The B&W brackets are extremely beefy compared to Reese same w/ the rails on floor of truck compared to Reese. Yes the B&W hitch is heavy, but it's USA made and it's just a great hitch and very simple to use/understand. Another thing w/ B&W is that it has a multitude of adjustments, not just up/down.
dryfly
Explorer
Nov 09, 2020
From my OP:

"This is not a which hitch is the best question."

I appreciate all the responses, and I'll certainly consider keeping my old hitch or purchasing a new one.
azdryheat
Explorer
Nov 09, 2020
I have a 6 year old CURT 20k hitch with some rubber parts in it. I bought a kit to renew the rubber parts. The rest of the hitch seems like new. Don't know how long it's supposed to last.
cummins2014
Explorer
Nov 09, 2020
N-Trouble wrote:
Get a Andersen. Zero slop/noise. Hang it on the wall in the garage when done.

Same here , no need for those heavy dinosaur hitches . The ones that have them wonder why they didn't get one sooner :) You will thank me :C
Njmurvin
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2020
^^^X2 ... except I don't hang mine on the wall. It sits covered on a cart under the 5th wheel overhang.

The Superglide on my old Dodge truck had some slop in it - just learned to live with it. The AUH on my new truck is solid. No slop at all.
N-Trouble
Explorer
Nov 09, 2020
Get a Andersen. Zero slop/noise. Hang it on the wall in the garage when done.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Nov 09, 2020
"If I bought a new hitch I'd probably go with a B&W."

If you are happy with your hitch and it's functioning like it should keep on using it. BUT I can tell you going to the B&W you will say "wish I had done that sooner" !!!
C_Schomer
Explorer
Nov 08, 2020
I would bolt or weld the slider and stop the slop. A can of shake n shoot will make it look new again. Craig
Community Alumni
Nov 08, 2020
JIMNLIN wrote:
My old '97 16K Reese manual slider looks like new and works even better than when it was new. I keep it lubed and when not in use it hangs in the tractor barn. This old hitch has been on three trucks and has pulled my different 5th wheel rv trailers and GN pin trailers. I'm a stickler for maintenance so I'm keeping this one.

I have had a similar experience with my 20k Reese. It is also a '97 and I have only replaced the 2 jaw springs as part of my preventative maintenance including regular inspections and lube.
stickdog
Explorer
Nov 07, 2020
I don't know how long a hitch should last but my B&W Companion is 10 1/2 years and 90,000 miles. Grease the zerts, white lithium on the uprights, spray lube on the pin.

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New 5th wheel hitch.

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