5th wheel hitch for puck system

[kimomjtb]

Picked up our new 2016 ram 3500 today ...our old ram 2003 has a husky slider that we have only used four times since we've only had our fifth wheel since last fall...The new truck has the factory installed puck system in it.....I have researched the companion hitch but was wondering if there is any others that would work for our truck. Seems like the companion only comes in one size 25,000 pounds our trailer is approximately 16,000 ...would like to keep the price down as much as possible ...we had to upgrade our tow vehicle and We have a wedding to pay for this year so finances are getting tight ...thanks

[Me_Again]

kimomjtb wrote:

SabreCanuck wrote:
Can't believe this thread is still rolling along.... You boys sure love/hate your hitches.. 🙂

If the OP is still listening>>> Buy a hitch that fits the puck system you already have. I am not for or against any brand hitch but it doesn't make sense that you would work around the puck system by installing rails over top of it.

If I was in your shoes, I would get the B&W that fits the system and is rated for your weight (and then some). Sounds like you already were looking at the companion anyway.

happy trails.

decided to get the companion........The hitch came in two seperate boxes...one yesterday and one today...the box that came today was the base and the box was in terrible shape and there were large gouges and deep scratches down to the bare metal on it...gonna have to call the company tomorrow...looks like it fell off the truck and bounced down the road...for the price we paid i want a new one without damage

Hitches shipped in cardboard boxes are a big issue. They need to be shipped on pallets and banded in place. They are just to heavy to be bounded around in cardboard boxes. My boxes were all broken apart also.

Good choice BTW!

Chris

[SabreCanuck]

Don't blame you. Good choice. Enjoy!

[kimomjtb]

SabreCanuck wrote:
Can't believe this thread is still rolling along.... You boys sure love/hate your hitches.. 🙂

If the OP is still listening>>> Buy a hitch that fits the puck system you already have. I am not for or against any brand hitch but it doesn't make sense that you would work around the puck system by installing rails over top of it.

If I was in your shoes, I would get the B&W that fits the system and is rated for your weight (and then some). Sounds like you already were looking at the companion anyway.

happy trails.

decided to get the companion........The hitch came in two seperate boxes...one yesterday and one today...the box that came today was the base and the box was in terrible shape and there were large gouges and deep scratches down to the bare metal on it...gonna have to call the company tomorrow...looks like it fell off the truck and bounced down the road...for the price we paid i want a new one without damage

[SabreCanuck]

Can't believe this thread is still rolling along.... You boys sure love/hate your hitches.. 🙂

If the OP is still listening>>> Buy a hitch that fits the puck system you already have. I am not for or against any brand hitch but it doesn't make sense that you would work around the puck system by installing rails over top of it.

If I was in your shoes, I would get the B&W that fits the system and is rated for your weight (and then some). Sounds like you already were looking at the companion anyway.

happy trails.

[Me_Again]

Build(Andersen) a test stand with the rear half of a new RAM. Place an Andersen on the gooseneck and push forward the same amount as the vertical crust test they do, then repeat with all the puck mount hitches. Post the results. Chris

[Cummins12V98]

NW Explorer wrote:
Cummins, My Andersen attaches to my MOPAR drop-in goose neck ball which drops into the goose neck 'socket' which IS part of the factory-installed 5th wheel/goose neck prep package.

Yes, my first design aluminum Andersen Ultimate did bend slightly under emergency braking. The bend did not effect the safety or utility of the hitch, however and Andersen replaced it free of charge, free shipping, not even requiring proof of purchase. Have now towed from Leander, TX to Peculiar, MO with the new Andersen trouble free.

You don't have to like it, you can criticize it, it's not the solution for everyone, but the FACT is, it works as advertised.

Happy trails,
Bill

I have always said the Andersen hitch has it's place, it's not smart IMHO towing a heavier RV with one and it bending under hard braking proved my concern about how they rate their hitches.

The FACT is the bed is supporting the fore and aft movement of the hitch. I know a bit about this since my 18K B&W that was designed for trucks that actually had strong beds caused deflection in my 11 RAM Dually. I was towing at it's MAX rating of 18K and a lot lower than the Andersen's rating.

B&W sent out spacers and a new base that actually slightly bent and all was good after that.

Ratings are all over the place, for example the B&W that is EXACTLY like mine that goes into the Ford puck system is only rated at 20K, mine is 26K. Take a look at that setup and then tell me with a straight fact the Ultimate really can handle 24K.

The crush test vid is really like Craftsman saying their Shop Vac "produces" 6hp.

Hey if YOU are happy with your hitch that is GREAT! I mention these things for the newbies to consider.

[NW_Explorer]

Cummins, My Andersen attaches to my MOPAR drop-in goose neck ball which drops into the goose neck 'socket' which IS part of the factory-installed 5th wheel/goose neck prep package.

Yes, my first design aluminum Andersen Ultimate did bend slightly under emergency braking. The bend did not effect the safety or utility of the hitch, however and Andersen replaced it free of charge, free shipping, not even requiring proof of purchase. Have now towed from Leander, TX to Peculiar, MO with the new Andersen trouble free.

You don't have to like it, you can criticize it, it's not the solution for everyone, but the FACT is, it works as advertised.

Happy trails,
Bill

[IdaD]

Me Again wrote:

IdaD wrote:

The puck system and fifth wheel rails are six of one and half dozen of the other. The pucks give you a clean bed when not towing but the rails offer greater versatility. Both do the job equally well.

I do agree that they are both superior to turnover ball hitches in theory, although in practice there are a ton of guys using turnover style hitches with no issues aside from some minor bed deflection in some cases.

Did you look at the eight frame plates the pucks are mounted with while install your old school bed rails. No bed rail L bracket is going to compare to how the factory pucks mount to the frame rails. Having installed my own pucks, I do have first hand knowledge of the system, and it is very robust! Chris

Yes I'm familiar with the puck system and installation process because I did a lot of research on doing it. I think you even gave me the part numbers when I was deciding what to do. I don't think the puck system is any more robust or certainly not materially more robust than the custom rail setup I installed, and I chose the rails for the extra versatility they offer.

[Me_Again]

IdaD wrote:

The puck system and fifth wheel rails are six of one and half dozen of the other. The pucks give you a clean bed when not towing but the rails offer greater versatility. Both do the job equally well.

I do agree that they are both superior to turnover ball hitches in theory, although in practice there are a ton of guys using turnover style hitches with no issues aside from some minor bed deflection in some cases.

Did you look at the eight frame plates the pucks are mounted with while install your old school bed rails. No bed rail L bracket is going to compare to how the factory pucks mount to the frame rails. Having installed my own pucks, I do have first hand knowledge of the system, and it is very robust! Chris

[IdaD]

Me Again wrote:
Only time and more units in use will show how a device like a hitch is going to work in actual use on the highway.

It is worth repeating, that the pucks provided on all three brands are a FAR superior methiod of attaching a 5th wheel hitch directly to the TV frame rails. This takes the sheet metal bed out of the picture completely, leaving it to do the job the manufacturer intended it to do. And I can guaranty you that they will not warranty a bed that is damaged by a hitch. Chris

The puck system and fifth wheel rails are six of one and half dozen of the other. The pucks give you a clean bed when not towing but the rails offer greater versatility. Both do the job equally well.

I do agree that they are both superior to turnover ball hitches in theory, although in practice there are a ton of guys using turnover style hitches with no issues aside from some minor bed deflection in some cases.

[Me_Again]

Only time and more units in use will show how a device like a hitch is going to work in actual use on the highway.

It is worth repeating, that the pucks provided on all three brands are a FAR superior methiod of attaching a 5th wheel hitch directly to the TV frame rails. This takes the sheet metal bed out of the picture completely, leaving it to do the job the manufacturer intended it to do. And I can guaranty you that they will not warranty a bed that is damaged by a hitch. Chris

[Cummins12V98]

NW Explorer wrote:
The Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection attaches to a goose neck ball dropped into your factory slot. It's easy for one person to install and remove, provides smooth, quiet operation and costs a fraction of what a conventional 5th wheel hitch does. I've got several thousand miles on mine and can't see why I would ever go back to a conventional hitch.

Happy trails,
Bill

"5th wheel hitch for puck system"


The Andersen Ultimate does not use the pucks. Have you bent your hitch from hard braking yet? I guarantee if you hooked to my 23K 5er there would be bent parts with hard braking.

[Drifter1959]

Me Again wrote:
I have the Demco 6099 picture frame which I think is much better than the Reese one. Better lock arms. Little skinnier. Chris

X2

[NW_Explorer]

The Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection attaches to a goose neck ball dropped into your factory slot. It's easy for one person to install and remove, provides smooth, quiet operation and costs a fraction of what a conventional 5th wheel hitch does. I've got several thousand miles on mine and can't see why I would ever go back to a conventional hitch.

Happy trails,
Bill