5th Wheel hitch suggestions

[lamopar]

We have had a bumper pull 36' for the last eight years. After a 6,000 mile road trip I hit the tree at the end of my driveway with the trailer and it was totaled. Now we are purchasing a Genesis Supreme 37GS 5th wheel. The previous own switched out the king pin box with a goose neck. From reading articles I am planning on going back to the king pin hitch. I am curious if the air bag and shock assembly type king pin box is worth the cost. Having never pulled a 5th wheel I have no experience. I also plan on purchasing a Curt hitch for the truck that floats in all directions but is not a slider. I have an 8 foot bed. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

[lamopar]

dsrace I see you have a 2021 Genesis Supreme. We are purchasing a 2018 Genesis Supreme 37GS. Just curious what drew you to the Genesis line? The unit we looked at has an open floor plan so we can fit all our toys in and plenty of room when we ski camp.

[dsrace]

i have never seen any offered at a camper dealership. i have not been to but 5 or 6 ever so that is not saying much. i bet that most won't buy them because of the price. now if the dealerships offered them then maybe more would especially if they were able to roll it in with the loan. i do know when i ask saleman about air ride hitch's 99.9% of the time i get a deer in the head lights look lol it's clear they didn't even know such a thing existed. they offer a better ride then the air ride pin's that are offered or atleast better then the lippert that i experienced on a buddy fiver. it wasn't bad at all one could just tell the difference between the 2. when you buy the air ride hitch..... it stays with the truck as in there are many different pin box's used on fifth-wheel's so the air ride pin will prob have to go with the camper if you trade up.

[lamopar]

Our truck is 2017 Ram Laramie Long Horn but no puck system. I watched a video on how to install the in bed rails with the brackets underneath. It doesn't look too hard to do.

I'll also check out the Air Safe. I never paid a lot of attention to 5th wheels before but I am surprised I never noticed one of these air ride systems before.

[dsrace]

https://youtu.be/A_KVHz3PY60

[dsrace]

https://airsafehitches.com/omni-directional/

this shows how much more control/comfort this style offers.

[dsrace]

the hensley is a good one but not the best. i personally think the air safe would be the best and it's the same price maybe a touch cheaper but much better control.

https://airsafehitches.com/omni-20/

i personally run the mountainmaster air ride hitch. i have no complaints, i have run that hitch for 9 years. when i hauled my fifthwheel toyhauler to the dunes i crossed 3 states line and thats the reason i bought it. there is not replacment for an air ride hitch......hitch not air ride pin box. the air ride pin are better than standard for sure but do not offer the same ride the hitch does. yes, heavy and combersome but like you said , pull the pins and let it hang. i have trailers so i never took mine out of the box. i sold my fiver and went to an unusual style toyhauler lol . i still have the hitch in storage.

/http://mountainmaster.net/hitches/airhitchcom.html

[dedmiston]

Hey Lamopar - What year is your truck? Does it already have a puck system in the bed? If so, this really makes it easier for you.

I love our B&W RVK3600 hitch. It's very easy to lock and unlock. You can visually see the jaws shut around your pin to verify that it's closed.

Our 5er is heavy, but the air pin and the hitch give us a super smooth ride.

I would avoid or at least heavily research any kind of goose neck adapter. Many toy hauler builders specifically preclude goose necks in their warranties. Find out if your builder is one that advises against them.

[ReneeG]

We have a regular pin box and the air in the TrailerSaver. Works great. Smooth towing.

[lamopar]

The Trailer Saver looks interesting. I was concerned about pulling it out but after reading I can just pull the pins and lift it up with the trailer and leave it there.

I will check the goose box to see if it already has the air dampening. The guy we are buying it from is going to deliver it as I have no way to move it. Thanks for the tip on the air style pin box. I am sure with a 40' trailer the pin weight is up there. I read it at around 2,600 but I am sure that was a dry weight and not actual.

Thanks for the information. Better to learn from others than by trial and error. I'm good at error.

[Durb]

If the pin box on your trailer is a Goose Box you may want to rethink about changing it out. Many people tow with and swear by them. If a Goose Box, it already has air damping included.

Air style pin boxes work pretty well for lighter trailers with less pin weight. On heavier trailers the bladder has to be pumped up so hard they lose some effectiveness. A main issue is the pin box goes with the trailer should you decide to upgrade.

If you have a goose neck adapter bolted to a standard pin box then you would be better advised to revert the pin box to standard and use an air hitch. The damping performance would be superior and you could use it with your next trailer if neccessary.

[ReneeG]

Hensley TrailerSaver all the way!! Air bags and secure hitching. Have had it now 10 years with superb "bump" less towing and ease of mind hitching. True Holland Binkley head. Not cheap, but worth every penny. We have the BD3, but there is now a BD5 for greater towing capacity. Look them up here.