Hello all, it's been a LONG time since I've been here. My family and I have camped in a travel trailer for basically the last 18 years. Well, we sold "Mama Eagle" (last July) and decided to move to a 5th Wheel. So, I'm going from "Seasoned Expert" on towing to a "Newbie".So, how about some 5th Wheel Towing 101 for someone in my situation.I *MAY* have already found the 5th wheel we want, but even if we haven't, the first thing I need to do is understand what I'm looking for in a 5th wheel hitch.We'll be towing with our 2000 Ford F350 4x4 7.3L PSD. It is a crewcab with a long bed (8.5 ft IIRC).What I'm looking at right now should be very doable for our 1-ton, even if it's almost 20 years old. The truck is in great shape and has always been well maintained.The 5er we're looking at is 34 ft. long, with a dry weight of 10,000 lbs. and a GVWR of 13,615 lbs. It lists a "hitch weight" (which I'm guessing is the pin weight?) of 1615 lbs, which I'm guessing will be more than that if this works like it does in the TT world, adding options, cargo, etc.In any event, the GVWR of our F350 is 10,000 lbs. and with the heavy fiberglass cap needing to be off now to tow, I'm thinking I have about 2500-3000 lbs. of carrying capacity for the pin weight, since the truck weighs in at around 7500 without the cap. is that correct?I'd appreciate any advice on the hitch, and just advice in general as somebody who is switching from TT to 5ers.If nothing else, what are some good hitch brands, etc.?Thanks!!

Just a guess, but I'm thinking you'll be using a lot of that 2500-3000 lbs. carrying capacity. You generally figure about 20% for hitch weight, and since the dry weight is pretty useless, if you figure it on GVWR you should be good. And that would put you at about 2600 lbs. hitch weight. Add about 250 lbs. for a hitch and you're right up against your max payload. I'm a B&W hitch fan boy, so naturally I recommend them highly.

fj12ryder wrote:Just a guess, but I'm thinking you'll be using a lot of that 2500-3000 lbs. carrying capacity. You generally figure about 20% for hitch weight, and since the dry weight is pretty useless, if you figure it on GVWR you should be good. And that would put you at about 2600 lbs. hitch weight. Add about 250 lbs. for a hitch and you're right up against your max payload. I'm a B&W hitch fan boy, so naturally I recommend them highly.I figured I'm going to be up closer to my weight limitations with this 5th wheel (13650 GVWR) vs our old TT (9500 lbs. IIRC), since we were way under with the TT.In any event, if the pin weight is actually 20% (and I have no idea on pin weights, I know the tongue weights generally ranged from 12-15%), then 20% of 13,650 lbs. is approximately 2800 lbs., and that's if I load the 5er to capacity, which I find doubtful given that we usually less than 1000 lbs. of gear in our TT (I had that weighed very closely).So, as long as I never go over the GVWR of the 5er, as you said, I should be fine.I am going to take the truck cap off the truck, and it's a HEAVY fiberglass cap, on a full size bed, and then weight it fully fueled, etc. to get an accurate weight of the truck.

B&W simple, solid, no question if Yer hitched. Oh yea 100% USMade.

I am also a big fan of B&W hitches. All American made in Kansas with all American raw materials. I use one and it is by far the smoothest and easiest to hitch and unhitch that I have used. No reason to look and farther.B.O.

A hitch selection depends on how you are going to use the trailer and your specific trailer's towing dynamics (they all differ). I divide fifth wheel hitches into two categories, solid hook-up and energy absorbing.Solid hook-up hitches are good for short hauls or if you are fortunate enough to live where there are smooth roads. They are almost all quality products and will get your trailer to point B from point A.Energy absorbing hitches such as air hitches and those with rubber springs do more. They isolate the tow vehicle from the forces created when a ton of weight is bouncing around in the bed of your truck. I see an air hitch for those with bad trailer dynamics, bad roads, or planned long tows. In my mind, the comfort makes them worth their high costs.Another category would be hitches designed for short bed trucks such as sliders and auto sliders. You can check those off your list at the outset. There are a couple of manufacturers of lightweight hitches to help if you are bumping into your payload capacities.

5th Wheel Hitches 101 | Good Sam Community

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 21, 2019
gkainz wrote:

and just LOOK at ALL THE LOCKS you can put on it!!!!! :D
Yeah, but if it's non-desirable, you don't need any locks. :) When you got the best, you want to keep it. :)
gkainz
Explorer
Jun 21, 2019
JIMMY034 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
Whether the B&W is best or not I dont know but I would say most B&W owners would have a hard time trading their hitch for anything else. I'm another B&W fan boy. I think your 7.3 diesel is going to have its work cut out for it.

As your self appointed President of the B&W HeavyWeight Fanboy Club I can assure you B&W makes the very best non air ride hitches on the 3rd Rock From The Sun.

Certainly one of the heaviest.

and just LOOK at ALL THE LOCKS you can put on it!!!!! :D
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Jun 21, 2019
ACZL I agree with you. I don't understand buying the biggest heaviest unit, than look for the lightest hitch to use. My Comfort Ride hitch is heavy and very solidly built, but never comes out of the TV.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jun 21, 2019
StirCrazy wrote:

I had a similar sized 5th with my 99 F250, I had the 7.3 done up and it towed it like a dream but with the f250 I was 300lbs over my rear axel weight with out the wife and kids so I ended up buying a new truck. with a 1 ton you should be good, but you will be close to maxed out on your rear axel. the 7.3 will handle it good, but in stock configuration you are not going to win any races, I had mine done up to 925 ftlb of torque and a little over 400 hp.

in my case I ended up buying a 2014 f350 so I would be legal, if you are thinking of this but are not sure of the new diesels, don't worry this new 6.7 has less power than my 7.3 b but tows the trailer way better, but your 7.3 should be just fine.

Steve

OP's truck may have the same 6K? RGAWR, and that will be the issue he is most likely run up against.

To OP, what size tires does the truck have? LT265/75R16E with 3415 rating are better than the lower rated 17" that became popular as 16" where being phased out.
ACZL
Explorer
Jun 21, 2019
JIMMY034 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
Whether the B&W is best or not I dont know but I would say most B&W owners would have a hard time trading their hitch for anything else. I'm another B&W fan boy. I think your 7.3 diesel is going to have its work cut out for it.

As your self appointed President of the B&W HeavyWeight Fanboy Club I can assure you B&W makes the very best non air ride hitches on the 3rd Rock From The Sun.

Certainly one of the heaviest.

Sometimes going lighter isn't always the best way to go either. In fact, most new 5ers are getting heavier. Shoot, even my semi (day cab Freightliner Cascadia) weighs close to 16,000 lbs. Several years back, a day cab was lighter and a sleeper weighed 16k.

I would be curious if there was a test to compare the 5th wheel hitches head to head to see which one hold up the best before breaking. Many folks swear by Anderson or Demco cuz they are light and do the job, but I have this stigma that says otherwise where I want some beef under the 5er holding it to the truck. That beef come in the form of B&W.
JIMMY034
Explorer
Jun 21, 2019
Cummins12V98 wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
Whether the B&W is best or not I dont know but I would say most B&W owners would have a hard time trading their hitch for anything else. I'm another B&W fan boy. I think your 7.3 diesel is going to have its work cut out for it.

As your self appointed President of the B&W HeavyWeight Fanboy Club I can assure you B&W makes the very best non air ride hitches on the 3rd Rock From The Sun.

Certainly one of the heaviest.
StirCrazy
Moderator
Jun 21, 2019
MackinawMan wrote:

We'll be towing with our 2000 Ford F350 4x4 7.3L PSD. It is a crewcab with a long bed (8.5 ft IIRC).

The 5er we're looking at is 34 ft. long, with a dry weight of 10,000 lbs. and a GVWR of 13,615 lbs. It lists a "hitch weight" (which I'm guessing is the pin weight?) of 1615 lbs, which I'm guessing will be more than that if this works like it does in the TT world, adding options, cargo, etc.

Thanks!!

I had a similar sized 5th with my 99 F250, I had the 7.3 done up and it towed it like a dream but with the f250 I was 300lbs over my rear axel weight with out the wife and kids so I ended up buying a new truck. with a 1 ton you should be good, but you will be close to maxed out on your rear axel. the 7.3 will handle it good, but in stock configuration you are not going to win any races, I had mine done up to 925 ftlb of torque and a little over 400 hp.

in my case I ended up buying a 2014 f350 so I would be legal, if you are thinking of this but are not sure of the new diesels, don't worry this new 6.7 has less power than my 7.3 b but tows the trailer way better, but your 7.3 should be just fine.

Steve
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jun 21, 2019
4x4ord wrote:
Whether the B&W is best or not I dont know but I would say most B&W owners would have a hard time trading their hitch for anything else. I'm another B&W fan boy. I think your 7.3 diesel is going to have its work cut out for it.

As your self appointed President of the B&W HeavyWeight Fanboy Club I can assure you B&W makes the very best non air ride hitches on the 3rd Rock From The Sun.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Jun 21, 2019
Whether the B&W is best or not I dont know but I would say most B&W owners would have a hard time trading their hitch for anything else. I'm another B&W fan boy. I think your 7.3 diesel is going to have its work cut out for it.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jun 20, 2019
JIMMY034 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
The DEMCO looks like a quality US Made hitch.

Big issue is the heads pivot point is several inches below the kingpin connection and this is known to cause CHUCKING by several reports from CURT owners.

I can honestly say there's absolutely no chucking, that's one of the advantages of having both the wrap-jaw and lockbar. I'm totally 100% satisfied with this hitch.

Glad you are happy. The pivot point is the issue not the jaws. Many have no issue with the Curt but many do.

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