Are hitches universal?

[Dutch_Oven_Man]

We just sold our travel trailer and we are in the market for a fifth wheel. I wanted to go ahead and have the rails and hitch installed by a local shop in case we buy a used one from an individual, and so I don't have to sit around at the dealer all day if we buy a new one.

My question is this: will all rails/hitches work on all fivers? My parents just bought a new Flagstaff with the Reese Sided Winder pin and the dealer said you had to have a Reese hitch. To me, it looks like any hitch would work.

Also, are all rails universal to all hitches? I also thought about just having having the rails installed to get that part out of the way.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

a1albert wrote:
The OP did say his Parents had a Sidewinder and he thought it looked like any hitch wood work with it. Most hitches will work with it but you need to install the right wedge on the sidewinder to work on your hitch.

Shows the importance of clearly stating all the details of the question!

OP: Why bother to ask - if you don't return for the answer/s and clarification of the question?

Replies: Why bother to attempt an answer if the guy asking the question doesn't return?.:S

Who's on first?..:@


~

[jeepman71]

I have a Side Winder hitch on my Rockwood. You can "lock" out the hitch and make the pivot move back to the pin box which is very nice if you have a short box truck or do not wish to deal with a slider hitch or you can leave the pivot at the pin which makes it virtually just like any other pin. The only hitch I have found that I would not be able to lock out the pin box is the B&W Companion which I understand is a very nice hitch. I also have the Reese Pro 15K with a slide bar, I would advise against this unless you are on a very tight budget. This hitch and slide assy was included with the purchase of my trailer. Bottom line is any hitch will work with any trailer that I have looked into.

[a1albert]

The OP did say his Parents had a Sidewinder and he thought it looked like any hitch wood work with it. Most hitches will work with it but you need to install the right wedge on the sidewinder to work on your hitch.

[wittmeba]

Many of the standard rail mounted hitches are fully interchangeable. Spacing and location are pretty much standard as well.

There may be more exceptions in the under bed rail mount kits as they are customized to hitches and truck frames.

[restlesswind]

gparrow wrote:
Not sure if i'm misunderstanding the question or not based on some of the responses here i think i must be.

There is no difference in the actual kingpin and strike plate/hitch the differencee is in the pin box design but the kingpin is not different.

The OP stated that he was thinking about having the RAILS and HITCH
installed.It seems like some of the answers got a bit off track.

[gparrow]

Not sure if i'm misunderstanding the question or not based on some of the responses here i think i must be.

There is no difference in the actual kingpin and strike plate/hitch the differencee is in the pin box design but the kingpin is not different.

[a1albert]

If your parents have the Reese Sidewinder pin box then your hitch may not work with it. The sidewinder has a locking plate that will only work on the type of hitch that they have and maybe a few others. You can get a plate for other hitch but then you must remove one and put the other one on.

[aruba5er]

My dealer had a chart telling where the rails go in regard to box size and axle length. I have a TS 3 Trailersaver hitch using Reese rails. No problem. Rails were mounted without having the hitch.

[SDM]

I have Reece 16,000# with slider. I have not chucking what so ever. This has been a good hitch for 9 years.

[deleted-2]

Dutch Oven Man wrote:


My question is this: will all rails/hitches work on all fivers? My parents just bought a new Flagstaff with the Reese Sided Winder pin and the dealer said you had to have a Reese hitch. To me, it looks like any hitch would work.

Also, are all rails universal to all hitches? I also thought about just having having the rails installed to get that part out of the way.

My recent experience here was:
Sold off our older fifth wheel and gave the RBW 15K away with it.

Kept the universal hitch rails in our truck because I thought they might fit a newer
hitch.

Didn't have to get new universal rails for the Husky 16K I just bought.

The Husky dropped right on the rails.

Saved $80 bucks and rolling around underneath the truck cussing.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

First, any hitch will work with any fifth wheel.

But, as others indicated, the mounting systems (rails) are different from brand to brand. So the rails may or may not work, dependent on brand.

Unfamiliar with Reese Side Winder Pin, assuming this is on the pin box of the fifth wheel???? Cannot help there.

[agesilaus]

In general they are completely interchangeable. A few sliders require an adapter plate. I would advise you to stay away from Reese, they are known to 'chuck' which is a very unpleasant slamming when you speed up or slow down. B&W and Pullrite are both excellent. B&W has some lower priced models too.

Rails however must be matched up with the right hitch. With the exception of the Ford prep kit which takes some hitches from Pullrite, B&W and possibly other brands.

[romore]

Unfortunately, mount kits are not universal.