Curt fifth Wheel Hitches

[rkassl]

Going from a short bed with a Pullrite Super Glide to a long bed where we don't require a slide hitch. Does anyone have any comments regarding the Curt Hitch, good , bad or otherwise? Any first hadn experience will be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Sport45]

How something looks or how much it weighs isn't a reliable indicator of strength or toughness.

If it was, we'd still be building stone or concrete arches to bridge rivers and gorges. After all, a concrete arch is bigger and weighs orders of magnitude more than a suspension bridge so it has to be better. Same goes for rope, cable, chain, hitches, etc. If you don't know what it's made of and how it's put together you can't simply weigh or measure them to determine strength.

This argument isn't unique to the RV industry. For instance, blacksmiths will quickly point out that "anvil shaped objects" aren't really anvils even though they do everything you or I may need them to.

[blofgren]

The biggest issue I had to get used to with my Curt (Ram) hitch was lifting the trailer higher than I was used to when hitching up. Other than that it is very easy to hook and unhook the trailer. I also wouldn't consider it at all flimsy and it is certainly heavier than he!! to lift in and out of the truck.

[Stefonius]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

KKELLER14K wrote:
Umm..ok what hitch would I want?...can I ask what anyone thinks about the Curt Q24?..My concern is what matters about the rating? SO...regardless, why not buy the biggest you can get...or at least 2xs the rating of what you plan to pull..and then who cares if you have a load lighter than rated...does this really matter or is there just a hitch that works better than another...I'm clueless but really...between makers who has the better hitch and why?

Does it matter if a hitch is Made in China or USA? Does it matter if the hitch is rock solid with no silly color codes or flimsy lock mechanism and hard or easy to hookup?

Curt is Made in China, Curt is not easy to hookup. B&W is Made in USA, B&W is simple to hookup and latch and there is NO question if you are latched or not.

YES, I have hooked up a Q24 it is NOT simple to hookup and latch. Just compare the two side by side.

Of course I will be flamed by my statements.

Snip...

OP - My Curt is very easy to hook up. There is NO question whether you are latched or not. It's big, heavy and solid as a rock.

[Cummins12V98]

Yes my truck is "ASSEMBLED" in Mexico with mostly US Made parts. I do wish it were Made in USA. I could buy a Ford like yours that is Made in USA with a "MEXICAN MADE" PowerStroke engine. But based on the plusses and minuses of the two trucks I bought the best and the least of the two evils.

Look at the Curt and B&W side by side, then decide.

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

KKELLER14K wrote:
Umm..ok what hitch would I want?...can I ask what anyone thinks about the Curt Q24?..My concern is what matters about the rating? SO...regardless, why not buy the biggest you can get...or at least 2xs the rating of what you plan to pull..and then who cares if you have a load lighter than rated...does this really matter or is there just a hitch that works better than another...I'm clueless but really...between makers who has the better hitch and why?

Does it matter if a hitch is Made in China or USA? Does it matter if the hitch is rock solid with no silly color codes or flimsy lock mechanism and hard or easy to hookup?

Curt is Made in China, Curt is not easy to hookup. B&W is Made in USA, B&W is simple to hookup and latch and there is NO question if you are latched or not.

YES, I have hooked up a Q24 it is NOT simple to hookup and latch. Just compare the two side by side.

Of course I will be flamed by my statements.

Cummins... I'm not so sure your qualified to make all the above arguments.

I suppose your "Made in Mexico" truck was not an issue when choosing a "Made in the USA" hitch. :S


But if it makes you feel better, I would pick the "Made in the USA" B&W too. :B

[Cummins12V98]

KKELLER14K wrote:
Umm..ok what hitch would I want?...can I ask what anyone thinks about the Curt Q24?..My concern is what matters about the rating? SO...regardless, why not buy the biggest you can get...or at least 2xs the rating of what you plan to pull..and then who cares if you have a load lighter than rated...does this really matter or is there just a hitch that works better than another...I'm clueless but really...between makers who has the better hitch and why?

Does it matter if a hitch is Made in China or USA? Does it matter if the hitch is rock solid with no silly color codes or flimsy lock mechanism and hard or easy to hookup?

Curt is Made in China, Curt is not easy to hookup. B&W is Made in USA, B&W is simple to hookup and latch and there is NO question if you are latched or not.

YES, I have hooked up a Q24 it is NOT simple to hookup and latch. Just compare the two side by side.

Of course I will be flamed by my statements.

[JIMNLIN]

There is no better hitch other than the brand someone owns.
Just like their is no better truck other than the one you own.
Or the better 5th wheel trailer......... .

[KKELLER14K]

Umm..ok what hitch would I want?...can I ask what anyone thinks about the Curt Q24?..My concern is what matters about the rating? SO...regardless, why not buy the biggest you can get...or at least 2xs the rating of what you plan to pull..and then who cares if you have a load lighter than rated...does this really matter or is there just a hitch that works better than another...I'm clueless but really...between makers who has the better hitch and why?

[Learjet]

I think we are going in circles now...we get it 🙂

[avvidclif1]

You're the one keeps harping on bolts, hitching, towing, etc with a B & W is much better than anything else.

[Cummins12V98]

Stefonius wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Biggest thing that bothers me about the Curt is the fact there are only four 1/2" bolts of questionable grade holding potentially a 25K RV. Even if they were grade 8 it would still concern me."

The four bolts are NOT holding the 25k RV. The clamping force between the two pieces the bolts hold is what is holding your RV. The bolts only hold those two pieces in contact with each other, and each bolt is capable of resisting 140,000 pounds per square inch of shearing force.

In any case, nothing is pulling on those bolts, because the load is being handled by the contact between the two flat surfaces the bolts mate together.

Your bolt argument sounds good to the average Joe, but it doesn't hold water to anyone who understands physics or mechanical engineering.

I've got nothing against B&W hitches. I've used them. I find the Curt hitch to be easier. I'm not sure why you hate them so passionately.

Like usual people put words in my mouth!

I fully understand it's the clamping force! Still the FACT is there are only 4 bolts and B&W uses 8 that are for a FACT grade 8.

Have I said anything about "HATING" CURT?

I have pointed out that the FACT is CURT has ALL their 5er hitches in CHINA. Is that "hate" ?

I gave my opinion having hitched with both the B&W and Curt that the Curt is not as easy to hitch as the B&W and the Curt needs to be just right to hitch/latch. Is that "hate" ?

If you were to have left the last sentence you failed to post with the rest of my statement it would have been pretty darn clear that I DO understand the bolts are "clamping" the two pcs of metal together! I gave the example below of two similar conditions with a massive difference of bolts to obtain even a smaller rating than the 4 bolts Curt uses.

"My 21K kingpin hitch has twelve 5/8" grade 8 bolts holding it to the frame and I don't see much difference in the two conditions. "

[IdaD]

Stefonius wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Biggest thing that bothers me about the Curt is the fact there are only four 1/2" bolts of questionable grade holding potentially a 25K RV. Even if they were grade 8 it would still concern me."

The four bolts are NOT holding the 25k RV. The clamping force between the two pieces the bolts hold is what is holding your RV. The bolts only hold those two pieces in contact with each other, and each bolt is capable of resisting 140,000 pounds per square inch of shearing force.

In any case, nothing is pulling on those bolts, because the load is being handled by the contact between the two flat surfaces the bolts mate together.

Your bolt argument sounds good to the average Joe, but it doesn't hold water to anyone who understands physics or mechanical engineering.

I've got nothing against B&W hitches. I've used them. I find the Curt hitch to be easier. I'm not sure why you hate them so passionately.

I don't know why he keeps bringing up the bolt thing either but you're correct. The bolts hold the plates together, but the friction between the plates is what actually carries the load.

[Stefonius]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Biggest thing that bothers me about the Curt is the fact there are only four 1/2" bolts of questionable grade holding potentially a 25K RV. Even if they were grade 8 it would still concern me."

The four bolts are NOT holding the 25k RV. The clamping force between the two pieces the bolts hold is what is holding your RV. The bolts only hold those two pieces in contact with each other, and each bolt is capable of resisting 140,000 pounds per square inch of shearing force.

In any case, nothing is pulling on those bolts, because the load is being handled by the contact between the two flat surfaces the bolts mate together.

Your bolt argument sounds good to the average Joe, but it doesn't hold water to anyone who understands physics or mechanical engineering.

I've got nothing against B&W hitches. I've used them. I find the Curt hitch to be easier. I'm not sure why you hate them so passionately.

[azjeffh]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

I think most people would say the B&W would tow much more than the Curt/RAM just based on looks.

And as pointed out earlier, the Curt and B&W for your Ram have less than a pound separating them in weight. If the B&W were so much more heavy duty, that would not be the case.

[Cummins12V98]

minnow wrote:
Hitches and tow vehicles seem to fall in the same category. Most trucks/hitches will do the job but each truck/hitch has a rabid fan base and the "mine is better than your's" arguments soon appear.
It's a stark economic fact that not everyone can afford a MTD and a $1200+ hitch when one can economically find something for much less money that will get the job done.

B&W RVK3600 $1.159 no tax or shipping at etrailer.com or tweets.com 😉