Demco slider owners BEWARE!!!

[slohand]

Don't know if anyone has posted on this issue. Have a Demco Hijacker Autoslide that was bought new in May of 2014. I had about 3,000 mi. on it. A week ago I was moving the camper about 150 mi. when early on the trip I heard an odd noise when making a 90* turn. Didn't think a whole lot about it and continued onto the interstate. Realized I had a serious problem about 100 mi. down the road. The hitch was allowing travel back and forth as if I was in a turn. Except it was when I push the throttle or tapped the brakes. Pulled over and called Demco and was told I had a "failure" and they would have to get me a new hitch. I was not in an area where that would easily be done so I limped my way the last 15 mi. to my destination. I pulled the hitch out to look underneath to find the weld that holds the splined shaft that holds the entire hitch together had sheared and the shaft at that point could pull out which would result in my camper to no longer be attached to my truck. I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Demco only to find out this has happened a "handful of times". They said these where hitches built in spring 2014. No recall, no notification. I urge anyone with one of these built around that time to be vigilant in checking the condition of this weld. You have to pull the hitch to see it from underneath. If in doubt call them and make them replace it! Your life or someone else's may depend on it.

[Cummins12V98]

"Demco can be locked if you like."

YES, I understand that as MOST other hitches can be. BUT there is one that can't, I am trying to not mention it's name so I don't get accused of "BASHING". :B

[spud1957]

Also they can be locked so some idiot can't pull your latching handle pin and cause the RV to drop.

Pullrite Superglide hitches can also be locked to prevent someone from unlatching it.

The angle thing with the Autoslides IS NOT an issue. After 2 years of use, not once has it been a problem.

[hephaestus]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Also all B&W hitches have a lifetime warranty. Also they are easy to hitch and unhitch even with RV and TV at different angles. Also they can be locked so some idiot can't pull your latching handle pin and cause the RV to drop.

Demco can be locked if you like. Most auto sliders can that I know of. And no matter how easy the B&W is to get out of the truck and slide, it'll never be as easy as not having to do it at all.

I'm not a Demco fan-boy, that should be obvious from my stated experience. Just pointing out an error in your statement.

As far as having to hitch and un-hitch in a straight line, that is a draw-back to an autoslider. But once you get used to it it's really not a big deal. I just plan ahead as I'm backing and do so in such a way that I end up straight. At first it was sometimes a challenge. Now I barely have to think about it.

My 21k Demco that replaced the one that got destroyed hasn't given me issues yet. Knock on wood. I probably wouldn't buy Demco again and I'll never recommend them to anyone. But while it is working properly, I very much enjoy it.

[2012Coleman]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Also all B&W hitches have a lifetime warranty. Also they are easy to hitch and unhitch even with RV and TV at different angles. Also they can be locked so some idiot can't pull your latching handle pin and cause the RV to drop.

I can concur on all of these points. I've hooked up at different angles - just be careful that your tailgate doesn't hit. You can easily see when the jaws are correctly locked around the king pin, and you can lock them. Only con is that it is heavy. I had to get two people to help load it in.

[Cummins12V98]

2012Coleman wrote:

hephaestus wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

Wumba wrote:
Hmm, getting ready to purchase a hitch within the next month....was between this and PullRite....time to reevaluate. Thanks for the info!

I purchased the B&W Companion slider from ETrailer. Very well built, easy operation, doesn't make a lot of noise.

That's not an auto slider is it?

No - but it takes nothing to hop up on the running board and lift the lever that unlocks it. It auto locks when through sliding either way.

Also all B&W hitches have a lifetime warranty. Also they are easy to hitch and unhitch even with RV and TV at different angles. Also they can be locked so some idiot can't pull your latching handle pin and cause the RV to drop.

Sounds like there is not an auto slide hitch that does not have issues!

[2012Coleman]

hephaestus wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

Wumba wrote:
Hmm, getting ready to purchase a hitch within the next month....was between this and PullRite....time to reevaluate. Thanks for the info!

I purchased the B&W Companion slider from ETrailer. Very well built, easy operation, doesn't make a lot of noise.

That's not an auto slider is it?

No - but it takes nothing to hop up on the running board and lift the lever that unlocks it. It auto locks when through sliding either way.

[hephaestus]

2012Coleman wrote:

Wumba wrote:
Hmm, getting ready to purchase a hitch within the next month....was between this and PullRite....time to reevaluate. Thanks for the info!

I purchased the B&W Companion slider from ETrailer. Very well built, easy operation, doesn't make a lot of noise.

That's not an auto slider is it?

[2012Coleman]

Wumba wrote:
Hmm, getting ready to purchase a hitch within the next month....was between this and PullRite....time to reevaluate. Thanks for the info!

I purchased the B&W Companion slider from ETrailer. Very well built, easy operation, doesn't make a lot of noise.

[CarnationSailor]

My Demco 18K Hijacker Auto Slide failed on a trip in May. I believe it was due to play developing between the slide assemblies (upper and lower) and the slide rails. This allowed the gears to become misaligned and jam up in a 90-degree turn while driving forward. The result of the jammed gears was that the 1/2-inch bolt attaching the capture plate sheared. There was damage to the lower slide assembly gear, the rack gear on one side, the guide roller bearing and the guide plate assembly.

Demco shipped replacement parts for all of the above items plus a new upper slide assembly. They overnighted the parts to me at no cost to me even though the hitch was 3 1/2 years old and out-of-warranty.

Demco was unable to determine why the play developed, but I have a theory. After I completed the repair, Demco told me that I should not be able to rotate the hitch head by hand due to friction between the upper and lower slide assemblies and the slide rails. They said I should need a 6-foot steel bar to generate enough leverage to rotate the head. And after the repair, I was unable to rotate the head.

Since day one with the original hitch, I was always able to rotate the head by hand. Initially it was very difficult, but I could do it. Over time it became easier to rotate, but I did not know that being able to rotate the head was a sign of a problem. (Not mentioned in their owners manual.)

I speculate that the upper and lower slide assemblies were not properly torqued by the vendor that installed the hitch originally. This allowed play to develop over time, eventually resulting in the failure.

I may be wrong about the cause, but if you own a Demco Hijacker and can at any time rotate the head by hand, you should contact Demco right away. It may just mean that you need to replace the teflon wear plates. Or it could mean you have a bigger problem.

Also, if your hitch has ball bearings in the guide roller, know that Demco has a service bulletin to replace it with a solid bearing. The ball bearings are a known problem with the Hijacker hitch.

[hephaestus]

In all fairness, you rarely hear of Demco issues as well. This is the only thread on the net I've been able to find with any.

[cummins2014]

mileshuff wrote:
I have a Pullrite SuperGlide. No issues after 4 years. Rarely hear of any problems with Pullrites. Seems bullet proof.

I think you are correct on the SuperGlide, biggest complaint is the difficulty hitching it up, got to be a pretty straight shot to hitch up. I was thinking of one, after a friend bought one, he got tired of the hitching hassle, went out bought him an Andersen, and I followed suit. No hitching issues whatever.

[mileshuff]

I have a Pullrite SuperGlide. No issues after 4 years. Rarely hear of any problems with Pullrites. Seems bullet proof.

[kennethwooster]

That is good information is good. I had a Pullright at one time. Very nice hitch, and they are better today. Bought a long bed and went to B&W. Puck hitch. I love the B&W.

[hephaestus]

Thanks!