Different Hitch ??

[beetle1]

Friends,
I am pulling a 15,000# Mobile Suite with a new Ram3500 and in the past I used a 16,000#Reese hitch for 9 years. Only been on short trips in these years but about to go full time in the West. Going to put new rails in the truck now. Is it really worth the money to change to these new air type or other soft ride hitches I see on the market??

[Cummins12V98]

beetle1 wrote:
Thanks everyone, I did buy a 2012 Ram dually 4x4 this week to avoid the DEF situation. I think I have decided to get the Companion 18K set up but not clear on which kingpin box to replace if I decide on the air idea. My 2003 M.Suite is supposed to weigh 15K dry I think and we will travel with about 50 gal water, and recently reduced furniture by 300 pounds. We have the 15th M.Suite they built after breaking from Sunnybrook.
All of your thoughts are tremendous and I am glad to be on this forum, very informative.

Great choice on the truck and hitch, I have both and I am extremely happy with mine. Now get the TrailAire air ride kingpin box. I have one with the TriGlide it really works great, I can watch the Mobile Suites just float behind me!

IMHO a much better product than the Airborn. Ask people that have had both they will tell you the TrailAire is better.

My setup tows and rides great, yours will too!

[beetle1]

Thanks everyone, I did buy a 2012 Ram dually 4x4 this week to avoid the DEF situation. I think I have decided to get the Companion 18K set up but not clear on which kingpin box to replace if I decide on the air idea. My 2003 M.Suite is supposed to weigh 15K dry I think and we will travel with about 50 gal water, and recently reduced furniture by 300 pounds. We have the 15th M.Suite they built after breaking from Sunnybrook.
All of your thoughts are tremendous and I am glad to be on this forum, very informative.

[larry_barnhart]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
IMHO CW usually does not have a clue.

My 36' MS weighs at least 18K, My combined weight is 28K. I have a B&W Companion with the gooseneck hitch that leaves the bed clear. I have the TrailSaver air ride Kingpin Box. The combo is very solid and rides extremely well. My TV is a RAM 3500 Dually 4X4 the ride is very solid and stable in all weather conditions.

The air hitch is probably nice but extremely expensive and no cake walk to remove!
We have full timed all along the West coast since 11/11 and have enjoyed the ride.

That is because your trailair air pin box is a great product. It came out at the same time we bought our air hitch. The first models were just a fit all kind of deal but later the products were made for replacing different brands of pin boxes for a better fix and the bolt holes were pre bored.
chevman

[Cummins12V98]

IMHO CW usually does not have a clue.

My 36' MS weighs at least 18K, My combined weight is 28K. I have a B&W Companion with the gooseneck hitch that leaves the bed clear. I have the TrailSaver air ride Kingpin Box. The combo is very solid and rides extremely well. My TV is a RAM 3500 Dually 4X4 the ride is very solid and stable in all weather conditions.

The air hitch is probably nice but extremely expensive and no cake walk to remove!
We have full timed all along the West coast since 11/11 and have enjoyed the ride.

[marspec]

An air hitch can be moved from truck to truck. An air pin box would probably stay with the fiver. My air hitch is on it's third truck and 80,000 miles. (One of these days I've got to quit buying larger rigs.) Check out this hitch: http://www.airsafehitches.com/25k.html.

[larry_barnhart]

We have enjoyed our air hitch since April 2001. Nothing can beat air for a soft ride for the fifth. Buy something with air.
chevman

[rhagfo]

You might look at this Reese.
http://www.reeseprod.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=3&parentid=1700&catID=1725∂=30867

[45Ricochet]

B&W Companion is the gold standard. But you still didn't answer my question as to a "new Ram" Which model year did you buy? 2012 or 2013? B & W is in the process of engineering one to fit the 2013. Soooo I guess you have the 2012 MY :H

[beetle1]

Update, I went to CWorld at Little Rock today and they thought the old 16K Reese was OK for the 2003 36CK Mobile Suite that is supposed to weigh a little over 15K loaded. They recommended the Airborne Hitch pin? and if I wanted an upgrade go with B&W Companion with the hidden gooseneck system. Thanks for all advice. I just want to get the best setup worthy of cost. Doing something next week??

[GMT830]

WeBeFulltimers wrote:

GMT830 wrote:

beetle1 wrote:
Thanks BB, I read where the better ones will protect transmission wear and tires, etc. But not sure about those claims.

Hmmm...interesting

To me that sounds like a hitch manufacturer claim. You have a nice fiver and truck...don't scrimp on the hitch!

Years ago my Dad did an EXCELLENT job of rebuilding a 1930 Model A Ford, but got cheap on the paint job. What a disappointment for him. Just saying.

It's widely known in the snow removal industry that trip-edge plows save transmissions. I'm very excited to learn about this hitch news.

[45Ricochet]

Is it a 2013 or 2012 Ram? If a 2013 does it have the towing package with the factory mounting holes? Your new MS needs a bigger hitch IMO.

[WeBeFulltimers]

GMT830 wrote:

beetle1 wrote:
Thanks BB, I read where the better ones will protect transmission wear and tires, etc. But not sure about those claims.

Hmmm...interesting

To me that sounds like a hitch manufacturer claim. You have a nice fiver and truck...don't scrimp on the hitch!

Years ago my Dad did an EXCELLENT job of rebuilding a 1930 Model A Ford, but got cheap on the paint job. What a disappointment for him. Just saying.

[hone_eagle]

If you got the money its worth it.

[greende]

If I were going full time with that heavy of a trailer, I'd look into a Trailer Saver or similar air hitch. I have a MorRyde pinbox on my 5er now but from what I understand, the air hitch on the truck works very well to accomplish what you want to do. JMO.