New to 5er need advice on a hitch - Autoslide vs Air Pin Box

[TenOC]

1. I am sure this has been discussed before. I did do a search, but did not find what I am looking for.

2. I know some people like vanilla and others like chocolate ice cream -- or Ford vs Chev vs Dodge so I may be opening a can of worms.

I am in the process of purchasing a new RV. I have found a very good deal on a used 32 foot 5th wheel-- much better than for a TT. I have never owned a 5er only TTs, but the price on the 5er is hard to turn down.

With the 5er, I will need a 5th wheel hitch for my short bed 2016 GMC 2500 crew cab diesel truck. I have looked at You Tubes and Google 5th wheel hitches and see that there are a number of different type/brand of hitches. For my TT I purchased an Hensley Arrow hitch, because I wanted the "the best" to prevent sway.

I will use these brand names only as examples of what I am think about a auto-slide hitch that mounted in the bed such as the pull-right autoslide or a Reese 5th Airborne 5th Wheel Air Ride that mounts on the 5er or some other hitch air hitch or an air ride pinbox that will reduce the shock of the 5er.

Your suggestions are welcome.

[rhagfo]

TenOC wrote:
1. I am sure this has been discussed before. I did do a search, but did not find what I am looking for.

2. I know some people like vanilla and others like chocolate ice cream -- or Ford vs Chev vs Dodge so I may be opening a can of worms.

I am in the process of purchasing a new RV. I have found a very good deal on a used 32 foot 5th wheel-- much better than for a TT. I have never owned a 5er only TTs, but the price on the 5er is hard to turn down.

With the 5er, I will need a 5th wheel hitch for my short bed 2016 GMC 2500 crew cab diesel truck. I have looked at You Tubes and Google 5th wheel hitches and see that there are a number of different type/brand of hitches. For my TT I purchased an Hensley Arrow hitch, because I wanted the "the best" to prevent sway.

I will use these brand names only as examples of what I am think about a auto-slide hitch that mounted in the bed such as the pull-right autoslide or a Reese 5th Airborne 5th Wheel Air Ride that mounts on the 5er or some other hitch air hitch or an air ride pinbox that will reduce the shock of the 5er.

Your suggestions are welcome.

While I tow a 32' 5er with a 2001 Ram Quad Cab LB, I don't need a slider and don't have a suggestion for brand.
What I do suggest is you tow it for a while before installing an air, or cushioned pin box. These will mask a poor ride in the 5er that results in what many call chucking. I worked on getting the 5er to ride smooth, before getting a cunshioned pin box. I currently don't feel the need for for one, the 5er rides smooth.
What I did to the 5er to smooth the ride was get it to tow level, installed wet bolts, and installed shocks, I also run a 22% pin weight. My 5er rides smooth and as stated eailer currently don't feel a need for a cushioned pin box.

[CarnationSailor]

I stand corrected! I shouldn't have assumed that the Demco was representative of all auto sliders.

[Calkidd]

CarnationSailor wrote:

Calkidd wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
with Auto sliders your truck and rig must be straight aligned to connect/ disconnect. Too limiting in my opinion, you could not pay me to have one.

Simply not true.

Well, yes, it is true.

I have a Demco Hijacker Auto Slide and (as the owner's manual states) the centerlines of the 5th wheel and the tow vehicle must be within 5 degrees of each other. It is limiting, but only to the extent that many curved (arc'ed?) pull-thru sites won't work for us. We just avoid them.

So you group ALL auto silders when you have expereience with one brand? Do a little more research you'll find not all auto sliders are like the ONE you used.

[kzspree320]

CarnationSailor wrote:

Calkidd wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
with Auto sliders your truck and rig must be straight aligned to connect/ disconnect. Too limiting in my opinion, you could not pay me to have one.

Simply not true.

Well, yes, it is true.

I have a Demco Hijacker Auto Slide and (as the owner's manual states) the centerlines of the 5th wheel and the tow vehicle must be within 5 degrees of each other. It is limiting, but only to the extent that many curved (arc'ed?) pull-thru sites won't work for us. We just avoid them.

May be true for Demco but that doesn't make his point wrong. I have had my Pullrite Superglide for over 4 years and many thousands of mies being retired. I have been way more than 5 degrees off center and had no problem hooking/unhooking. I have never had a problem with a curved pull thru. Can you unhook 45 degrees off center? no, but I've never had to do that. Your experience with the Demo differs greatly from my experience with the Superglide.

[CarnationSailor]

Calkidd wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
with Auto sliders your truck and rig must be straight aligned to connect/ disconnect. Too limiting in my opinion, you could not pay me to have one.

Simply not true.

Well, yes, it is true.

I have a Demco Hijacker Auto Slide and (as the owner's manual states) the centerlines of the 5th wheel and the tow vehicle must be within 5 degrees of each other. It is limiting, but only to the extent that many curved (arc'ed?) pull-thru sites won't work for us. We just avoid them.

[southernsky]

Been running a Pullrite auto slider 16k with Reese 5th Airborne for five yrs. with many miles of no problems.

[Calkidd]

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
with Auto sliders your truck and rig must be straight aligned to connect/ disconnect. Too limiting in my opinion, you could not pay me to have one.

Simply not true.

[Calkidd]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
I used a Pull Rite Super Glide along with a Trailair pinbox on the trailer when I had a shortbed truck. Worked just fine.

B.O.

BAM!!! Excactly. I love the autoglide and the fact it is worry free. You can't beat the customer service of Pullrite. I also second Trailair. It is just not for chucking, but it keeps the harsh impact on the trailer frame and the vehicle to a minimum. Watch a Trailair video and you will see just how much movement is absorbed.

[SDcampowneroper]

with Auto sliders your truck and rig must be straight aligned to connect/ disconnect. Too limiting in my opinion, you could not pay me to have one.

[B_O__Plenty]

I used a Pull Rite Super Glide along with a Trailair pinbox on the trailer when I had a shortbed truck. Worked just fine.

B.O.

[Durb]

If I was doing it over and had a short bed truck I would give the Blue Ox Super Ride hitch a look. Lightweight with rubber cushioning to reduce shock plus it looks like it pivots on its base to provide clearance travel, however not automatically. Their website and ad copy are not the best regarding function.

I, like you, went from a TT to a 31' 5er with plenty of truck. Due to physics the shorter trailers chuck worse than the long ones and my initial tow with a B&W hitch was terrible. My solution ended up being a Hensley air hitch which is superb. I think they have a sliding adapter base now but you are stacking money on top of more money.

Sadly, the best way to know your trailer's towing dynamics is to hook it up and go. Hard to do without making a commitment to a hitch. Good luck with your decision and enjoy that 5th wheel.

[CarnationSailor]

Your choice shouldn't be between an autoslider or an air ride pin box, but rather (1) an autoslider or non-sliding hitch and (2) an air ride pin box or a non-cushioned pin box. Two decisions to make, not one.

With a shortbox, I would get a sliding hitch, and if you're getting a slider, get an auto slider.

From my experience, I would also get an air ride pin box.

[Parrothead_Mike]

I've pulled my 5er with a slider hitch since '03, but have never utilized the slider option. Also, I have a short box Chevy. My newer 5er is sculptured in the front corners which help those tight turns, but my older Cardinal didn't have that and I still didn't need the slider.

I'm not of the opinion that the more expensive brand names insure you a better, safer ride. A average to good 5er hitch will be fine. I don't think there is a big difference in these types of hitches compared to TT hitches where you can really notice some differences. My old Huskey has been excellent for 14 years and is easy to take off and put back on. I've pulled a 5er for well more than 50K miles with my hitch west to the Rockies, east to Maine, south to the Keys, and north into Canada.

For your own peace of mind get a good slider hitch. Then you won't be wondering whether you needed one. And if, in the future, you rub the tow vehicle with your 5er you're going to know for sure that you should have gotten one.

[Ron3rd]

My son in law with the Superglide (Pullrite) auto slider and is very satisfied. Pricey, but definitely worth it IMO.