Recommendations for 5th wheel hitch shop in SF Bay Area

[Wood_chip]

My new truck will be here soon and am looking for a high quality installation shop for a 5th wheel hitch. I don't want my new truck hacked up or some less than quality installation. I have a trust issue with any type of shop so a recommendation would mean a bunch. I am in Fremont Ca so I am central to just about any where in the bay area .

Thank you

[mike2wheels]

I've used Eyer's Hitch Center in Santa Clara for work on my cargo trailer and work on my hitches. Although I didn't use them for work on my hitch, Leale's in San Jose always did good work on my RV.

[Wood_chip]

J-mans Dad wrote:
I can think of a couple of places depending on where you're at in the Bay Area.
East Bay has a couple of them that have had good reputations:
San Leandro Barstad and Donicht

Fremont Roger's Camping Trailers
small family owned business - Used to be a Sunnybrook dealer until CW took over the region.
They have a great service department.

Thanks J-mans Dad
I will call those 2 shops and ask some questions. A few years ago I called Rogers for what I thought was a simple deal and was shocked at the price he gave me. Probably me being out of touch with repair costs. I did call A&B trailer hitch on the Peninula and got a real good feeling about them.

[J-mans_Dad]

I can think of a couple of places depending on where you're at in the Bay Area.
East Bay has a couple of them that have had good reputations:
San Leandro Barstad and Donicht

Fremont Roger's Camping Trailers
small family owned business - Used to be a Sunnybrook dealer until CW took over the region.
They have a great service department.

[cummins2014]

laknox wrote:

Wood chip wrote:
Most guys I speak to outside this forum say I dont need a slider with the new 5th wheel front cap designs and extended Pin boxes. I would sure like to save the weight and the money and just buy the conventional companion. Decisions Decisions! If I elect a slider I will go with the Pullrite. If no slider, then the companion.

My FW has a very square front and I have a crew cab SWB 4x4 D'max. I can NOT hit my cab going forward, in either direction. ALL will hit when backing up, just a bit sooner without a slider. Frankly, in talking to FW owners over the past 10 years, most have said that if they needed a slider, they were in a situation that they shouldn't have got into in the first place. Sorta like what some people say about 4wd. 🙂 I have a gooseneck trailer, so have the Turnover Ball and Companion FW Hitch. Love both and the company is great to deal with.

Lyle

I don't believe anyone has a real issue on normal turning, slider or no slider, the issue is with the backing. If I get what you are saying you can turn in a circle without ever making contact with the bed. I turn pretty sharp going forward, but can see the possibility of eventually hitting if continuing in a circle. It sounds like you can't. When backing as you say eventually you are going to hit, well sure you will, but for some that is beyond 90 degrees slider or no slider, with a slider you have the same capability of backing as one with a long bed, and sure at some point you can make contact with the bed, but as said its beyond 90 degrees .

You are making the analogy that needing to use a slider in a situation that you shouldn't be in, well thats kind of crazy, first , on some setups, you don't have the ability in the first place to back in where a long bed application has no problem. If thats the case then you limit your ability to back into a spot, where you could easily with the long bed, thats not being in a situation you shouldn't be in, thats being in a situation that you can't back in because you have no slider. For many, and I have never had to pull my slider, but I am sure that day may come when I need to get into a tighter spot, I think that is more the norm, then saying you got yourself in a situation that you shouldn't have. Bottom line if you think you will be okay don't get a slider, but saying you never will, that could be a long shot. Your choice.

[Wood_chip]

MFL wrote:

Wood chip wrote:

MFL wrote:
I've had two different trucks with 6'9" beds. I have not needed a slider with the FWs I've towed.

If the cap is rounded, you should get by with a companion. It is adjustable up/down, as well as ahead/back.

We all need to pay attention, when turning, or backing. Even with a travel trailer, you can only turn/back so short.

Jerry

I was out mocking up with a tape measure and 2x4's on the ground to determine at what point the cab would be in contact with my 5th wheel. Keep in mind, my truck is not here yet to do a more realistic mockup but I would think at 60-70 degrees is where the issues start to arise. Is 60 degrees realistic in the real world when backing up 5th wheels. Im sure its a dumb question but do you guys get your rigs into 60-70 degree turns as a matter of normal operation?

Jeff, I have never gotten technical enough to measure actual degrees available. I've had two different hitches, in three different trucks, the first having an 8' bed.

I have not needed to turn any shorter, no matter which truck I had. You will hear some say "I can back mine at 90 degrees". If you think about this, you will realize, that at a point, even before 90 degrees, you are no longer backing, but only twisting your tires, suspension, and frame sideways.

I would never turn, or back my FW that short, even if I could! It serves no purpose. You are always better off, to pull truck ahead, reposition, then continue backing/turning maneuver.

My hitch pin is approximately 40"s behind the cab, which gives me good clearance, with my last two FWs.

Hope that helps,
Jerry

Thank you Jerry. I have approx 43" from center of axel to cab which I know the pin sits a tad in front of the axel. I should have same results as yourself.

[MFL]

Wood chip wrote:

MFL wrote:
I've had two different trucks with 6'9" beds. I have not needed a slider with the FWs I've towed.

If the cap is rounded, you should get by with a companion. It is adjustable up/down, as well as ahead/back.

We all need to pay attention, when turning, or backing. Even with a travel trailer, you can only turn/back so short.

Jerry

I was out mocking up with a tape measure and 2x4's on the ground to determine at what point the cab would be in contact with my 5th wheel. Keep in mind, my truck is not here yet to do a more realistic mockup but I would think at 60-70 degrees is where the issues start to arise. Is 60 degrees realistic in the real world when backing up 5th wheels. Im sure its a dumb question but do you guys get your rigs into 60-70 degree turns as a matter of normal operation?

Jeff, I have never gotten technical enough to measure actual degrees available. I've had two different hitches, in three different trucks, the first having an 8' bed.

I have not needed to turn any shorter, no matter which truck I had. You will hear some say "I can back mine at 90 degrees". If you think about this, you will realize, that at a point, even before 90 degrees, you are no longer backing, but only twisting your tires, suspension, and frame sideways.

I would never turn, or back my FW that short, even if I could! It serves no purpose. You are always better off, to pull truck ahead, reposition, then continue backing/turning maneuver.

My hitch pin is approximately 40"s behind the cab, which gives me good clearance, with my last two FWs.

Hope that helps,
Jerry

[Wood_chip]

MFL wrote:
I've had two different trucks with 6'9" beds. I have not needed a slider with the FWs I've towed.

If the cap is rounded, you should get by with a companion. It is adjustable up/down, as well as ahead/back.

We all need to pay attention, when turning, or backing. Even with a travel trailer, you can only turn/back so short.

Jerry

I was out mocking up with a tape measure and 2x4's on the ground to determine at what point the cab would be in contact with my 5th wheel. Keep in mind, my truck is not here yet to do a more realistic mockup but I would think at 60-70 degrees is where the issues start to arise. Is 60 degrees realistic in the real world when backing up 5th wheels. Im sure its a dumb question but do you guys get your rigs into 60-70 degree turns as a matter of normal operation?

[MFL]

I've had two different trucks with 6'9" beds. I have not needed a slider with the FWs I've towed.

If the cap is rounded, you should get by with a companion. It is adjustable up/down, as well as ahead/back.

We all need to pay attention, when turning, or backing. Even with a travel trailer, you can only turn/back so short.

Jerry

[laknox]

Wood chip wrote:
Most guys I speak to outside this forum say I dont need a slider with the new 5th wheel front cap designs and extended Pin boxes. I would sure like to save the weight and the money and just buy the conventional companion. Decisions Decisions! If I elect a slider I will go with the Pullrite. If no slider, then the companion.

My FW has a very square front and I have a crew cab SWB 4x4 D'max. I can NOT hit my cab going forward, in either direction. ALL will hit when backing up, just a bit sooner without a slider. Frankly, in talking to FW owners over the past 10 years, most have said that if they needed a slider, they were in a situation that they shouldn't have got into in the first place. Sorta like what some people say about 4wd. 🙂 I have a gooseneck trailer, so have the Turnover Ball and Companion FW Hitch. Love both and the company is great to deal with.

Lyle

[Wood_chip]

Most guys I speak to outside this forum say I dont need a slider with the new 5th wheel front cap designs and extended Pin boxes. I would sure like to save the weight and the money and just buy the conventional companion. Decisions Decisions! If I elect a slider I will go with the Pullrite. If no slider, then the companion.

[57_Panhead]

The Hitch House in Stockton CA is a great place for hitch work and other towing accessories. Had mine done there and they did a great job. Love my B&W Companion with no slide. Have had no issues with our short bed Ford F250 and Jayco 31.5RLTS. Hitch was installed at the rearmost and highest setting and all is good.

Steve

[alboy]

Why not look at the Demco 18k Hijacker autoslide,a great hitch and simpler in design than the superglide with no capture plate, it does have vertical adjustment.I have one,towed over 50k excellent hitch.

[Wood_chip]

up2nogood wrote:

glazier wrote:

Wood chip wrote:
i am just evaluating for sure on the need for the slider. My nose / cap is so rounded and sloped, I would love to buy just the companion and save 70lbs on the back. 130 lbs vs 200lbs between the two units. Have you ever had to engage the slider?

Yes I have engaged the slider before, and was glad I had it. On a side note, I pull all types of trailers including a gooseneck. You might want a superglide, I have never considered one because of the other trailers I pull.

If no goose neck in the future the Superglide makes even more sense.

I am still trying to determine if the superglide has vertical adjustment. Also, I am looking at the superrail mounting kit.

[cummins2014]

glazier wrote:

Wood chip wrote:
i am just evaluating for sure on the need for the slider. My nose / cap is so rounded and sloped, I would love to buy just the companion and save 70lbs on the back. 130 lbs vs 200lbs between the two units. Have you ever had to engage the slider?

Yes I have engaged the slider before, and was glad I had it. On a side note, I pull all types of trailers including a gooseneck. You might want a superglide, I have never considered one because of the other trailers I pull.

If no goose neck in the future the Superglide makes even more sense.