Usefulness of Ford "5th-Wheel/Gooseneck" package

[ZagiFlyer]

I'm looking to buy a Ford F250/350 as a tow vehicle for my next 5r. I already have a Reese sliding 16K hitch from my previous 5r (Part No. 30051). I also see that Ford OEMs hitches. My question is, if I get the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck package on the truck, will the Reese slider that I already have fit in the slots Ford puts in the bed for this? The Reese installation manual seems pretty specific on the distance between front and rear mounting plates, etc. I don't want to go out of my way to get this option if the holes they put in the bed aren't usable for the Reese 16K sliding hitch.


I know I can just get the truck without the package do an aftermarket install, but the cross-member they add, along with prewiring the pigtail seem worth it -- but only if everything lines up.

[Cummins12V98]

Don't throw good money after bad buying an adapter. Sell your hitch on CL and put the $$$ to a QUALITY new B&W. You WILL thank me.

[blofgren]

MFL wrote:
Don't think the OP understands how the puck system works. Yes you would need an adapter using the FW prep.

A new truck, I'd just do it right. Sell your current hitch on market place etc. Now get a quality hitch to drop direct into the pucks, with no need to buy a heavy/expensive adapter. You should not even need a sliding hitch. An adjustable ahead/back quality hitch, such as the B&W 3300 will give good clearance, when towing a newer rounded front FW, that is designed for a standard bed truck.

Using adapters can add several more inches of height to your hitch, which may mean towing some FWs more nose high.

Jerry

This is exactly correct. I used an adapter on my Ram (Curt) hitch, which worked, but the adapter adds another dimension that is not necessary with a hitch designed for the puck system. Back when I bought my truck the options were limited; I now have the B&W Companion slider designed for the Ram puck system and it works with the system MUCH better, and is a much better hitch as well.

[ZagiFlyer]

Thanks All, as always your input and guidance is why I'm on the forum. I'll go ahead and get the 5th-Wheel package, but then I'll do a little more research now that I know about this "new" puck connection system.

Pretty soon I'll be updating my signature block for the first time in many years.

[MFL]

OP..Yes, the Ford FW prep package is a bargain. Not buying the adapter, will be getting this package for free. You will also save the time, or money, to have rails installed, as you can just set the puck ready hitch in, lock the handles, and done (a 5-10 minute install).

I'll add a pic, showing the puck attachment points on hitch, and handles that just turn to install, turn to lock it in.

You may need to increase pic size to see the attachment points more clearly.



This hitch for OEM Ford pucks, separates easily to two pieces. the head weighs 75 lbs, and the base 78 lbs. Very easily managed, but super solid build, with zero slop in the pucks.

Jerry

[ZagiFlyer]

MFL wrote:
Don't think the OP understands how the puck system works. . . .

Jerry

This is the crux of the post; when I last had a 5r there was no such thing. I don't understand how this system works (yet).

But it sounds like the answer to my original question is to get the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck package on the truck. This gives me the option of getting the adapter and using my existing hitch or selling the hitch and using the new kind that uses the puck.

[ReneeG]

We have a Hensely TrailerSaver FW hitch and used the adaptor for our F350 pickup.

[MFL]

Don't think the OP understands how the puck system works. Yes you would need an adapter using the FW prep.

A new truck, I'd just do it right. Sell your current hitch on market place etc. Now get a quality hitch to drop direct into the pucks, with no need to buy a heavy/expensive adapter. You should not even need a sliding hitch. An adjustable ahead/back quality hitch, such as the B&W 3300 will give good clearance, when towing a newer rounded front FW, that is designed for a standard bed truck.

Using adapters can add several more inches of height to your hitch, which may mean towing some FWs more nose high.

Jerry

[cummins2014]

rhagfo wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:
Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window.
The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.

well I have had the Reese adapter in our 2016 Ram 3500 for going of six years, the truck bought used the end of 2018. Pre Covid, I only paid a couple dollars over $300 for ours, no difference than putting in rails, just removable for flat floor.

I have had the Reese adapter in my 2014 since March of 2014 ,not a lot of choices for the puck system back then . Plus the fact I wanted to use my existing hitch that fit the standard rails . Have since went to the steel Andersen which also fits on the adapter .

There are always failure points ,but that adapter , with the four lock down lugs is the least of my worries .

[rhagfo]

schlep1967 wrote:
Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window.
The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.

well I have had the Reese adapter in our 2016 Ram 3500 for going of six years, the truck bought used the end of 2018. Pre Covid, I only paid a couple dollars over $300 for ours, no difference than putting in rails, just removable for flat floor.

[schlep1967]

Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window.
The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.

[ksss]

BB_TX wrote:
If you plan to keep the truck for a long time get the hitch package. You may someday decide to try a different hitch that would use the puck mounting system. Or even the Goosebox gooseneck adapter that is growing rapidly in popularity and use the ball mount.

Thats what I got from Curt. I really like it.

[BB_TX]

If you plan to keep the truck for a long time get the hitch package. You may someday decide to try a different hitch that would use the puck mounting system. Or even the Goosebox gooseneck adapter that is growing rapidly in popularity and use the ball mount.

[Travlingman]

Reese Adapter

[Second_Chance]

Your existing hitch will only fit in the OEM puck system (they're not slots) if it is designed for the Ford OEM puck system. I would also not recommend the Ford-branded hitch. I have - and really like - an OEM puck system equipped truck and really like it. I use a PullRite hitch designed for the Ford puck system.

Rob