Fifth wheel Hitch - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Dave Buck · RV-Dreams Family Member

Fifth wheel Hitch

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dave,

You will get BOTH answers with that question. Some will swear that the two different systems will work against each other. However, at an SOITC rally last year, I got into a conversation with Dale Fenton, the inventor of Trail-Air, and he said that there would not be an issue.

Now, having said that, I don't know if he has ever actually towed a Trail-Air pin box with an air ride fifth wheel hitch. He didn't say whether he had ever done that. But, with him being the designer of the Trail-Air system, I would defer to him until someone can come on and say that they have used both at once and provide actual details.

So, I'll wait with you and see what answers you get.

Terry

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

The conventional wisdom is not to have both as they could / might “fight” one another or perhaps have too much hysteresis to use an electrical term in a mechanical environment. (I.e. Over and undershoot.)

I guess the real question is why have both? It is possible you can overdo a good thing. I have a 5^th Airborne on the trailer and it seems to do an outstanding job; different design than the Trail-air but same basic principal. I’ve got about 65,000 miles of experience with the 5^th Airborne and have been extremely pleased with both its vertical and horizontal (anti-chucking) performance and that includes some very bad roads in Alaska and northern Canada’s Northwest Territories as well as segmented concrete Interstates.

Now, if the pocket book could stand it and all things being equal (which they never are for various reasons) you could have an air-ride hitch in the truck and put a MOR/ryde “anti-chucker” rubber pin box on the trailer. I’ve always felt that would be the best combination but never did it for a variety of other reasons mostly because I didn’t care for some of the issues with many air-ride truck hitches. But that’s a personal preference, not a factual reason. This is close to the Ford, Chevy, and Dodge discussion. But I would really recommend an air-ride someplace – truck or trailer – but not both. (Trailer is less complicated, less weight and less expensive.)

Safe travels

Bill

Dave Buck · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the replies. The trailer that I'm looking at has a Trail Air hitch. I'm going to have to put a hitch on the truck. It's a 18K fifth wheel so what hitch would you suggest.

Terry, what combination do you have with your Suite?

Thanks

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have used the Trailer Saver air ride with the Trailair pin box. I didn't notice any issues.. However I did air down the Trail air no need to have both. I do prefer the Trailer Saver air ride 5th wheel hitch.. The movement on the TS much smoother... I have a standard pin box riding on the TS. No issues, I have own 3 Trailer Savers and for my use its the only way to go...

I have also owned Reese, Valley/Huskey and the B&W turnover ball with the Companion 5th wheel hitch. For my use the B&W system was the best... Just make sure what ever choice you make the hitch has the capacity to handle what ever your towing... Happy Trails...

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dave Buck wrote:
Thanks for the replies. The trailer that I'm looking at has a Trail Air hitch. I'm going to have to put a hitch on the truck. It's a 18K fifth wheel so what hitch would you suggest.

Terry, what combination do you have with your Suite?

Thanks

Dave,

Interesting that three of your answers come from folks with Mobile Suites fivers. In our case, we have the Trail-Air pin box with Tri-Glide, the Trail-Air suspension, and our F450 has a 22K Reese fifth wheel. We've not pulled our fifth wheel much more than 1000 miles since we are "static" full-timers waiting for retirement, but we like the way the 18,500 lb coach tows and rides with that system.

I always air up the pin box "bladder" to what my compressor will handle and then after hooking up to the coach and level, I climb into the back and let air out until the arrows on the shock absorber line up at the right place.

Oh, I guess I should explain Tri-Glide on the pin box. It is a special lower jaw on the pin box that "glides" forward and back to help eliminate "chucking" between the truck and fifth wheel.

I initially was disappointed with the Reese hitch because the latch handle does not "snap" into place when the fifth wheel pin is fully into the fifth wheel clamp. But, I am so particular with that connection that I have always climbed into the truck to make sure the clamp was engaged anyway. With the "snapping into place" not happening, it reminds me to climb up into the bed and physically check.

That process is no big deal to me anyway, because I always climb into the back to hook up the emergency brake cable, so I check at the same time.

As for your choice of fifth wheel hitch, I would make sure that you have some "cushion" on the weights. In other words, with an 18,000 lb trailer, I would insist on at least a 20K hitch, thus my reason for buying a 22K.

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 14th of April 2012 10:42:55 AM

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a standard Reese 20K hitch, Firestone air bag kit on the truck (with on board compressor) and the MorRyde pin box. This have been a great combination for us and creates an extremely smooth ride. The pin box requires no special maintenance or adjustment and with the on board compressor, I can adjust the air from the cab of the truck for different road conditions. When not towing, the truck seems a little smoother by running with minimum air (2 - 5 lbs)in the bags as they actually replace the hard rubber joust blocks between the axle and frame of the truck. Also allows you to adjust the attitude of the truck when towing these heavier trailers. Just seems like less maintenance and easier air adjustments to me, cost is a little less than a air ride hitch if you can do your own installation of the air bags.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Rick, thanks for your comments. I put air bags on my 2012 simply because I wanted to try them not because the truck needed them due to weight. That is didn’t need them for leveling. The truck runs level with 5 psi in the bags even with the trailer. I just wanted to see if they would improve the ride of the already great 2011’s and forward Chevy’s and Ford’s. Seems your idea and mine about keeping the truck off the secondary spring bumpers was the same and I air them up when connected. With the built in air pump and pressure read out the adjustment with and without the trailer is easy. So I guess this is an option for some if they wish to consider it along with an air-ride pin box of whatever make.

I’ve got a little 3,000 mile towing trip over the next few weeks to the Rally so we’ll see how they do on that trip. I’ve got 2,300 solo miles on the new truck but only 600 towing so I am looking forward to seeing how the “bags” perform loaded over some more challenging conditions. Had them on my semis but never on a "pickup." Your report is encouraging that I made a good choice for my situation after leaving the previous setup which worked well for the previous 65,000 towing miles.

Thanks

Bill