Newbie hitch question - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Newbie hitch question

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have a reese 25K Elite and it will be fine. There are 2 25K hitches from Reese.(the Elite and the older Signature) If your F-450 is 2010 or older either Reese will be fine but if your F-450 is 2011 or newer, don't use the Signature Series Reese. On the 2011 and newer Fords the Signature Series will fit but it will rub on the bottom of the box. Reeese sells a bolt extension kit to make the Signature fit properly, but most hitch places don't know about it.

EDIT: its the old SIGNATURE Series that does not fit the newer Fords properly

-- Edited by igotjam on Monday 17th of June 2013 07:08:14 PM

-- Edited by igotjam on Monday 17th of June 2013 07:09:20 PM

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would NEVER put on a non-air hitch for a trailer that heavy. I would put on a Trailersaver or an ET Jr. Seriously, do not put on a Reese.

On edit - I would also seriously consider dumping the pickup bed and putting on a hauler bed. You will be far better on your clearances.

-- Edited by Jack Mayer on Monday 17th of June 2013 01:50:27 PM

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

No problem....

Enjoy the new truck.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Try to post these pictures of a hitch failure in Freeport, FL. Don't know if this was caused by metal fatigue or because the hitch wasn't heavy enough.

http://lostsoulrvphotos.shutterfly.com/pictures/12

This is my first time posting photos so if it doesn't work I'll delete this and try again.

-- Edited by MarkS on Monday 17th of June 2013 03:43:35 PM

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Bear and Igatajam. This is exactly what I was hoping for. I found it a little disconcerting a couple of days ago when I spoke with the sales person at our local hitch store and he didn't think that Reese sold a 25k hitch! He had to check the catalog before he acknowledged that they do. Is there anything that can be done to keep the Elite from rubbing the bottom of the box? Or would the Signature with the extension bolts be a better fit? Are there other hitches that might be a better choice? I checked the B&W site last night and it appears their highest rated hitch is only 20k. The truck is a new F-450 with the 5th wheel hitch prep. We're having the spray-on bedliner added on Wednesday and hope to get the hitch added after that.

Thanks again for your guidance.

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

NWescapee....I edited my original post. I mistakenly said the Elite hitch rubbed the box. I meant to say that the older Signature hitch rubbed the box of newer (2011 and newer Fords) trucks. I have a 2012 and the hitch place mounted a Signature hitch in the Ford prepped mounting location. The 4 studs on the bottom corners of the hitch fit into the mounting holes but the bottom of the hitch rubs on the box. I changed it to an Elite and the bottom of the hitch is now 1/4 - 1/2" above the box. I investigated this whole thing thoroughly and found that the Reese Elite (and the Ford branded one) have mounting studs longer than the Signature. Reese does sell longer mounts specificly to use when putting a Signature hitch into a newer Ford.

Both the Signature and Elite will work in newer Fords. They both fit into and lock into the underbed mounts and are equally safe. The difference is cosmetic. If you use the Signature the base rests on the box and when you remove the hitch, the paint will show where the base rested on the box. I towed twice, about 50 miles each before removing the Signature to replace with the Elite. The box had the paint worn off where the hitch rested on the box. No further paint damage to the box will occur with the Elite.

-- Edited by igotjam on Monday 17th of June 2013 08:00:14 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you want something that helps with the ride and all, you might look into the Hensley TrailerSaver hitches. They are an air ride hitch.

Terry

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

One thing we learned when we thought we were getting a new F450 vs. the 2012 pre-owned model that we ended up with, is that if you have the Ford prep package from the factory and get a hitch after market, there's some other adjustment that has to be done to install the hitch. Don't remember exactly what it was but that was something the local company we like for hitch installation had told us. Due to the foul up in our order, we never ended up having to deal with that.

Jack - why would you not use the Elite 25k? Just curious since that is what we have on our F450. We do have the Trail Air hitch on the 5th wheel.

One more question, when some of you mention "rubbing the bottom of the box"? What is rubbing and where? Sorry, may be a dumb question but we haven't noticed anything rubbing with our set up.

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Terry, Jack, Mark and NWescapee for all your comments. I'm sure glad that I asked. I sent an email to Hensley to find the nearest dealer. I'm hoping there's one not too far from Des Moines. Thanks again!

dianneandsteve · RV-Dreams Family Member

I also have the TrailerSaver...great hitch however they are expensive but worth it IMO. From my rear camera view on the truck the nose of the trailer seems to float over the bumps.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
Try to post these pictures of a hitch failure in Freeport, FL. Don't know if this was caused by metal fatigue or because the hitch wasn't heavy enough.

http://lostsoulrvphotos.shutterfly.com/pictures/12

This is my first time posting photos so if it doesn't work I'll delete this and try again.

-- Edited by MarkS on Monday 17th of June 2013 03:43:35 PM

Mark,

I went in to activate your link to the pictures. While the link that I did worked, it took one to a site where one had to join Shutterfly to view the pictures. A lot of folks don't necessarily like joining something just to see the pictures.

Terry

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry,
Thanks. That ain't how it's supposed to work. If I can't fix it, I'll find another site.

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Judy, We have a 5th wheel hitch called Airsafe; it's 25K and has a Holland/Binkley head; when pulling you don't even feel the 5th wheel camper it rides that nice; I'll be driving and forget I even have 14K plus behind me; what also makes it nice is it's made right in my own town of Holland Michigan; here it is, http://www.airsafehitches.com/25k.html Been very happy with the Airsafe hitch; would buy it again in a heart beat; It's about 200 pounds; I think I paid $2,400 plus $300 install in 2010; just my 2 cents worth.

Lonney

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just made some changes. Anyone should be able to see these photos now.

http://lostsoulrvphotos.shutterfly.com/pictures/12

Edit by Moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 02:14:11 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

MarkS wrote:
Terry,
Thanks. That ain't how it's supposed to work. If I can't fix it, I'll find another site.

Mark,

The message stated that the "site" had been set up as "Private," so you may only need to go in and change settings to "Public." I don't know how all the others are, but Photobucket is also set up to allow one to set specific folders as private or public. Shutterfly ought to allow you to allow it to be set to public viewing.

Terry

Judy L · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just heard back from TrailSaver and they are factory direct sales only. No dealers. Just curious to know how people using these hitches choose a shop to install them. I know of two hitch dealers in Des Moines and they each carry the more common brands of hitches. Should we approach them to see if they would be willing to install a hitch that they haven't sold to us?

On another note, we don't want to spend the extra cash to convert to a hauler bed. Will there be any problem using this type of hitch in the standard bed?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

You can use any hitch in a standard bed assuming they have the proper rails for mounting. Just be very sure you have a minimum of 6" of clearance to your bed rails with a LEVEL trailer.

lowryc50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are within 2 months of ordering a F-350 Diesel 4x4 DRW to pull a Bighorn 3585rl(that's what I would like to get) that is listed as a GVWR of 15,500. My question to piggyback onto the OP question is - would installing a Reese 25K hitch be over kill on a 5th wheel hitch when a 20K would do the job too. The reason for my question is that Ford has an option for not only the 5th wheel prep package but also a Reese 25K hitch too. The salesman indicated that I should not order the 5th wheel prep package unless I plan to also install(order) the 25K hitch. Is there something wrong here? Would installing the 5th wheel prep package interfere with having another hitch other than the 25K installed? Would I be better off not ordering the prep package and just take the truck somewhere to have the whole 5th wheel hitch installed if I wanted to go with the 20K? There is a difference of about $700 between the 20K and the 25K hitches. Would I just be throwing money away on the prep and the bigger hitch? As you can tell I have never owned a 5th wheel and this is somewhat confusing since I want to get the proper hitch and have it installed the right way. Is anyone familar with the new 2014 Fords Super Duty? Any comments would be appreciated. Thank you Curt

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Curt,

Is the $700 difference including the Ford 5th wheel prep package or is that separate from the price of the hitches? If it is separate, then getting the prep and going with a smaller hitch might cost you more. Also, since I'm not familiar with that new option (5th wheel prep), just what is involved with that and what is included in the package? Knowing what is in the prep package will give you an idea if it is proprietary with only certain hitches.

As for the size of hitch, for the trailer you are considering, the 20K would be fine. However, if there is a possibility of trading for a heavier trailer later, one might want to stay with the 25K, just for the sake of having a cushion. For instance, our Mobile Suites has a GVWR of 18,500 lbs and we bought a Reese hitch that is rated at 22K. However, if you ever consider the possibility of getting a heavier trailer, you might need to consider a heavier truck. I looked at Ford's weight ratings, and from what I saw, the F350's tow rating (which I really dislike - prefer GCVW) is between 15,900 lbs to 16,300 lbs, depending on whether you get a 2WD or 4WD truck. Those ratings are for a crew cab F350. The F350's GCVW is 23,500 lbs.

I will suggest that you find a business in your area that installs hitches and do some research on prices for them to just sell and install the hitch size you want. Then compare that to the price Ford wants for the prep package and the hitch.

Terry

lowryc50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, thank you for your reply. After reading what you said I called a couple of places that are Reese hitch dealers and installers and they indicated that to install the R20 with the rail kit and wiring for the 7 pin coupler that it would be about $1600-$1800 total. I can get the 5th wheel prep package that goes with the 25k Reese hitch and the hitch itself for $1785. The prep package works only with the 18k or 25k Reese Elite Series since the rails are under the bed. That is why I would not want to get the prep package if I would go with the R20. I'm going to contact a couple other dealers around the area and see if their price is about the same as the dealer I called that is closer to home. I guess if their price is similar then I might as well go with the 25k with the hidden rails. Curt

PS - I'm looking at ordering the F-350 Super Cab 4x4 with the 3.73 axle ratio which has a GCVW of 30,000 and the 5th wheel towing is 22,400

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Curt, If your looking for a very nice hitch, we have a 5th wheel hitch called Airsafe, it's 25K and has a Holland hitch slide on it, when pulling you don't even feel the 5th wheel camper, no bumps, no jerks, no up and down crap, just smooth ride, it rides that nice, I'll be driving and forget I even have 14K plus behind me, what also makes it nice is it's made right in my own town, it's made at Holland Hitch in Holland Mi. take a look, http://www.airsafehitches.com/25k.html Been very happy with the Airsafe hitch for over 3 years; would buy it again in a heartbeat, it's about 200 pounds, I think I paid about $2,400 plus $300 install in 2010 Chevy HD diesel.

Lonney