5th wheel hitch questions. Can I buy any hitch for any truck? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

TheDigitalHippies · RV-Dreams Family Member

5th wheel hitch questions. Can I buy any hitch for any truck?

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Buy one of these to fit one of these.

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TheDigitalHippies · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks. The one I listed was about half the price of those, and rated to 24k, also with stellar reviews on amazon.

The one you suggested has many options, but I'm not sure I can justify double the price.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=companion+5th+wheel+hitch&sprefix=companion+5th+wheel+hitch%2Cautomotive%2C321

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hands down B&W is the best non air ride hitch on the market. Look at them side by side.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Curt does have a good reputation, and the 24K should give you plenty of leeway with regards to the possibility of later upgrading a trailer. Don't forget to factor in the cost of having someone install the fifth wheel for you in the event that you don't have the tools and know-how to do it yourself.

Another name with a good reputation is Reese. A B&W is really advantageous IF you want to use your truck's bed for hauling things when you aren't towing the trailer.

Terry

TheDigitalHippies · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone. We plan staying put with the trailer once we arrive, so are selling the truck when we get there. We will remove the hitch and possibly keep it in storage once we arrive and sell the truck, so hauling things in the truck bed isn't even a concern. I'll look up those two brands B&W and Reese to find some hitches.

The question still stands, can any hitch go with any truck, or do I need to wait to get a truck before I can get a hitch?

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Want don't you just hire a transportation company to move your trailer? I'm sure you could get references from any RV dealers.

TheDigitalHippies · RV-Dreams Family Member

Because we want to have it while traveling. We're taking 2 months to make the trip, and will stop to see family in Texas along the way. Also the cost would be about $2 a mile, which will be about $5k. We'll spend more moving with movers than we will buying a truck, paying fuel, and selling the truck when we arrive.

Cummins12V98 · RV-Dreams Family Member

"The question still stands, can any hitch go with any truck, or do I need to wait to get a truck before I can get a hitch?"

Answer, NO, YES.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The question still stands, can any hitch go with any truck NO or do I need to wait to get a truck before I can get a hitch?" YES

Answer, NO, YES.

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

TheDigitalHippies wrote:

The question still stands, can any hitch go with any truck, or do I need to wait to get a truck before I can get a hitch?

With allot of today's pickup trucks coming equipped with under the bed 5th wheel hitch systems, I would suggest waiting until you buy the truck. I know for a fact that the Dodge Ram and Ford trucks have different systems and will require different cross over plates if you do not use hitch they are set up for. Otherwise you can limit your choice to purchasing a truck without the 5th wheel hitch system and purchase a hitch with a universal above bed rail system and plan on drilling hols in the frame or purchasing a specific mounting plate for the truck you purchase. Basically, I am suggesting waiting until you purchase the truck.

Southernsally · RV-Dreams Community Member

TheDigitalHippies wrote:
I want to get a very good quality hitch for towing my 5th wheel across country. I don't have the truck yet, but want to buy the hitch soon so that I don't waste any time getting it installed after we get the truck.
I found this one on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/CURT-16245-Fifth-Wheel-Hitch/dp/B0053P6AQU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1436316857&sr=8-5&keywords=5th+wheel+hitch and I was thinking of getting it. Would this fit most 1995-2005 2500 or 3500 trucks?
I'm thinking I should get the truck first, then come back and ask, but in the spirit of time, I'm asking now.
RV listed here along with potential trucks: http://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t60507037/would-this-truck-pull-my-rv-2001-chevy-diesel/
Our RV is a 2008 Keystone Fuzion 383, here is the 2010 brochure. http://www.keystonerv.com/media/1042376/2010.fuzion.brochure.pdf.pdf

-- Edited by TheDigitalHippies on Tuesday 7th of July 2015 07:26:20 PM

5th wheel hitches are not vehicle specific but the rails (install kits) are. Curt is a really good brand. I would recommend purchasing your truck first and then look for a 5th wheel. When you're ready, check out Hitchweb's 5th wheels, they have a lot of options with good prices and free shipping: 5th Wheel Hitches

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sally,

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. It is always good to get new ideas and opinions, but I have to differ a bit with your comment. For a long time here, most everyone recommends that one at least choose the RV they want so that when they go to buy a truck, they buy one that is heavy enough to tow the weight of the RV they've chosen. For that same reason, it is best to wait on a fifth wheel hitch so that one is sure that it is rated high enough to also handle that weight. When we were purchasing, we knew that our Mobile Suites would have a GVWR of 18,500 lbs, so we purchased a hitch that was rated at 22,000 lbs.

Terry

Cyclone Dave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Whatever truck you are considering, ensure that you know its realistic towing capacity. The publish charts can be somewhat misleading considering they don't include all the additional weight you'll ad to the truck. I recommend you use the app at RVtowCheck.com.