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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Introduce Yourself! -> Looking for some advice
Post Info TOPIC: Looking for some advice
Rick and Rachel


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Looking for some advice
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Morning folks. We have been pulling trailers for a long time. First one I ever had was a Teton Park Model TT that I pulled all over the West when I was working construction. We have pulled everything from GN trailers, horse trailers, fifth wheels, and TT's. Not a newbie but I think there are a lot of new products out there that make a long trip easier on you and on the equipment so I am seeking some sage advice.

My wife and I are still deciding but are real close and down to two candidates that suit us for a number of reasons. Grand Design Reflection 337RLS and a Jayco Eagle 321RSTS. We will be pulling it with a 2007 F350 CC LB SRW 6.0 Powerstroke that has been through EGR Delete. We do some week long trips around Minnesota and hope to drag down to Fort Lauderdale next March and stay at the beach for a couple weeks. Still working so no fulltime talk yet.

Some questions I have are the suspensions and the fifth wheel hitch. My truck has a GN ball and I was thinking I would put the B&W Hitch that sits on the GN Ball. I have been researching the Morryde and Equaflex suspensions that come on these units. I would like to hear from some seasoned pullers on what they like and don't like with OEM equipment versus some aftermarket products that make life less stressful and that hold up to those long trips.

Also glad to read through the posts. Looks like a great board to be a part of. Hopefully we make our decision in next week or so and make our first trip up to IFalls and Rainy Lake Northern Minnesota for a shake out trip of about 350 miles.



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Rick and Rachel
RonC


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There are GN adapters to convert your 5th wheel ... but not recommended as they place an unusual amount of stress in the pinbox to frame attachment area. Not advocating for any particular brand, but I'm a big fan of cushioned (air or foam cell) hitches. The roads aren't very good and the frame of a 5th wheel is built to a price point so softening the blows at the pin box will increase the life of the frame and not beat up your belongings so much. This is just MO, so others may offer different advice.

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
Second Chance


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Rick,

We have been full-time in a Reflection 337 for about two years now and really like it... except for the stock Lippert suspension system. We had a bent spindle or axle on the OEM suspension that was causing tire wear issues and the trailer wasn't tracking straight. Last fall we pulled up to Elkhart and had MOR/ryde install their independent suspension system and disc brakes. What a difference! Fully alignable, twice the travel of solid axles and leaf springs, and good shocks. I see it as good insurance for our home on wheels. With solid axles and leaf springs, all you can do is try to get the axles parallel to each other and perpendicular to the center-line of the trailer... nothing can be done about caster, camber, or toe.

I have seen Ron's rig and air-suspension hitch. It is very nice. We pulled our first 10K miles with an Andersen Ultimate (rail mount version, but they make one that will mount via your turnover ball) and a Demco Glide Ride dampened pin box. It was a very smooth and quiet combination. When we traded trucks and moved to a PullRite conventional hitch that fit the Ford OEM puck system, we kept the Glide Ride pin box and are still very happy with it. At about 40 lbs., the Andersen, however, was MUCH easier to get in and out of the truck than the PullRite! Yesterday, I saw PullRite's version of the Andersen Ultimate for the first time in the flesh and it looks really cool, too. Neither the Andersen nor the PullRite are gooseneck adapters - they simply attach to the bed via your gooseneck ball (as does the B&W Companion made to mount to the gooseneck ball).

Happy travels,

Rob



-- Edited by Second Chance on Wednesday 12th of July 2017 10:23:22 PM



-- Edited by Second Chance on Thursday 13th of July 2017 08:25:26 AM

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2012 F350 DRW Lariat 6.7

PullRite OE 18K, Demco Glide Ride pinbox

2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows

Full-time as of 8/2015

 

 
Rick and Rachel


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Thank you for the leads on the equipment gentlemen. I think I will be sticking with B&W and the Companion Hitch. Simple and strong.

Going today to look at both trailers and hopefully make the decision.

Rob, We really like the 337RLS also. You sure don't find very much negative when discussing Grand Design in general. I will be doing a more in-depth fit and finish inspection of both today. So much fun getting these dealers riled up. I love it!

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Rick and Rachel
Bill and Linda


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The MORryde IS (Independent Suspension) is, IMO, the best available for an RV.  I would rate it superior even to air-ride for a number of reasons due to its simplicity and "it works."  I have well over 100,000 miles of experience with the MORryde product.  Excellent - and - unlike some - MORryde stands behinds their products and has a true factory service center.

Any type of air-ride hitch or pin-box is a very good thing to protect the trailer.  Also highly recommended to keep from breaking frames and sidewalls.

 I would never use a Gooseneck adapter.  Some manufactures will void the frame warranty if one is used.  The 5th wheel pinbox mountings are not designed for Goosenecks and as noted GN's completely change the stress points on the trailer when designed for 5th wheel mounting.  Not recommended.



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Bill & Linda
Bill and Linda


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Bill and Linda wrote:

I would never use a Gooseneck adapter.  Some manufactures will void the frame warranty if one is used.  The 5th wheel pinbox mountings are not designed for Goosenecks and as noted GN's completely change the stress points on the trailer when designed for 5th wheel mounting.  Not recommended.

Rick and Rachel: 

I stumbled across this Youtube video discussing converting a 5th wheel with a Gooseneck adapter.  Take it FWIW but I thought this gave a pretty good and, I believe, factual discussion of why, IMO, this is not recommended.

Again, FWIW -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7W60hcTq60



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Bill & Linda
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